Las Vegas, Nev.–Let’s face it, Las Vegas is full of beautiful and challenging golf courses. Narrowing it down to a few of the best is tough. Taking that list and paring it down to some of the best par 3 golf holes is even tougher. But, tee it up on these top Vegas courses, and you’ll take on some of the best par-3 holes anywhere. So grab your golf clubs and your camera and take your best shots on these holes with both. This is the first in a series of articles to highlight the best golf holes in Las Vegas golf and more par 3, 4 and 5’s will be highlighted in the future because there are just too many to include in one post. Have a suggestion of your own? Click now to send us an email with your choice. —By Bill Bowman
Top Las Vegas Par 3 Holes Revealed
For more information about each of the Las Vegas golf courses listed below, click to our home page for our complete Las Vegas golf course guide.
Bali Hai Golf Club, 16th hole, 141 yards—What this hole lacks in length, it more than makes up for in design as the island green is a daunting target. A multi-tiered green adds to the great test.
Bear’s Best, 15th hole, 230 yards—This one’s a dandy…both in length and in challenge. The tee shot must carry the desert and hit a green with bunkers on each side. Make sure to check out the Strip view in the background. The inspiration for this hole was the fifth hole at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale. All with all holes at Bear’s Best LV, this was a favorite of Jack Nicklaus and re-created in the Vegas desert.
Cascata, 7th hole, 157 yards—A beauty with the green tucked at the base of a mountain. The elevated tee will give players a bird’s eye view of a hole that has water features and bunkers ramping up the challenge.
Coyote Springs, 8th hole, 219 yards—This one takes plenty of local knowledge to tame. The long tee shot must be played to the left of this huge green as shots will funnel to the right toward the huge pond on the right.
Las Vegas Paiute, Wolf Course, 15th hole, 182 yards—An island green at its finest designed by Pete Dye. The length of the hole makes the green look that much smaller. Add in bunkers short and long and you’ve got a tee shot that requires the utmost in precision.
Reflection Bay, 17th hole, 164 yards—Beauty and toughness molded into one stunning golf hole designed by Jack Nicklaus. The tee shot can’t be long or right as the deep blue water of Lake Las Vegas puts accuracy at a premium on this hole.
Rio Secco Golf Club, 15th hole, 189 yards—Tucked up against the base of a canyon, this stunner designed by Rees Jones again challenges players to pick the proper club to avoid a pot bunker short and the canyon wall behind.
Royal Links, 8th hole, 153 yards—Welcome to Royal Troon’s ‘Postage Stamp’ hole. Bunkers surround this hole which is one of 18 holes at the Vegas course that replicate some of the British Open’s finest tests.
TPC Las Vegas, 2nd hole, 196 yards—One of two island greens on the course that is owned and operated by the PGA TOUR. But, rather than be surrounded by water, these are greens elevated above the desert floor. There’s a little bailout area to the right, but this is usually one of those all-or-nothing tee shots.