ABOVE : Paiute LEFT : Shadow Creek
BELOW : TPC Las Vegas
PAIUTE
Want to experience Vegas golf at a much more reasonable price point ? Head about 25 miles northwest of the Strip to Paiute Golf Resort , which features three courses that appear on Golfweek ’ s list of top Nevada courses you can play — The Wolf , Snow Mountain , and Sun Mountain . Even in peak season , weekend rates cap out at $ 209 .
The Wolf is the most challenging of the three and plays just north of 7,600 yards from the tips , the longest course in Nevada . The course features severe undulations , alternate landing areas and an island green on the par-3 15th hole . Snow Mountain is the original course at the resort , featuring wide ryegrass fairways , seven holes with water , and traditional Pete Dye railroad-tie bunkers .
REFLECTION BAY
Just east of Las Vegas in Henderson is Reflection Bay at Lake Las Vegas Resort , set in a high-end luxury community . It was the first Jack Nicklaus Signature Design course to open in Nevada and has hosted the Wendy ’ s 3-Tour Challenge PGA event several times . Ranked 6th on Golfweek ’ s list of best courses you can play in Nevada , Reflection Bay features several holes cut along man-made Lake Las Vegas and reasonable green fees running between $ 135- $ 200 . On some nights , you can stick around and catch a show on Reflection Bay ’ s floating stage .
BEAR ’ S BEST
Can ’ t get enough of Nicklaus ’ designs ? Check out Bear ’ s Best , a high-end public daily fee course west of the Strip . Nicklaus selected 18 holes from his more than 200 course designs and carved them into the property at Bear ’ s Best for a unique round of golf . While there , tip back a pint at Jack ’ s Place , a sports memorabilia lounge and grill open seven days a week .
TPC LAS VEGAS
Before the Shriner ’ s Hospital for Children Open moved up the road to TPC Summerlin , TPC Las Vegas was the home of the PGA Tour in Sin City . TPC Las Vegas is one of the few courses in the area to offer the option for men and women alike to play from a blended tee yardage . The men ’ s blended tees feature a mix of the blue members tees and white tees to offer a shorter experience with fewer forced carries for the mid-handicap golfer .
RIO SECCO
Rio Secco Golf Club in Henderson is the home of the renowned Butch Harmon School of Golf . Even if you don ’ t pop in for a lesson with one of the world ’ s foremost instructors , you ’ ll have an opportunity to play the Rees Jones-designed Rio Secco layout , which underwent a full renovation in 2007 . Jones ’ goal with the renovation was to increase playability for all , including the addition of several forward tee boxes to soften long carries over native desert canyons for the mid-
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE COURSES
32 V IRGINIA G OLFER | N OVEMBER / D ECEMBER 2021
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