The Dance Factor

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.