Las Vegas Golf & Entertainment from A-to-Z

By Bill Bowman

When you come to Las Vegas, you’ll find we have it all…from A to Z. Don’t believe us? Well, we’ll take you through the alphabet and show you great people, places and things to check out on your next trip.

And don’t worry, there may only be 26 letters in the alphabet, but there are many more options…all from A-to Z.

[ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]A[/ult_dropcap] Angel Park Golf Club. Variety is the name of the game with two 18-hole layouts, a 12-hole, par-3 course, natural-grass 9-hole putting course, huge practice facility and a bar/restaurant that even draws in the non-golfers. Your all-in-one golf stop.

[ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]B[/ult_dropcap] Butch Harmon. The world’s best instructor calls Las Vegas home (well, really Henderson). If you’re taking lessons at his facility, don’t be surprised if you see Natalie Gulbis, Phil Mickelson or one of his other superstar players in the bay next to you. His school is located at Rio Secco Golf Club, a scrumptious Rees Jones course.

[ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]C[/ult_dropcap] Comedy. From Carrot Top to Bill Engvall to Jerry Seinfeld…well, you get the picture. The funny men of the world all make a stop once in a while in Vegas. Some even call it home.

[ult_blockquote align=”” cite=”” color=”” bcolor=”” ]C2 – Clubs as in nightclubs and golf clubs. You will find some of the world’s hottest clubs in the Las Vegas, and two of the best retail stores where you can find golf equipment in Las Vegas as well. One of the locations of Las Vegas Golf and Tennis is at Dean Martin and Tropicana, seconds away from the Las Vegas Strip.[/ult_blockquote] [ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]D[/ult_dropcap] Desert golf. Yes, we’re in the desert and courses such as Badlands, a 27-hole layout, will test your shot-making skills. Miss many of the fairways or the green and chances are you’re in the desert.

[ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]E[/ult_dropcap] Executive courses. There are a number of the par-60 layouts that are ideal spots to work on that short game and get in a quick round. From Desert Willow (Henderson) to Eagle Crest (Summerlin), you’ll find courses that are a challenge…as well as a lot of fun.

[ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]F[/ult_dropcap] Fremont Street. Downtown is the Fremont Street Experience. Home to a five-block entertainment destination. There’s Viva Vision, a huge video screen (1,500 feet long and 90 feet wide. It’s suspended 90 feet above the pedestrian mall). There are hotels/casinos as well as shopping, dining and other entertainment (try the Slotzilla Zip Line).

[ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]G[/ult_dropcap] Golf, of course. As in Golf Summerlin, the home of three courses designed by Greg Nash and World Golf Hall of Famer Billy Casper. Eagle Crest, Highland Falls and Palm Valley are the three cool courses at Golf Summerlin.

[ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]H[/ult_dropcap] History. Every city has an historic side. But Las Vegas….well, where to start. Start with the Mob Museum and work your way to the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame at Los Vegas National GC. From gambling to golf, the history here is impressive.

[ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]I[/ult_dropcap] Island greens. There are plenty, including the 15th at the Wolf Course at the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort. Bali Hai also sports an island green along with TPC Las Vegas (but both are elevated greens with desert below the green rather than water).

[ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]J[/ult_dropcap] Jersey Boys. One of the many nightly shows on the Strip that draws rave reviews…as well as thousands of show-goers each week. And there are entertainment choices galore–Britney Spears, Criss Angel, Penn & Teller, Donny & Marie. The list goes on and on and on…

[ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]K[/ult_dropcap] Kitchens. We can’t forget the fabulous chefs who cook up world-class cuisine each night. There’s Gordon Ramsay, Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse and many more.

[ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]L[/ult_dropcap] Lights. As in playing golf on the Strip under the lights. You can tee it up at the TaylorMade Golf Center after dark and work on that short game.

[ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]M[/ult_dropcap] Million dollar golf shot. At Rio Secco Golf Club, make an ace on the par-3 7th hole (witnessed by a hole attendant) and you’re qualified for the Million Dollar Finals. There, players will have three shots to record an ace to win the million dollars. Rio Secco is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment as is Rio Secco Golf Club, both designed by Rees Jones.

[ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]N[/ult_dropcap] Nicklaus and Neon. Las Vegas is home to enough neon signs to light up the valley. And if you want to look at historical signs, check out the Neon Boneyard Park, home to more than 150 historical signs–the Stardust and Sahara just to name two. Plus the city is the home to several Jack Nicklaus golf courses including the newest: Coyote Springs Golf Club.

ocirque[ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]O[/ult_dropcap] That says it all ‘O’. ‘O’ is one of eight Cirque du Soleil shows that entertain millions every year on the Las Vegas Strip. There’s a tribute to Michael Jackson, one to the Beatles and six others that will mesmerize and tantalize you.

[ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]P[/ult_dropcap] Packages. There are several golf courses in Las Vegas and Mesquite—77 miles north of Las Vegas—that offer stay and play vacation packages. One of them is Wolf Creek Golf Club in Mesquite, a top 100 course that brings fantasy golf to life.

[ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]Q[/ult_dropcap] Quiet. At the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort, it’s just you and the three courses (Snow, Sun and Wolf) of Pete Dye golf. No houses, no traffic. Just a tranquil round…or two…or three.

[ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]R[/ult_dropcap] Resorts. With more than 50 courses in the area, your golf options are plentiful. So are the resorts on and off the famed Las Vegas Strip. From high-end to economical, the choices are as varied as the golf courses.

[ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]S[/ult_dropcap] Shadow Creek. That’s the name of one of the world’s best courses. Not golf club or golf course, it’s just Shadow Creek. A simple name for an out-of-this world golf experience. Pricy? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely.

[ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]T[/ult_dropcap] TPC. Vegas is home to the PGA Tour’s stop at the private TPC Summerlin. But, there’s also TPC Las Vegas, another stunning course just up the road that is resort desert elegance.

[ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]U[/ult_dropcap] Under…as in Thunder From Down Under. This is the perfect spot for that bachelorette party as the cast features sexy male performers. See, the guys don’t get all the fun.

[ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]V[/ult_dropcap] Vegas nightlife. Face it…you can only play so much golf before you’ve got to check out the rest of what Vegas has to offer. And with the many shows, clubs, restaurants and other attractions, there are plenty of choices.

[ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]W[/ult_dropcap] Walters Golf. Two golf courses owned by Billy Walters give players a taste of golf around the world–Bali Hai Golf Club (the South Pacific) and Royal Links (golf across the Pond with holes replicating those in the British Open rotation.)

[ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]X[/ult_dropcap] Xerox. Well, it’s close. But courses like Bear’s Best (Jack Nicklaus) and Royal Links (Dye Designs) have replicated golf holes from some of the world’s best designers for some of Vegas’ finest golf courses.

[ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]Y[/ult_dropcap] Yoga…or Pilates…or spinning. Whatever your exercise regime, you’ll still be able to find it on vacation…and probably right at your resort. You can have fun in Vegas and still feel good as you get in your daily workout.

[ult_dropcap type=”round” color=”7bc142″ bcolor=”#7bc142″ ]Z[/ult_dropcap] Zoeller. As in Fuzzy Zoeller…one of the many professional golfers who played here during their Tour days as well as designing some of the more than 50 Vegas area golf courses. Add in Nicklaus, Palmer, Weiskopf and more and you’ve got the makings of a great golf destination.