Public Play · Henderson
Desert Willow Golf CourseHenderson
An executive course tucked into the Black Mountain range.
Par
60
Yardage
3,811
Rating · Slope
59.9 · 104
Holes
18
Green Fee
$35–$49
The Course
About Desert Willow Golf Course
Desert Willow is an 18-hole executive course - par 60, 3,811 yards - tucked into the foothills of the Black Mountain range in Henderson. Finely manicured fairways and greens, valley views, and a quick, walkable round make it a popular short-game and tune-up destination.
History
Desert Willow Golf Course — History
Desert Willow Golf Course is a Billy Casper and Greg Nash-designed executive course set into the Black Mountain range in Henderson.
Design
Desert Willow Golf Course — Design
Casper and Nash built Desert Willow as an executive course -- compact and scenic, designed for a fast round that still works the short irons.
What Sets It Apart
Why Play Desert Willow Golf Course
A scenic, quick executive round in the Henderson foothills -- ideal for a tune-up or a relaxed nine-plus.
The Round
The Journey at Desert Willow Golf Course
I.
The Opening
Desert Willow, an executive course of 12 par 3s and six par 4s in the Black Mountain foothills, opens with a par 4 rated No. 3, then turns into four straight par 3s over hilly ground. The 5th is a short par 3 played from an elevated tee, and water borders the back of its green, so a shot that comes in long gets wet. The 6th, the second of the front nine's three par 4s, closes the stretch.
II.
The Middle
Two more par 3s, the 7th and the 8th, set up the 9th, the hardest hole on the course. It is a par 4 with a bunker in the driving zone and water guarding about half of the green; a miss long left or short right costs a penalty stroke. The back nine starts with a par 4 at the 10th and then a run of par 3s, among them the 12th, rated the easiest hole.
III.
The Finish
The 13th continues that run of par 3s, and the 14th, rated No. 4, is the longest par 3 on the course, a hole where club selection decides the score. The 15th is a par 4, and two more par 3s lead to the 18th, the No. 2 handicap: a short par 4 whose approach must carry water to reach the green, with a good-sized bunker waiting for anything long.
How to Play It
Desert Willow Golf Course — Playing Strategy
Beginner / High Handicap
Water comes into play on three holes, the 5th, 9th and 18th, and each calls for a different miss. On the 5th, the water is behind the green, so err short. On the 9th, avoid long left and short right. On the 18th, take enough club to carry the water but not so much that the ball finds the bunker over the green.
Intermediate / Mid Handicap
The two hardest holes are both par 4s, the 9th and the 18th, and both involve water at the green, so play for the fat part of each putting surface. On the 9th, pick a tee club that stays clear of the fairway bunker and leaves a full approach. The 14th, the longest par 3 and rated No. 4, is the hole where club selection matters most.
Advanced / Low Handicap
Rated 59.1 with a 91 slope from the Blue tees, Desert Willow is a short-game test on undulating greens. Grass bunkers in front of several greens, part of the original design according to the director of golf, call for approaches that fly onto the putting surface. The two hardest holes, the 9th and 18th, are both short par 4s with water at the green.
Signature Holes
Desert Willow Golf Course — Signature Holes
The Card
Desert Willow Golf Course Scorecard
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 30 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 30 | 60 |
| Yards | 308 | 152 | 172 | 131 | 115 | 324 | 158 | 181 | 345 | 1,886 | 311 | 140 | 131 | 151 | 204 | 335 | 181 | 161 | 324 | 1,938 | 3,824 |
| Handicap | 3 | 7 | 9 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 5 | 1 | — | 12 | 14 | 18 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 2 | — | — |
Facilities
Desert Willow Golf Course — Amenities
- Pro Shop
- Driving Range
- Putting Green
- Chipping Area
- Practice Bunkers
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Lessons
Good to Know
Desert Willow Golf Course — questions answered
- How do I book a tee time at Desert Willow Golf Course?
- Desert Willow Golf Course accepts online tee-time bookings. Golf in LV links the exact booking page on this course's listing.
- How much does it cost to play Desert Willow Golf Course?
- Green fees at Desert Willow Golf Course are typically $35 to $49, varying by season, day of week and time. Confirm current rates when you book.
- Who designed Desert Willow Golf Course?
- Desert Willow Golf Course was designed by Billy Casper & Greg Nash and opened in 1996.
- What is the par and yardage at Desert Willow Golf Course?
- Desert Willow Golf Course plays to a par of 60 over 3,811 yards from the championship tees, with a course rating of 59.9 and a slope of 104.
- Is Desert Willow Golf Course public or private?
- Desert Willow Golf Course is open to public play. Tee times can be reserved in advance.
- Where is Desert Willow Golf Course located?
- Desert Willow Golf Course is located at 2020 W Horizon Ridge Pkwy, Henderson, NV 89012, in the Henderson area of Southern Nevada.
More in Henderson
More golf courses in Henderson
Jay Morrish & David Druzisky · MacDonald Highlands, Henderson
DragonRidge Country Club
Canyon-and-hillside private golf high above the Las Vegas Valley.
Arthur Hills · Henderson
The Legacy Golf Club
An Arthur Hills design with card-suit tees and the 'Devil's Triangle.'
Hale Irwin & Keith Foster · Anthem, Henderson
Anthem Country Club
A private Hale Irwin championship course in the Henderson hills.
How to Play It
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