Pine straw and white sand, a long way from the Carolinas.
Desert Pines is the Las Vegas course that tries hardest not to look like one. More than 4,000 mature pines line the fairways, the bunkers are filled with white sand, and Golfbreaks describes the effect as the Carolina Sandhills moved to the Mojave. It sits at 3415 East Bonanza Road on the east side of the valley, about 15 minutes from the Strip, and Arcis Golf runs it as a public course. At 6,222 yards it is short, so it suits a relaxed round or a group with mixed handicaps, but tight lines and water keep the scoring honest.
Desert Pines Golf Club green fees and tee times.
Desert Pines is open to the public, with tee times booked through the EZLinks tee sheet linked from the club’s website, or by phone on 702.388.4400. Arcis does not publish green fees online; rates change with the day, time and season and appear once you choose a slot. Nevada residents can look at the Arcis Players’ Membership tiers, but visitors simply book the public sheet. If you are planning a group day, the club’s events team handles outings and tournaments through the website’s enquiry form.
The round, in perspective.
The design is credited to the Dye family; Golfbreaks names Dye Designs International and dates the opening to 1996. The club bills the greens as large, undulating bentgrass surfaces modelled on Augusta National, and that is where the course earns its keep: a par 71 of this length gives you plenty of short irons, but the putting surfaces have enough movement to punish an approach on the wrong tier. The trees do most of the strategic work. Narrow fairways squeezed by pines mean the driver often stays in the bag, and Golfbreaks notes several water hazards. The course was built on the lowest ground of any course in the valley, which Golfbreaks says helps shield it from the desert winds that trouble higher layouts in Summerlin and Henderson.
Know before you go.
Booking
EZLinks online or 702.388.4400
Range
Two-tier covered bays, 56 stations
Greens
Bentgrass, large and undulating
Operator
Arcis Golf
Make the trip work.
The practice centre is the second reason to come. Golfbreaks describes a two-tier, climate-controlled range with 56 hitting bays, protected from sun and rain, which makes it a sensible place to warm up on a hot afternoon or to hit balls on an evening when you are not playing. The clubhouse has men’s and women’s locker rooms with showers, a full golf shop and Duffers Bar and Grill. A Lifestyle Shop sells clothing and gifts. The club also offers instruction if you want a lesson during the trip.
From Harry Reid International (LAS), head north towards downtown and then east along Bonanza Road; the club is on the east side of the city, about 15 minutes from the Strip. Downtown Las Vegas is a few miles west along Bonanza Road, so a taxi or rideshare is practical if you are not hiring a car.
Downtown hotels around Fremont Street are the nearest base, and they suit golfers who want a cheaper room and a short drive. Golfbreaks packages Desert Pines with Luxor, Bellagio and MGM Grand on the Strip, which works fine with a car or a rideshare. If you want somewhere quieter, the east-side resorts at Lake Las Vegas are within reach for a morning start.
Make a trip of it.
Arcis also runs Painted Desert in the north-west and Angel Park in Summerlin, so you can stay with one operator across a three-day trip. For contrast with the pines, Reflection Bay and Chimera offer bare desert holes on the east side of the valley. Off the course, the Fremont Street Experience and the Neon Museum are both in the downtown area west of the club.
Find your season.
October to May is the main season. Because the course sits low and sheltered, it is a useful option on a windy spring day when exposed desert layouts play hard. Summer afternoons are very hot; the covered range helps, but book the earliest tee times.
There’s no published rate card. Prices change with the day, time and season and appear in the EZLinks tee sheet once you choose a slot. Nevada residents can join the Arcis Players’ Membership for member rates; visitors book the public sheet or call the golf shop.
Is Desert Pines a hard course?
It is short at 6,222 yards and par 71, but pine-lined fairways and water on several holes punish loose driving, and the bentgrass greens are large with plenty of slope. Multiple tee boxes mean higher handicappers can still enjoy it.
Can I hit balls at Desert Pines without playing?
Yes. The practice centre has two levels of covered, climate-controlled hitting bays, so you can practise out of the sun. Call 702.388.4400 to check opening hours on the day.
Last checked 11 November 2026. This is an independent planning guide, not a first-hand review or a booking service. Check live availability, access, fees and travel details with the operator before booking. Airport suggestions are starting points for route planning.
