There is no shortage of life to live on any trip to the entertainment capital of the world but what about those Las Vegas golf courses? Where do you begin?
Many people travel to Vegas for the casinos and the restaurants, some come for the shows and the concerts, while others are here to explore the sights, to take a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon or to see the Hoover Dam. But Las Vegas is also a golf destination and an incredible one at that. But where to start
Well, in the city alone, there are 39 Las Vegas golf courses at the last count. But there are dozens and dozens more within 20 miles of the city limits: more than enough to satisfy the appetite of even the most golf hungry group. But which of the Las Vegas golf courses is right for you?
Well, to help you plan that trip here are some of the best of them. Some of these Las Vegas golf courses are right on the strip, others are a little further out but all are within 30 minutes. Here are our top 10 Las Vegas golf courses.
The Best Golf Course In Las Vegas?
1. Shadow Creek Golf Club, North Las Vegas
The best golf course in Las Vegas will always be a point of discussion and ultimately we can only give you an opinion, yours may be different: but in our view it doesn’t get better – or more over-the-top – than Shadow Creek.
Originally built as a private club by Steve Wynn, the Vegas billionaire, as a place to entertain his friends and clients, Shadow Creek is every bit as over the top as Vegas itself – green fees included. In order to play Shadow Creek you must be a guest at a MGM hotel and even then there are precious few tee-times on offer each day. You’ll be transported the 25 minutes from The Strip to Shadow Creek in a limo and green fees can run as high as $1,000 in peak season.
What do you get in return? Shadow Creek only ranked behind Pebble Beach, Pacific Dunes, The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island and Whistling Straits in a recent list of the best golf courses in American open to the public. It’s easy to see why, Tom Fazio set out to create a blend of Augusta National and Pine Valley where trees and pine straw frame each hole. When it comes to Las Vegas golf courses, it doesn’t get better than Shadow Creek.
2. Southern Highlands Golf Club, South Las Vegas
Some 20 minutes south of The Strip, the stunning Southern Highlands boasts some of the best views you’ll find on any of the Las Vegas golf courses. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr and Jr, it was completed in 1998 and features some extraordinary elevation changes, as the name might suggest. The bunkering is dramatic and elaborate, there is plenty of water and lots of pine framed fairways. The view from the 11th tee runs all the way to the Las Vegas strip in the north and is worth taking a moment to appreciate.
3. The Summit Club, West Las Vegas
A 20-minute drive from the Las Vegas Strip, The Summit Club is the definition of premium.
With membership fees rumoured to run at around ¢200,000 per year, The Summit Club spares no expense in any area of the guest experience. Tom Fazio designed the golf course and the layout is just beautiful. Red-Rock Canyon provides the backdrop to the verdant green hue of the watered fairways and greens. If you find a blade of grass out of place, let us know.
4. Reflection Bay Golf Club, Lake Las Vegas
Set on a beautiful lake some 30 minutes east of the Las Vegas Strip, this Jack Nicklaus design hosted a PGA charity event from 1998 to 2007, with the likes of Bubba Watson, Fred Couples, John Daly and Phil Mickelson winning here.
What of the golf course? The rolling fairways and expansive bunkering are obvious features, so too is water. Measuring 7,184 yards from the tips, five holes run along the Lake, while the 200-yard, par-3 8th sits out on a peninsula with water either side.
The 17th and 18th holes are also memorable with Lake Las Vegas in play and water a constant threat from tee to green. Away from the course, the facilities are second to none, the clubhouse is beautifully appointed and even has its own private white sand beach complete with paddle boarding.
5. The Wynn, Las Vegas Strip
This is the only one of the many Las Vegas golf courses to sit right on The Strip itself but such is the sense of escapism you feel here, that it’s easy to forget you are even in Las Vegas at all.
Tom Fazio designed this beautiful 18 hole course, which opened in 2005, alongside his son Logan. And they have created a 6,722-yard, par-70 layout which features waterfalls, towering trees, dramatic changes in elevation and even areas of marshland, which feed back to the three lakes which come into play on this course – as many as 12 of the 18 holes feature water. The Wynn Golf experience is very much open to the public but, like everything in Vegas, comes at a price. Green fees are north of $500.
