Las Vegas is not just for gambling any more, at least not just in the casinos. A high-stakes bet on a round of golf may cost you as much as a few high-stakes hands of poker, but it is certainly better to be on the greens. Las Vegas is known for its golf courses located in the Valley, shadowed by the surrounding mountains. The following are just a few championship golf courses beckoning you to play:

Public Courses

Aliante Golf Club. 702/399-4888. www.aliantegolf.com Located north of I-215 off Aliante Parkway in North Las Vegas, this challenging course stretches more than 7,000 yards from the back tees. The presence of the meandering arroyo that comes into play on 14 holes causes the golfer to feel slightly elevated, providing interesting contours and unique playing lies and angles. It was designed by Gary Panks, who has once again fashioned a golf course that will challenge the expert to utilize every club in their bag.

Angel Park Golf Club. 702/254-4653. www.angelpark.com Angel Park is home to two Arnold Palmer-designed golf courses — the Mountain and the Palm — and has been billed as the world’s most complete golfing experience. The club also offers an all-natural grass putting course and a beautiful clubhouse.

Badlands Golf Club. 702/242-4653. www.badlands-golf-club.com Designed by golf legend Johnny Miller with consultation from Senior Tour star Chi Chi Rodriguez, Badlands Golf Club was voted one of Nevada’s “Top 10 Public Golf Courses” by Golf Digest. This exciting 27-hole course features beautiful desert scenery and a target-style layout.

Bali Hai Golf Club. 702/450-8000 or 888/397-2499. www.bali-hai-golf-club.com Located right on the Las Vegas Strip, Bali Hai is highlighted by seven acres of water features, a total of 4,000 trees including 2,500 stands of towering palms and 100,000 tropical plants, which transports players to a tropical paradise. The course is rated by GolfWeek as one of the “Top 40 Resort Courses in the U.S.” and was voted “Best Golf Course” in the 2002 Las Vegas Review Journal’s “Best of Las Vegas” poll. Additionally, the Cili Restaurant at Bali Hai is recognized as one of Las Vegas’ hottest, new “power lunch” eateries.

Bear’s Best. 702/804-8500. www.bearsbest.com Set at a peak elevation of 3,200 feet, the Nicklaus-designed golf course features an awe-inspiring collection of holes from such celebrated courses as Castle Pines, PGA West and Cabo del Sol. Each hole was selected with great care to maintain perfect flow and capture every detail right down to the trees. The course is located just minutes from the Las Vegas Strip at the base of the Red Rock Mountains.

Boulder Creek Golf Club. 702/294-6534. www.bouldercreekgc.com The newest addition to the Las Vegas golf community has been created with all golfers in mind. Mark Rathert designed the course, which opened January 2003, with open fairways, no blind shots and no hidden hazards. The Desert Hawk 9 uses a combination of oasis and desert themes, allowing golfers to use all clubs in their bags; Coyote Run 9 is defined by wide fairways and playability; Eldorado Valley features a challenging layout surrounded by deep, natural sand bunkers.

Desert Pines Golf Club. 702/388-4400. Desert Pines is described by many as “The Pinehurst” of Las Vegas. Thousands of mature pine trees line the fairways; white sand bunkers protect large, undulating greens with water coming into play on nine out of 18 holes. Desert Pines is located just minutes from downtown of the Las Vegas Strip. A 20,000-square-foot, two-tiered, climate-controlled practice facility is also available.

Lake Las Vegas Resort 702/740-4653, www.lakelasvegas.com/golf.asp This resort offers three courses, two public, Reflection Bay and The Falls, and one private, South Shore. Reflection Bay is the first public resort golf course in Nevada designed by Jack Nicklaus. Designed by Tom Weiskopf, The Falls is a par-72 course. SouthShore Golf Club, the first private Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course in Nevada, is a 6,917-yard course, which offers up to five tee settings per hole.

Las Vegas Golf Club. 702/646-3003. Recently reopened after a $4 million renovation, Las Vegas Golf Club is one of the oldest and busiest courses in the city. A lighted driving range with lessons is available.

