Desert Pines Golf Club in downtown Las Vegas

Desert Pines Golf Club is out to offer a little taste of the Carolina Sandhills in downtown Las Vegas. The Dye Design group was given very little acreage: only 90 including parking lot and driving range, so the golf course is on the shorter side at about 6,700 yards and is very tight. Greens here are small but very tricky, so accurate wedge play is a must. Long bombers use use their driver at their own peril, this course is set up to be more accurate than long.

There is some fantastic scenery here of the neighboring mountains and downtown Las Vegas. The course property is lined with tall pines to try and block out freeway traffic, but some billboards still overhang the course which is pretty unique.

Desert Pines is located north of the Las Vegas Strip in downtown Las Vegas. It's one of the closest golf courses you'll find and has become a favorite among locals, especially with it's two-tiered, climate-controlled driving range reminiscent of Chelsea Piers in New York.

There are plenty of well-designed short par 4s. The 15th, aptly named Do or Dye, is one of the best. The green can be reached from the tee with some wind at your back, but plenty of danger in the form of bunkers and pine trees.