Golfer's Guide

He pictured it as an elaborate adult playground in Hollywood's back yard. In the first half of the 20th century - when Las Vegas was not much more than a gleam in the desert's tawny eye - a colorful impresario named Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel had his sights set on creating a world-class hotel resort to be named the Flamingo. His vision in pink even was to include a championship golf course. Mr. Siegel never did see his enterprise fully realized, but those who followed found equally fertile ground for dreams. As Bugsy foresaw, Las Vegas is now a popular destination for Southern Californians - and even if you don't gamble, there's plenty of green on the fairways.