Golf Digest's Vegas The Right Way
December 2011
Las Vegas: The Right Way
Your complete guide to the most entertaining—and, at times, most vexing—golf destination in America
"Our trip was... a classic affirmation of everything right and true and decent in the national character. It was a gross, physical salute to the fantastic possibilities of life in this country—but only for those with true grit. And we were chock full of that."
— Hunter S. Thompson Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas
'Gonzo' journalist Hunter S. Thompson never took much interest in golf, but his most famous book—his "savage journey to the heart of the American dream"—does speak to something many golfers understand: the unmistakable, almost irresistible allure of a buddies trip to Vegas.
Logic suggests the Nevada desert might not be the ideal place for such a trip. It's a 5½-hour plane ride from our most populated coast. Its terrain is flat and parched. The main drivers of the economy would rather you didn't spend all that time away from their gaming tables, so there's little incentive to keep green fees low.
Yet every year, among the 37 million or so visitors who descend on the Strip, roughly 750,000 of them will tee it up.
Because a trip to Vegas isn't about logic. It's about having fun.
We designed this special guide to Las Vegas golf to help you wring the most fun from your next trip. Here you'll find our ranking of the 25 best courses within an hour of the Strip—along with the other 27 layouts—conveniently plotted on a map. We'll introduce you to two groups of experienced Las Vegas travelers who are full of great advice on where to stay, eat and play golf. We'll tell you how to rack up casino freebies. Where to find a beautiful forecaddie. How to avoid long lines at In-N-Out Burger. And so much more.
Because if you're going to offer a "salute to the fantastic possibilities of life" in Vegas—and you know at some point you will—you might as well do it right.
— Peter Finch and Matt Ginella
When To Visit
Winter can be chilly and summer can be broiling, but the fact is, golf is a year-round sport in Las Vegas. Rather than obsessing about the weather, you might do well to think about what else is going on in town. The Las Vegas visitors bureau has a website (www.vegasmeansbusiness.com/planning-tools) that allows you to look up conventions by week. An average week brings about 85,000 conventioneers. If you see many more than that on the schedule, it might give you pause. The biggest events can raise demand for hotel rooms and tee times at popular courses.
A midweek trip will usually save you a lot on lodging; rooms are often twice as expensive on the weekend. The price break on weekday green fees isn't quite as dramatic, but most courses do charge a little less Monday through Thursday.
One final note: Many courses shut down for a few days to over-seed their fairways in late August to mid-September. Avoid these weeks and you'll be able to pick from more courses. -- Peter Finch
Vegas For Swingers
The Top 25 Golf Courses
Sin City is home to 52 golf courses. We polled the Golf Digest Panelists, more than 1,000 avid golfers who create our rankings, and here are their 25 favorites. 
Map by L-DOPA
1. SHADOW CREEK
$500 / Tom Fazio
www.shadowcreek.com
2. CASCATA
$375 / Rees Jones
www.caesars.com/golf/cascata-golf
3. SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS
Private / Robert Trent Jones Sr. & Jr.
www.southernhighlands.com
4. THE G.C. AT SOUTH SHORE
Private* / Jack Nicklaus
www.golfsouthshore.com
5. WYNN LAS VEGAS
$500 / Tom Fazio and Steve Wynn
www.wynnlasvegas.com
6. LAS VEGAS PAIUTE GOLF RESORT (WOLF)
$159 / Pete Dye
www.lvpaiutegolf.com
7. RIO SECCO G.C.
$225 / Rees Jones
www.riosecco.net
8. TPC SUMMERLIN
Private / Bobby Weed
www.tpcsummerlin.com
9. PRIMM VALLEY G.C. (LAKES)
$125 / Tom Fazio
www.primmvalleyresorts.com
10. PRIMM VALLEY G.C. (DESERT)
$125 / Tom Fazio
www.primmvalleyresorts.com
11. TPC LAS VEGAS
$249 / Bobby Weed and Raymond Floyd
www.tpclasvegas.com
12. LAS VEGAS PAIUTE GOLF RESORT (SUN MOUNTAIN)
$139 / Pete Dye
www.lvpaiutegolf.com
13. DRAGONRIDGE C.C.
Private / Jay Morrish and David Druzisky
www.dragonridge.com
14. THE LAS VEGAS C.C.
Private / Ed Ault and Mark Rathert
www.lasvegascc.com
15. LAS VEGAS PAIUTE GOLF RESORT (SNOW MOUNTAIN)
$139 / Pete Dye
www.lvpaiutegolf.com
16. SPANISH TRAIL C.C.
Private / Robert Trent Jones Jr.
www.spanishtrailcc.com
17. BEAR'S BEST LAS VEGAS
$179 / Jack Nicklaus
www.bearsbestlasvegas.com
18. ANTHEM C.C.
Private / Hale Irwin and Keith Foster
anthemcc.com
19. RED ROCK C.C.
Private / Arnold Palmer
www.redrockcountryclub.com
20. BALI HAI G.C.
$349 / Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley
www.balihaigolfclub.com
21. CANYON GATE C.C.
Private / Ted Robinson
www.canyongatecountryclub.com
22. ARROYO G.C. AT RED ROCK
$149 / Arnold Palmer
www.thearroyogolfclub.com
23. THE REVERE G.C. (LEXINGTON)
$155 / Billy Casper and Greg Nash
www.reveregolf.com
24. BOULDER CREEK G.C.
$75 / Mark Rathert
www.bouldercreekgc.com
25. ROYAL LINKS G.C.
$199 / Dye International
www.royallinksgolfclub.com
The Next 25 Best Vegas Courses
A. ALIANTE G.C.
$85 / Gary Panks
www.aliantegolf.com
B. ANGEL PARK G.C.
(Mountain, Palm, Cloud Nine**)
$119 / Arnold Palmer
www.angelpark.com
C. BADLANDS G.C.
$145 / Johnny Miller and Chi Chi Rodriguez
www.badlandsgc.com
D. BLACK MOUNTAIN G. & C.C.
$85 / Bob Baldock / Ira Cluff Williams, Gill & Associates
www.golfblackmountain.com
E. BOULDER CITY G. CSE.
$50 / Billy Casper and David Rainville
www.bouldercreekgc.com
F. DESERT PINES G.C.
$199 / Dye Designs
www.desertpinesgolfclub.com
G. DESERT ROSE G. CSE.
$59 / Dick Wilson and Joe Lee
www.desertrosegc.com
H. DESERT WILLOW G. CSE.
$46 / Billy Casper and Greg Nash
www.desertwillowlasvegas.com
I. DURANGO HILLS G.C.
$35 / Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley
www.durangohillsgolf.com
J. EAGLE CREST G. CSE.
$60 / Billy Casper and Greg Nash
www.golfsummerlin.com
K. HIGHLAND FALLS G. CSE.
$95 / Billy Casper and Greg Nash
www.golfsummerlin.com
L. LAS VEGAS G.C.
$69 / William P. Bell
www.lasvegasgc.com
M. LAS VEGAS NATIONAL G.C.
$129 / Bert Stamps
www.lasvegasnational.com
N. THE LEGACY G. CSE.
$155 / Arthur Hills
www.Thelegacygc.com
O. LOS PRADOS G. & C.C.
$60 / Jeff Hardin
www.losprados-golf.com
P. NORTH LAS VEGAS G. CSE.
$16 / Par 3 / Jack Walpole
www.cityofnorthlasvegas.com
Q. PAINTED DESERT G.C.
$99 / Jay Morrish
www.painteddesertgc.com
R. PALM VALLEY G. CSE.
$95 / Billy Casper and Greg Nash
www.Golfsummerlin.com
S. THE REVERE G.C. (CONCORD)
$155 / Billy Casper and Greg Nash
www.reveregolf.com
T. RHODES RANCH G.C.
$125 / Ted Robinson
www.rhodesranchgolf.com
U. SIENA G.C.
$139 / Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley
www.sienagolfclub.com
V. SILVERSTONE G.C.
$145 / Robert Cupp
www.silverstonegolf.com
W. SUNRISE VISTA G. CSE.
$28 / Ted Robinson
www.sunrisevistagolf.com
X. TUSCANY G.C.
$115 / Ted Robinson
www.tuscanygolfclub.com
Y. WILDHORSE G.C.
$110 / Brian Curley and Lee Schmidt
www.golfwildhorse.com
The Best Pool Scene
A pool in Las Vegas is like a flame, and the hottest moths aren't wearing much. Almost every casino has a pool scene. My favorite is the Red Rock Casino, about 30 minutes from the Strip. Its Backyard is three acres of beach area, cabanas, wading pools and out-door gaming. Even if you're losing at the tables, take a few minutes to look around. You'll feel like you won something. —Matt Ginella
A stylish send-off: 'Bring a lot of cash'
By Matt Ginella
Illustration by Chris Gash 
'When you go on a bachelor party, you want some beautiful women around," says Alex Leeshue, brother of the groom. "And in Vegas, there are tons of them."
Leeshue and company did Vegas like most avid-golfer males wish they could do Vegas: "We played 36 a day for the first three days and left the weekend for the other stuff," Leeshue says. They hit Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort's Sun Mountain and Snow Mountain courses the first day. (Wolf was closed for maintenance.) On Day 2 they drove an hour north to Mesquite, for 36 holes at Coyote Springs. "The course is nice, but they ran out of sandwiches," Leeshue says. Day 3 was supposed to be 36 holes at Boulder Creek, about 30 minutes south of the Strip, but Leeshue says they wound up back at Paiute. "They have a deal they call Golfapalooza; I suggest you jump all over it. For $159, you get a round of golf--plus a replay on any of the courses--carts, lunch and range balls, and six beers for $10. The facilities are great, service is friendly, and being from New York, I love the views of the mountains."
Much as they enjoyed the Wynn Las Vegas, they didn't spend much time in their rooms. "We had a suite and an adjoining double," Leeshue says. "We averaged four hours of sleep per night." It's not because they were busy playing night golf. "We went high-end when it came to nightclubs. The best club, by far, is XS at Encore, but you have to spend some loot. We spent $600 per man. You get a table and bottles, then it's real easy to get girls to come over and flirt." Safe to say there was more flirting at the gentlemen's clubs. "We like Sapphire. Call them first and they'll pick you up in a limo for free. Every club offers deals."
Men who follow a few days of golf with a weekend at the nightclubs have an appetite that demands attention. "Capital Grille, across from the Wynn, is good and not too expensive. We had the seafood-tower appetizer, steaks, all the sides and drinks for $80 per man," Leeshue says. The group was less enthusiastic about a visit to Jean Georges. "Service was slow, steak wasn't that good--I know a good steak--and it was almost twice as much as Capital Grille."
If Leeshue could hit a parting shot for his fellow avid golfers planning a similar trip to Sin City? "Bring a lot of cash," he says. "I spent more than double what I allocated [$5,000 in six days]. Golf is the cheapest part of the trip.
The more golf you play, the more money you save."
A Wait That's Worth It
The first In-N-Out Burger opened in Baldwin Park, Calif., in 1948. Now there are 263 in five states: California, Arizona, Texas, Utah and Nevada. There are nine in Las Vegas. One of the busiest in the country is on Dean Martin Drive, just west of the Strip. Store No. 86 is open until 1 a.m. during the week and 1:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The lines can be long, inside and at the drive-through, but the wait of 15-20 minutes, even at the busiest times, is worth it. If you want to get in and out fast, manager Jack Vozzola suggests the drive-through between 3-5 p.m. -- Matt Ginella
Wake up, it's twilight!
By Matt Ginella
Photo by John Loomis
"We plan our trip around the NCAA Tournament, but none of us are big basketball fans," says trip planner Don Anderson. "It makes for a better scene, bigger crowd and a lot more excitement." Although the trip moves around the country, Anderson says his group likes Vegas because "no matter where you're coming from, everyone can arrive at 10 a.m."
The buddies stay at Mandalay Bay because it's at the end of the Strip and is easier to set up transportation. They stay up late—gambling and visiting the occasional gentlemen's club—then sleep in and play one round per day. "We always do twilight rates, which start early in March," Anderson says. "You save a lot of money that way."
