Nevada is the fastest growing state in the U.S. for golf courses and the majority of these lie in or around the Las Vegas area. If you are thinking of booking your Las Vegas holidays in the near future and you have a passion for golf then the following article may well be of interest to you.
There are approximately 20 high-class golf courses in Las Vegas and plenty more if you’re prepared to travel a little way out of the city. In this article we are going to focus on the top five golf courses within the bounds of the city of Las Vegas itself.
Bali Hai Golf Club – 18 holes / Par 72
The Bali High Golf Club is the only championship course located directly off the Las Vegas Strip. This stunning course is situated just beyond Mandalay Bay Resort, at the southern end of the Strip. Beautiful and testing, Bali Hai has earned a host accolades and awards since opening in 2000 including one of America’s top 40 golf courses (GolfWeek), Best high-end golf course in Las Vegas (Vegas Golfer) and one of the top places to play golf (Golfer’s Digest). Playing to 7,002 yards, this 18 hole, par 72 course is a tropical dream featuring stunning greens, white sand bunkers, black volcanic rock featuring and an abundance of tropical trees, shrubs and flowers. You will also find arguably Las Vegas’ premier Golf Shop and a luxury restaurant, Cili Restaurant, within the grounds.
Bear’s Best Golf Club – 18 holes / Par 72
Opened in 2001 and designed by the legendary Jack Nicklaus, Bear’s Best Golf Club is one of the most spectacular golf courses in America and is located approximately 10-15 minutes drive west of the Las Vegas Strip. This course features replica holes from several outstanding courses such as Arizona Castle Pines in Colorado, Desert Mountain in Scottsdale and PGA West in Palm Springs, California. Playing to 7,194 yards from the back tee, Bear’s Best presents a challenge to golfers of all levels.
TPC Las Vegas – 18 holes / Par 71
Located very near to Bear’s Best Golf Club, TPC Las Vegas is a championship golf course that has hosted Champions Tour Events giving you an idea of its pedigree and challenging nature. Created in 1996 and playing to 7,080 yards from the back tee, golfers will really need to be at their best on this unforgiving course if they want to keep their scores down. Featuring areas of rocky, desert scrubland and vast bunkers, you will need pin-point accuracy to hit the beautiful, smooth greens on some of the devilish holes of TPC Las Vegas!
Royal Links Golf Club – 18 holes / Par 72
Opened in 1998, the Royal Links Golf Club features 18 of the very best holes from 11 different British Open courses. Faithfully recreating such legendary holes as The Road Hole and Hell Bunker from St. Andrews and The Postage Stamp from Royal Troon as well as favourite and challenging holes from other great British courses such as Carnoustie, Turnberry and Royal Liverpool amongst others. Playing to 7,029 yards from the back tee, the Royal Links Golf Club is a fun and challenging course featuring many deep and hidden bunkers and hazards. Also of interest are the various monuments around the course indicating where great golfing moments from the past have happened in British Open history. An English-style Tavern called Stymie’s Pub serves traditional British and American dishes and an excellent golf shop complete the picture. You can find the Royal Links Golf Club about 15 minutes drive east of the Las Vegas Strip.
Aliante Golf Club – 18 holes / Par 72
The newest of the five courses featured here, the stunning Aliante Golf Club was created in 2003. This par 72, 7,022 yard course has a meandering stream running through it which features prominently in14 of the 18 holes. In contrast to this relentless water challenge though, the course is relatively level with little elevation. However, some of the greens themselves are tricky and undulating making for a contrasting and challenging round on this fantastic and recommended course.
Combine your love of golf with a holiday to Las Vegas and enjoy some of the most impressive golf courses in North America on your next vacation.
