FEATURE STORY

Playing nine in Las Vegas: beat the heat and back to the casino

By S. Adam Cardais,
Staff Writer

Nine might not be a lucky number on the craps tables in Las Vegas, but it is on the golf scene.

Nine-hole tracks may be out of fashion elsewhere, but Vegas serves up a handful of top-rate clubs catering to short-round golfers. Badlands Golf Club and Black Mountain Golf & Country Club both have three sets of nine, offering players an alternative to five hours in the blistering Nevada heat.

If you're in the mood to break away and blaze your own trail, here are a few of the best nine-hole courses in Las Vegas.

Badlands Golf Club: This 27-hole collaboration between Johnny Miller and Chi Chi Rodriguez offers some of Vegas' toughest play, especially on the original Desperado and Diablo nines (the newer Outlaw course is considered a bit tamer).

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"The original [tracks] can only be defined as the ultimate in target golf," Doug Saunders wrote in a LasVegasGolf.com review. "The target is there in front of you, all green and inviting, but to miss the mark sends your ball off to the dramatic wasteland of arroyos, crevices and rock-strewn desert expanses."

Boulder Creek Golf Club: Opened in 1993, Boulder Creek aimed to be nothing less than the best municipal golf course in the country. The three Mark Rathert-designed nines offer different experiences: Desert Hawk is laid out along the rolling desert terrain, Coyote Run boasts wide, spacious fairways and Eldorado Valley will give long players a challenge.

Another upside to Boulder Creek is the price tag: In a region where a round can run you $500, green fees here are around $50.

Silverstone Golf Club: Paying homage to the Vegas of old, Silverstone is all about service. When you're ready to hit the links, a staff member leads the way to one of three nines and explains the first hole.

"From the time you arrive in the valet parking lot to the time your bags are loaded back into your vehicle, the employees at Silverstone make you feel like someone special," according to LasVegasGolf.com critic Murray Anderson's 2002 review.

Service isn't the only thing Silverstone has going for it. The Mountain, Desert and Valley courses are all top-rated tracks, with fast greens and well-manicured fairways.

Black Mountain Golf & Country Club: Located off the Strip in Henderson, Black Mountain opened in 1959 with a single nine. The original Founders course was soon supplemented by the Horizon.

The Desert Nine, added in late 2002, is a target-style track considered the most difficult of the three. Its No. 4, with its narrow fairway and many well-placed bunkers, may be the club's most popular hole.

If you go

Tee times: 866-457-0062
Las Vegas golf packages: http://www.worldgolf.com/golf-packages/las-vegas.htm

September 25, 2006

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.