Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort
Las Vegas is one of a kind, of course, so no matter what you’re looking to do there, it’s going to be a unique experience.
And that includes golf, which is why planning a Las Vegas golf trip, especially for buddies, can produce a rewarding experience.
Let’s start with the golf itself. You can pretty much play golf there year-round, though it can be a bit toasty in the summer (just get out there early or late). The scenery is stunning at most of these courses, and the golf runs the gamut, from bucket-list courses like Shadow Creek to some budget-friendly courses that are sometimes overlooked.
The courses include designs from some of the game’s biggest-name designers like Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Rees Jones, and Tom Fazio.
And if golf is just part of your day, there’s so much else left to fill it. There’s gaming, of course, from slots, poker, and roulette to some of the greatest sports books on the planet. (Being in Vegas during the MLB baseball playoffs and football season, or during March Madness, is a sports fan’s paradise.) In addition, great dining, luxury accommodations, nightlife, and entertainment experiences like the Sphere will have you trying to figure out when you’re going to get any sleep. But hey, when you’re having this much fun, sleep can be overrated.
So if you’re up for a lot of enjoyment packed into a short amount of time, start planning that Vegas golf vacation. And to help you get started, here’s a look at some of the best golf Las Vegas has to offer.
Base at Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort
A place to start any Las Vegas golf vacation or buddies trip would be Paiute Golf Resort, especially if you’re a Pete Dye fan.
Paiute has three Dye-designed gems, all of them fun and incredibly well-conditioned. There are no homes on the courses, affectionately known as the Vegas Trifecta, and you’re a little bit away from everything but close enough to enjoy everything Sin City has to offer.
The courses have many of Dye’s signature features, like railroad ties, pot bunkers, and an island green. And while they are certainly challenging – as all Dye courses are – these are three of the most fun Dye layouts you’ll ever play.
That island green (reminiscent of the famous 17th at the TPC Sawgrass PLAYERS) is found on the par-3 15th of The Wolf Course, which is a whopping 7,600 yards from the back tees. It’s hardly the only highlight, however, on a course that features a variety of doglegs and incredible mountain scenery.
The other two courses are arguably just as enjoyable. Sun Mountain is laid out over expansive rolling terrain and desert landscape with sweeping slope changes. And the original course, Snow Mountain, might have the best collection of par-3s on the property as well as some of the aforementioned railroad-tie-framed bunkers.
Located about 25 minutes northwest of the strip, this collection of courses, operated by the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, provides the perfect combination of memorable golf at an incredible value that should be included on any great Las Vegas golf itinerary.
The Wolf Course at Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort
Bucket-list experiences
If you’re a high roller, and money is no object, Las Vegas has its share of bucket-list courses, none more coveted than playing the Tom Fazio-designed Shadow Creek.
Not anyone can just book a tee time at the course that opened in 1989 at a cost of more than $60 million. You have to be staying at a certain MGM Resort property, and tee times are arranged through the hotel. Green fees are reportedly north of $1,250, but you do receive private limo service to the course, which is an oasis in the desert. And generally, weekends are only open to MGM guests with big credit lines. (They get comped.)
As for the top 100 course created by casino mogul Steve Wynn, Fazio moved millions of cubic yards of earth to shape each hole apart from each other. Thousands of trees were also planted to frame the holes. It’s in the desert, but with its ponds, lush terrain, white bunkers, and flawless conditioning, it’s an incredible walk in the park. And on most days, you might not even see another group on the course.
A course that’s a little more accessible is Cascata Golf Club, a wonderful Rees Jones design located in Henderson, Nev. Known for the creek that runs through Cascata’s 37,000-square-foot Tuscany-style clubhouse, this is a desert course, with elevated tees, undulating greens, and perfect conditioning.
The holes, like the bighorn sheep you might see, climb the sides of the nearby mountains. Tee times are super spaced out, so you’re unlikely to run into other groups. With its outstanding practice facilities, dining, pro shop, and clubhouse, you’ll probably want to spend the whole day out there.
