Boulder Creek (Desert Hawk & Coyote Run)

The government of Boulder Creek, a municipality southeast of Las Vegas, knew that they could collect some of the strip’s golfing audience if they could replicate the flash-and-dazzle of other local public-access options in their own corner of Sin City. Thus they hired Mark Rathert to create 27 holes of eye-catching municipal golf, with the “Desert Hawk” and “Coyote Run” nines making up the championship layout.

The first bit of Las Vegas flair is simple: a palm tree in the middle of the fairway on the opening par four of the “Desert Hawk” nine. The round quickly takes a more adrenaline-fueled, and strategic, approach on the second hole, a channel-style par five where players can consider going for the green by first playing to an alternate fairway left, and then making a lengthy desert carry during their approach shot.

Two more holes will offer big rewards for those who dare to go big off of the tee, including No. 4 (with its long desert carry) and the closing hole, which dares you to carry a lake and artificial creek in order to cut this long par four short. The casino gambling may not be as popular away from the strip, but taking gambles on the golf course is every bit as hot.