Golf in Las Vegas

With an average of 315 days of sunshine a year and year-round access, Las Vegas's top sport is golf. The peak season is October through May. June through September only mad dogs and Englishmen are out in the noonday sun, and early-morning starting times are most heavily in demand. However, a number of the courses in Las Vegas offer reduced greens fees during the summer months, sometimes as much as 50% to 70% lower than peak-season fees.

Reservations for tee times can be made up to a week in advance (one or two days are sufficient at some courses, and a select few allow reservations up to three months in advance). Starting times for same-day play are possible, but you're given the first available time. Many of the big Strip resorts have a dedicated golf concierge who can advise you on a course that fits your tastes and, in some cases, get you access to private courses.

Best Courses

Bali Hai Golf Club. Inspired by the South Pacific, the 18-hole, 6,994-yard par-71 is dotted with palm trees, volcanic outcroppings, and small lagoons. The entrance is a mere 10-minute walk from Mandalay Bay. The clubhouse includes a pro shop and restaurant. Greens fees begin at $265 midweek, going up to $325 on weekends; ask about twilight specials that are $189 during the week and $229 on weekends. 5160 Las Vegas Blvd. S, South Strip. 702/450-8170.

Bear's Best Las Vegas. Replicas of the best 18 holes from Jack Nicklaus-designed courses in the Southwest and Mexico (such as the PGA West course in La Quinta, California, and Castle Pines in Colorado) are in one place at Bear's Best. If the 7,229-yard par-72 course isn't tantalizing enough or if the greens fees are too steep, the clubhouse might be worth the drive to see all the Nicklaus memorabilia. A huge dining area doubles as a banquet hall, and an even bigger pavilion provides beautiful views of the mountains and the Strip. Greens fees are $195 during the week and $245 on weekends. 11111 W. Flamingo Rd., Summerlin. 702/804-8500 or 866/385-8500. www.bearsbest.com.

The Falls Golf Club. This Tom Weiskopf-designed course opened in 2002 as the sister course to Reflection Bay, both centered around the Lake Las Vegas resort community. The Falls lives up to its name with elevation changes that grow more dramatic as you work your way through the course. The beautiful emerald fairways stand in stark contrast to the surrounding scrub desert and rocky crags, but water plays a factor in at least a third of the holes in this 18-hole, 7,250-yard par-72 course. Public greens fees start at $170 and, like the course's elevation, go up from there. 101 Via Vin Santo, Henderson. 702/740-5258. www.lakelasvegas.com.

Las Vegas National Golf Club. Las Vegas's most historic course has five difficult par-3s and finishes with a killer 550-yard par-5 hole. During the 1996 Las Vegas Invitational, Tiger Woods played here on his way to claiming his first PGA Tour title, and Mickey Wright won two of her four LPGA Championships on this 6,815 yard par-71 course. Greens fees are $129 during the week and $159 on weekends. 1911 E. Desert Inn Rd., East Side. 702/734-1796. www.lasvegasnational.com.

Paiute Golf Resort. You can play three Pete Dye-designed courses here: Wolf, Snow Mountain, and Sun Mountain. Snow Mountain fits most skill levels and has been ranked by Golf Digest as Las Vegas's best public-access course. Sun Mountain is a player-friendly course but is more challenging than Snow Mountain largely because of its difficult par-4s. Six of those holes measure longer than 400 yards, but the best is the par-4 fourth hole, which is 206 yards over water. Snow Mountain has wide fairways but also has its share of challenges, especially if you stray into the treacherous rough. Wolf, with its island hole at No. 15, is the toughest of the three and one of the most difficult in the area. Greens fees at 7,112-yard par-72 Snow Mountain and 7,146-yard par-72 Sun Mountain are $85 to $185, and Wolf is $105 to $215. 10325 Nu-Wav Kaiv Blvd., Northwest Las Vegas. 702/658-1400 or 800/711-2833. www.lvpaiutegolf.com.

Reflection Bay Golf Club. Fifteen miles from the Strip and minutes from the Hyatt resort, the 7,261-yard par-72 Jack Nicklaus-designed Reflection Bay has a beautiful location fronting Lake Las Vegas, with 10 mi of lakefront beach. MiraLago Lakeside Mediterranean Café, in the elegant clubhouse, has a large patio overlooking the lake. Weekday greens fees are $275; $295 on weekends. Twilight rates are $160 weekdays and $180 weekends. Guests at Lake Las Vegas hotels pay about $60 less per round. 75 MonteLago Blvd., Henderson. 702/740-4653. www.lakelasvegas.com.

Rhodes Ranch Golf Club. One of the better courses in the Las Vegas Valley, the 6,800-yard par-72 Rhodes Ranch course was designed by renowned architect Ted Robinson to provide enough challenges for any skill level—numerous water hazards, difficult bunkers, and less-than-even fairways. Greens fees are $130 Sunday through Thursday and $160 Friday and Saturday; twilight rates are $70 and $80, respectively. 20 Rhodes Ranch Pkwy., West Side. 702/740-4114 or 888/311-8337.

Royal Links Golf Club. Similar to Bear's Best, this 7,029-yard par-72 course replicates the best of the British Open holes. You can play the Road Hole, from the famed St. Andrews, and the Postage Stamp, from Royal Troon. It's a rare chance to play links golf without having to cross an ocean, and the Las Vegas weather usually has far more sunshine and warmth. Also on-site is Stymie's Pub. Greens fees are $135 for weekday twilight, $155 for weekend twilight, $225 for weekdays, and $250 for weekends. 101 Via Vin Santo, Henderson. 702/740-5258 or 877/698-4653. www.waltersgolf.com.

The Wynn Golf Club. You have to be a hotel guest to play award-winning course designer Tom Fazio's lavish urban golf course. The intimate arrangement incorporates the 37-foot Wynn waterfall feature on the 18th hole. Of the 18 holes along this challenging 7,042-yard par-70 course, 11 involve water hazards. The greens fee is $500. Wynn Las Vegas, North Strip. 702/770-7100 or 877/321-9966. www.wynnlasvegas.com.