Wrangle with the Wolf Course at Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort

LAS VEGAS -- Playing the Wolf Course at Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort can leave players howling with delight.

Considering how good the Sun Mountain and Snow Mountain courses are at Paiute, it's quite an accomplishment that the Wolf gets the nod as the best course at this remote desert outpost.

All three offer stunning panoramic views of the stark desert landscape and the Spring and Sheep Mountain ranges. Golf Digest ranked the Wolf sixth among the top 25 courses in Las Vegas in 2011.

The Wolf can stretch to 7,604 yards, playing as the longest layout in Nevada. Karrie Webb and Annika Sorenstam celebrated its 2001 opening with a match on Shell's Wonderful World of Golf.

Mounding along the perimeter of the wide fairways helps keep the ball in play but can be penal by creating some tough lies. Even straight tee shots can find trouble in bunkers in the middle of the fairway at holes No. 1 and No. 10.

The island green at the 182-yard 15th hole looks eerily similar to No. 17 on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. That shot alone makes any round on the Wolf worthy of the half-hour drive from the Las Vegas Strip.

Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort - Wolf Course - 15th

The shot to the island green at No. 15 serves as the highlight on the Wolf Course at the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort.

Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf

Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort - Wolf Course - hole 11

The 11th hole on the Wolf Course at the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort is a short par 4.

Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf

Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort - Wolf Course - hole 12

Water and bunkers guard the par-3 12th hole on the Wolf Course at the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort.

Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf

Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort - Wolf Course - hole 14

The sharp dogleg left on the 14th hole on the Wolf Course at the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort creates a long, tough challenge.

Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf

Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort - clubhouse

The clubhouse at the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort -- seen here from the Wolf Course -- rises from its stark desert surroundings.

Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf

Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort - Wolf Course - hole 8

A smart tee shot on the eighth hole of the Wolf Course at the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort is to the left part of the green. Let the slope push it back to the center.

Courtesy of Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort

Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort - Wolf Course - 18th

The second shot on the 18th hole of the Wolf Course at the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort will play downhill to a green that is protected by bunkers short and to the right.

Courtesy of Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort

Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort - Wolf Course - 7th

The seventh hole of the Wolf Course at the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort is a slight dogleg left par 4 with more room to the right than it looks from the tee.

Courtesy of Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort