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 “People come to Vegas with a suspension of reality,” says Michael Levine, the director of marketing for one of the major golf players in the area, Walters Golf. “They want to stay in a $2 billion hotel, eat at internationally renowned restaurants, go to shows and clubs that are lavish and play courses they can’t play at home. They want something completely different.” Las Vegas offers a stunning array of golf courses, from themed properties that make you feel as if you’re in a tropical paradise, to rugged mountain and gorgeous desert courses. You can spend more than $300 to play a course or as little as $75 — and everything in between. But, since this is an area of the world completely designed around tourism, the level of service and the range of amenities at these courses will continually remind you that you’re not in Kansas, Garden Grove or Pacoima any more. Siena Golf Club (888) 689-6469 • www.sienagolfclub.com Red Rock Country Club (866) 934-4653 • www.redrockcountryclub.com These sister facilities are very different from one another, but they offer a joint booking package that results in a 20 percent discount if both properties are played within five days of each other. Siena is a Tuscany-themed golf facility that, along with a stunning 18-hole Schmidt-Curley design, features one of the most acclaimed golf-attached restaurants in the state: the Siena Bistro, a 2,500-square-foot Italian restaurant. Red Rock features two Arnold Palmer-designed signature courses, the private Mountain Course and the public Arroyo Course. Waterfalls, lush greenery and a very relaxed feel make both courses a welcome respite from the high-octane energy and excitement that permeates this corner of the world. Players who experience both Siena and the Red Rock courses within a five-day period gain a substantial discount over the standard green fees, which range between $145 and $189 during peak season. Walters Golf (800) 427-6678 • www.waltersgolf.com The four courses managed by Walters Golf transmit the Las Vegas experience onto golf courses, all of which are located less than nine miles from the Las Vegas Strip. Three of the facilities — Bali Hai Golf Club, Desert Pines Golf Club and Royal Links Golf Club — are, like so many of the city’s major casino-hotels, themed golf courses, paying homage to tropical paradises, Carolinian sand dunes and British Open tracks. The fourth, Stallion Mountain Country Club, offers an exclusive private club ambiance with all the pampering and individual attention that high rollers in Vegas have come to expect. “A lot of golfers who come to Vegas can’t play a private country club, so this is an opportunity for them to experience the same kind of preferred treatment that they receive at a luxury hotel,” said Walters Golf Director of Marketing Michael Levine. “The course is open for guests of preferred hotels and we train our people to treat them just like the hotel does.” The course is only open to guests of premier properties, such as Bellagio, the Venetian, Mandalay Bay and other major hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. The company’s courses are all a result of founder Billy Walters’ idea to “capitalize on the themed nature of the casinos,” Levine said. Bali Hai, which is located on the Strip, has a tropical theme, with hundreds of palm trees and imported tropical fauna creating a feeling of Hawaii rather than the arid desert. Desert Pines is a Pete Dye-designed track that recreates the sand hills of the Carolinas, while Royal Links replicates some of the most memorable holes on the British Open rotation. All four courses rank among the best in the state, and the green fees during peak season (which ends around May 1) demonstrate that. Bali Hai charges $265 during the week and $325 Friday through Sunday. Royal Links costs $225 and $250. Desert Pines is $135 and $175. Stallion Mountain is $155 and $195. Primm Valley Golf Club (702) 679-5510 • www.primmvalleyresorts.com If you’re driving from Southern California, these are the first two golf courses that you’ll encounter as you cross the state line. Located a mere four miles from the cluster of casinos that have sprouted up at the state line in recent years, these two Tom Fazio-designed tracks rank among the finest courses ever created by this world-renowned architect. What is most striking is that, while adjacent, the courses are vastly different. The Desert Course offers elevation changes and stunning views and has a far different feel than the Lakes Course. It’s also longer and tighter and even with resort-style wide fairways there is plenty of trouble awaiting off the tee. While you are constantly reminded that you’re in the middle of a vast desert on that course, the Lakes Course features lush landscaping and pine trees, creating a much different visual and playing perspective. Most of the fairways bow toward the center, which gives players a better chance of finding their ball in good position. A spacious clubhouse, a golf academy and extensive practice areas complement the courses. Green fees range from $115 to $175 for both courses and a variety of golf