About
One of the pioneers in Las Vegas golf, Painted Desert Golf Course is a 1987 Jay Morrish design has golfers shooting at targets in the desert.
Painted Desert has maintained its place in the Sin City golf community through all its changes by putting on an emphasis on course conditioning. Just because your greens are almost two decades old does not mean they cannot be in better shape than many of the new kids on the block.
The desert is the focus here, but Morrish also works in a few lakes as obstacles.
"This golf course is a very friendly layout and you can score here without having a feeling of imminent doom on every hole," John Scappatura said. "We are a bit off of the beaten path, which means that we almost always have availability for tee times. Everyone who does make the trip out here though appreciates our conditioning, the price, and the friendly atmosphere."
Course Details
Rentals & Services
Practice & Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Available Facilities
Golfer Photos
-
Photo submitted by Warren4181748 on 03/14/2026
-
Photo submitted by Warren4181748 on 03/14/2026
-
Photo submitted by u314161622535 on 09/01/2025
-
Photo submitted by u314161622535 on 09/01/2025
-
Photo submitted by u314161622535 on 09/01/2025
-
Photo submitted by u314161622535 on 09/01/2025
-
Photo submitted by u314161622535 on 09/01/2025
-
Photo submitted by eyecon on 07/09/2025
-
Photo submitted by eyecon on 07/09/2025
-
Photo submitted by 772v8f5U02xFvMq0Nfel on 07/02/2025
-
Photo submitted by MMZIP5QTUFT9uJXnPWDN on 08/24/2024
-
Photo submitted by MCazper702 on 03/04/2024
-
3 groups on hole 1 Photo submitted by crenzi702 on 02/15/2024
-
Parking carts on fringe. Photo submitted by crenzi702 on 02/15/2024
-
Made eagle on the second par 5! Photo submitted by u314160000295 on 08/10/2023
-
Common Green Photo submitted by rickpiette on 07/10/2023
-
Photo submitted by u000002144589 on 05/11/2023
-
Photo submitted by gnagasuye on 04/29/2023
-
Photo submitted by gnagasuye on 04/29/2023
-
Photo submitted by u000004497322 on 03/20/2023
-
Photo submitted by u000004497322 on 03/20/2023
-
Photo submitted by u314161798918 on 01/25/2023
-
Photo submitted by u314161798918 on 11/25/2022
-
Photo submitted by u314161798918 on 11/24/2022
-
Photo submitted by Kylestraz on 11/06/2022
-
Photo submitted by Kylestraz on 11/06/2022
-
Don’t miss the green Photo submitted by BigDaddyo on 10/22/2022
-
Photo submitted by pauls123 on 07/25/2022
-
Photo submitted by Jfergee on 05/02/2022
-
Lovely view from the tee. As I said, Visually intimidating. Photo submitted by Pixmanvegas on 10/04/2016
-
Houses constantly in view Photo submitted by u000001366249 on 03/07/2015
-
Photo submitted by wjdeanjr on 06/11/2013
-
Hole #4 Photo submitted by jimdallaire on 03/28/2013
-
I actually birdied this short par 4 ... now my favorite hole! Photo submitted by Wally4 on 02/01/2013
Golfer Reviews
Tight
This course is extremely tight. The rough is basically rock and dried mud washes and almost impossible to hit from if you fell off the tight fairwayS. Lots of uneven lies on the fairways , so even if you hit the fairways you would sometimes roll into the washes which were like concrete. Greens were good and bunkers were ok. Slow play. Waited almost every shot
Nice for the money
Not nearly as pretty or technical as Desert Pines, but a nice, moderate course that is fun to play. Practice facilities lack short-game area, though.
Enjoyable round
Fun and challenging course. The course is in great shape. The greens were really nice. I would definitely play this again. All this in the context of a great golf now hot deal.
Challenging but fair track
While the winds where high, the course in excellent shape. Requires relatively straight shots off the tee, course is fair and fun. Greens were superb and fairways/tees in great shape. Highly recommend as it a beautiful setting. Maria best bartender in Vegas!!
FOURSOME HAD A GREAT TIME
The greens were excellent, the fairways were generous and the only place to lose a ball was in the water, It is your typical desert golf course with 150-200 yard carry off the tee and after that the course was a lot of fun to play. We had excellent weather and the par 4's are very reachable in 2 without driving the ball a mile. If you like smooth, fast greens...this is the place.
Always come here
We can always get a good price at this course and it is in consistently great shape. Staff is friendly and layout can be challenging.
Excellent experience
Course presents a challenge with trees, bunkers and contour. Well defined targets and places to avoid. Great turf conditions and smooth, constant green which had accepting texture.
Staff were friendly and informative
A little tighter layout than most we have played. Well bunkered. Interesting water holes. Fairways and greens in good shape as well as bunkers had good sand but previous players didn't care to rake so lots of man made trouble. Staff was welcoming and helpful.
Total waste of time
Two groups combined ahead of us to form a five some. They were rude and slow. They actually drove a golf cart onto the green. I told the drink cart lady and she said she'd let the pro shop know. No one came and we never saw a Marshall all day. Don't waste your time and money playing this course. All the other courses are much better.
Good Design
As described by others ---
1) Very Good Design
2) Fairway Maintenance below average
3) Bunker and Rough below average
4) Greens aren't well cut ... resulting in a bumpy
surface and below avg. speed.
5) Setting is very pleasant
6) I saw No Marshal or Beverage Cart
This course needs some care
This course needs some attention it's certainly not worth 73$ the layout is good but the condition is poor!
Slowest Round Ever
OK so get out of the cold in Colorado to play some golf as well as some business in Vegas. Stayed up north so wanted something close to my AIRBNB place. Came across Painted Desert and a very good resort rate at 2pm. I knew it would be tight to get in 18 but expected more than 8 holes! Every hole was back up with 3 groups on it. No ranger in sight to move things along. When I drove in after 8 holes in disgust and mentioned it to the starter he just tried to kill me with condescending niceness. This course just packs them in for $$$ no time between groups. I will never go back nor do I think anyone should. Staff is confused and misguided on customer service.
Great muni
Played this course last minute decision. Excellent layout just a short drive from the Strip. Greens were a little hard and fast, making approach shots tricky. Very good condition.
Great place to play if all the Big Name Resort courses are busy.
so slow
We were on a golf trip to Vegas for a week. 5 rounds in 6 days. Painted Desert was our last round and by far the worst.
We played 13 holes in 3 hours 40 minutes. As there 2 groups on the 14th tee we figured it would take about 1 1/2 hours to finish which would be a 5 hour 10 min round. We drove in.
On our way in we noticed a 5 ball playing the 17th. This may have had something to do with the slow play!
I went to the pro shop and told the gentleman in there about our experience and his comments were;
1) we don't have a marshal, 2) golfers should know how to keep up with the group in front and 3 we don't allow 5 balls. Ummm!
There are far better courses in Vegas to play than Painted Desert and cheaper. We wont be back here!
Not the Course it used to be!
For years, Painted Desert has rightfully claim to have the best public greens in Las Vegas. I now believe that is no longer true. The greens are good, not great. However my biggest issue was pace of play. Any round that goes over five hours is tooooo long. I won't be going back. And, I have played this course at least 50 times in the past.
Death march
The golf course it self was great. The pace of play was beyound ridiculous. Gave it 1 star because there was negative numbers available. 6 hours is not acceptable.
Painted Desert
Greens, fairways, and tees were in excellent condition. Nice value for the money. Needed rental clubs which were very nice clubs. Would play again.