Things To Do In Spring Valley

Las Vegas is known for its top-notch golf courses, with more than 60 scattered throughout the Vegas Valley, complete with spectacular water features, views and challenges. While most experience courses in the environs of the city limits, two golf facilities are out-of-the-way hidden gems, nestled in picturesque settings off the beaten track and away from the hustle of the Strip. Located 35 minutes south of Las Vegas near the California border, the Primm Valley Golf Club offers two Tom Fazio-designed courses. The 6,945-yard par-71 Lakes Course is lush enough to make you forget you are in the desert, with tall pines, thick orchards, green ryegrass and acres of lakes and river systems. While the 7,131-yard par-72 Desert Course similarly contains five lakes and vibrant greens, it also spotlights the natural beauty of the mountain peaks and desert valleys. Palm trees, mesquite and a variety of cacti and native desert wildflowers can be seen, giving a sense of isolation while appreciating the beauty of the Mojave Desert. Best of all, your greens fees include the use of a rental cart and full access to the 22-acre practice facility, which offers a driving range, putting greens and more. About 25 miles northwest of the Vegas Strip at the base of Snow Mountain, the Paiute Golf Resort is a master-planned, multi-course facility built on Native American land. It offers three Pete Dye-designed courses suited to players of all skill levels, with panoramic views of the Vegas skyline and the nearby snowcapped mountains in the Spring Mountain, Sheep Mountain and Mt. Charleston ranges. At an elevation of 2,800 ft., temperatures run eight to ten degrees cooler than the city, providing a respite from the 100 degree heat that often blankets Sin City. The 7,146-yard 72-par Snow Mountain course features a desert landscape, wide ryegrass fairways, railroad tie bunkers and seven water hazards. The 7,112-yard 72-par Sun Mountain course is the least difficult and most scenic of the three, with Joshua trees, wildflower blooms, four large lakes and the best vantage point for viewing the mountain ranges. The 7,604-yard 72-par Wolf Course is the longest in the state of Nevada, and the most difficult of the three courses, thanks to tricky fairways and sloping greens. And if you need a little extra help, PGA-certified instructors are available for lessons.

On this week’s agenda: an all-you-can-eat gospel brunch, Grease in the park, a classic horror flick gone musical, plus a variety show and timeless R & B from Grammy winners Boyz II Men. Have fun, and as always, check Groupon for even more great things to do in Las Vegas. Gospel Brunch at House of Blues The Strip | Sundays At the House of Blues, Sunday is the Lord’s day. Local gospel singers belt out traditional and contemporary hymns handpicked by award-winning gospel singer Kirk Franklin. The accompanying all-you-can-eat Southern breakfast (with bottomless mimosas and bloody marys) tempts audience members to the sin of gluttony. (3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd.; $59+; buy tickets here) Boyz II Men The Strip | Friday, August 29 Grammy-winning R & B group Boyz II Men performs best-selling hits like ''I'll Make Love to You,'' ''End of the Road,'' and ''On Bended Knee'' at the Terry Fator Theatre at The Mirage Hotel & Casino. Discover in person why they're the best-selling R & B group of all time. (3400 Las Vegas Blvd. South; $59.99+; buy tickets here) V - The Ultimate Variety Show The Strip | Ongoing Special effects, magic acts, gut-busting comedy, and acrobatic performances—audience members can expect all this and more during this multifaceted variety show at the V Theater. Performers in the rotating cast include hand-balancers Iouri and Gabor, Melinda The First Lady of Magic, and skating daredevil duo The Skating Aratas. (3663 Las Vegas Blvd. South; $40.99+; buy tickets here) Summer Movies in the Park: Grease Downtown | Thursday, August 28 Downtown Container Park concludes its Summer Movies in the Park series with a screening of Grease, the back-to-school musical powered by nostalgic summer lovin’. Rekindle your romance with the Pink Ladies, greasers, and maybe even good girl Sandy. We won’t tell if you sing along. (707 Fremont St.; free) Evil Dead The Musical 4D The Strip | Tuesday–Saturday Sam Raimi’s cult horror classic transforms into a campy sing-along mutilation during Evil Dead: The Musical 4D. As reluctant hero Ash battles the undead, the rest of the cast performs numbers such as “Look Who’s Evil Now,” treating audiences to equal parts gore and giggles. (3663 Las Vegas Blvd. South; $34; buy tickets here)

On this week’s agenda: watch Clueless poolside, the way Cher would have wanted; drink nickel beers and play mini golf (maybe not in that order); catch some Chicago theater; and enjoy live jazz with a Latin flair. As always, check Groupon for even more great things to do in Las Vegas. Dive-In Movies at Boulevard Pool The Strip | Monday, August 18 "OK, so you’re probably going, is this like a Noxzema commercial or what?" It’s not, but it’s the next best thing: a poolside screening of Clueless (and The Devil Wears Prada) at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas’s Boulevard Pool. Adding to the Cher Horowitz–approved luxury? Handcrafted cocktails and movie snacks available for purchase throughout the evening. (3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S; $5) Rick Arroyo and The Latin Salsa Jazz Ensemble Downtown | Saturday, August 16, 7 p.m. Start warming up those hips, because on Saturday Viva Las Vegas Event Center hosts Rick Arroyo and The Latin Salsa Jazz Ensemble for a night of dancing and cocktails. Between dances, pause to reflect on your host’s pedigree: the award-winning Latin jazz musician has opened for the Beach Boys, Donna Summer, and many more, including President Barack Obama. Each general-admission ticket includes a drink. (1201 Las Vegas Blvd. S; $15+; buy tickets here) Nickel Beer Night at Beauty Bar Downtown | Tuesday, August 19 On Tuesdays at Beauty Bar, beers are served the way your grandfather remembers: two at a time and for a nickel apiece. This week, sip those bargain-priced brews during live performances by BARS Murre with Andre Legacy and sets from resident DJs. Did we mention that beers cost a nickel? That’s less than a temporary tattoo! (517 Fremont St.; free) Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England Downtown | Through Saturday, August 23 During a recent trip to Chicago, local producers Todd VonBastiaans and Bryan McCarthy saw Theater Wit's production of Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England. They liked it so much, they brought it home with them to Art Square Theatre. Set against the backdrop of a failing college museum, the play follows three women as they navigate an academic love triangle tinged with love, loss, and critical theory. The cast and crew head back to the Windy City next weekend, so don't dally. (1025 S. 1st St.; $25; buy tickets here) Fore! The Planet at Springs Preserve Westside | Through Monday, September 1 When naturists put their minds to it, even putt-putt can be educational. At Fore! The Planet, visitors to Springs Preserve navigate 18 holes of ecology-themed mini golf, learning lessons on evolution, dinosaur extinction, and food chains while simultaneously pursuing a hole in one. The course winds through settings that include a tropical rainforest and a polluted waterway. (333 S. Valley View Blvd.; free for members or with paid general admission)