Paiute Golf Resort – Wolf Course

This course is “in-biting”! The word play may not work for everyone but the Wolf Course of the Paiute Golf Course would definitely be a delight to play for any golfer. It appeals most especially to golfers of discriminating taste – offers a satisfaction that only a Pete Dye creation could give. This golf course right at the heart of Las Vegas is a golf vacation that will most definitely leave its mark.

The Wolf Course is regarded the longest course in Nevada, and perhaps the entire Southeast region, at 7,604 yards from the longest tees. With its sweeping views of the surrounding desert, the flat and rocky terrain, signature Dye bunkers, things cannot get any more interesting and beautiful than this. There are numerous doglegs and forced carries to hurdle; trust that it’s a wild one that cannot easily be tamed. For the more challenged ones, there are five sets of tees to choose from. Not that it’s going to be any easier; it’s just going to be a lot more forgiving and patient. The best thing about it is perhaps the most undeniable: this is a desert golf vacation destination at its purest; golfers can play and enjoy the golds and reds of the desert landscape undisturbed by the presence of residential edifices.

The signature hole of the Wolf Course is the island green 15th. It is reminiscent of TPC of Sawgrass’ 17th, which is also a Dye masterpiece. To cap it all off, the course is in a golf resort that could not be placed anywhere below excellent and superb and world-class. As are the amenities and services – naturally. This is one absolute Las Vegas golf trip that is “to-Dye-for!”

Badlands Golf Club

No golfer cannot go any “badder” than at the Badlands Golf Club. This is among Sin City’s most challenging desert golfing experience, and it won’t go easy on anybody. As its name implies, it can be outright bad to any golfer, but a fun and unforgettable challenge to the true golf lover. But not a single golfer would actually say that it is “bad” on merits of excellence in layout and scenery. This is one golf trip that will show the good in the bad.

The Badlands Golf Club is a collaboration of Johnny Miller and Chi Chi Rodriguez. They have magically transformed the flat piece of desert land into a complete golf facility consisting of three magnificent nines. And their names would speak for themselves: the Desperado, Diablo, and the newest one, the Outlaw. Each nine measures about 3,500 yards from the longest tees. Each nine features a rugged desert terrain, with quick greens and wide fairways. The contrasting textures and hues made by the sharp cliffs and rocks and the greens are a visual statement almost devilish in nature. No goody two shoes here; one can’t go nice and easy or shots will go wayward, and the monstrous arroyos and edges will eat the ball alive. This golf vacation destination is a force to reckon with, hands down.

Each pairing of nines brings a different flavor to the game. The desert heat and the breeze, though, are but a constant companion. The games here are so great, so challenging, that golf vacations here don’t come in single occurrences; there is almost always a nagging need to come back. It’s a bad habit to break. The Badlands Golf Club is perhaps the “best” “bad” thing to come to Las Vegas golfing.

Angel Park Golf Club – Mountain Course

This is the closest to heaven any golfer could get in Sin City. Or in the entire Nevada. The Angel Park Golf Club has fondly been named “the world’s most complete Las Vegas golf experience”. And there is reason enough for it. It is a 36-hole facility, and a world class putting green and short course on the side. One of its courses alone, the Mountain Course, has more than enough a golfer could want, need, and ask for in a golf vacation.

The legendary designer Arnold Palmer brought his genius down to Las Vegas when he designed the Mountain Course. And it bears all the signature features ever to be expected of a Palmer signature. On top of Palmer’s well-placed, wild-shaped bunkers, Palmer has perfectly captured and highlighted the natural endowments of its location. The course has retained its natural terrain, thus the variety in elevation changes. It also has a perfect balance of natural desert vegetation, water hazards in all the right places, and an unlimited helping of the Las Vegas Valley and the Red Rock Canyon. At close to 3000 feet in elevation, this is indeed one very-close-to-heaven golf trip no golfer could ever resist.

No golfer at all, because most everyone who knows how to hold a club and play ball could have fun here. What, with four sets of tees on a very playable layout from each tee, this golf vacation destination is for everyone. The Mountain Course measures 6772 yards from the longest tees, par 71 (par 72 for women), and is complemented by the world class amenities and services at its Mediterranean style clubhouse. Its dining options are heavenly themselves, naturally.

Concord Course – Revere at Anthem

The Revere at Anthem, in Henderson, just a little outside of Las Vegas, is a well known golf vacation stopover. Golfers know they are in for one tough joyride in the Revere’s Concord Course. The Billy Casper/Greg Nash creation will take golfers in a roller coaster adventure through Nevada’s most scenic desert locations.

