Aliante Golf Club

Aliante Golf Club is an 18 hole public golf course located in North Las Vegas, Nevada.

Aliante golf course first opened for play in 2003. The course was designed by Gary Panks.

Aliante offers pleasant panoramas of the 10,000-foot peaks of the Sheep Range and an outstanding variety of 18 tournament-caliber holes on this par-72, 7,022-yard layout.

The front nine winds through hundreds of pear trees, while the back nine unrolls through numerous plantings of Mondale pines and bright splashes of purple locust trees. A groomed arroyo graces virtually every hole, often running along or across the Bermuda fairways, and sometimes cutting behind or in front of the tee boxes or Tiffeagle greens, which are small to medium -- in the 6,000-square-foot range -- with moderate to severe undulation.

Most of the holes look stright forward from the tee, but a closer look reveals both subtle and clear challenges. Many fairways slope gently toward the arroyo running their length, and there's greenside trouble in the form of swales, hollows and huge bunkers with high flash faces.

Hole #2 (the No. 1 handicap hole) is a 472-yard par 4 notable for its flowing contours and absence of bunkers. A short cut all around the green punishes poor approaches but also sets up pitching, chipping and putting options.

Hole #4 is an excellent par 3 playing to 155-yards with three distinctly sculpted Panks' bunkers framing a strongly undulating green.

Hole #11 is a 550-yard, par-5. The tee box lies near a waterfall splashing into a two-tiered pond. Drives must carry at least 175 yards to clear the pond, but two sets of forward tees mercifully take the water out of play. An arroyo runs down the right side opposite one fairway bunker left. There's another deep bunker 50 yards shy of the green, which also is fronted by bunkers and backed by an arroyo.

Hole #17 is a 420-yard, par-4 that doglegs left to a green surrounded by water and bunkers. Nearby waterfalls offer soothing sounds to lift the spirits. To literally lift the spirits, a fully appointed clubhouse with floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor veranda offer great spots to sit and admire the surrounding mountains and review the round.

Eagle tees: 7,022 yards, 72.8/133.

Falcon tees: 6,657 yards, 70.6/128.

Hawk tees: 6,117 yards, 68.1/123.

Dove tees: 5,340 yards, 69.8/116.