packages are available. TROON GOLF Revere at Anthem Golf Club (877) 2REVERE • www.reveregolf.com Black Mountain Golf and Country Club (702) 565-7933 • www.golfblackmountain.com Badlands Golf Club (800) 470-4622 • www.badlandsgc.com As one of the premier golf management brands in the world, Troon Golf only affiliates itself with top-flight courses, combining its highly trained staff and commitment to superior service with fantastic courses. Its three Las Vegas-area facilities are no exception. The Revere at Anthem boasts two Billy Casper-Greg Nash-designed tracks that rank among the most fascinating in a region with no shortage of distinctive courses. Both traverse through rugged desert canyons and valleys with the 7,143-yard Lexington a shot-maker’s dream. The 7,034-yard Concord is a bit more forgiving off the tee and has more generously sized greens. The facility accommodates everything from single golfers and tournaments to weddings and banquets, which occur in the elegantly appointed, 23,000-square-foot clubhouse, graced with a spectacular view of the Las Vegas skyline. Green fees range between $170 and $240. Black Mountain is a member-owned, semi-private course that offers 27 holes of championship golf. It’s one of the valley’s oldest courses — it opened in 1957 — but it was redesigned in 1990, and the third nine was added in 2002. Troon has recently taken over the management, resulting in top-notch service and conditions. The longest combination of nines maxes out at 6,550 yards and with green fees of less than $100, the course is one of the most player-friendly, and affordable, in the region. Golf legends Johnny Miller and Chi Chi Rodriguez are behind the 27 holes that comprise the Badlands Golf Club, which offers one of the most memorable experiences in the valley. Steep ravines and yawning gorges can play havoc with your score, but generous landing areas and large greens temper some of the bite on these fantastically scenic holes. The toughest combination of nines is the Desperado and Diablo, which stretch nearly 7,000 yards with a slope of 133 and a rating of 73.0. The Desperado-Outlaw combination is the shortest and least punitive combination. Green fees range between $150 and $200. TPC at the Canyons (702) 242-3000 • www.tpc.com Located about 20 minutes from the Strip, this Gary Weed-Ray Floyd track ranks among the most challenging courses in the Las Vegas Valley. Multiple forced carries, elevation changes, constant wind, a tricky design that incorporates arroyos, barrancas and other native features and more than 7,000 yards from the tips means this course will challenge the lowest of handicappers. It joined the rotation of the Las Vegas Invitational in 2001 and is the only Nevada course used by the PGA Tour that allows public play. The course blends majestically with the stark desert landscape, offering views of the shining Las Vegas Strip to the south and red rock mountain formations to the north. The pristine environmentally sensitive course, which opened in 1996, earned national recognition from the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System, only the second Nevada course to earn that distinction. But rarely does such beauty have such a bite. Forget about shooting a career round — just surviving a round without breaking into a second sleeve of balls is an achievement at this course, which has a rating of 73.0 and a slope of 131. Any course that caters to the PGA Tour is equipped with fantastic practice areas, a top-of-the-line course and an elegant clubhouse, and the TPC at the Canyons is no exception. During peak season, green fees are $210 during the week and $265 Friday through Sunday. Twilight, super twilight, junior and senior rates are also available. Casablanca Golf Club (800) 459-7529 • www.casablancagolfclub.com The second oldest course in the booming town of Mesquite, located about 45 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Casablanca prides itself on being one of the most “player-friendly” courses in the state, head professional Gary Moore said. A flood last year resulted in a redesign of the fifth hole, which has resulted in an improved layout. Formerly a split fairway with an island in the middle, the hole now has a series of bunkers on the right side, creating a risk-reward dogleg. “You can either fly the bunkers, which will give you a short- to medium-iron shot to the green or you can try to take it left around the dogleg,” Moore said. The Cal Olson-designed, links-style course meanders alongside the Virgin River and water comes into play on 13 holes. “We’re really good for the ladies,” Moore said. “A lot of courses in the desert have multiple forced carries where you have to fire a long way over the desert. But our ladies tees eliminate that.” It’s definitely the most friendly of the five courses in the Mesquite area. The five sets of tees can accommodate any golfer’s skill level. From the back tees, labeled the Double Spades, the course’s yardage is 7,011 yards. From the front tees, the Hearts, the course is a much more manageable 5,161 yards. Another friendly feature is that unlike other Mesquite-area courses, which are built on