Measuring 7,034 yards from the longest tees, the Concord Course has an ideal location in one of the highest points in the valley. With majority of the natural desert terrain retained, the golf vacation destination has very dramatic elevation changes and breathtaking views. Rocky outcroppings, bunkers, wide fairways and large greens all make up the wild ride of a game. The level of challenge rises and falls just as much as there are changes in elevation. And the most fascinating of it all is a most appropriate ending: the 18th hole – a long, downhill par 5 aptly called “Independence”. The greens are guarded by a ravine at the front, demands all the precision and accuracy for the golfer. Tricky at best, traitor at worst. This is considered not only the best closing hole in Las Vegas, but the best golfing hole in the area. A most fitting ending to a tough joyride.

The scenery surrounding the Concord Course is among the best anyone could ask for when sightseeing. Good scenery, even better layout – no wonder this course holds a four and a half star rating from Golf Digest’s Places to Play and a “Best New Course in Las Vegas” award (2002). The course is difficult but forgiving; it could be hard to play at times – but it is harder not to! It would be even more difficult to forgive having to miss a golf trip here!

Lexington Course – The Revere at Anthem

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. But a true golfing aficionado does not stop and stay in Vegas for his ultimate golf vacation. He goes just a little outside the Sin City, in Henderson, and knows that he is where he should be. The Revere at Anthem is a 36-hole spectacle that has all the good things any golfer would want in a Nevada-flavored trip. And the Lexington Course will epitomize that.

The original of the two courses, the Lexington Course measures a good 7,143 yards, and plays for a par of 72. It was designed by Billy Casper and Greg Nash. And this was one collaboration that truly proves that ‘two heads are better than one’. They have magically combined what beauty there is in the desert’s natural surroundings and tweak it to become a beautiful golf vacation destination. The result is a hilly, steep desert course that is beautifully surrounded by desert mountains. Water comes to play on some holes, but it is the desert terrain that makes it very challenging – from either of its three tees. A novice will have as much challenge as the pro, no doubt.

But for the heartaches it causes, it makes up for in scenery. Golfers would forget about how difficult the game actually is at the Lexington Course especially when they get to the 14th hole onwards. This is where they get sweeping, unparalleled views of the Las Vegas Strip. Views, layout, amenities – there really is a reason for every golfer to not stay in Vegas – the real deal golf trip is at the Revere!

Tiger Point Golf Club

Not even a battering from Mother Nature’s fury could destroy a great golf vacation destination. Well, almost. Not that it was left unscathed, but the Tiger Point Golf Club in Gulf Breeze, Fl rose up from the debris of successive Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis. The aftermath of the hurricanes were devastating, reducing a once-36 hole golf facility into a 27-hole course. But not just any 27-hole course – it is still one of the most beautiful, most interesting courses on Florida’s Emerald Coast, hurricane or no hurricane.

The Tiger Point Golf Club has two courses – the 18-hole East Course and the West Course nine. Half of the former West Course got the worst end of the hurricanes and is on its way to reconstruction. Thankfully, the remaining 27 were salvaged by one of its original designers, the legendary Jerry Pate. The East Course measures 7,041 yards from the longest tees, par 72, and has a Scottish links layout design. The West Course plays par 36 and measures 3,414 yards. Both courses have four sets of tees , and features stunning views of the bay, a sprinkling of southern pines, and some interesting undulation – a rarity of sorts in the mostly flat terrain hereabouts. Its championship layouts are not only golf vacation-savvy; they are also tournament ready.

In fact, the Tiger Point Golf Club was host to several PGA Tour Events then and now. That, plus excellent practice facilities have merited it some huge awards, including being voted “Best of the Bay” (Pensacola News Journal, 2007). With huge reconstruction projects along the way, this golf trip haven is well on its way not only to a full recovery but becoming one of the best in the state. Not that it’s any less better now.

Hidden Creek Golf Club

If this golf vacation destination were truly ‘hidden’, it is worth seeking for. The Hidden Creek Golf Club in Navarre, Florida, could easily have been missed out being flanked by two golfing spots – Fort Walton Beach and Pensacola. But thanks to its layout and amenities, it easily stands at par with the bigger, more popular courses in the area.

The Hidden Creek Golf Club is a Ron Garl creation featuring a highly playable layout with just the right amount of ‘kick’ in every hole to keep things interesting. It opened in 1988 and its resume includes an impressive list of US Open Qualifying Rounds and a 4 ½ star rating from Golf Digest. It is also in the elite list of Golf Digest’s Top 201 Places to Play in North America. With 6,805 yards from the longest tees, the course plays for a par of 72 with four sets of tees on a fairly open layout. It is slightly elevated, with a lot of room for tees, and the greens are fast and true. Pines dot the well manicured greens adding a scenic and challenging touch up to the relatively flat terrain. To complete the golf vacation package, the course offers some of the best amenities anyone can find in the area.

