Vegas Golf Courses

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Aliante Golf Club

Flight is the theme at Aliante (Italian for soaring), and the new layout near the National Wildlife Range takes wing courtesy of renowned Phoenix-based architect Gary Panks. Aliante offers pleasant panoramas of the 10,000-foot peaks of the Sheep Range and an outstanding variety of 18 tournament-caliber holes on this par-72, 7,022-yard layout.

The front nine meanders through hundreds of pear trees, while the back nine unrolls through numerous plantings of Mondale pines and bright splashes of purple locust trees. A groomed arroyo graces virtually every hole, often running along or across the Bermuda fairways, and sometimes cutting behind or in front of the tee boxes or Tiffeagle greens, which are small to medium - in the 6,000-square-foot range - with moderate to severe undulation.

Most of the holes look quite accessible from the tee, but a closer look reveals both subtle and clear challenges. Many fairways slope gently toward the arroyo running their length, and there's greenside trouble in the form of swales, hollows and huge bunkers with high flash faces.

No. 2 (the No. 1 handicap hole) is a 472-yard par 4 notable for its flowing contours and absence of bunkers. A short cut all around the green punishes poor approaches but also sets up pitching, chipping and putting options.

No. 4 is an excellent par 3 playing to 155-yards with three distinctly sculpted Panks' bunkers framing a strongly undulating green.

The 550-yard, par-5 11th is superb. The tee box lies near a waterfall splashing into a two-tiered pond. Drives must carry at least 175 yards of that pond, but two sets of forward tees mercifully take the water out of play. An arroyo runs down the right side opposite one fairway bunker left. There's another deep bunker 50 yards shy of the green, which also is fronted by bunkers and backed by an arroyo.

The 420-yard, par-4 17th doglegs left to a green surrounded by water and bunkers. Nearby waterfalls offer soothing sounds to lift the spirits. To literally lift the spirits, a fully appointed clubhouse with floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor verandah offer great spots to sit and admire the surrounding mountains and review the round.

Course statistics:

	Rating/Slope	Total
Eagle	72.8/133	7022
Falcon	70.6/128	6657
Hawk	68.1/123	6117
Dove	69.8/116	5340
Par		72

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Angel Park Cloud Nine

Two plush Arnold Palmer-designed courses, a lighted 12-hole (par-3) Cloud Nine Short Course and a lighted all-grass putting course make Angel Park the most diversified golf facility in the city. All four courses feature mature grass and are always meticulously groomed. For added entertainment or a quick bite, a Mediterranean-style clubhouse with a generous patio looks out on waterfalls and ponds that surround The World's Original Putting Course and help cool the air on those warm summer nights. Besides great golf, the club and staff create a friendly atmosphere to help make Angel Park a great spot for a post-round meal or casual date.

Bob Cupp, 1992 Golf Architect of the Year, designed Cloud Nine Short Course, the 12-hole, par-3 course, which opened in 1993. The holes were designed with similar shot values as some of the most famous (or infamous) holes from around the world. Holes play between 85 and 146 yards, and many are heavily bunkered. The 92-yard first hole plays to a horseshoe-shaped "double green." The 100-yard 10th hole features an island green. On the 96-yard 11th, a bunker lies nearly in the middle of the green. Playing a quick 12 here is a great way to have some fun working on the all-important short game.

The World's Original Putting Course, Angel Park's unique, lighted putting course (opened in 1990), comes complete with scorecards detailing distances - from 50 to 180 feet. There are also mini-sand bunkers and flags with shorter-than-standard sticks.

Angel Park also offers an award-winning youth program - it was VegasGolfer magazine's 2002 readers' pick for the best in the city. Junior camps are offered in summer.

Course statistics:

Cloud Nine
	Par	In	Out	Total
Silver	27	979	831	1810
Champ	36	1341	1132	2473

Putting
	Rating/Slope	Total
Tee	N/A	1,773
Par		49

Angel Park Mountain

The par-71 Mountain Course (opened in 1990) measures 6,722 yards from the back tees, with a rating/slope of 72.4/128. The Mountain features fewer forced tee carries than the Palm, as well as larger (recently redone) greens and shorter par 3's; but with longer par 4's, tighter par 5's and more elevation changes, it offers a tougher test overall.

The first hole is a 433-yard dogleg right. The fairway is fairly wide, but a large bunker right can punish tee shots cutting too much off the corner. A single bunker guards the green. The 509-yard, par-5 second hole is rated the toughest on the course. It's a slight dogleg right with a fairway bunker right that can be reached from the tee. Water right runs from that bunker to the green, which is further guarded by a big bunker front left. The 11 par 4s, except for the 320-yard third hole, are medium to long; five play 425 yards or more. The redesigned 425-yard ninth is a tough test. The dogleg left features water left from tee to green, a long fairway bunker right and a fairway that tapers tightly toward the green.

Angel Park also offers an award-winning youth program - it was VegasGolfer magazine's 2002 readers' pick for the best in the city. Junior camps are offered in summer.