6. TPC Summerlin, Summerlin West Las Vegas
Any TPC golf club in the world comes with a stamp of quality and Summerlin is no different.
Only 15 minutes from The Strip, TPC Summerlin is par-72, 7,243-yard layout which is carved out of the rugged desert terrain which surrounds Las Vegas. Created by Bobby Weed and former PGA Tour veteran Fuzzy Zoeller, the course cuts through canyons and features plenty of water. It is unquestionably one of the most visual stunning of the Las Vegas golf courses and has hosted PGA Tour events, including Tiger Woods’ first victory is a professional back in October, 1996. Just a few months later, Tiger would win The Masters by 12 shots and the sporting landscape would be changed forever.
TPC SUMMERLIN SCORECARD
7. Las Vegas Country Club, Las Vegas Strip
In a city where shiny and new is the order of the day, Las Vegas Country Club has more than stood the test of time.
The Las Vegas Country Club, designed by Ed Ault in 1967, is a tree-lined classic which has a luxury parkland-plus feel in the centre of this buzzing metropolis. The course was updated in 2009 by Mark Rathert and has played host to countless tour events over the years as well as many celebrities. The likes of Andre Agassi have been named honorary members, following on from stellar names such as Joe DiMaggio and Dean Martin back in the day.
Agassi once said of of The Las Vegas Country Club, “it’s astonishing to see such serenity, charm and something so timeless, in the noisy pulse of our city,”
The great Gene Sarazen called it “one of the greatest courses I’ve seen in my lifetime.” In terms of location, it’s as good as any and is just minutes from The Strip.
8. Bali Hai Golf Club, Las Vegas Airport
Bali Hai Golf Club is another one of the Las Vegas Golf Courses to exude that tropical feel that appeals to many on a trip to Nevada. Lush is another word you might use to describe Bali Hi Golf Club, which features plenty of water and more than 2,000 palm trees. The par-3 16th features an island green and when you play it, it’s likely you will have an audience with the club’s Cili Restaurant close by. You’ve been warned – fore!
9. Bear’s Best Las Vegas, Summerlin West Las Vegas
This 7,194-yard Jack Nicklaus design sits some 20 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip and rather like Vegas itself it seeks to emulate and imitate. But instead of recreating the Eiffel Tower, Ancient Rome or the New York City skyline, this golf course replicates the best holes from The Golden Bear’s design portfolio. Some holes are taken from Palm Springs, others from Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona, but there are holes drawn from Mexico, Spain and elsewhere.
The fairways are wide and generous and it is a course which is prioritises enjoyment over challenge. That feeling is replicated in the guest experience, with each four-ball given a forecaddie to help guide them around the golf course.
10. TPC Las Vegas
Once known as TPC at The Canyons, TPC Las Vegas is much more than just an 18-hole golf course. It’s home to so much more, including a 2,000 square foot golf shop, sprawling practice facilities and plenty of options for a pre or post-round meal. The course measures 7,000 yards from the back tees but the vast array of tee grounds mean this Las Vegas golf course can cater for all abilities.
LAS VEGAS GOLF: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How many Las Vegas golf courses are there?
At the last count there were 58 golf courses within 20 miles of the Las Vegas strip. The majority are private golf clubs. What about Las Vegas golf courses public can visit? There are certainly some of those too, with the likes of Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort and Bali Hai Golf Club, two which are worth considering.
What is the Las Vegas golf center?
The Las Vegas golf centre is where golf meets entertainment, close to the iconic strip. It features a floodlit par-3 course, as well as a two-tier driving range and putting and short game areas too. The Rockstar Bar does great food and drinks, as well as live music and entertainment as only Vegas can.
Where can I find the best Las Vegas golf packages?
There are no shortage of ways to book the best Las Vegas golf packages but make sure you do you research and choose your travel company carefully. If you’re in any doubt, shoot us an email Hello@TheWanderingGolfers.com and we’ll keep you on the straight and narrow.
Is there Topgolf in Las Vegas?
There most certainly is. Topgolf Las Vegas is just behind the strip on Koval Lane. You can get there by walking through the MGM Grand via the Topgolf/Wet Republic walkway. For the latest TopGolf Las Vegas prices visit Topgolf.com/las-vegas/
