Royal Links Golf Club - Las Vegas

We may not all make it out to Scotland or England to play the golf courses in the British Open rotation. But you can get a taste of the major at Las Vegas' Royal Links Golf Club, a replica golf course featuring some of the Open Championship's finest holes.

All the favorites are here, including the eighth at Royal Troon, better known as the "Postage Stamp", and No. 17 at the Old Course at St. Andrews, the "Road Hole". There are even two holes from Prestwick Golf Club, the original home of the Open.

The scenery at Royal Links is obviously a little different. Ocean views are replaced with Sunrise Mountain and the Strip, which is about 10 miles away. You won't get much rain out, but the wind can pick up pretty good on certain days. Fairways aren't as hard as their rolling, sandy counterparts across the pond, but they're still firm enough to let you play bump-and-run if you like. And you'll get sweeping heather, large greens and steep sod bunkers, some hidden, that are definitely worth avoiding. Despite being softened several years ago, Royal Links remains one of the most difficult Vegas golf courses.

These photos were taken in February 2007, so keep in mind that the grass pictured here is dormant and still a month or so away from getting green again.