One of the oldest courses in the Las Vegas area, Wildhorse Golf Club has a special place in the hearts of Vegas golfers and continues to attract visiting players after a makeover by golf architects Brian Curley and Lee Schmidt in 2004. The Henderson golf course, once a stop on the PGA Tour, remains one of the most difficult in the valley with several shimmering lakes and trees scattered throughout, which not only provide lovely vistas but add to a challenging and enjoyable round of golf.

Surrounded by desert, yet lush with ample trees and undulating greens, Wildhorse offers a great variety of holes on its par-70 championship layout. Accuracy and patience is key when it comes to several of Wildhorse’s greens, which are often flanked by strategic bunkering and water hazards. The greens are spacious and the Bermuda fairways wide, however, and four tee options make the course playable for golfers of multiple skill levels.

Players return to Wildhorse time after time to conquer holes like the par-3 4th hole, which is surrounded by water. The course’s signature hole, the 9th, is a particularly enticing example, widely considered one of the most difficult holes in Las Vegas. A par-4 measuring 398 yards, the 9th is almost completely surrounded by bunkers and lakes, which makes length and placement of the tee crucial.  Too short, and golfers face a tricky approach towards a lake-guarded green; too long, and sand comes into play. Making matters even more difficult is water bordering the back of the green, which leaves only one clear and safe area to the right. Needless to say, this is one hole that can make or break your game.

Owned by the municipality of Henderson, Wildhorse is one of the most affordable golf clubs in the area with rates ranging upwards of $56. Its facility also includes a snack bar, full service restaurant, and meeting areas, which are popular for special events, banquets, and weddings. Wildhorse’s pro shop, which can perform repairs while you play, is particularly popular, and the clubhouse has men’s and women’s golf attire for sale.

Wildhorse also has a rather well equipped and lighted practice facility, which includes a spacious natural turf driving range, a putting green, chipping and pitching green, and a sand bunker. Those looking to improve their game can also seek instruction from the PGA pros on site at the Wildhorse Golf Academy.