Course statistics:

	Rating/Slope	Out	In	Total
Professional	72.4/128	3292	3430	6722
Championship	70.3/117	3036	3187	6223
Resort	67.8/116	2785	2932	5718
Par		35	36	71

Angel Park Palm

The par-70 Palm Course (opened in 1989) plays 6,525 yards from the back tees with a rating/slope of 70.9/129. The shorter of the two full-size courses, it nevertheless demands solid shotmaking as it requires more forced carries off its well-manicured tee boxes, and its par 3's are longer than those on the Mountain Course. Three par 3's measure 200 yards or more. The shortest is the 175-yard eighth hole, where water fronts the green and a large bunker guards its back. The longest par 3 looks like a desert Stonehenge; the 220-yard 12th hole plays over desert to a green fronted by both sand and grass bunkers and flanked by two massive boulders, one on a front bunker's back edge and another behind the green. The three par 5's all play less than 550 yards. The 525-yard No. 6 is rated the toughest hole on the course. A drive straight toward the green on this split-fairway, double dogleg must carry desert to reach a fairway bracketed by arroyos and bunkers left and right. A tee shot to the alternate left fairway is a safer initial route, but then the second shot must carry the arroyo that runs all along the left side from tee to green. A huge bunker short left of the green further challenges the layup second shot, and another large bunker sits behind the green. The 10 par 4's offer a full range. Six play less than 385 yards; four measure more than 400. The 459-yard 10th is one of the course's toughest holes, with its green virtually surrounded by bunkers.

Angel Park also offers an award-winning youth program - it was VegasGolfer magazine's 2002 readers' pick for the best in the city. Junior camps are offered in summer.

Course statistics:

	Rating/Slope	Out	In	Total
Professional	70.9/129	3012	3513	6525
Championship	67.6/114	2710	3147	5857
Resort	67.8/116	2785	2932	5718
Par		34	36	70

Badlands Golf Club

Badlands Golf Club more than lives up to its name. The three nines of this Johnny Miller/Chi Chi Rodriguez design weave through deep canyons. Whether it's the Outlaw, the Desperado or the Diablo nine, Badlands gives players shotmaking challenges.

The 27 holes offer dramatic shot values, so no matter which 18 holes golfers play, it will be a very memorable outing. Four sets of tees make the course playable for beginners to pros — just make sure to select the right set of tees for your handicap.

On the Desperado nine, the eighth hole, a 196-yard par 3, is a knee-knocker. Players face a tee shot that carries over a deep ravine. Shots short or right will wind up in the ravine, making a drop almost a necessity. Par here is a good number. If you wind up with a birdie on this tough hole, you've earned your bragging rights.

On the Diablo nine, the 389-yard, par-4 15th brings out the best - and sometimes the worst - in players. There are a pair of ways to attack this hole: Play conservative and hit the fairway to the left or - and here's the tricky shot - grab the big stick and carry the ravine and take a short wedge into this green. This is another hole where a birdie is a possibility, but more often than not, par is a fine score.

On the Outlaw nine, the 27th hole - the grand finale - is everything a finishing golf hole should encompass. There's challenge (511-yard, par 5), and it's got risk/reward (go for it in two and try to avoid a watery grave). This hole will let golfers rip it off the tee, but then comes the dilemma. A carry of 240 yards or so will get golfers onto the green, but there is a catch - anything less is wet. Playing conservative will leave players with a short iron into a green giving them a shot at a closing birdie - always a great way to head to the clubhouse. This course is a solid test of golf and offers a rugged look at the beauty of the desert - a nice combination that will bring golfers back for more.

Course statistics:

	Rating/Slope	Rating/Slope	Rating/Slope
	Outlaw/Diablo	Outlaw/Desperado	Desperado/Diablo
Champ	72.7/129	72.1/125	73.0/133
Back	70.7/121	69.7/120	70.6/122
Middle	68.2/116	67.6/116	67.8/113
Front	70.1/126	70.0/123	71.0/132
Par	72	72	72

Bali Hai Golf Club

Welcome to the South Pacific, Las Vegas style. Bali Hai Golf Club opened in 2000, and the Las Vegas Strip hasn't been the same since. The club is luxurious from top to bottom, inside and out. From the stunning golf course complete with brilliant white sand bunkers and thousands of palm trees, to one of the finest restaurants in Las Vegas, Bali Hai is breathtaking.

On the course, it doesn't get any better than this Lee Schmidt/Brian Curley design. The par-71 layout plays to 7,002 yards from the tips and gives new meaning to the word "lush." From the smooth bunkers to the endless foliage, a trip around Bali Hai is riveting. Palm trees and seven acres of water features — including the 16th, a par 3 with an island green — will tantalize golfers' senses.

Many holes at Bali Hai will mesmerize players, but the 16th is one of the most picturesque — and potentially devastating — on the course. One of the many signature holes, this one measures just 141 yards, but the true island green is an intimidating target. The good news is the green is larger than it appears. The bad news is there are two distinct tiers. Make sure your shot winds up on the proper level or three putts are a distinct possibility.

Getting past the 16th will leave golfers with two more stern gut-checks on the two closing holes. The 17th and 18th are beautiful and challenging as you finish off a round that won't be forgotten.

More than 100,000 plants and 2,500 towering palm trees add ambience to the course, and the pro shop keeps up the Bali Hai tropical theme with a great wardrobe selection and original works of art. The warm-up area for golfers is complete with an automatic ball teeing feature.

The elegant Cili restaurant overlooks the course and offers a private patio dining room. It's the perfect spot for that special occasion or just for a bite after the round.

Bali Hai Golf Club offers world-class golf and dining right on the Strip.

