In the American capital of entertainment, there is always time to take a break of gambling and book a tee time. Nevada is known by having some of the most stunning golf courses of all the United States, however, not all of them are accessible to all budgets. In this list, we have chosen the best golf courses in the State, taking into account features such as conditioning, rates, services, views and difficulty, among others. Take a look at them and let us know what you think!
Best Golf Courses in (Province/State)
1. Shadow Creek (Las Vegas)
Rating: 5.0/5.0
Built upon the vast Nevada desert, this legendary curse was designed by Tom Fazio and Andy Banfield in 1989, and it is knows by one of the finest courses in the whole country. If you are looking for a top-class VIP experience, Shadow Creek will not disappoint you. The only condition for playing, apart from the $500 fee per round, is that you must be staying in a MGM Resort. The services are everything you can think of, and probably more. Starting with a limo trip from the hotel, you arrive to the course, with your caddy already waiting for you. The rest of the services are exquisite as well: a great clubhouse, with a locker room full of famous names, including Tiger Woods and his course record score card. After this promising start, the golfing experience is a total delight: while enjoying some heavenly views of the mountains, you will play in the most perfect course conditions. In a course where every hole is a total masterpiece, it is difficult to find a signature hole. But here there is no doubt about it: the 17th is probably the best hole in the whole state. With a waterfall, a pond, an island green and multiple trees and vegetation gives this hole a jungle-impression that will give you the feels!
Rating: 4.9/5.0
If you are in Vegas, and do not want to pay the $500 of Shadow Creek, do not worry… There are plenty of other options, but from all of them, we absolutely recommend to take the one-hour drive to Wolf Creek. Seasonal prices here are much more affordable (ranging from $85 to $195) and the course is only an hour and a half drive from Sin City.The landscape is stunning, counting with desert views and huge mountains covering the horizon. Elevation changes, white sand bunkers and spectacular water hazards make the rest. The price you pay is nothing compared to the views you will be experimenting during the whole round. The signature hole here are… all of them! But of we have to choose one, we will go with the par-5 12th. Its panoramic views from the tee box will leave you astonished, while trying to avoid the beautiful but annoying ponds located at both sides of the fairway. They also count with a really nice website where you can find all the info you need, and that will convince you to take the chance at Wolf Creek!
3. Las Vegas Paiute – The Wolf (Las Vegas)
Rating: 4.9/5.0
This resort, built upon Native American land, counts with three different courses, of 18 holes each: The Sun, The Snow and the Wolf. From the three of them, we definitely stay with the newest one: the Wolf.This top-notch course was designed by Pete Dye and opened to the public in 2001. It is the longest (around 7 kilometres long), toughest and probably the most memorable one. With all the Dye typical course characteristics – challenging holes, water hazards and an island green (the one from 17th hole) -, this huge course will give you an isolated experience, free from sharing the green and fairways with other players. But beware, you could get lost in the desert if not careful…Another thing to take into account is the wind. Due to the wide open space of the desert, windy days can make you ball fly like a kite!Rates here fluctuate between 90 to 130 dollars depending on the day of the week and the time you want to play.
4. Las Vegas Paiute – Snow Mountain (Las Vegas)
Rating: 4.8/5.0
Named after 3600 metres Mount Charleston, this course is the perfect mix of beauty and challenge, and was the first one to exist in Las Vegas Paiute Resort. This 6500 metres long course counts with the best par 3s in the whole resort. For example, the 16th, where you can contemplate the Sheep Mountain while hitting the ball over a water hazard. After that hole, the following and last two are a par 5 and a finishing par 4 that will be an adrenaline rush for any player who loves challenges. You can check each hole one by one in their beautiful and intuitive website. It also counts with a great clubhouse, a pro shop and a restaurant. Vey recommendable!
