Located about twenty minutes away from the Las Vegas Strip in North Las Vegas, Aliante Golf Club offers a memorable 18-hole championship golf course. Stretching more than 7,000 feet from the back tees, the par-72 course was designed by Scottsdale’s Gary Panks and voted “Best New Course” by Vegas Golfer Magazine. Aliante’s layout makes for a pleasant game that’s just challenging enough with several water features, a wide variety of lush trees, and pretty views of the Sheep Range mountains.

Perfect for golfers looking to test their mettle and hone their skill before moving on to tougher courses, Aliante Golf Club is a mostly level course but offers an arroyo on almost every hole. Swales, hollows, bridges, and plenty of large sandy bunkers make for play that’s just interesting enough without being too intensely challenging, while several water features including two waterfalls offer both pleasant backdrops and obstacles.

Most of the holes look easy enough at first, though subtle challenges can surprise a player who’s not thinking. On the 15th hole, players must carefully calculate their shot to the small, elevated green or end up in the traps behind it. And the par-3 fourth hole, despite being 155 yards, is no piece of cake; players must play from an elevated tee over arroyo bed rocks to an elevated green behind a deep bunker.

Both the front and back nine make a strategic use of trees not commonly found in most Vegas courses, such as Pear, Mandale Pines, and Purple Locust trees. And four sets of tee boxes (Eagle, Falcon, Dove, and Hawk) allow players to customize how long or short they’d like their game to be. Best yet, players will rarely encounter waits at this well managed course.

After a round, golfers can stop for a bite at the Aliante Grill, which is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Offering a menu of appetizers, soups, salads, and sandwiches, the Grill features lovely views of the surrounding mountains, making it a great place to tally up the day’s scores. Aliante also features a golf shop as well as a practice facility, complete with a 50,000 square-foot driving range, 14,000 square-foot putting green, chipping green, and practice sand bunker.

A great, well-balanced course for players of all levels, Aliante Golf Club incorporates all the elements necessary for an enjoyable game of golf. Though a bit off the beaten path for many Vegas visitors, any trip out to Aliante will be well rewarded.