We all know that Las Vegas lies deep in the desert, surrounded on all sides by vast, dry landscapes. But you’d never know this from the well-maintained fairways of the city’s many golf courses. For a desert city, there are an astonishing number of golf courses in the Las Vegas area — dozens, in fact. This is great news to golfers visiting the city on business. To help those looking to tee up while in town, here’s a bit more about golf courses in Las Vegas to help out.
According to Golf Magazine, Las Vegas holds its own against other golf destinations thanks to the ability for golfers to play a high-quality course for a reasonable price. Three Vegas-area courses made it onto the magazine’s list of the 100 best courses open to the public. Let’s take a look at each.
#16 — Shadow Creek
If you can swing $500 for a day of golf, Shadow Creek should be at the top of your list. This course was ranked as the 16th-best U.S. course open to the public by Golf Magazine, and it’s the best course you’ll find within half a day’s drive of Sin City. It’s located in North Las Vegas, just a 15-minute drive from the Strip.
If you want to hit the course at Shadow Creek, plan your stay accordingly. Shadow Creek is open for booking from guests at MGM Resorts International, which includes the Bellagio, Mandalay Bay and more than a dozen other Vegas hotels, Monday through Thursday. Weekends are reserved for the big-wigs.
#60 — Cascata
Coming in a distant second among Las Vegas golf courses is Cascata, located a half-hour or so southeast of the Strip in Boulder City. “Cascata” means waterfall in Italian, and the course lives up to its name, with a 418-foot waterfall and a river running through the property — including through the clubhouse. Indoor rivers aren’t something you see every day. But, then again, this is Las Vegas we’re talking about.
Cascata is also relatively affordable, too, at $250 to $375 a day. You can book your tee time easily online.
#98 — Wynn Las Vegas
The Wynn course is directly adjacent the Strip, making it by far the most conveniently located links whether you’re staying at the Wynn or anywhere else nearby. Unlike some courses, you don’t have to be a guest at the Wynn to book a tee time.
The Wynn Las Vegas course was designed by famous golf course designer Tom Fazio, who built it with the rolling hills of South Carolina and Georgia in mind. These sweeping green views are a nice respite from the dry desert landscapes of the Las Vegas area.
If you’re staying at the Wynn, you can book a round of golf 90 days in advance. If you’re staying elsewhere — and we offer lots of options in Las Vegas — you’ll have to wait until 30 days before you desired time to book. Prices start at $300.
Honorable Mention: Coyote Springs
Coyote Springs was the brainchild of a man every golfer has heard of — Jack Nicklaus. One of the game’s all-time great, Nicklaus opened the course in 2008 as the first in a planned series of golf courses in the area. From the links, golfers can see the barren desert mountains that surround Coyote Springs juxtaposed with the lush greenery of the par-72 course.
We should note, though, that Coyote Springs is a bit of a drive, located about 55 miles north of Las Vegas. If you hit the links at Coyote Springs, keep your eyes on the sky: the infamous military establishment at Groom Lake — aka Area 51 — isn’t far away.
Once you’ve hit these courses, there are still lots of reasons to come back to Vegas, including dozens of other courses in the area. Of course, there’s also plenty to do in Vegas besides golf.
PC Housing connects business travelers with short-term housing across the nation, and Las Vegas is one of our most-requested locations. We certainly understand why. As you plan your next trip, get in touch with us and let us find the right home for you.