Las Vegas National Golf Club. 702/734-1796. www.lasvegasnational.com One of Vegas’ favorite layouts, Las Vegas National Golf Club features a classic design with rolling fairways, glistening lakes and smooth, well-protected greens. Located only two miles from the Strip, this exquisite championship course has hosted numerous PGA and LPGA events over the years.

Las Vegas Paiute Resort. 702/658-1400. www.lvpaiutegolf.com The Paiute features two beautiful Pete Dye courses — Snow Mountain and Sun Mountain. Golfers have traveled from all over the world to visit the nationally acclaimed Paiute courses.

Legacy Golf Club. 702/897-2187. www.thelegacygc.com The Legacy is an 18-hole championship golf course, designed by Arthur Hills, which features the Devil’s Triangle - three holes on the back nine that can make or break a game. The Legacy also is the host of the annual U.S. Open Qualifying.

Rhodes Ranch Country Club. 702/740-4114. www.rhodesranch.com Located in the Rhodes Ranch master-planned community, this 6,900-yard, Ted Robinson-designed course is played in the gentle slopes of the Spring Mountains and features play that showcases the natural beauty of Southern Nevada.

Rio Secco Golf Club. 888/TO-SECCO. www.riosecco.net Recognized by USA Today as one of the “Top 10 Golf Destinations in the World,” Rio Secco Golf Club is an 18-hole championship course, designed by famed architect Rees Jones and home of the Butch Harmon School of Golf, the course has incomparable views of the valley below.

Royal Links Golf Club. 702/450-8123. Royal Links was built to honor the rich history and tradition of the game of golf. This links-style course features holes inspired by the British Open rotation courses, such as the Road Hole of St. Andrews and the Postage Stamp from Royal Troon. Located just minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, the castle-style clubhouse hosts a pro shop stocked with quality art and collectibles and Stymie’s Pub.

Revere at Anthem. 702/259-GOLF. www.reveregolf.com The Revere at Anthem was created as a revolutionary golf experience for players of all skill and capability levels. The course was built into the natural canyon landscape to provide players with an intimate, secluded golf experience. Significant elevation changes and holes that follow the natural curvature of the canyons create a feeling that each hole is one-of-a-kind.

Siena Golf Club. 702/341-9200, toll free 888/689-6469. www.sienagolfclub.com Fun is the feeling you’ll experience at one of Las Vegas’ newest championship golf courses in Summerlin, where the Schmidt/Curley Design team has sculpted a true risk-reward golf challenge that may have you shooting your best score of the year! With spectacular views of the Spring Mountains, Red Rock Canyon and the fabulous Las Vegas Strip, Siena’s links wind through native desert and lush landscaping, culminating on beautiful Lake Siena. If you successfully evade six lakes and 85 white sand bunkers, the course will offer you multiple birdies, and even eagle opportunities on its 6,816-yard, par-72 track. Roll your putts true on the undulating bentgrass greens, and a fine round will be in hand. Afterward, relax with your favorite beverage and sandwich in the Siena Bistro. Starting times can be made 24 hours a day at the above number, or on the website, www.sienagolfclub.com.

Silverstone Golf Club. 702/562-3770 or 877/888-2127. www.silverstonegolfclub.com This 27-hole facility opened in summer 2001 to the public and was designed by Robert Cupp. The course is located in Mountain Spa, a European-style community in northwest Las Vegas and gives a spectacular view of the Sheep Mountain Range. The course is made up of three rotating championship-style nines, with four sets of tees to allow all levels to play.

Tournament Players Club at The Canyons. 702/256-2000. www.tpc.com The Tournament Players Club at The Canyons is a resort and daily fee golf facility. The TPC at The Canyons creatively combines personal service, design and unique aesthetic qualities. The TPC at The Canyons, designed by Bobby Weed, can be described as desert elegance. The 18-hole course features a multitude of trees, elevation changes, steep ravines and a canyon lake.