Course statistics:

	Rating/slope	Out	In	Total
Black	73.0/130	3471	3531	7002
Gold	70.2/125	3264	3337	6601
Silver	68.6/113	3048	3126	6174
Bronze	71.5/121	2686	2825	5511
Par	36	35	71

Black Mountain Golf & Country Club

A USGA Public Links qualifying site, Black Mountain offers many options: 18 holes of traditional golf and nine holes of true desert golf. The Founders nine, opened in 1957, is tighter and more tree-lined than the Horizon nine (1963). Both nines feature well-bunkered bentgrass greens that are as receptive and smooth as any in the valley, plush Bermuda grass from tee to green, and hundreds of mature cypress, pine, ash and olive trees. The Desert nine, opened in 2002, gives players a true desert golf experience.

Trees frame many teeing areas and line virtually every fairway of the original 18 holes. Besides adding challenge, they also proffer merciful shade in summer. Water is in play on just two holes, and there are only two fairway bunkers, both on Horizon's 413-yard, par-4, ninth hole. Overall, the original 18 may appear easy on the scorecard at just 6,550 yards, but the old-fashioned greens are small and generally crowned, and the mature Bermuda grows thick around the fringes.

The 391-yard, par-4 first hole on the Founders nine plays uphill through a tight tree-lined fairway to a green fronted by bunkers. The par-3, 188-yard third hole is rated the course's toughest; bunkers guard both front sides of the long, triangle-shaped green that narrows sharply in front. Two par 5's, the 502-yard 13th and the 480-yard 18th, offer generous fairways for birdie possibilities.

The Desert nine features holes lined by desert, along with a pleasing amount of fairway bunkering. The greens are bigger and more severely sloped than those on the original 18. Some forced carries are demanded, but none more than 100 yards. No. 2 is a 156-yard par 3 over water to a green half surrounded by bunkers right and in back. The fourth hole is a tight dogleg left, 380-yard par 4; the tee shot must avoid desert left and OB right. The ninth hole is a 530-yard par 5. It was named "One of the 1,001 Golf Holes You Must Play Before You Die" by Quintet Publishing. The tee ball must carry 100 yards of desert to reach a fairway framed by a huge bunker right and an arroyo left. The narrow green is essentially surrounded by water and bunkers.

Course statistics:

	Horizon	Desert	Founders
Blue	3241	3295	3309
White	3059	3020	3164
Red	2746	2540	2772
Par	36	36	36

Desert Pines Golf Club

Nearly 4,000 mature pine trees, imported white sand and abundant water features make Desert Pines feel like a course cut right out of the Carolinas. The Dye Designs layout plays 6,810 yards from the back tees. Pine trees shade the roughs on virtually every fairway, water comes into play on half the holes and more than 60 bunkers — many framed with Pete Dye's trademark railroad ties — really tighten up the course. Greens are further protected by their smaller size and severe greenside undulations.

The four par 3's measure 156 to 252 yards. The green on the 180-yard eighth hole is half surrounded by a lake right and bunkers front and left; so there's little room for bailout. The three par 5's are not lengthy, but they're all tight. The 535-yard third hole plays slightly downhill, so it's reachable in two; but there's a white sand waste area all along the left side on the drive, and from 150 yards out, a pond on the right stretches all the way to the green, where a bunker left can swallow bailouts.

The par-4 holes offer the full gamut of tee shot options. Three of the par 4's measure 341 yards or less, while six play more than 425 yards. The closing holes on each nine are ranked as the course's toughest.

The par-4, 467-yard ninth hole is handicapped No. 1. Two large bunkers left challenge the tee shot on the slight dogleg right, while a lake on the right runs from 140 yards out all the way to the long but narrow two-tiered green, which the water half surrounds. The approach shot also must avoid a long greenside bunker left. Tough par!

On the par-4, 466-yard 18th, a long bunker right is in play on the tee shot, while a lake runs along the left side the rest of the way to the two-tiered green, which is further guarded by large bunkers left and right.

A fully automated, two-tiered practice and teaching facility features 58 covered stalls with individually controlled heaters for winter and misters for summer. For sustenance before or after play or practice, Duffer's Bar & Grill offers a nice variety in an expansive clubhouse with great mountain views.

Course statistics:

	Rating/Slope	Out	In	Total
Back	70.4/122	3495	3315	6810
Middle	66.8/112	3323	3141	6464
Forward	69.4/116	2951	1922	5873
Par		36	35	71

Red Rock Country Club - Arroyo Course

The par-72 Arroyo course at the posh Red Rock Country Club is open to the public, and there's never been a better time to play it; the layout is slated to become private when memberships sell out. At 6,883 yards, Arroyo is slightly shorter and built on more level terrain than Red Rock's already private Mountain course, but it includes several more water features and bunkers (75 in all) so that it plays just as tough or tougher. Like its brother, Arroyo offers spectacular mountain and city views, five tee boxes and a complete variety of tournament-quality holes — all designed by the King, Arnold Palmer.

Arroyo's wide, exclusively isolated fairways meander along the Spring Mountain and Red Rock Canyon Ranges. Palmer's earthy, classical hole designs rise and fall and bend in surprising yet subtle ways with the terrain, giving the lush layout consistently striking eye appeal while also demanding solid shotmaking. Lush is the word: Arroyo is superbly conditioned with true-rolling bentgrass greens and (very) forgiving Bermuda fairways, all of which are made more dramatic by the many bright white sand bunkers.

