Palm Valley Golf Club Review

About Palm Valley Golf Club

This Palm Valley Golf Club review covers the founding championship course of Golf Summerlin's three-course campus in Sun City Summerlin — a Billy Casper and Greg Nash design that has been the public benchmark for Las Vegas golf since it opened in 1989. At 6,706 yards from the back Blue tees, par 72, with a Course Rating of 71.7 and a Slope of 127, it is the longest layout in the Golf Summerlin portfolio and the most architecturally demanding. Sixty-eight bunkers placed with genuine strategic intent, mature tree-lined fairways that reward positioning off the tee, and bentgrass greens that hold consistent speed through the spring season combine to create a course that feels closer to a private-club experience than a typical municipal track. The closing three-hole stretch — anchored by the 534-yard, water-guarded 18th — is one of the most memorable finishing gauntlets among Summerlin's public courses. Our verdict: the most honest championship value in Summerlin, and the clearest argument for public golf as a serious test.

Reviews of Palm Valley Golf Club

Our editorial verdict: Palm Valley Golf Club is the strongest public-access championship test inside Summerlin for mid- to low-handicappers who want genuine architecture without a private-club price tag. The bunker strategy demands respect on every hole, the closing stretch is legitimately memorable, and the Sun City Summerlin community model means course conditions stay a notch above what comparable public-fee tracks deliver. Value-seekers will find it priced fairly; players who want the most architecturally sophisticated round on Golf Summerlin's campus should start here.

Our full review of Palm Valley Golf Club

First published April 3, 2026 as a standalone review; folded into this profile October 27, 2026.

The course that started Golf Summerlin

Palm Valley is the founding course of the three-course campus, the first layout Billy Casper and Greg Nash delivered when Sun City Summerlin broke ground in 1989. Golf was the organising principle from the start, and the community owns and operates its courses directly, a model that remains unusual in Las Vegas and explains the consistently good conditions: when residents' property values ride on the golf, maintenance standards hold. From the Blue tees it plays 6,706 yards at par 72, rating 71.7 and slope 127, with White (6,242), Gold (5,741) and Red (5,425) tees giving every level a fair contest.

A layout that demands every club

There are no Red Rock escarpments framing the skyline here. What you get instead is architecture: 68 bunkers placed with intent, mature pines lining fairways in a way that feels transplanted from the Carolinas, bentgrass greens that hold speed through spring, and Bermuda fairways that are fully greened up by April. The par 5s set the rhythm. The opening hole (537 yards) immediately asks whether you will attack a bunker-guarded green in two, the 4th (483 yards) is a reachable risk-reward hole with water on the approach, and the 5th, at 454 yards the longest par 4 on the card, wants a precise drive into a tightened landing zone. The variety is the point: the course cycles through strategic puzzles rather than leaning on one theatrical feature.

The closing stretch

Palm Valley's calling card is 16, 17 and 18. The 16th is a 229-yard par 3 with no lay-up, an elevated green bunkered left and a severe drop-off right; it plays as one of the hardest single holes on any of the three Golf Summerlin courses. The 17th (415 yards) is a breath, demanding accuracy but forgiving enough to set up a manageable approach. Then the 534-yard par-5 18th: a 90-degree dogleg right with water guarding the whole second half of the right side, out of bounds left and a bunker-ringed green. Big hitters who carry the corner can reach in two, and the penalty for misjudging is immediate. For a public course at this price it is a genuinely memorable finish.

Palm Valley against the Summerlin field

Highland Falls delivers more elevation drama and the better view; Palm Valley is the stronger scoring test with the tighter architecture. TPC Summerlin is tour calibre at tour pricing; Palm Valley gives you most of that challenge for a fraction of the cost. With Bear's Best closed to public play since June 2025, Palm Valley is the clear front-runner among Summerlin's fully public championship options, with Angel Park the strongest competition at a similar tier.

Who it suits: mid- to low-handicappers who want a real challenge without a private-club fee, residents who play regularly and want a consistent track that rewards course knowledge, and group outings. Not the pick for true beginners or for anyone who wants dramatic desert scenery above all else.