Semi-Private Courses

Black Mountain Golf & Country Club. 702/565-7933. www.golfblackmountain.com Black Mountain boasts affordable golf, good conditions and a nice facility. Site of the U.S. Open and Public Links qualifying, Black Mountain leaves top professionals and amateurs alike murmuring about what might have been. At 6,541 yards, you think you’re going to eat it up, but O.B. stakes and large trees abound, so a straight driver is essential to be in place for aggressive short iron approach shots. Then the small, fast undulated greens will test your skill and nerve. Black Mountain’s back nine starts off with one of the toughest three-hole stretches in town and winds through Old Henderson’s nicer homes before culminating with a great scoring opportunity, the 482-yard, par-5 18th. Just don’t block your tee shot right! For more information or tee times, please call or visit www.golfblackmountain.com.

DragonRidge Golf and Country Club. 702/614-4444 or 877/855-1505. www.dragonridgegolf.com DragonRidge Golf and Country Club invites you to experience the most spectacular golf views and golf shots in the Las Vegas area. Crafted out of the McCullough Mountains bordering the southern edge of the Las Vegas Valley, DragonRidge offers dramatic fairways with lush landscaping. The “purest” track in town, this 7,039-yard, par-72 Jay Morrish/David Druzisky design plays host to the Tiger Woods Foundation golf tournament, “Tiger Jam.”

Red Rock Country Club. 702/360-5959. www.redrockcountryclub.com Red Rock Country Club is located in the master-planned community of Summerlin. The country club community features two private Arnold Palmer-designed, 18-hole championship courses, each with five tee placements per hole. There is also an outstanding practice facility with a double-ended driving range, putting green and chipping areas out of the sand and the rough. With hundreds of trees, gorgeous water features including waterfalls and lakes, and a spectacular view of Las Vegas, this is one course you won’t want to miss.

Private Courses

Anthem Country Club. 702/914-3000. From your first glimpse of the setting, you’ll see why golf champion Hale Irwin and architect Keith Foster were inspired to create their first course in Southern Nevada here. Besides the grand scale and sweeping vistas, you’ll encounter undulating fairways, elevated tee boxes and expansive greens on this private course.

Canyon Gate Country Club. 702/363-0303. The foothills of the Spring Mountain Range and Red Rock provide a perfect backdrop for the golf course at Canyon Gate Country Club. This private golf course spans 6,742 yards and offers 18 holes of championship caliber. The 70 sand traps and 12 lakes on the Ted Robinson-designed course provide challenge and excitement for golfers. Membership is available by invitation only.

SouthShore Golf Club. 702/558-0022. Jack Nicklaus designed this course, which winds itself through the Lake Las Vegas resort community. SouthShore hosts the Wendy’s Three-Tour Challenge.

Shadow Creek Golf Club 702/939-0388, www.shadowcreek.com Designed by Tom Fazio, Shadow Creek features creeks, waterfalls and more than 200 varieties of trees, framed by mountains. The course, which opened in 1989, is located on a 350-acre site where every hillside, creek, lake and waterfall were carefully built by hand. To play, you must be a guest at one of the MGM Mirage properties.

Southern Highlands. 702/263-1000. www.southernhighlands.com The upper echelon of private clubs has gained a new member with the opening of Southern Highlands Golf Club. The exclusive club, located in the scenic foothills just 10 minutes south of the famed Las Vegas Strip, features a spectacular 7,381-yard, par-72 golf course designed through a rare collaboration by golf legend Robert Trent Jones Sr. and his equally talented son, Robert Trent Jones Jr. The course marks only the third time that they have worked together throughout their careers. Membership is by invitation only and is limited to 360 members.

Stallion Mountain Country Club. 702/450-8080. This private club features three distinctly different 18-hole courses that provide challenges to players of all levels. The Man O’ War course was host to the 1991 Las Vegas Invitational PGA Tour event and was redesigned in the summer of 2000 by Schmidt/Curley. The Citation course is an all-turf design unique to the desert. The Secretariat course offers challenging holes played over water. Play at this private club is available to guests at member resort hotels or to groups.

Tournament Players Club at Summerlin. 702/256-0111. www.tpcatsummerlin.com The Tournament Players Club at Summerlin is a private 18-hole championship golf course and features a practice facility. It is located in the northwest section of the valley in Summerlin. This course is also the only course in the country to host two tour events: the Las Vegas Senior Classic in April and the Invensys Classic at Las Vegas in October. Memberships are available.

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