Their favorite course is Rhodes Ranch. "It's not top-tier, but it's nice. The staff is awesome. And for $70 we got two free drinks and lunch, and you can't beat that." They also like Tuscany ($90), and they occasionally make the drive to Boulder Creek. One year they treated themselves to Shadow Creek. "It was awesome," Anderson says. "We paid full fare [$500], and it was worth it, but once was enough."
They rent a mini-bus from Bell Transportation to get around. At $25 a man per day, "It's cheaper than taxis," Anderson says, "and it allows us to ride together and have a couple of cocktails."
As for food, these guys don't like to spend a lot of money. They prefer Mandalay Bay's House of Blues for breakfast and Burger Bar for dinner and beers. Occasionally they'll splurge at Stripsteak.
Although he uses Jeff Robinson at Las Vegas Golf Adventures to help secure preferred rooms and tee times, Anderson is the type of planner who double-checks all of the rates. "I like being involved," he says, "but if you're not like me, it can be one call, and you're done."
The Odds of March
Combining NCAA men's basketball madness and golf in a Las Vegas trip that's hard to beat
By Matt Ginella
Photos By Augustus Butera
December 2008
I've often wondered who makes the betting lines and how they're so good at their jobs. At the sportsbook inside Sin City icon MGM Grand last March, the Kansas Jayhawks were 22-point favorites over Portland State. This was the battle of a No. 1 seed against a No. 16 seed. I gave the points.
Since the NCAA basketball tournament went to a 64-team field in 1985, No. 1 seeds are 92-0 against No. 16 seeds. Therefore, this game was essentially over before it started, and yet, as the final seconds ticked off the clock, my fists were clenched, I was sweating in an air-conditioned room, and I was fighting the crowd for a better view of the TV. Kansas was up by 24, but Portland State had the ball for the last shot and heaved a three-pointer ...
Some might consider Las Vegas, especially in March, the ultimate buddies-trip destination with all the vital elements: blue skies, temperatures in the mid-70s, unlimited big-screen sports, gambling and golf. This was not my maiden trip to Vegas, but my first during opening week of the Road to the Final Four.
Three friends and I came to town with an agenda: We would play golf in the morning, bet and watch the basketball games in the afternoon, and then hit the tables until our tee time the next day. Not on the agenda were a couple of life's essentials: food and sleep.
We arrived Wednesday night, a college-days pep to our step, convinced this year we'd beat the system -- we'd leave Las Vegas as winners. I ignored wise words from my uncle: "You can win a race, but you can't beat the races."
No shock that we left on Sunday as losers, shoulders slouched and our wallets drained of dignity. Our posture was a badge of what we still considered good fun.
Thankfully, there was golf. This was our escape from the static and the strain of the Strip. We played two rounds at Paiute Resort and two rounds at Primm Valley Golf Club. We picked them because they were a combination of quality and value (by Vegas standards). All four courses we played were ****½, and the green fees were $200 or less.
At Paiute, 25 minutes northwest of the airport, there are three Pete Dye courses. We played the Sun Mountain ($169) and the Wolf ($189), passed on the Snow Mountain ($169) for no particular reason other than we had time to play only two. I preferred the Wolf. From the tips it plays at 7,604 yards, which makes it the longest course in Las Vegas. We played it from the black tees (7,009 yards), which was still too much distance for a group of guys suffering from sleep deprivation. We would've been better off playing the yellow tees (6,483 yards). Not the typical diabolical Dye, both courses could almost be considered user-friendly, as long as you aren't gripping the club with caffeine shakes.
Forty-five minutes south of the Strip, Primm Valley has two Tom Fazio courses, the Lakes and the Desert. The Lakes is more of a resort course; the Desert is for better golfers. Both cost $200, but the Desert plays longer and has a higher Course Rating. The Lakes has trees, waterfalls and feels more manufactured in a desert setting. I loved the back-to-back par 5s on the front nine of the Desert course. Typically, the seventh hole is downwind and reachable with two good shots. The eighth hole plays back into the fan and might not be reachable if you hit four perfect shots. 
