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Over the past several years, travel to Las Vegas has changed. Once thought of as the place for all-night parties and shotgun weddings, Vegas has evolved into a world-class tourist destination, complete with ritzy hotels and spas, elegant restaurants and – you guessed it – championship golf courses. So instead of spending endless hours on the Internet researching this winter’s vacation possibilities, let us do the work for you. Pack your bags – this year you’re going to golf Vegas.
Lake Las Vegas Golf Resort
1600 Lake Las Vegas Parkway
Henderson, Nev. Just 17 miles southeast of the Las Vegas Strip, Lake Las Vegas Resort is situated around a 320-acre privately-owned lake. With a number of lodging and dining options, world-class spas and championship golf courses, the resort is sure to be a fit for any member of your party. Reflection Bay GC was the first public resort course in Nevada designed by Jack Nicklaus. Opened in 1998, the 7,261-yard, par-72 signature course winds through the desert while providing breathtaking views of Lake Las Vegas. The course features three waterfalls and five holes along one and a half miles of Lake Las Vegas shoreline. Because of its location on the lake, Reflection Bay is lined with beach bunkers and palm trees, which create a dynamic shoreline and backdrop. The highlight of Reflection Bay is the picturesque 199-yard, par-3 eighth hole, which juts out into the lake and is mostly an island. Reflection Bay GC is a host course to The Golf Institute at Lake Las Vegas, which offers guests a variety of game improvement golf school options, as well as private instruction. Personalized club fitting is also available as a service there. The 32,000-square-foot clubhouse at Reflection Bay features a pro shop, full-service men’s and women’s locker rooms, a snack bar and a café.
The Tom Weiskopf-designed Falls GC is a challenging course that was built in 2002. With terrain that varies from mountainous to desert, the course features dramatic elevation changes that range from subtle on the front nine to dramatic on the back.
Special features at The Falls include 11 ponds and lakes, six holes with water features, three waterfalls and 360 feet of elevation changes.
Also included in your golf experience at The Falls GC is the forecaddie program, where one caddie per foursome provides descriptions of holes and target lines, spots balls and also helps players maintain the course by replacing divots and raking bunkers.
For your post-round enjoyment, The Falls clubhouse is home to the Vineyard Restaurant, a casual old-world restaurant and bar with innovative lunch and dinner menu creations.
Rates for both courses range from $215 to $295, depending on the day and package you’ve chosen.
Accommodations at Lake Las Vegas are touted as “reminiscent of the towns in northern Italy.” Four resort hotels – The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas, Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort and MonteLago Village Resort – are scattered across the property. Other amenities at Lake Las Vegas Resort include pampering resorts, gourmet restaurants, shopping boutiques, a helipad and a full-service marina with watercraft rentals and yacht cruises. Residential property also is available at Lake Las Vegas Resort.
For more information, visit www.lakelasvegas.com.
Las Vegas Paiute Resort
10325 Nu-Wav Kaiv Blvd.
Las Vegas
Opened in 1995, Las Vegas Paiute Resort is the first master-planned multi-course golf resort in the United States to be developed on Native American land. All three of its courses – Snow Mountain, Sun Mountain and The Wolf – were personally designed by Pete Dye.
As the only 54-hole facility in the Vegas area, Paiute Resort offers golfers of all skill levels an opportunity to shine.
The original course, Snow Mountain, storms in at 7,164 yards. It is known for its par-3s, of which there are four.
The 180-yard fourth hole, which doglegs to the right, is lined by water on the right, so the left side offers a generous bailout. On the 198-yard No. 8, the tee shot must carry the native desert land to a green heavily bunkered on the right. But beware of bailing out left; it appears safe but can leave a difficult chip.
Snow Mountain has seven water features laced throughout the property, all flanked against breathtaking mountain views. With wide ryegrass fairways and a progressive layout – which means there are no parallel fairways – Snow Mountain also features traditional Dye railroad-tie bunkers.
No. 18 is a difficult finishing hole, with water on the left from tee to green. The 445-yard, par-4 is best played with a long drive, because the approach requires a lofted shot in order to avoid water to the left of the green.
Sun Mountain, a 7,112-yard, par-72, is known as the gentlest Dye design of the three. The course is set away from the rest of the resort, giving it a true edge-of-nature feel. Often described as a favorite of visitors, Sun Mountain intertwines indigenous landscaping with surprising slope changes and a majestic mountain backdrop.
