No place offers a diverse collection of attractions quite like Las Vegas. Gambling, dining, shopping, night life – it’s all there and then some. With so many shiny objects flashing like the control panel at Fukushima, it’s easy to overlook a day on the links, but those who pushback from the blackjack table just long enough to squeeze in golf will be pleasantly surprised by the quality and variety.  

From the accomplished player grinding over every putt to the casual golfer whose best club in the bag is the foot-wedge, Angel Park welcomes every “style” of play with a heavenly assortment of challenges. In fact, it has become a regular fixture among the “Best Public Golf Course in Las Vegas” in the annual Las Vegas Review Journal’s Reader’s Poll. 

Why? For starters, it features 36 holes of golf designed by Arnold Palmer. And years ago, both golf courses underwent a makeover to transform the original parkland-style layouts into modern desert-style tracks. Not only did this deliver eye-catching results, it added eco-friendly benefits.  

For those short on skill or time, Angel Park offers the 12-hole Cloud Nine Short Course. Inspired by some of the most famous par 3s world-wide, it’s lighted for evening enjoyment. Also under the lights, Angel Park features a natural-grass, 9-hole putting course as well as a sprawling practice facility. 

“Vegas attracts a wide variety of people that walk through our door every day,” said David Bogue, General Manager of Angel Park. “Families tend to favor the Cloud Nine. Our larger groups appreciate our complimentary transportation service. Plus, they like the flexibility that our facility offers.”

Moving from the Summerlin suburbs to a quiet corner of Henderson, the golf continues to impress. The Legacy Golf Club dealt its first hand in 1989 with its Arthur Hills-designed layout. It tips-out at 7,233 yards, allowing low handicappers to stretch their legs during a round of golf that calls for a full-throttle approach in some cases and cautious consideration in others. However, Hills didn’t leave high handicappers behind. Instead, he skillfully wove several teeing options into his final design. 

The golf course starts out with a few gentleman-type holes before it heats up with two longish par 4s. This gives golfers an opportunity to warm up the driver in time for the par-5 5th where birdie or better is a real possibility. Rounding the halfway point, golfers encounter the 10th hole with its quartet of unconventional, yet appropriate, tee boxes carved into the shape of a playing-card suit (Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs and Spades). 

Also notorious is the “Devil’s Triangle” – holes 11, 12, and 13. Eleven is a straightaway ball-striker’s par 4; 12 is a severe dogleg left with options galore, and 13 is a drivable par 4 with a huge rock-filled arroyo running along the left. If you’re down in the match coming into these holes, press. If you’re ahead, watch out. The home stretch is no easy win either: No. 14 plays long at nearly 600 yards; 15 is a long par 3 playing nearly 230 and 16 is a 470-yard par 4.

Back in Summerlin: Durango Hills Golf Club stands out as a great option for the cost conscious. Designed by the renowned team of Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley, Durango Hills is an 18-hole, par-58 golf course that opened in 2002. The club features a full-service golf shop, restaurant/bar and a warm staff that specializes in Vegas-style customer service. 

Scenic views of the Red Rock Mountains aren’t the only beautiful things at Durango Hills. The course offers a solid golf experience in less than a traditional four-hour round – not to mention that it also comes at a very reasonable rate. 

The golf course measures to 3,777 yards from the back tees and consists of one par 4 on the front nine and three on the back nine. The rest make up a diverse selection of par 3s. This desert-style course offers four sets of tees with signature hole, number 9, a par 3 measuring 154 yards. Although not the longest hole on the course, its challenge comes in the form of a water hazard that guards the right side. The shimmering pond framed by views of the Snow and Sheep Mountains also give this hole an additional measure of charm. 

Although there’s a host of exciting things to explore in sin city, golf happens to be one of the most rewarding. And with Southern Nevada’s warm days filled with bright sunshine and blue skies, it’s the closest thing to a sure bet that you’re going to find in Las Vegas.