And finally, there’s Wynn Golf Club, which sits on the spot where the old Desert Inn Golf Course used to be, right on the Strip. This is another Fazio design commissioned by Steve Wynn. What’s incredible about it is that it seems to be another world with its perfectly manicured turf, perfect greens, streams, ponds with koi fish, and mature trees. You could pay up to $800 to play at Wynn, but it does come with a forecaddie. You don’t even have to bring your clubs. The latest Callaway rentals are included if you don’t want to travel with your clubs.
Cascata Golf Club
Best of the rest
While most visitors probably aren’t playing the bucket list courses around Las Vegas, the other options are pretty special, too. Here’s a quick look at some of the other choices:
Serket Golf Club – Formerly Rio Secco Golf Club, Serket Golf Club is another excellent Rees Jones design that was renovated a few years ago. Located in Henderson, this “player’s course” is challenging and a lot of fun with rolling fairways and greens, a few water features, and great views of the city. The 7,215-yard layout is routed through canyons, desert washes, and high plateaus.
The Revere Golf Club – Another great choice, Revere, located in Henderson, has two wonderful golf courses – the Lexington and the Concord, both crafted by (Billy) Casper/Nash & Associates. Laid out among the rugged canyons and valleys of the Las Vegas foothills, the views are amazing from various parts of both courses, which can be stretched to well more than 7,000 yards. Excellent practice facilities and dining at the clubhouse are part of this wonderful golf experience.
Bali Hai Golf Club – Located right next to Mandalay Bay, this is another great choice if you’re staying on the Strip and want premium golf that’s convenient. As the name suggests, Bali Hai, designed by Brian Curley and Lee Schmidt, is a tropical experience with thousands of palm trees, tons of bright white sand, black volcanic rock, and lush green conditions, surrounding incredible water features and waterfalls. There’s an island green, too.
Reflection Bay Golf Club – The former home to the Wendy’s 3Tour Challenge sits along the shores of Lake Las Vegas, about 20 miles from the Strip. Recently renovated, this Jack Nicklaus Signature design has a fantastic finishing stretch with five straight holes that run along the water with stunning views. The club also has a 32,000-square-foot clubhouse that offers a superb golf shop and dining.
TPC Las Vegas – Formerly TPC at The Canyons, this Bobby Weed design has served as the host course for both PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions events over the years. Nearby Red Rock Canyon provides the backdrop for this playable layout that will challenge players of all abilities with six different sets of tees.
Bear’s Best Las Vegas – As you might guess, this is a collection of some of the best holes from Jack Nicklaus-designed courses throughout the world, all against the backdrop of the nearby Spring Mountains. The par 3s are particularly strong, with the fourth modeled after a downhill par-3 at the unique Old Works Golf Club in Montana. Other courses that inspired Bear’s Best include PGA West, Castle Pines, and Desert Mountain, just to name a few.
Arroyo Golf Club – Located in the community of Summerlin, the course at Arroyo Golf Club is a fun Arnold Palmer design that traverses the spectacular terrain of Red Rock Canyon, one of Las Vegas’ most famous landmarks. It’s an enjoyable test that’s suitable for players of all levels, and it doesn’t disappoint on views. The seventh hole provides a panoramic vista of the Las Vegas cityscape.
Angel Park Golf Club – Billing itself as “the world’s most complete golf experience,” Angel Park has much to offer. There are four golf courses, and they’re more affordable than most in the area, especially in the afternoon. The two championship courses – the Mountain and the Palm – are Palmer designs. But Angel Park is best known for its Cloud 9 Course, a Bob Cupp-designed par 3 layout that incorporates features from some of the world’s most iconic holes, including the “Postage Stamp” at Royal Troon, and the 17th at TPC Sawgrass Stadium Players. It’s a 12-hole course, but nine are lit for night play. The fourth course is a putting course that is also open at night and illuminated.
TPC Las Vegas