Our first choice for lodging was Mandalay Bay because I'd heard it had a bright atmosphere, high ceilings and a classy crowd. We planned our trip in February, which was too late, so we stayed in adjoining rooms at the MGM. It was more affordable than other options on the Strip (standard room rates in March are $179 to $269 per night), and I heard the MGM had just finished a renovation of its sportsbook. It attracted a college crowd in school colors and the occasional face-painter to its wall of massive flat screens. When we were forced to forage, we found two meals at the MGM. Shibuya served top-shelf sushi with an over-the-top presentation. Our favorite meal of the trip was at Craftsteak.
As for my bets on basketball, Portland State missed that last-second three-pointer, so Kansas covered -- the start and end of my winning streak. Oh, well. It's never too early to start planning for next year. Oddsmakers have it at even money that we're going to Vegas again. Last March, the Nevada sportsbooks' take from college hoops was $240 million. Next time, my friends and I are determined to win a race and beat the races.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE: BUTCH HARMON'S BASICS (OF LAS VEGAS)
Favorite restaurant? "I'm a steak guy, so I like the Palm at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. I get the New York strip, Pittsburgh rare with sauteed mushrooms, a good bottle of red wine, and I'm in heaven. I've got my TV booth there that I use all the time when games are on. I just think it's a fun spot."
PUBLIC COURSES
Rio Secco, where I have my school, is one of the most difficult courses in town, and it's always in great shape. Another one I like is Bali Hai, down by the airport. It's like you're not in Vegas. Also, Cascata. It's the finest experience you can have in this town, if money is no object.
Sportsbook? "Green Valley Ranch in Henderson."
OFF THE STRIP
If the Strip isn't your thing, stay and play at the Red Rock Casino. There's a modern motif in the rooms, and the bathing suits on the waitresses (above) at the Sandbar make for a walk-stopping scene by the pool. If you're hungry, T-Bones will solve your stomach problem.
BEAT THE LINES
If you can't beat the oddsmakers, you can beat the long lines at the betting windows of the MGM by going across the street to the Tropicana. The modest sportsbook is still run by hand, and there's rarely a wait.
MONTH TO VISIT
I don't have a favorite month, but I love the spring and fall in Vegas because every day is another beautiful one during those seasons.
Casino Card Tricks
By Peter Finch
Photo by John Loomis
December 2011
The last time Ed Mobley went to Vegas with his Knoxville, Tenn., golf buddies, he got a pleasant surprise when checking out: The Encore at Wynn Las Vegas wasn't charging him for one night's stay, saving him $350.
Mobley earned the freebie because he'd signed up for a "player's card" when checking in. Presenting the card each time he gambled, he accumulated enough points over four days for one free night. "We were gambling for maybe three hours a day," he says. "We weren't going crazy—we were at the $25 blackjack table and $10 craps."
Every casino has some version of a player's card. The goal is to reward loyal guests and to identify potential big gamblers. If Mobley had gambled more, he would have gotten a visit from a casino host, whose job is to cultivate heavy hitters and shower them with gifts like transportation, show tickets, meals and free rounds of golf.
That level of attention is reserved for "people who are willing to play for significant amounts of money," says Joe Phillips, an executive casino host at Tropicana Las Vegas. How does he define "significant"? "Typically $1,000 or more. That's the starting point."
Spend any time with a host like Phillips and you'll be amazed at how carefully casinos monitor everyone's movements. As soon as a customer starts gambling big amounts, a pit boss or another casino employee will notify Phillips. He'll swoop in to introduce himself and encourage the gambler to take a player's card if he hasn't already.
Phillips, one of 11 hosts at the Tropicana, maintains relationships with 1,000 to 1,500 gamblers. He spends a couple of afternoons a week calling customers who haven't been there in a while and encouraging them to visit. Another chunk of his day involves booking reservations for gamblers and fielding their requests for freebies. "People ask for everything," he says. "One guy wanted to go skydiving." Girls? "Yeah, some guys ask for girls. That's illegal in Clark County, by the way."
Many will negotiate, pushing Phillips to up his offer. He has more flexibility with freebies at the hotel, like meals or upgrades, than tickets to a show at another hotel or a round of golf. This is partly because outside events represent hard costs--and also because they would take you away from the casino floor. Which, in the end, is the last thing Phillips wants.
High End vs. Low End
Opposites Attract: Playing Shadow Creek and North Las Vegas Golf Course back-to-back.
