Need feedback on Las Vegas courses

I have looked through the many threads on this topic and they have been very helpful. I am planning a January trip and would like to get some opinions on the course I have tentatively picked.

I will be there for 2 3/4 days (leaving around 4:30 p.m., so enough time to get in a morning round that last day) and would like to play four courses during my trip. My plan is to play two courses in the mornings and two in the afternoon, with the former being "cheaper" courses in the $75-100 range and the latter being more expensive courses in the $150-250 range. The idea is that with the afternoon discount I could play the more expensive courses for 1/2 off or more. I am trying to keep my total golf budget to $400.

I have tentatively selected four courses and wanted to get opinions on these courses:

Afternoon courses - Royal Links ($85) or Bali Hai ($110)
Morning courses - Desert Pines ($99) or LN National ($110)

I'll be staying on the Strip, so don't want to make any excursions more than about 30 minutes from this area. Are there any other courses in these price ranges that you would recommend over the list I have above?

Also, have any of you used a discount golf service to book tee times in LV? If so, what have you used and how much did you save?

I don't know anything about any of those courses but after looking at the Bali High and Royal Links it would seem that they have a great caddy program.

Yeah, I saw that. I don't think my wife would allow me that option.

Plus, I would probably get so tired of hearing some bubble-headed blonde giggle at my shots that I do a Mike Perez into her forehead.

from my perspective, LN national is the best course on the list.

I am not that big a fan of vegas golf in general, so it wont blow you away but is the best on the list.

i'd also consider spending a little more and playing paiute or lake las vegas.

Which Paiute course would you play?

Actually, I looked at Reflection Bay and it is closed - I think it is in foreclosure.

Those courses are middle to low tier. Bali Hai is noisy next to the freeway and airport. Desert Pines has a bunch of pine trees struggling to survive wishing they were back East at the course DP is copied from in the Carolinas. LV National can be crowded and is narrow.

I like the Paiute courses - do the Wolf. Also look at Bears Best to the West of the Strip, and Rio Secco to the South East in Henderson, NV. A little cheaper, but very cool is Tuscany golf course due East. All can be reached in under 30 minutes - Paiute may be pushing it.

Look these up. They are all far better than what you have so far. Trust me.

Have fun!

Me and a buddy played Royal Links earlier this year. Had a great time. Took a caddy for the local knowlege, would recommend it. I enjoyed playing great replica holes since the wife won't sign off on a 10k trip to europe.

Thanks for the advice. I see you are from LV so you probably have a better sense than most folks of the good courses.

I reserved tee times today at the courses I listed above, but these can easily be changed. I have several weeks to do that. I like the idea of playing Rio Secco. I played nine holes there about four years ago but can barely remember the course. I will plan to change Bali Hai to Rio Secco. The issue with the Paiute Wolf course is that on the second day of my trip I plan to play two courses, and given the limited amount of daylight, the courses need to be fairly close together. Unless I play one of the other companion Paiute courses (Sun, Snow), I think the Wolf course will be too far for me. So, my options on that day are Desert Pines/Royal Links or two Paiute courses. Which would you recommend? Finally, regarding Bear's Best, I had a colleague play that course this past Spring and he said it was in really less than favorabe condition. I would love to play it, but I don't want to fork over $165 (vs. $109 for LV Natl) for a mediocre course. If you say its worth it over LV Natl, I'll give it a second look. Tuscany I'm afraid is too far. I have a plane to catch that last day, so I need to play a course within 15-20 minutes of McCarran.

Also, any opinions on Shadow Creek?

played shadow creek once and was very happy with it.

Spend two days at Paiute and really enjoyed it. Played Sun and Snow and the day I was supposed to play Wolf as my second 18, the weather was brutal and there was a mix up on the tee times. Really enjoyed the solitude of the distance from the strip, and the drive was a snap. Designs were quite enjoyable, which is saying something since I was a single digit playing with guys in the 100s. We all enjoyed it.

Haven't seen the others you're considering, so can't comment. But I can vouch for Paiute, especially since yo'd be playing 36 and not have to worry about any drive time.

Royal Links for $85 is a pretty good deal. I've played there several times and usually paid more. The course is not really like the holes it purports to copy. I'm guessing the caddie fee is extra so it will end up costing you more, and in addition to the cadie fee you should tip the caddie.

I like Bali Hai better than Royal Links. It is very close to the airport (for better and worse) so that makes it a good "get away" round.

I prefer the three Paiute courses to any of the four courses on your list. I think you are confuing the Paiute Wolf course with Wolf Creek, which is Mesquite some 80 miles away. The Wolf course is located right next to Sun Mtn and Snow Mtn. All three share the same clubhouse so you can play any two on the same day. All three are excellent. Wolf is a little more expensive. I'd play Wolf and Sun, but if you want to save a few bucks, Sun and Snow still make for a great day. You can definitelyb get to paiute in 30 min or less from the strip.

I am not a big fan of Rio Seco. It is overpriced and crowded with houses. Its a shame that Reflection Bay and the Falls closed they were two good choices that I prefered over Rio Seco althouh, like Rio Seco very expensive.

You might want to consider Rhodes Ranch and Tuscany. They are not too far from the strip and I think you can get a discount playing them on the same day. Boulder Creek is another good choice. They have 27 holes, but might be a little more than 30 min drive

LV National is a traditional layout near the strip. It is convenient and okay, but I prefer the Paiute courses. Wildhorse is a moderately priced option not too far from the strip.

You can get get discounted rates on GolfNow, Golf Hub and Golf Sigma. I think you need to wait until a week before you play to get the best rates on those sites. The Paiute courses will all be under $100 PM rounds less than $70) so will Tuscany and Rhodes.

Link to favorite Vegas courses: http://golfcourses.weebly.com/las-vegas-nv.html

Shadow Creek is great, but it is $500 unless you get comp'd. You must stay at an MGM/Mirage property to have the honor of playing Shadow Creek. However, the $500 fee includes a limo service to and from the course.

Thanks, guys. Lots of different options here. This is isn't my first trip to Vegas and won't be my last, so the ones I don't play this time will be on my list for next time.

I do know one thing. All the courses mentioned will be infinitely better than the POS courses in my area, so I should be happy with them all.

i have played the paiute course only in las vegas. i really enjoyed them. i would recomend. a few mile outside of town though.

I was on my first trip to Vegas in November. I played Bear's Best and TPC Las Vegas. Bear's Best was tremendous and the black sand bunkers were breath taking. TPC Las Vegas was nice but we were paired with morons and we were hung over and hadn't slept for days.

See the image I took at Bear's Best

My wife and I played at Coyote Springs, and it was FANTASTIC. It might be slightly more than 30 minutes (45 or so), but well worth it.

http://www.coyotesprings.com/