The longest par-4 on the course, the 465-yard 12th, has brilliant views even on cloudy days. The slightly uphill hole requires a long drive. Dye’s favorite pin position is the back-left lobe of the green.
The newest of Las Vegas Paiute’s courses, The Wolf, measures 7,604 yards from the back tees, but there are five sets from which to choose. The most difficult course at Paiute, it also stands as Nevada’s longest golf course.
The Wolf is infamous for its severe undulations and alternate landing areas. The course’s gem is the par-3, 182-yard 15th, a stunning hole with a three-tiered island green.
Annika Sorenstam and Karrie Webb officially opened the course in 2001 by competing in “Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf.” They shot 65 and 64, respectively, on the par-72 course.
Director of golf course maintenance Jeff Reid and his staff use a combination of rye and bentgrass on the three courses, instead of the Bermuda grass typically found in warm weather climates and other desert-style courses. Since Paiute is situated at 3,000 feet above sea level – roughly 1,000 feet higher than the Strip – the resort has temperate weather throughout the year.
Paiute’s 50,000-square-foot clubhouse is complete with a full restaurant and bar, country club-caliber food and guest services, cigar lounge and pro shop.
Green fees at Sun Mountain, Snow Mountain and The Wolf range from $129 to $189. For more information, visit www.lvpaiutegolf.com.
Bali Hai GC
5160 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas
If the sights and sounds of the Strip are more your style, why not play a round at Bali Hai GC?
Once you tire of the hustle and bustle of the casino floor, head down to Bali Hai, which is the only golf course located smack dab in the middle of the action on the Las Vegas Strip.
Designed by Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley, Bali Hai opened in 2000. This par-71 course measures 7,002 yards and is highlighted by seven acres of water and a total of 4,000 trees – including 2,500 towering palms and 100,000 tropical plants. Transition and out-of-play areas are accented with Augusta white sand and black volcanic rock outcroppings.
Unlike the other courses in the Vegas area, Bali Hai offers spectacular views of the Strip. Its unique layout includes teasers like No. 16, a 141-yard, par-3 with an island green that often comes with an audience from the Cili Restaurant patio. No. 3, affectionately named “Shipwreck,” is a 468-yard, par-4 with a creek running down the entire right side and a bunker down the left.
In addition to its championship golf course, Bali Hai is home to what has been ranked one of the top golf shops in the country.
Cili Restaurant is open for extended lunch seven days a week and features contemporary American cuisine with Asian influences. Reservations are encouraged. Evenings at Cili are reserved exclusively for pre-booked group events of 15 or more. For quick eats, The Cabana serves breakfast and lunch seven days a week and features a full bar and selection of premium cigars.
Green fees at Bali Hai range from $239 to $295.
Desert Pines GC
3415 East Bonanza Road
Las Vegas
Bali Hai is operated by Walters Golf, which also runs Royal Links GC and Desert Pines GC in Las Vegas. For more information on all three courses, visit www.waltersgolf.com.
Within 20 minutes of the strip is Desert Pines, a 6,810-yard, par-71 course that transports golfers to the Carolina sandhills. This Pete Dye-designed layout features over 4,000 mature pine trees lining lush fairways and white sand bunkers protecting large, undulating greens.
Adding to the Carolina experience is the Southern hospitality found on the course and in the fully-stocked golf shop.
The Desert Pines Practice Center is the area’s only two-tiered, climate-controlled facility featuring an automatic ball delivery system. Its 58 hitting stations are under cover from the rain and direct sunlight.
Royal Links GC
5995 East Vegas Valley
Las Vegas
Royal Links GC was created to honor the rich history and tradition of the game of golf. This links-style course, designed by Dye International, was inspired by 11 of the 14 different British Open courses. Holes include the “Road Hole” and “Hell Bunker” from the Old Course at St. Andrews, and the “Postage Stamp” from Royal Troon. Other courses mimicked include Carnoustie, Turnberry, Royal Liverpool, Prestwick, Royal Lytham, Muirfield and Royal Birkdale.
It’s a good idea to have a forecaddie when playing Royal Links. They are knowledgeable about the history of each hole, as well as the location of the 108 pot bunkers, many of which are hidden on this 7,029-yard, par-72 course.
Afterward, head to Stymie’s Pub, where the traditional coziness of an Isle tavern is on tap. It offers traditional British fare, golf memorabilia, a fireplace and the warm hospitality for which the British Isles are known. Stymie’s is open for breakfast and lunch. – By Becky LaPlante
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