Opened in 1964, and located just 15 minutes from Las Vegas Boulevard, Desert Rose Golf Course offers a good old-fashioned round of golf and prices to match. It's a Clark County course run by the friendly folks of American Golf, who last season flip-flopped the front and back nines to smooth the pace of play.

Though carts are available, everyone is welcome to walk. Those wanting the exercise will appreciate that the Bermuda greens and fairways are kept slightly longer (and therefore are softer). There's also some shade from the many pine trees that stand staggered along most of the fairways. Pines also frame the teeing areas, where players can take aim at the generous landing areas.

Designed by Joe Lee and Dick Wilson, Desert Rose offers a forgiving layout that remains challenging for all levels of play. Full practice facilities, a restaurant and snack bar are available. Desert Rose is affordably priced and conveniently located just 7.5 miles east of the Las Vegas Strip. Avoid the traffic and enjoy one of the best golf values in Las Vegas. Desert Rose is a Clark County facility managed by American Golf Corporation.

The entire course is built around a wash that runs alongside virtually every hole. The wash along the front nine is usually dry, but the back-nine wash often flows with a 6-foot-wide stream of cool water.

Other hazards include one fairway bunker, on No. 16,and strategic sand bunkering on most of the greens. Here's the beauty of Desert Rose's design: For every player-friendly feature, there's also an element of challenge. Though three of the four par 5s are mouthwatering short, one No.4 plays 607 yards from the back tees.

The 9th hole is a 156-yard par 3. A large bunker yawns in front of the green, and four pot bunkers lie behind it. No. 16, a short par 4 of just 340 yards, tempts many to swing away with the driver. But a long drive will bring a fairway bunker left into play, and another bunker front left guards the slightly elevated green. Trees right can also punish an overaggressive drive.

Desert Rose was once owned by Jim Colbert, two-time Senior PGA TOUR Player of the Year and part-time Las Vegas resident; now managed by Golf Enterprises, Inc., the course has regained its reputation as a quality golf experience; lessons, restaurant, snack bar and practice facilities available; annually the course hosts the Southern Nevada Golf Association’s Clark County Amateur; PGA TOUR players Robert Gamez and Craig Barlow are former champions of that event.