WALTERS GOLF

F or years, the city of Las Vegas has trafficked in illusion, creating opu- lent shrines that seek to replicate everything from Egyptian pyramids and the city of Paris to Roman palaces and the New York City skyline. But usually, most of that illusion ends at the front door of the casino, as the business of Las Vegas takes over its themed appearance. However, that's not the case at two of the most distinctive courses in Vegas: Bali Hai Golf Club and Royal Links Golf Club. Both courses have transformed massive swaths of Mojave Desert into startlingly unique landscapes, with Bali Hai trans- porting you to a tropical paradise and Royal Links sending you across the pond to several of the British Open courses. Though surrounded by desert and very close to the high-tech modernity of The Strip, both courses serve as dramatic oases that feel a world removed. Each was designed in large part to re- flect the themed nature of the casinos. Bali Hai, located on The Strip, is a 7,002- yard Lee Schmidt-Brian Curley design that features seven acres of water fea- tures, black volcanic rocks, approximately 4,000 trees, including some 2,500 palm trees, and 100,000 tropical plants im- ported from Bali. The 7,029-yard Dye International-de- signed Royal Links includes 18 signature holes inspired from British Open courses, such as the "Postage Stamp" from Royal Troon and the "Road Hole" and "Hell Bunker" from the Old Course at St. An- drews. And while the courses may have their differences, they do share an ace in the hole: they're part of a partnership with MGM Resorts, which offers guests $50 off green fees and many other benefits at its 14 Vegas properties. paIr of aCes bali hai and royal links serve as distinctive escapes to global destinations World-Class CoUrses > C L I C K H E R E T O L E A R N M O R E A B O U T E A C H C O U R S E A N D B O O K T E E T I M E S AT B A L I H A I A N D R O YA L L I N K S Bali Hai offers golfers a tropical day in paradise… …while Royal Links represents the soul of Scotland.

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