One of the front side's prettiest and toughest holes is the par-3, 215-yard seventh. Against a city-view backdrop, the elevated tee box offers a complete view of the deep but narrow putting surface guarded by huge bunkers left and front, and a large pond right. The 533-yard, par-5 16th is another treacherous beauty. The drive from the elevated tee must carry 200 yards over a lake and beach bunker, then split fairway bunkers. Front greenside bunkers dare big hitters to try to reach in two.

The 18th hole is a memorable closer. The tee shot on the 401-yard, dogleg-right par 4 must skirt a pond and also avoid a beach bunker. On the approach, greenside bunkers left come into play depending on how far the drive shies from the first hazards, while a greenside swale front right gobbles up bailouts. Players will be grateful for a par. Then it's time to check out the new 5,000-square-foot clubhouse. There, a lovely broad viewing deck and first-class service provide country club-quality food, while the unforgettable round at Red Rock will offer endless food for discussion.

Course statistics:

	Rating/slope	Out	In	Total
Gold	71.9/124	3533	3350	6883
Black	69.7/121	3266	3167	6433
Blue	66.7/112	2938	2966	5904
White	70.2/117	2660	2689	5349
Green	66.9/112	2430	2413	4843
Par		36	36	72

Reflection Bay Golf Club

Golf Digest rates Reflection Bay one of the "Top 100 Best Courses You Can Play," and it is one of the many reasons Golf Digest rated Lake Las Vegas Resort as one of the "Top 75 Golf Resorts in North America." With many holes playing along the 10 miles of shoreline on a 320-acre lake, Vegas' first Jack Nicklaus Signature Course that is open to the public debuted in 1998 to rave reviews and continues to be a favorite among locals and visitors.

The Golden Bear's signature paw print is everywhere on the 7,261-yard course: strategic (white sand) fairway bunkering that guards short cuts and challenges players to properly place tee shots, and greens well guarded by bunkers and/or water and also by their shape and slope, so that every hole demands strong iron play. Many fairway bunkers (more than 40) can be farther away than they appear (check the finely detailed yardage booklet), and many fairways narrow or turn precisely at that yardage gap between 3-wood and driver.

To help make the course playable for all skill levels, however, much water (on six holes) is taken out of play from the more forward tee boxes, while from any tees the layout bends and bucks and rises and falls through a wide series of landscapes: rugged arroyos, deep valleys, rolling hillsides and lakeshore. The closing holes on each nine stretch along the glittering Lake Las Vegas shoreline.

The downhill, 452-yard, par-4 seventh doglegs right, toward the lake, and a stream cuts diagonally across the fairway to guard the shortcut. The downhill approach offers one of Reflection's countless catch-your-breath-and-reflect moments. Mammoth white sand bunkers backed by the blue lake wrap around behind the green, while a lone deep bunker yawns in front. The 199-yard par-3 eighth plays to a green that juts out on a peninsula between colossal bunkers and the lake. The green of the 164-yard, par-3 17th sits literally out on the water. The 561-yard, par-5 18th plays slightly uphill and all along the lake. Deep bunkers split the fairway and also march up the right side all the way to the smallish green, which is backed by water. It's a treacherous and exhilarating finish to an unforgettable golf experience.

Course statistics:

	Rating/Slope	Out	In	Total
Tour	74.8/138	3674	3587	7261
Champ.	73.2/135	3427	3435	6862
Men's	70.3/128	3166	3225	6391
Resort	68.1/124	2896	2995	5891
Ladies	70.0/127	2599	2567	5166
Par		36	36	72

Revere Golf Club - Concord

With dramatic elevation changes, two superbly maintained tournament-caliber courses, lavish practice facilities and a glass-walled mountaintop clubhouse with sublime views of the valley, The Revere Golf Club in upscale Anthem delivers an unforgettable golf experience.

Impeccably manicured greens and fairways are the rule, in any season, and guests will soon note how many holes play along some of the highest points in the valley. There's an enchanting view in one or more directions on virtually every hole on both courses, a view that stretches to snow-capped Mount Charleston in the west, the glittering Vegas Strip to the north and the surrounding mountains everywhere. The views are enhanced by many elevated teeing areas that also give players a gratifying perch from which to view shots climbing against the dramatic backdrops. Typically buttressed by huge boulders, many of the broad tees are architectural marvels, along with the contoured brick retaining walls that frame many of the fairways cut through canyons embroidered by thousands of colorful desert plants.

GOLF Magazine named Revere's first course — the par-72, 7,143-yard Lexington — one of the top new courses in America in 2000, and the club added a similarly styled layout — the par-72, 7,034-yard Concord — in June 2002. Both were designed by PGA Tour Hall-of-Famer Billy Casper and Phoenix-based architect Greg Nash. Both courses play well and look good.

At Revere there's always a great sense of open space in which to relax, enjoy the views and focus on golf.

The Concord (rating/slope: 72.8/126) is slightly more forgiving than Lexington. Fairways are generally a bit wider, and the elevation changes are less severe.

Four moderate to long par 3's (174-241 yards) are nicely balanced by four shorter par 5's. No. 9 plays just 508 yards, but it's all uphill. Bunkers left and right can catch tee shots on the dogleg left; and even from wedge distance out on the third shot, half the green is obscured by a huge bunker front right. Tough par!

