Cascata

Cascata, Italian for "waterfall," opened in 2000 as an ultra-exclusive playground for MGM high rollers. Designed by Rees Jones and Keith Evans on a dramatic site in the foothills of the River Mountain Range near Boulder City, Nevada, the course was originally accessible only to VIP casino guests. Sports Illustrated dubbed it "Golf's Hidden Treasure" at its debut, while Rees Jones himself called it "The Eighth Wonder of the golf world."

The property changed hands over the years, passing from MGM to Caesars Entertainment and then to Harrah's Entertainment. Today it is owned by VICI Properties. Through each transition, Cascata has maintained its reputation as one of the most visually spectacular golf courses on the planet, rivaling the famous Shadow Creek as Las Vegas's premier golf destination.

Soaring 3,200 feet above the Las Vegas Desert Valley, the course climbs 800 feet in elevation through towering canyon walls. The Tuscan-inspired clubhouse features a roaring river running through it, fed by the iconic 418-foot man-made waterfall that cascades down the mountainside. Every element of the experience, from the private gates to the forecaddie service, is designed to feel like a world apart from the Las Vegas Strip.

Cascata is a bucket-list golf experience from start to finish. The round begins with a drive through private gates into a landscape that feels worlds removed from the desert. A Tuscan-inspired clubhouse with a river flowing through it sets the tone before you even reach the first tee. Forecaddies accompany every group, and tee times are spaced 12 minutes apart to ensure a peaceful, unhurried round.

The par-72 layout plays to 7,137 yards from the tips with a slope of 143 and a course rating of 74.6. Expect dramatic elevation changes on nearly every hole, with the course climbing 800 feet in either direction near the peak of Red Mountain. The greens are fast and the conditions are immaculate. Big horn sheep sightings are common among the towering canyon walls.

Listen to your forecaddie. The extreme elevation changes at Cascata make club selection tricky, and distances can be deceiving. Uphill holes play significantly longer than the yardage suggests, while downhill tee shots can fly much further than expected. Take the caddie's recommendations on club selection seriously.

The greens are fast and undulating, so getting the ball below the hole is critical. The holes are spread out enough that errant shots are rarely in danger of reaching other fairways, so swing freely off the tee and focus your precision on approaches.