environmentally sensitive areas or set upon rocky terrain, Casablanca can be accessed completely via cart. That comes in handy on days when the temperature soars above 100 degrees — as do the course’s air-conditioned golf carts. Though not enclosed, the carts do supply a steady stream of brisk air. The course also differs from most desert courses because it is built on and around the Virgin River wetlands. As opposed to a typical desert course that has lots of palm trees and red sand between holes, Casablanca is a true oasis of green. Green fees are $115 on weekdays and $125 on weekends and the course offers package deals. OB SPORTS Aliante Golf Club (702) 399-4888 • www.aliantegolf.com Angel Park (702) 254-4653 • www.angelpark.com The Legacy Golf Club (702) 897-2187 • www.thelegacygc.com The three courses managed by OB Sports Management benefit from one of the most professional golf management companies in the world. OB Sports Management was formed in 1972 and prides itself on superior customer service. The three-year-old Aliante Golf Club is one of the area’s newest courses, but already ranks among a favorite for locals and visitors. The Gary Panks-designed track stretches more than 7,000 yards from the championship tees and an arroyo comes into play on 14 holes. Combined with numerous water features and strategically placed trees, the course is both challenging for low handicappers and enjoyable for less skilled players. A full-service practice area is also a plus, as are the green fees, which range from $115 to $135. Angel Park is located in the northwestern part of the city limits, an area that has no shortage of golf courses. But few courses in the region, or the country, offer as much as this property: two 18-hole courses designed by Arnold Palmer, an 18-hole putting course with hazards, and a lighted par-3 course that includes replicas of famous short holes throughout the world, including the “Valley of Sin” from the venerable St. Andrews. And at 3,000 feet above sea level, the entire facility offers great views of the Strip, desert and mountains. Peak season green fees range between $135 to $155. The Legacy Golf Club, a frequent host of U.S. Open qualifying rounds, is one of the toughest courses in Las Vegas, with a rating of 74.9 from the tips, which stretch 7,233 yards. The multi-tiered Scottish-style fairways, undulating greens and ubiquitous lava rock make this Arthur Hills-designed course a legitimate test of golf for the best players, as evidenced by the Devil’s Triangle, a three-hole sequence on the back nine that ranks among the fiercest three holes in the region. Green fees range between $135-$155. All three OB Sports Management courses offer their best prices online, as well as 120-day advance tee times and a 48-hour cancellation policy. Rhodes Ranch Golf Club (702) 740-4114 • www.rhodesranch.com. The prolific designer Ted Robinson Sr. is behind this beautiful track, which is graced by one of the best sets of par 3s in his vast oeuvre. The course, located 15 minutes south of the Strip, opened in 1997 and offers some of the best conditions in the entire valley. Elevation changes, stunning views, numerous water features and a player-friendly design that doesn’t overly punish errant shots make Rhodes Ranch one of the region’s most popular courses. Adding to the playability is the lack of daunting canyons, which helps expedite a brisk pace of play since golfers aren’t continually searching for lost balls. Though set in the middle of the desert, the lush landscaping recalls a more tropical feel and the presence of a fine dining restaurant and brilliantly designed clubhouse adds to the oasis feel. The course’s web site also offers information and tips on how to play every hole, so you’ll definitely want to take the online tour before playing. Green fees during peak season are $100-$130 and $60 after 1 p.m. Bear’s Best Las Vegas (888) 311-8337 • www.bearsbest.com There’s no disguising the person whose design personality is all over this course: it’s found in the name itself. The Golden Bear personally chose 18 of his favorite holes that he’s designed around the world and recreated them at this desert track. Holes from PGA West, Palmilla Golf Club, Castle Pines, Scotland’s Gleneagles and other top Nicklaus properties — mainly located in the western United States — are assembled here. If the golf homage isn’t enough, the entire facility pays respect to this legendary golfer, with plenty of plaques and memorabilia that salute his playing career. The clubhouse is geared toward tournaments and corporate functions and is ideal for groups and meetings of all kinds. A 75,000-square-foot driving range and two 10,000-square-foot putting greens are ideal to work on your game before or after your round, and complimentary caddies are included in the green fee (but you’re free to tip whatever you desire). From the tips, the course spans more than 7,200 yards and can challenge the best of Nicklaus’ peers, but a variety of tees reduce the yardage to levels that all golfers can deal with. Green fees are $195 during the week and $245 on weekends. |
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