Las Vegas’ Electric Greens

For a city in the middle of the big brown Mojave, Las Vegas has more greens per mile than Beverly Hills has pools. These are rolling greens, lush with creeks, reeds and cascading water features….

the stripThe Property: When Steve Wynn opened his eponymous coffee-colored tower in 2005 he vowed to wow the city yet again—beyond the volcanoes and fountains of his past accomplishments. And this he did—with a touch of class. The 2,716-room Wynn looks onto the private backdrop of the Wynn Country Club, which complements in beauty and features the Lake of Dreams and alpine mountain that abuts it. And now with the 2,034-room Encore, which opened in December as a resort in its own right connecting to Wynn, guests get a complete complex of amenities: some 14 restaurants, two spas, two headline shows, lounges galore as well as nightclubs and pool scenes that swell well beyond the convenience of greens you can walk to. For the most passionate of golfers with the pocket to support their appetites, book one of the Fairway Villas at Wynn. The suites have their own check-in and secure wing and come with private massage rooms and patios with views of the scenic 17th hole.

The Greens: Wynn Country Club was created on the land of the former Desert Inn Country Club and remains the only golf course on the Las Vegas Strip. The 18-hole course marks Steve Wynn’s second collaboration with Tom Fazio, playable at $500 a day. Players can leave their Callaways at home as they are rentable from the pro shop here. Considered a par 70 course, golfers will find 7,042-yard fairways from the longest tees in a setting where no two holes are alike.

The Amenities: Hungry? Choose from three Michelin-starred restaurants among the offerings. Gotta shop? The Esplanade at Wynn features 26 stores, including Manolo Blahnik, Chanel, Dior and Oscar de la Renta. Winding down? Eurobathing pools, therapeutic spas, even reputedly the best mojitos in town can be found at Wynn and Encore. Prepare to be entertained as well. From a melange of special EFX productions on the lake to restaurants that morph before your eyes, Wynn and Encore deliver surprise.

The Scene: XS at Encore is the latest nightclub to hit town and makes a comfortable complement to the nightclub Tryst at Wynn. XS lives up to its name not only in design but libations. The Ono cocktail made of Dom Perignon Enotheque Champagne and Louis XIII de Remy Martin Black Pearl Cognac comes with signature cufflinks for him and a black pearl pendant for her for a mere $10,000 per cocktail.

Rates: A Golf Getaway package at Wynn gives guests a champagne taste of the greens at beer-bottom rates: $559 pp dbl buys each guest a resort room, a round of golf with all inclusions and lunch for two at the Wynn Country Club. A 90-minute spa treatment may be subbed for a round of golf.

summerlin The Property: West of the city and edging into the dramatic expanse of Red Rock Canyon and the Spring Mountains, the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa brings a little bit of Scottsdale to Vegas. Just 20 minutes from the Strip, the resort is surrounded by some of the top golf courses in the city and though they are private clubs, being JW has its privileges. The property itself, two small towers and 548 rooms and suites, is just big enough to provide plenty of amenities on site while small enough to provide peace, privacy and good service.

The Greens: Although the resort is within minutes of 11 courses, the TPC Course is the chosen venue for JW Marriott’s guests. This is one of the best courses in the city and does not cost a half a house payment to play on. Designed by Bobby Weed with assistance from Hall of Famer Raymond Floyd, the par 71, 7,081-yard championship course has welcomed the PGA circuit and has been continuously rated as a coveted place to play in Golf Digest. An onsite golf academy is available for groups and private clinics.

The Amenities: JW Marriott offers a number of amenities for guests, including a sprawling, bi-level, indoor-outdoor spa as well as concierge services, an executive golf desk, complimentary shuttle services to the course and Strip, even a helipad for high-profile landings. A casino keeps the game going and plenty of dining, whether casual, buffet or fine, keeps guests on site.