It boasts of a newly built clubhouse complete with two full locker rooms, a shower and a sauna. The fine dining restaurant, The Tuscan Grille, completes any guest’s golf trip experience at the Hidden Creek Golf Club with its excellent choice for lunch and dinner. The green fees are reasonable, the amenities superb, and the layout is interesting from the 1st hole down to the last. No golfer could ever hide his fascination for this course; the reasons are quite easy to find.

Burnt Pine Golf Club at Sandestin Resort

What could be better than a Rees Jones masterpiece in Florida? A Rees Jones masterpiece that sits next to a Robert Trent Jones Sr masterpiece – in a Northwestern Florida paradise, backdropped by the stunning Choctawhatchee Bay. This impossible dream, thankfully, comes to reality at the Burnt Pine Golf Club at Sandestin Resort. A round in this golf vacation destination quells all doubts as to why this has been named the “Crown Jewel of Florida Golf” (Golf Magazine). That is singling it out amongst the thousand courses in the Sunshine State.

The Burnt Pine Golf Club at Sandestin Resort has in its premises a most beautiful and irresistible combination of bayside golfing in its back nine, and Emerald Coast’s natural wetlands and pine forests in its front nine. Measuring 7,000 yards from the longest tees, this golf vacation haven features some rolling fairways and demanding bunker placement to push golfers to be creative at every shot attempt, at every hole. That is on top of a most unnerving distraction, the equally gorgeous Robert Trent Jones Sr design, Raven Golf Club.

Of the four courses in the resort, this one has the most merits. Apart from being consistent on Florida Golf News’ list on the best in the area and best in the state, Golfweek and Golf Digest unanimously say this ranks among the top 30 in the State. In fact, it has also made it to Golfweek’s Top 150 in the country (2003). The list could go on and on and on – because it definitely could. But what could be better than knowing all the merits of the Burnt Pine Golf Club at Sandestin Resort? Taking a golf trip to this place and experiencing firsthand what earned it all these accolades.

The Links Course at Sandestin

The Links Course at Sandestin in Northwestern Florida is a risk-reward course where the reward comes before and after the risk is taken. Everything about this course makes for golf vacations that are unforgettable at best, memorable at worst. Coming here is the reward in itself. And everything about it makes golfers forget they are taking risks at all.

Being part of the massive vacation facility, the Sandestin Resort, it should not be surprising why this course is among Florida’s most excellent. A Tom Jackson creation, the Links Course at Sandestin welcomes the guests with sweeping views of the Choctawhatchee Bay and the Baytowne Marina in the background; not the least bit a foreshadowing of the challenging layout ahead. Five of its 18 holes run along the bay, giving it a links feel; the rest meander through natural Florida wetlands following the natural contours of the land. The layout requires some accuracy in shots and excellent club selection skills; the persistent wind requires a lot of patience. But deciding on taking a golf trip here requires nothing more than the desire for a most fantastic golfing experience.

There is hardly anything bad at the Links Course at Sandestin; and the major golf publications may agree. Golf Digest gave it a four star rating multiple times in its Places to Play list; Florida Golf News included it in the Top 15 in Northwestern Florida – that is out of hundreds of courses in the area – and amongst the Top 100 in the State – out of the thousands. Perhaps, the only risk here is not getting to experience a mediocre golf vacation destination to compare this superb one with.

Hombre Golf Club

The nines at the Hombre Golf Club are called the “Good”, the “Bad”, and the “Ugly”. But it seems as though there is some sort of miscommunication here. This is one golf vacation destination that is too good to be bad, too beautiful to be ugly, and too superb to be just “good”.

Originally, the Hombre Golf Club opened with just two nines, the “Bad” and the “Ugly”. It was the site of the first PGA Tour event it hosted (Panama City Beach Classic, 1990). In 2001, the “Good” 3,170 yard- nine was added. Today, it is all 27-holes of challenging golf considered to be among Florida’s best. These holes meander through natural wetlands, marshlands, lakes and preserves accentuated by an abundance of palms, pines, and azaleas. With water playing on 21 of 27 holes, three 18-hole combination for choices, and an unparalleled scenery, this is quite a golf trip too good for words.

Golfers of all skill levels would find themselves entangled in a myriad of hazards that would try to block their every attempt at a low score. Its four sets of tees only vary in yardage, not in the level of difficulty. When the situation calls for professional intervention, the Golf Academy at Hombre Golf Club is always open. Only a top ranked golf academy like this one (One of the nation’s Top 25) could match a course of this caliber. So where does the “Good”, the “Bad” and the “Ugly” fit in the description? Only when the golfer is looking for a golf vacation that is all too simple, too easy that a challenging course such as this would be hellish.