By Matt Ginella
Photos by John Loomis
December 2011
On the list of golf's great same-day double plays, you'll find Shinnecock / National, Pebble / Cypress and Winged Foot East / West. You won't find the double I played in Vegas--Shadow Creek / North Las Vegas Golf Course--but it was a day I'll never forget.
When Steve Wynn hired Tom Fazio to build a desert golf oasis for the highest of rollers, Wynn spent a ton of green, Fazio moved a ton of sand, and to be honest, I was sure I'd hate it. A round costs $500, for one. With lakes, waterfalls, palm trees and streams in the desert, it had to feel contrived. Rolling up in a stretch limo, I knew I was going to feel obnoxious. Yet, as the same limo dropped me off at the hotel afterward, I was savoring one of the most unusual and enjoyable golf experiences of my life.
If you have $500 to spare, and you're an avid golfer, I suggest you treat yourself. Stretch out, slow down, look around and eat lunch on the back porch. You'll hear stories about how they've turned away world leaders and world-beaters. Sorry, Bill Clinton, if you're not staying at an MGM property, no Shadow Creek for you. You might play the same day as a George Bush or the George Clooney, and you might get to use a locker next to Michael Jordan, Phil Mickelson or Tiger Woods. (Tiger has the course record: 60.) You won't regret the spend. Be sure to celebrate with a Rhondarita--the Creek's special margarita.
If you're staying at one of Vegas' MGM properties you can try to arrange a tee time by calling your concierge. (Guest tee times are limited.) Otherwise, you have to be invited to play, in which case, you're probably a very high roller.
Only a few miles from Shadow Creek is the site of my afternoon round, North Las Vegas Golf Course. Here you'll pay $9 for nine, and another $7 to go around again. At night it's $10 for nine, $18 for 18. The longest hole is 170 yards, the shortest 74. You'll find an avid men's league, kids and women all enjoying themselves. You might not see the celebrities who wander the fairways of Shadow Creek, but it used to be good enough for Willie Nelson. In fact, that guy on the first tee, in the jeans with the cellphone on his belt, looks a lot like Willie.
From Sin City's priciest to its least-expensive course in a day, there was more than one common denominator. But the most important were these: golf and good fun.
Par Mate, Anyone?
Old Tom never had a caddie like this 
By Matt Ginella
Photo by John Loomis
December 2011
Royal links golf club is supposed to look familiar.
The course is a collection of holes based on the British Open rota and also features a statue of Old Tom Morris, a tribute to the Swilcan Bridge and a massive claret jug. But don't be surprised to see some less-familiar sights, too--like a leggy brunette in a short skirt and tight shirt.
Monica Echazabal, 32, (center, above) has been a Par Mate since 2009.
For $225 per Par Mate plus tip (generally another $100), the caddie promises to shave five strokes off your usual score. "But only if you listen to me," Echazabal says. "And sometimes it's difficult for men to listen to women."
Echazabal is one of 50 Par Mates working at Royal Links, Bali Hai and Desert Pines, all owned by Walters Golf. "We're your ambassadors of fun," she says, "and we take that seriously." Which is what you'd expect for almost $100 an hour. (The nearby Rio Secco Golf Club offers a similar service. Its T-Mates charge $200 per caddie, plus tip.)
Par Mates perform most of the typical duties of a caddie. They don't carry your bag--that goes on your cart--but they do clean your clubs, read greens, rake bunkers, repair ball marks and replace divots. Late in the round, when money is on the line, they have been known to strike provocative poses to distract your opponent. Says Echazabal: "We keep the energy up, change the dynamic of the group, and we realize there's an entertainment aspect to it."
She gets the occasional golfer who assumes the course is basically a brothel with bunkers. "Some guys ask me how much it would cost to see my chest," she says. "I tell them this is the town to see bare chests, but right now we're here to play golf. It's a golf course, and there's etiquette. One guy asked if he could climb down into the bunker with me. I said, 'Dude, I will beat you with this rake.' "
As for her game, Echazabal says she can break 100. "Most of my good rounds are at Royal Links," she says, "because I know the shortcuts and the greens."
Want to hire a Par Mate? Sign up at www.waltersgolf.com 72 hours before the round.