Bali Hai Golf Club

Bali Hai Golf Club brings a tropical Balinese aesthetic to the Las Vegas Strip, with seven acres of water features, 2,500 stands of towering palms, and 100,000 tropical plants creating an environment wholly unlike any other course in the desert Southwest. Designed by Schmidt-Curley and opened in 2000, this par-71 championship layout stretches 6,858 yards and is routed to build in drama: the opening nine plays relatively straightforward before the back nine tightens its demands, offering spectacular views of the Strip mega-resorts throughout.

Bali Hai Golf Club occupies a standout improbable setting in American golf — a 200-acre site along the Las Vegas Strip, surrounded by the towers and spectacle of one of the world's most densely developed urban corridors. That such a lush, botanically rich golf course could exist here is largely the vision of Bill Walters, the legendary Las Vegas golf course operator whose portfolio of Nevada courses reshaped expectations for what public-access golf in the desert could be. Walters commissioned Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley of Schmidt-Curley Design to create a course unlike anything in the Las Vegas market. The concept was rooted in the exotic: a Balinese-inspired landscape that would transport players far from the neon and concrete just beyond the perimeter fence. Schmidt and Curley faced an unusual challenge — the site was flat, with minimal topographic interest, and the surrounding urban infrastructure would intrude on any conventional design approach. Their solution was to invest heavily in vegetation and water, importing a botanical arsenal that transformed a barren desert parcel into a tropical oasis.

The construction budget reflected the ambition. Seven acres of water features were constructed, with lakes and streams threaded through the routing. Approximately 2,500 stands of mature palms were planted — including specimens hauled in at considerable expense — alongside 100,000 Balinese tropical plants and flowering species not commonly found in the Mojave climate. The out-of-play areas were dressed with Augusta white sand and black volcanic rock outcroppings, reinforcing the island aesthetic and screening the course interior from the surrounding streetscape. The clubhouse, a 32,000-square-foot Balinese-themed structure, was conceived as the architectural centerpiece of the entire complex.

The front nine was intentionally designed to play hospitably, building player comfort before the back nine presents tighter corridors, more aggressive water hazard placement, and greens that reward precision over power. Multiple tee options — Black, Gold, Silver, and Bronze — ensure the course remains accessible across a wide range of skill levels, from scratch-level players seeking a serious test to resort visitors looking for an enjoyable round against a standout visually distinctive backdrops in American golf.

The views of the Strip from the fairways are a defining feature: players regularly spot the Mandalay Bay, the MGM Grand, and other landmark towers rising above the tropical canopy, creating a disorienting but wholly memorable juxtaposition of contexts. Bali Hai has consistently earned placement on Golf Digest's Best Public Courses lists and has been recognized as one of the top public-access resort courses in Nevada. Its position on the Strip makes it a natural choice for convention visitors, resort guests, and destination golfers who want a high-quality round without leaving the city's core entertainment zone.