The key is many elevation changes can make many holes play longer or shorter than they appear on the scorecard. The 184-yard, par-3 No. 5 plays downhill over a beautiful rock-braced pond. The par-4 15th hole plays just 361 yards, but it's all uphill, and the approach is blind. The par-4 13th and 14th holes play 449 and 447 yards, respectively, but the fairways are well below the tee boxes, inviting some monster drives and shortening the holes considerably.

Depending on the prevailing wind, a big drive on the 551-yard, par-5 18th can set up a chance to reach the green in two. From 270 yards out, the fairway drops sharply the rest of the way to the green, which is fronted by a rock channel and backed by nine bunkers. It's one of those holes — and there are several on both courses — that a player never will forget, and it provides a perfect finish to an unforgettable round.

Course statistics:

	Rating/Slope	Out	In	Total
Black	73.6/139	3545	3598	7143
Gold	70.8/131	3275	3315	6590
Silver	68.2/123	2953	2988	5941
Bronze	69.9/117	2658	2647	5305
Par		36	36	72

Revere Golf Club - Lexington

GOLF Magazine named Revere's first course — the par-72, 7,143-yard Lexington — one of the top new courses in America in 2000, and the club added a similarly styled layout — the par 72, 7,034-yard Concord — in June 2002. Both were designed by PGA Tour Hall-of-Famer Billy Casper and Phoenix-based architect Greg Nash. Both courses play well and look good.

At Revere there's always a great sense of open space in which to relax, enjoy the views and focus on golf.

The Lexington (rating/slope: 73.6/139) plays as the tougher of the two and offers a taste of everything: par 3's from 166-238 yards; par 4's from 379-442 yards; and par 5's from 489-625 yards. No. 11 plays a monstrous 625 yards, but from the tee it's more beautiful than intimidating. Two crosscut fairways run through a canyon some 80 feet below the tee box. Hitting the wider right side allows for a clear second shot to the layup area on the dogleg-left design, but a shot to the narrower left side opens up the green and even can offer a chance to reach it in two. The elevated putting surface is protected by sand bunkers front right and back.

Lexington's toughest rated hole is No. 3, a 442-yard par 4. The fairway is heavily bunkered right, while the green is guarded by several grass bunkers along its right side and desert encroaching from the left.

No. 17 is a 166-yard par-3 to a long but narrow green that's fronted by a waterfall, backed by a pond and guarded by two large bunkers left and in back. It's a knee-knocker for anyone and one of the prettiest par 3's in the valley.

Course statistics:

	Rating/Slope	Out	In	Total
Black	72.3/132	3446	3588	7034
Gold	70.3/126	3195	3334	6529
Silver	67.5/119	2966	3089	6055
Bronze	68.1/113	2735	2902	5637
Par		36	36	72

Royal Links Golf Club

Royal Links Golf Club offers a unique experience from the moment players drive through the gates and up to the castle clubhouse. On the minutely detailed course (right down to the gorse), players can forget where they are and get lost in golf lore.

From the start, the castle's lighting and décor — complete with elegant paintings of ancient players and clubs — and its cozy feel make players feel as though they've been transported to one of the hallowed sites of the British Open. The clubhouse includes a golf shop stocked with high-quality merchandise, art and collectible items and the superb Stymie's Pub, with its fieldstone fireplace and other touches of an English Tavern.

Heading to the first tee, players will cross a replica of the Swilcan Bridge and feel as though they have just jumped across the pond to play some of the world's finest golf holes. Players are accompanied by professional forecaddies to enhance the Scottish experience. Built to honor the game's history, the layout is inspired by famous holes from the British Open rotation courses. The "Road Hole" from St. Andrews (the 10th at Royal Links), the "Postage Stamp" from Royal Troon (the eighth), the 10th hole at Royal Lytham (the first), and revered holes from Carnoustie, Muirfield, Royal Liverpool, Turnberry, Prestwick and Royal Birkdale inspired the layout. Located just 15 minutes from the Strip, Royal Links in 1999 was voted one of GOLF Magazine's "Top Ten You Can Play." Besides great golf, players also are offered free lessons in golf history.

The par-72 course reaches 7,029 yards from the tips, but five different tee boxes give everyone the chance to play. Dye Designs International designed the layout, which features 108 pot bunkers and, in keeping with tradition, no water.

The four par 3's offer the exact distance as the real British courses do: from the bunker-surrounded 153-yard eighth hole, inspired by the famed "Postage Stamp," to the bunker-fronted 223-yard 17th, inspired by Royal Troon's 17th.

The par 4's and 5's also offer nearly the exact hole designs and distances of the originals.

Course statistics:

	Rating/Slope	Out	In	Total
Royal	73.7/135	3460	3596	7029
Gold	71.2/131	3230	3372	6602
Ruby	68.4/125	2874	2990	5864
Emerald	68.4/125	2569	2573	5142
Par		36	36	72

Rhodes Ranch Golf Club

Rhodes Ranch Golf Club grabs players' attention at its gate and never lets go. Through the club's imperial archway (a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired design that matches the clubhouse), a glance right gives a good taste of things to come. Gaps in the rows of palm trees reveal lavish variations of desert landscaping, while a waterfall and pond shimmer to accent sand bunkers punctuating gently rolling green grass.

Rhodes Ranch looks great from every angle. It features traditional, all-grass golf holes that are always in immaculate condition. The staff members are as friendly as they come, and the overall golf value is second to none; VegasGolfer readers voted the course a 2002 Fairway Award for "Best Value."

