Painted Desert

Built in 1982, Painted Desert Golf Club stakes claim as the oldest public course within the principal boundaries of Las Vegas, continuing to top the Vegas reader polls for tight fairways, spectacular scenery and a demanding set throughout it's entire 18-hole spread. Bounded by the photogenic Spring Mountains and a myriad of exclusive gated villa estates, the Painted Desert Golf Club enjoys a convenient location in the North West of Las Vegas – a prime stop-off on the 95 Interstate with plentiful accommodations nearby.

Designed by Jay Morrish, former apprentice to Robert Trent Jones, Painted Desert commands outstanding views across the Northern desert, with the masterpiece of Mount Charleston providing the ultimate backdrop. A strategic desert-links course, Painted Desert certainly lives up to it's artistic name, dotted throughout by tropical palms, gently rippling fairways and feature fountains, appointed centrally across several large lakes.

Encompassed by the distinctly upmarket Painted Desert villa estate, the affordable golf club remains one of the most accessible from the Strip. Less than 8 miles from the modernized McCarran International Airport, it's also possible to bypass the bustle and head straight up on the I-95 to a plethora of budget-friendly hotels dotting throughout the nearby suburbia. Although nestled within an averagely populous area of Sin City, you'll find Painted Desert to be markedly tranquil and rural, owing to the flourishing tree borders that block out the outside world, around the entire course.

Conditions are one of the selling points of Painted Desert. Much of the course sits at the foothills of the Sister's South Mountains and benefits from a bypassing of the wind over much of the elevated topography. The rolling fairways and lush bermuda grasses are aided by a slightly cooler climate due to proximity with the mountain range, translating to exceptionally fast fairways and the prospect of a formidable game. Be sure to pack your drivers as the par-5 17th promises a test of both wit and precision, measuring 535-yards from tee and hemmed by an out-of-bounds along the right hand side. The par-3 8th is regarded Painted Desert's best challenge. At 193-yards to a rising slope, you'll need to evaluate the angle of your swing perfectly, in order to clear the water hazard in the foreground.

Painted Desert's lavish, but laid-back theme continues into the heart of the clubhouse where the Bar and Grill offers casual dining, within an elegant, banquet hall setting. The on-site golf shop is a diminutive space, retailing high end performance-wear for both men and women from Nike and Callaway, alongside custom merchandise designed exclusively for the club. First timers often take advantage of “Stay and Play” discount packages, run in conjunction with several immediate hotels, so you can enjoy more golf for your money and bring the kids for free!

Painted Desert. (5555 Painted Mirage Way, Las Vegas). (Rating 73.7; Slope 136; Yards 6,840; Fee $85). As the name implies, Desert terrain, with cactus and mesquite, as well as lakes and other water features. (I-15 north to US 95 north. Left off the Ann Road exit, left at first light into the course.)