100 S. Rampart Blvd.
Another repeat win among readers who enjoy the upscale feel of this public complex that includes two full-length courses, the par three Cloud Nine short course and even a putting course that plays like a full-sized course. The long courses are demanding, too. Memberships provide discounts for locals and, when the weather's right, the clubhouse bar extends onto a patio for excellent views of the valley below. The race to place ended in a four-way tie between nearby Badlands Golf Club, the Desert Inn Golf Club, Spanish Trail Golf and Country Club, and the ultra-exclusive Shadow Creek in North Las Vegas.
Our Pick: DESERT INN GOLF CLUB
3145 Las Vegas Blvd. South
We get misty-eyed remembering the days when the Tropicana and defunct Dunes both had full-length golf courses right out their back doors. The fairways along I-15 evoked a slower (and greener) era, but even then it was the Desert Inn's championship-level course that was the Strip's true gem. Now it's the only one -- the other courses have been redeveloped -- and it's still worth the alluring solitude and rewards that come with knocking down 15-foot putts while only minutes away from the hustle and bustle of the Strip.