More than 3,000 palm trees line the fairways of this Ted Robinson design that winds through the lush, tropical-paradise setting; and besides the waterfalls, ponds, creeks and finely contoured landscaping, other details really make the course special. The ninth and 18th holes, for example, can be seen from the clubhouse, a work of art all its own with its booth seating, leather-padded chairs, generous floor-to-ceiling windows and broad wrap-around deck. All render wonderful course and/or mountain views.

The par 72 plays 6,909 yards with a rating/slope of 73.0/122, while subsequent tees drop the distance to 6,405, 6,009 and 5,238 yards.

No matter the choice of tees, all players are sure to be fairly challenged by Rhodes Ranch par-3 holes, which course designer Ted Robinson — whose Sahalee Country Club hosted the 1998 PGA Championship — called the best set of 3's he has ever designed.

No. 3 plays 230 yards across water to a green bunkered front and back. There's bailout front left of the green, and like the whole course, the hole is set up to accommodate everyone: On subsequent forward tees, the water is reduced to a lateral hazard.

The 202-yard seventh hole is the only par 3 not over water, but the green is set diagonally between back bunkers, while trees encroach from the left. The 441-yard, par-4 18th is an excellent closer. The downhill tee shot sets up a mid- or long-iron approach to a green guarded by a stream that cascades down along its right side, and there's also a bunker left just above a pond.

Course statistics:

	Rating/Slope	Out	In	Total
Black	73.0/122	3442	3467	6909
Blue	71.1/120	3189	3214	6403
White	67.9/117	2999	3010	6009
Gold	64.8/110	2611	2627	5238
Par		36	36	72

Siena Golf Club

Beneath the towering Spring Mountains in the Siena community in Summerlin lies one of Vegas golf's most pleasant surprises: the par-72, 6,843-yard Siena Golf Club. The gently rolling rye grass fairways, artfully contoured white sand bunkering and undulating bentgrass greens are all kept in superb condition year-round, and the Curley-Schmidt design team has engineered an excellent blend of doglegs and straightaway holes, as well as a variety of up and down terrain changes to make the course enjoyable for anyone. The key is there are usually generous bailout areas for the feint of heart; but to go low at Siena, one must take chances. Off the tees, most of the landing areas are generous, though fairway bunkers are deep and penal, with soft sand and high faces. Around the greens, there's also plenty of strategic bunkering, and six holes play over or along water.

The strong bunkering and water hazards preclude the need for great length. All four par 3's play less than 200 yards. Eight par 4's play 420 yards or less. Two of the par 5's — the 506-yard 12th hole and 514-yard 15th — are reachable in two.

Hit some range balls to warm up because the first hole — a 420-yard par 4 — is a gut-check opener. The tee ball must avoid water left and deep bunkers right. The reward for driving closer to the water is that the large, undulating green opens up, away from deep bunkers right.

The 159-yard, par-3 fifth hole is lovely and intimidating. The virtual island green falls off to the left, toward the water. On the par-4, 420-yard ninth hole, there's water down the left side from tee to green, opposite deep fairway bunkers, while the green plateaus out over that water.

The par-4, 400-yard 18th is a strong closer. The tee shot is played uphill to a wide fairway that narrows severely at the green, which is guarded on the right by the beginnings of Lake Siena, which flows to the Tuscan-style clubhouse. Take your par and check out the nearby 14,000-square-foot clubhouse or dine out on the patio overlooking the lake. Like the course, the festive Siena Bistro — a 2,500-square-foot Italian-themed restaurant — lays out a rich variety of spicy fare.

Course Statistics:

Men	Rating/Slope	Out	In	Total
Gold	71.5/129	3564	3279	6843
Black	70.2/126	3363	3175	6538
Blue	68.5/123	3149	2997	6146
White	66.3/115	2867	2772	5639
Women	Rating/Slope	Out	In	Total
White	71.8/120	2867	2772	5639
Green	68.0/112	2551	2427	4978
Par		36	36	72

Silverstone Golf Club

Robert Cupp, Golf World's first "Golf Course Architect of the Year," designed Silverstone's 27 superb holes, and they offer everything players can ask for: tough but fair challenges; beautiful contouring; enchanting variety in hole lengths, distances and directions; and generous fairways that give everyone a solid chance to both have fun and score.

All three nines feature rye grass fairways and roughs and bentgrass greens, while Cupp's design is reflected in the names of the three nines: Valley, Desert and Mountain (in ascending order of difficulty).

The Valley may rate as the "easiest," but don't be fooled. No. 1 is a 631-yard, par 5. The second hole is a 162-yard, par 3 over water to a small green. The 406-yard, par-4 ninth is a great closer; the tee shot must carry a pond, and the green sits half out on a lake.

Desert offers medium (the 367-yard second) to long (the 426-yard fourth) par-4 holes with generous landing areas and fairly open greens. The par 3's measure 201 and 211 yards, but there's plenty of safe landing area. The first hole is a dogleg-right, 535-yard par 5. Desert encroaches the corner, opposite a caddy corner bunker, and the fairway tapers as it turns. A deep bunker sits in the middle of the fairway 50 yards from the green, and another sits on the same line greenside. A simple hole, it is wonderfully designed.

