Las Vegas is normally just associated with casinos and bright lights but behind this facade is one of the best kept golfing scenes around. Although many golfers have yet to try their hand on them, those who have played there rave about the Nevada courses.

The best times to visit Vegas to play golf are during spring and early autumn as this helps bring out the best of the serene settings of many of the courses, without subjecting players to the intense heat of the summer sun. There are courses for all levels of skill and some courses – such as the Badlands Golf Club – offer multiple sets of tees to allow amateurs and professionals to tackle the same holes.

The golfing love affair is believed to have started in 1964 with the development of the Desert Rose Club. Its picturesque location – surrounded by mountains and pine trees – makes it perfect for sightseers and many players prefer to walk the course rather than use carts to make the most of the scenery. The course itself is one of the most highly rated in the area and the club hosts the annual Clark County Amateur competition.

While the Desert Rose is seen as one of the top clubs, it is the Bali Hai resort that routinely takes the honour of Las Vegas' very best. The course has all the modern amenities such as a warm up area with an automatic ball teeing service and a restaurant with private dining areas for families or players meeting after a round on the fairways.

The most revered feature of the course is the par-71 design on the strip that features water hazards, sand traps as well as pine trees as obstacles. While this course has some of the traditional golf course features, another – the Falls Golf Club – juxtaposes traditional design with breathtaking modern tweaks. Situated in the mountains of the desert's canyons, golfers often have to be wary of the quirky intrusion of sheep grazing on the course.

The popularity of the Vegas golf courses is steadily growing and holiday operators combine Las Vegas hotels with flights and entrance fees to some of the top courses. Courses are continually being created to help entice golfers back and to widen opportunities for players. One recent development highlight is the Wolf Creek Club that was voted the best new course in America after it was built at the turn of the 21st century.