5. Cascata Golf Course (Boulder City)
Rating: 4.6/5.0
You can appreciate the greatness of Cascata from the first step inside the property. An amazing 3.500 square metres clubhouse welcomes you, where you can find your golf cart, which is mandatory in this course (there are some long distances between holes). Paying rates around $250 to $420, the course is really VIP-ish, and the staff lovely and accessible. The greens are meticulously well maintained, and run fast and steady. Check out the 14th hole, a par 4 which made the cover of Golf Digest, with Tiger Woods standing on the water. This downhill hole is extremely tricky, with water hazards and some bunkers protecting the hole that make it extremely fun. This course was designed by Rees Jones, and counts with anything you can think of, on a luxury level: driving range and putting green, a great restaurant, a valet parking, stunning locker rooms and showers and a well prepared pro shop.
6. PGA Golf Club Coyote Springs (Coyote Springs)
Rating: 4.5/5.0
A Jack Nicklaus designed course, it offers more undulated greens and fairways than the usual Nicklaus style. Its stunning panoramic views make this desert-style layout course a pleasure for the eye, while having some fun with the white sand bunkers, fantastic water hazards and sloping greens. It also counts with the largest practice facilities of the whole country: 76.000 square metres with 13 target greens where you can practice your swings, and some putting greens and bunkers to tune up your short game. Its player’s lounge is also a must-visit. The best hole, a very fun and tricky par 3: the 17th. The sloping green and three protecting bunkers around the pin will have your abilities tested for sure!
7. Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course (Stateline)
Rating: 4.4/5.0
This course is the best of the Reno-Lake Tahoe zone, and it’s an absolute must to play here if you are in the area. Surrounded by the magnificent Lake Tahoe, it has some pine forests and it is really close of the casinos area. It was designed by George Fazio in 1968, when his nephew Tom was still a young apprentice. It is really well known in the country, probably because it holds a Celebrity Golf Championship every year, which is televised. Another tournaments it has held are the 1980 U.S. Public Links Championship and the 1985 U.S. Senior Open.The Celebrity Championship has also made the signature hole here quite famous. The par 3 17th plays along the Lake Tahoe shore, where you can find a waste beach. Two bunkers protect this beautiful hole, a perfect opportunity for the brave ones to go for the pin in the tee shot.
8. Reflection Bay Golf Club (Henderson)
Rating: 4.2/5.0
Located in the luxurious resort of Lake Las Vegas, Reflection Bay was designed in 1998 by the great Jack Nicklaus. It is a tough course which has won many awards by magazines such as Golf Digest or Golf Magazine. The course maintenance is perfect, with well-groomed fairways and greens, and has some fun challenging holes throughout the whole round. The best ones are the holes along the lake, like the 17th, a par 3 with an island green at the end that will give you the chills. With a price range that varies between $55 up to $200, this is another great option for golfers spending some time in this part of Nevada.
9. Conestoga Golf Club (Mesquite)
Rating: 4.1/5.0
Located in the city of Mesquite, 130 kilometres from Vegas, Conestoga lies as a 18-hole championship course fantastically designed by Gary Panks. It counts with expansive fairways that will increase your confidence from the tee, and some great elevated par 3s that will make you visualize the hole in one from the tee box. With the difficulty of having Wolf Creek as a competitor in Mesquite, Conestoga play its part humbly and delivers in a great way. The 4th hole, known as “The Fence Hole”, a par 4 which ends up with a cliff, after which the fairway continues at the bottom. To separate this two parts of the hole, there is a wooden fence which acts as protection.
10. Incline Village Golf Course (Incline Village)
Rating: 4.0/5.0
Even when Edgewood is probably the best course in the Tahoe area, Incline Village has also something to say. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1964, this championship course was renovated in 2003. The views of Lake Tahoe are amazing, with the best one from the 7th, the signature hole: a downhill par 4 which will leave you breathless the moment you stand on the tee box. It counts with two 18-hole courses, so you will not get bored at all! Its prices range between $40 and $180, depending on the number of holes and the season. The good thing: all of the rates include a golf cart!
Wrap up
All these 10 courses are great options for hitting some balls in Nevada. Depending on your location and budget, you will certainly get a course that will suit you perfectly. Do some research or ask around but be sure to visit one of those in our list and inform us about your experience!