Mountain features a broad variety in its five par 4's, two par 3's and two great par 5's, including the longest Par 5 in Nevada. No. 3 is a dogleg left playing 653 yards — slightly downhill — to a green well guarded by a battery of bunkers right and a large pond left. The ninth measures 616 yards, with water running all the way down the left side from tee to green, while the fairway slopes left. Players can see it to their right as they drive to the 34,000-square-foot clubhouse, which rivals any in the valley for sheer elegance and beautiful mountain views, especially of Sheepherder's Mountain to the east and Mount Charleston to the west. Among other amenities, golf carts feature graphic distance-finding systems with precise 3-D diagrams that chart exact yardage to each flagstick, green edge and hazard.

Course statistics:

	Desert	Valley	Mountain
Silver	3,560	3,398	3,599
Black	3,278	3,102	3,274
Blue	2,987	2,862	2,999
Red	2,616	2,575	2,666
Par	36	36	36

The Falls Golf Club

In June 2004, the AAA Five-Diamond-rated Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas received a No. 5 ranking in the ninth annual Conde Nast Traveler Golf Poll, and The Falls Golf Club is a big part of the reason. The yearly reader poll names the top 100 golf resorts in the Western Hemisphere; and the Tom Weiskopf-designed course, which opened in 2002, promptly helped the resort become the youngest property to crack the top five.

Weiskopf's design incorporates an eye-popping variety of holes throughout the rugged desert terrain. The front nine meanders elegantly along the desert floor through and over and around native arroyos and canyons, while the back nine plays through mountainous terrain with elevation changes of more than 220 feet–so high, in fact, that Bighorn sheep often graze on the course. The layout stretches to 7,250 yards from the back tees, but with any wind there's plenty of golf from more forward tees–a generous six sets in all.

The really wild holes are located on the mountainous back nine. No. 11 is a 206-yard par 3 over a canyon high above the city. Two huge bunkers in front and two more in back guard the severely sloping green. Anyone who plays No. 12 will likely never forget it. The 553-yard par 5 plays well uphill, and then down. The second shot must be launched over a hill with no landing area in sight. From the top of that hill, and from the green which is nearly circled by one massive bunker, there's a spectacular view of the Vegas strip and much of the city. On the 388-yard, par-4 13th even the cart ride is hair raising; the tee boxes are so far below the cart path (but still high above the fairway) that they look like heli-pads on skyscrapers. The green lies in a natural rock cathedral chiseled out of the mountain.

After the round, there will be plenty to discuss in the Tuscan-themed clubhouse (built to emulate an old winery), where a huge chandelier hangs from a towering ceiling in a cavernous bar room of wood and fieldstone. Tall windows give onto the big lake that separates the ninth and 18th greens. A 60-foot bell tower chimes the hours, which pass all too quickly at this unique, majestic course.

Course statistics:

	Rating/Slope	Total
Black	74.7/136	7250
Blue	72.6/132	6872
White	69.2/127	6336
Gold (Men)	65.5/120	5634
Gold (Ladies)	72.6/123	5634
Red	68.3/118	5057

The Legacy Golf Club

The Legacy Golf Club typifies Las Vegas. Take a look at the 10th hole and you'll see why. The tee box on the Arthur Hills-designed course in Henderson, Nev., features tee boxes in the shapes of the suits in a deck of cards — a spade, club, diamond and heart. While that is impressive, so is the golf hole. This par 3 requires a precise tee shot to an undulating three-tiered green. The key to this hole is making sure your tee shot ends up on the same level as the pin — no easy task — on this demanding hole that opens the back nine.

There are more challenges on this rolling course. Bunkers, rolling fairways and desert rock outcroppings both decorate the round and up the ante throughout.

The layout is home to the Devil's Triangle, a series of three holes on the back nine that can help make or break a golfer's round. The 11th is a 444-yard, par 4 that requires an accurate second shot into a large, undulating green that can be tricky to read. Par here is a good score and will help set up the next two holes that are very short and very deceptive. Holes 12 and 13, playing 381 and 324 yards respectively, require pinpoint accuracy off the tee. On both drives, a tee shot must avoid big trouble left, so it's better to lay up and leave a short iron approach into a pair of small greens. Both of the greens undulate severely and will challenge even the best putters. Get through these three holes even-par — or maybe one under — and head for the final five holes knowing you've tamed three of the tougher tests in the Las Vegas area.

The clubhouse features a nice dining selection, and an added feature is the drive-through snack bar between the ninth green and 10th tee. Golf clothing and clubs are available in the fully stocked golf shop. The driving range features both grass and mats, and there also is an excellent chipping and bunker play area and a large putting green. Top-flight instruction is available.

Course statistics:

	Rating/Slope	Out	In	Total
Black	74.5/137	3699	3534	7233
Blue	71.5/128	3449	3295	6744
White	69.3/119	3175	3036	6211
Red	71.0/120	2763	2577	5340
Par		36	36	72

TPC Las Vegas

Ever wondered how your game would fare at an actual PGA Tour venue? Well, wonder no longer as the TPC Las Vegas gives you the chance to play where the pros play every day of the year. This rugged yet elegant desert classic is a perennial venue for the PGA Tour's annual stop in Las Vegas.

