Black Mountain Golf and Country Club

With a backbone of mystical Black Mountains and a frontier that meets the Mojave Desert, this 27-hole championship layout snuggles beneath the mountain shadows, exposed to the forces of nature. There are few places in the U.S, let alone Nevada, where an amphitheater of natural landscape conveys so many personalities. Here at Black Mountain Golf and Country Club, there's a personality for every golfer.

Located slightly West to the center of Henderson, Nevada, the magical Black Mountain Golf and Country Club is on the doorstep of adventure country, with both Lake Mead and the Valley of Fire close by. The never-ceasing Strip sits due West, around 20 minutes from Black Mountain, well served by both taxi, tour and bus operators. Henderson enjoys a sprinkling of both luxury boutique hotels and affordable family resorts – all within 5 minutes of the Black Mountain Resort.

Starting life as a friendly 9-hole retreat for locals in 1958, Black Mountain Golf and Country Club became an instant hit. By 1963, expansion was imminent, as the original desert-links course was becoming too overcrowded. Founders, as the first became known was designed by the timeless creative Bob Baldock, whom subsequently was called upon to design the latter Horizon course in 1963. Baldock's is a distinctive style, teaming classic desert links with that all-American desire for big water hazards and more bunkers. It's an approach that has seen him complete over 100 courses during the term of his career, which exceeds 50 years. Williams and Gill completed the Desert installation in 2002, staying true to the style of Baldock and implementing a few signature deceptions to up the Black Mountain challenge.

Twinning any set of nines will avail a par-72 rated game with around 6,500 yards of playability. Many first timers opt for the Founders/ Horizon pairing, purely because of it's classic appeal. Both were built during a time when simplicity and natural character were very much at the heart of course design. That's not to say the newly installed Desert layout isn't a joy to behold – it's just that little bit more testing with dog-leg bends and large fairway bunkers sloping down to desert waste.

Black Mountain's facilities are as unique as the courses. The Chase Lounge serves both lunch and evening cuisine, specializing in seafood and ranch style fusion. Lunch is a simpler affair with a plethora of sandwiches (hot and cold) on offer. If there's a way to commemorate your visit to Black Mountain short of taking home a slice of turf, the Pro Shop is bound to have it. Merchandise ranges from branded and specialty clothing, to innovative gifts and clothing made exclusively for the club.

Black Mountain Golf and Country Club (500 Greenway Road, Henderson). (Rating 71.2; Slope 123; Yards 6,550; Fee $69) Set in the Black Mountains, as the name implies. 27-hole championship format. Member owned, daily fee available. (I-15 south to I-215 east to I-515 south. Horizon exit east to Greenway Road, turn left to clubhouse ¼ mile on right).