TPC Las Vegas
"TPC Las Vegas will hold its own against any golf course in America," says Fuzzy Zoeller, former Master champion and golf architect of this marvelous facility. It plays a major role in in the country's largest planned community, and soon after its opening in 1991, it was host to the Senior PGA Tour's Las Vegas Classic. The front nine will be a challenge to the best golfers, but the back nine are nothing short of spectacular. As an example, the par-3 12th has you navigate its 145 yards from an elevated tee to a green that is elevated, too. The course is more than 7,300 yards long from the back tees, and from there it has a slope rating of 139. If your tee time is after 2 p.m., you'll pay greens fees of as little as $50 (as of 2009).
1700 Village Center Cir
Las Vegas, NV 89134-6302
Phone: (702) 256-0222
Fax: (702) 256-2828
www.tpc.com/Lasvegas
Las Vegas National
Just because Las Vegas National--once the Desert Inn Golf Club--is a public course doesn't mean you'll have your way with it. If you are not careful off the tees, you might find your ball in the backyards of some of the homes that are built along the beautifully maintained fairways. From the back tees, this course measures close to 7,000 yards, but if you choose one of the closer four tees on each hole, it can be as short as 5,400 yards long. Las Vegas National is situated in downtown Las Vegas. If you tee off after 3 p.m., you'll pay as little as $125 (as of 2009).
1911 E Desert Inn Rd
Las Vegas, NV 89169-3210
Toll Free: (800) 468-7918
Fax: (702) 796-0015
www.lasvegasnational.com
The Badlands Golf Club
Retired touring professionals Johnny Miller and Chi Chi Rodriguez outdid themselves when they collaborated on the 27 holes that make up The Badlands. You will have to wind your way through ragged desert on well-manicured fairways before you reach the greens on most holes. Every is considered a so-called signature hole because of the awesome beauty The Badlands displays. Depending on which of the four tees you can choose on each hole, the course length varies from about 7,000 yards to a rather short 5,400 yards. After 3 p.m., you can play The Badlands for as little as $50 (as of 2009).
9119 Alta Dr
Las Vegas, NV 89145
Phone: (702) 242-4653
Fax: (702) 243-8098
www.badlandsgc.com
The Royal Links
It may be hard to believe, but you can find a golf course in the desert that is a throwback to Scotland, the birthplace of the game. The Royal Links replicates some of the most famous Scottish holes, such as The Postage Stamp at Troon or St. Andrews' Road Hole. Fore-caddies are needed because the course has many deep bunkers and hard-to-see hazards. The Royal Links is more than 7,300 yards long from the championship tees, and from there its slope rating is 135. You can play this course after 3:30 p.m. for as little as $55 (as of 2009).
5995 Vegas Valley Dr
Las Vegas, NV 89142-3408
Toll Free: (888) 427-6682
Fax: (702) 450-8136
www.waltersgolf.com
Aliante Golf Club
From the championship tees, Aliante is more than 7,000 yards long, although its multiple tees on every hole make it manageable for even beginning golfers. On this public course, there are a number of lakes, a rarity for desert courses, and it boasts pear and locust trees throughout the 18 holes. Aliante also has a mammoth practice area, complete with practice sand traps and putting or chipping greens where you can warm up or make some corrections after your round. Its twilight times are at 1 p.m. for fees of as little as $65 (as of 2009); but if you can wait until after 3 p.m., they can be as low as $25.
3100 Elkhorn Rd
North Las Vegas, NV 89084
Toll Free: (877) 399-4888
Fax: (702) 399-4860
www.aliantegolf.com
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