Designed by Bob Weed (the PGA's chief TPC architect in 1996) and the legendary Raymond Floyd, the course literally was dynamited from the desert rock. The result is dynamite: a natural, rugged look of striking contrasts as manicured turf meanders exquisitely along and over barrancas and arroyos and other native features. A theme of vivid contrast continues with views of pristine Red Rock Canyon juxtaposed with the glamorous Strip and its urban attractions glimmering to the south.

Up close, the course gives a sense that nature has been left as undisturbed as possible. Weed and Floyd incorporated the native wash areas and preserved the indigenous vegetation so that the course looks more natural than imposed. That kind of care has resulted in a superb aesthetic and even earned TPC a "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary" award. Though built over several hundred acres, the course incorporates just 110 acres of irrigated land.

The layout plays tough, but it also looks so striking from every tee box — all the rock framing the fairways glows golden brown and even red in certain slants of light — that players can always appreciate the surrounding beauty no matter how they're playing. And the bentgrass greens and tees and wide Bermuda fairways are always meticulously maintained.

The real TPC test begins with the 196-yard, second hole. The dramatic par 3 plays down to a heart-shaped green braced along the canyon floor by a fieldstone wall. Dazzling variety lies ahead. The 365-yard, par-4 14th doglegs right, all along a canyon. The drive is hit blindly up over the canyon on a shelf above the tee. Players aim at a church steeple in the distance; one must have faith that there's a fairway up there. The green is long but shallow, and like the others, its angle, swales and subtle undulations require undivided attention.

Amenities include a 10th-tee snack shop, fine dining at The Grille in the stately clubhouse, an outdoor patio overlooking the 18th hole, luxurious banquet accommodations, a fully stocked golf shop and complete locker room facilities.

Course statistics:

	Rating/Slope	Out	In	Total
TPC	73.0/131	3563	3500	7063
Blue	70.9/128	3421	3351	6772
White	67.7/118	3058	3052	6110
Red	67.0/109	2488	2551	5039
Par		36	35	71

Tuscany Golf Club

Ted Robinson — whose Sahalee Country Club course hosted the 1998 PGA Championship — designed the new Tuscany Golf club in Henderson, Nev., and many local players immediately took a shine to it. Robinson banked the roughs inward to help bring wayward drives back into play, and Tuscany's 68 white sand bunkers and gently undulating Bermuda greens and fairways feature just the right amount of challenge.

Each nine of the par-72, 6,906-yard layout has a distinctly separate character. On the front side, most of the tees are elevated to allow players a complete view all the way to the green. The back nine includes a few elevated tees, but most of it plays on more level ground. Both nines require few forced carries, and water comes into play on just four holes. Recently, 2,000 palm trees have been added, and 28 acres of turf was replaced with desert landscaping, so though the course is only a year old, it's relatively new all over again.

The 563-yard, straightaway par-5 second hole is the course's longest, and the entire hole is visible from the tee box, as is much of the city beyond the green. A water tower in the distance provides a perfect target for placing the drive between a large bunker right and the left rough that is banked toward the fairway.

The back nine provides a perfect mix of variety, challenge and fun. There's a 299-yard (drivable) par 4 (No. 16); two par 4's more than 420 yards (14 and 18); two tough par 3's of 183 and 200 yards (13 and 15); two "birdieable" par 5's less than 540 yards; and a great finishing hole.

No. 18 — a 440-yard, dogleg-right par 4 — plays to a green surrounded by a bunker, trees and water. A waterfall and creek run just left of the putting surface, along with several palm trees. A broad bunker sits long, and the rest of the green is surrounded by water. A par will earn one bragging rights in the soon-to-be-opened clubhouse, with a 400-square-foot patio that looks out on the 18th hole, the mountains and the Las Vegas Strip.

Course statistics:

	Out	In	Total
Verde	3476	3430	6906
Lilla	3266	3254	6520
Rossa	3069	3066	6135
Giallo	2801	2815	5616
Par	36	36	72

Wildhorse Golf Club

Home to one of the toughest golf holes in Las Vegas, Wildhorse Golf Club is a great venue for golfers of all abilities. Originally built in 1959, the course was redesigned in 2004 by architects Brian Curley & Lee Schmidt and has several holes guarded by shimmering lakes. The championship, par 70 layout is a local's favorite, and a former stop on the PGA tour - regularly hosting the "Sahara Invitational." Wildhorse Golf Club offers a highly enjoyable round of golf at a comfortable price.

Pictured above is No. 18, a par 4 measuring 398 yards, which was named the toughest hole in the Las Vegas area by the staff at Vegas Golfer Magazine. Placement off the tee is a premium. Too short, and golfers face a long-iron or wood second shot into a green that is fronted by a second lake. Too long, and sand comes into play. The only bailout is to the right, but a bunker still comes into play. One of the finest, as well as toughest golf holes in Vegas, this one has golfers coming back for more.

A full-service clubhouse has attire for men and women, and the facility also can accommodate weddings, banquets and other group outings. Instruction from PGA professionals is available at the Wildhorse Golf Academy, and a lighted practice facility, snack bar and restaurant also are on site.

Wildhorse is conveniently located in Henderson, Nevada just East of Green Valley Parkway at 2100 West Warm Springs Road.

For a golf experience that is enjoyable and memorable, Wildhorse Golf Club can't be beat. Just be cautious on that 18th tee.

Course Statistics:

	Out	In	Total
Green	3551	2974	6525
Gold	3313	2724	6037
Black	3066	2463	5529
Silver (Forward)	2756