Playing it well

April is prime time: 70 to 85 degrees, fairways transitioned from overseeding, greens holding their speed. Morning tee times move briskly. Book early online for the best rate inside the dynamic range, and if you are making a day of it, Golf Summerlin's campus pricing makes pairing Palm Valley's architecture with Highland Falls' scenery the best two-course value in the corridor. Afterwards, the Five Star Tavern is unpretentious Las Vegas: a well-stocked bar, video poker at the counter and a patio over the 18th green where the staff know regulars by name.

Is Palm Valley Golf Club Worth Playing?

Yes — if you want the most architecturally honest championship round available on a public tee in Summerlin, Palm Valley is the answer. The 68-bunker layout rewards course management and repeated play; the closing three holes will test any handicap. Book a morning tee time in spring for the best conditions, and pair it with Highland Falls if you want to make a full day of Golf Summerlin's campus.

Good to know before you play

• Booking & access: Tee times are open to the public and can be booked at golfsummerlin.com or by calling (702) 363-4373. Dynamic pricing means early online booking typically secures the best rate in the $63–$207 green fee range; cart is included.
• Best time to play: April is prime time — Bermuda fairways are fully transitioned from winter overseeding, bentgrass greens hold consistent speed, and temperatures run 70–85°F. Morning tee times move efficiently thanks to Sun City Summerlin's resident golf culture.
• Tee selection: Four sets are available: Blue (6,706 yds, rating 71.7/slope 127), White (6,242 yds), Gold (5,741 yds), and Red (5,425 yds). Mid-handicappers playing the Blues for the first time should respect the layout — the 68-bunker count is genuine, not decorative.
• Hardest hole / closing stretch: Hole 16 is a 229-yard par-3 with no layup option — a long iron or fairway wood at an elevated, bunker-guarded green. The 18th (534 yards, par-5) has water guarding the entire right side of the dogleg, out-of-bounds left, and a bunker-ringed green. Plan your strategy before you reach the 16th tee.
• Practice facilities & post-round: The Golf Summerlin campus supports warm-up before your round. Post-round, the Five Star Tavern clubhouse offers casual dining, a full bar, and a patio overlooking the 18th green — a neighborhood atmosphere that rewards lingering over your scorecard.
• Pairing rounds: The Golf Summerlin campus pricing incentivizes combining Palm Valley with Highland Falls in a single day — the two courses offer complementary experiences (architecture vs. scenery) at a combined value that competes with most single-course daily-fee options in Las Vegas.

Frequently asked questions about Palm Valley Golf Club

Where can I find reviews and ratings for Palm Valley Golf Club?

You can read player reviews of Palm Valley Golf Club — rated for conditions, value, layout, greens, pace, and staff — and add your own here on Summerlin.Golf. Palm Valley Golf Club is also profiled on major golf platforms including GolfPass, GolfNow, Golf Digest, and Google Reviews. For the official scorecard, rates, and tee times, visit the Palm Valley Golf Club official website.

Is Palm Valley Golf Club public or private, and how do I book a tee time?

Palm Valley Golf Club is a public course managed by Golf Summerlin. Tee times are open to all players and can be booked online at golfsummerlin.com or by calling (702) 363-4373. Group outings can be arranged through 702-363-2617.

Who designed Palm Valley Golf Club and when did it open?

Palm Valley Golf Club was designed by Billy Casper and Greg Nash and opened in 1989 as the founding course of Golf Summerlin's three-course campus in Sun City Summerlin.

What is the par and yardage at Palm Valley Golf Club?

Palm Valley Golf Club plays to par 72. From the back Blue tees the course measures 6,706 yards, with a Course Rating of 71.7 and a Slope of 127. Additional tee sets play at 6,242 yards (White), 5,741 yards (Gold), and 5,425 yards (Red).

Where is Palm Valley Golf Club located?

Palm Valley Golf Club is located at 9201 Del Webb Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89134, within the Sun City Summerlin active-adult community in the northwest Las Vegas Valley.

What are the green fees at Palm Valley Golf Club?

Green fees use dynamic pricing and range from approximately $63 to $207 depending on demand and season. Cart is included. Booking early through golfsummerlin.com or GolfNow typically secures the best rates.

What is Palm Valley Golf Club best known for?

Palm Valley is best known as Golf Summerlin's longest and most architecturally demanding public layout, featuring 68 strategically placed bunkers, mature tree-lined fairways, and a memorable closing three-hole stretch anchored by the 534-yard, water-guarded 18th hole.