Is this the Best Desert Golf? 7 Courses, 4 Days,1 Incredible Scout Trip to NV and UT.

Did we just experience the best desert golf ever?

This June we had the chance to scout one of the most unique golf destinations in North America — the red rock canyons of Southern Utah and Mesquite, Nevada.

This trip wasn’t just about checking out courses — it was about making sure we can build seamless, unforgettable golf experiences for future Golf Trip Guys clients. And this destination has rocketed up our list. It has all the ingredients for a memorable golf trip. Epic golf, incredible vistas and accommodations for any group preference.

Here’s a full breakdown of the journey with plenty of video:

Day 1: Vegas Arrival + Falcon Ridge Warm-Up

We flew into Las Vegas, grabbed our rental, and headed straight to Mesquite.

First stop: Falcon Ridge Golf Course — a great opening course. We met up with the rest of our group and the laughs started immediately -- is it really a golf trip if you aren’t changing outfits in the parking lot straight from the plane?!? Falcon Ridge served as an excellent entry to the desert golf that awaited us on the trip with elevated tee shots, tight desert corridors, and sneaky greens. Not overly long, but not easy either. An excellent clubhouse bar/restaurant for a drink and well portioned sandwich.

Lodging: Virgin River Casino in Mesquite for a quick one night bunking. You can’t beat the location - 5 minutes from Wolf Creek, our eagerly awaited destination for early tomorrow. Location aside...let’s just say… this place was memorable. Smoky tables, wild people watching and hotel doors that open outside…crash pad for one night will do.

Day 2: Wolf Creek Drama + Black Desert Arrival

The main event — Wolf Creek Golf Club. A quick rain delay gave us dramatic skies and filtered light that made the entire course feel surreal. It’s every bit as intense, elevated, and wild as people say.

Here’s an overview video:

There’s something incredible about watching a drive launch from an elevated tee box — the ball hanging in the air against the sky for what feels like forever. Wolf Creek delivers multiple of those moments. As one of our friends put it perfectly:

“It’s like playing golf in a video game.”

The Par 5 12 was especially memorable with an elevated bomb tee shot to a fairway that stretches around and through two water features. Watch us take on the hole:

We left Wolf Creek with a slight pang of regret, knowing the rest of our group was going out for a second round. But we fired up the rental car and headed north into Utah. As the landscape shifted, it almost felt surreal — foreign and beautiful, especially from our normal tree-laden Northeast landscapes. That lingering FOMO quickly faded as the anticipation of what was ahead took over.

About an hour later, we pulled into the brand-new Black Desert Resort. Running a little hot before our tee time, we were greeted by our forecaddie, Rocky, and headed straight to the first tee.

I’ll use this phrase multiple times on this trip, but this was truly one of the most unique golf vistas I’ve ever stood on: an emerald fairway cut into jet-black lava rock, framed by the mountains of the Zion region in the distance.

Throughout the round we watched the formation of a nasty storm miles in the distance that slowly creeped our way. Luckily we found the epic halfway house and weathered an entertaining storm over a few drinks. Soon enough Rocky hopped back on our cart and got us back out there to finish the round.

Check out these vistas:

One quirk of this trip — some of the pro shops were a little underwhelming in terms of selection - which the wallet appreciated but the desire remained... Black Desert was the exception. Their shop felt curated and premium, with full walls of hats, headcovers, and apparel worth grabbing.

The resort itself is something special. Still in its “preview phase,” we saw construction in progress that hints at what’s to come — including a planned waterpark and additional amenities that already have us excited to return. The staff was welcoming, the food was excellent, and the entire vibe was upscale without feeling stuffy.

36 holes at Wolf Creek and Black Desert — now that’s a day.

Day 3: Sand Hollow + The Ledges + Villa Vibes

About a 30-minute drive east brought us to Sand Hollow — one I was especially excited to experience. The first thing that jumps out? The red sand bunkers, which pop brilliantly against the lush fairways and surrounding red rock formations.

The front nine is friendly and welcoming, with wide fairways that lull you into the round. But then... the back nine happens, and wow, does it happen. Cliffside holes. Canyon drops. It feels like playing golf inside a national park.

We had a slight scare when my phone was left out in the desert while filming — but two groups later, a few absolute legends brought the overheated iPhone triumphantly into the clubhouse. After an emergency cool down, all our footage was safe!

Here’s a highlight reel from the round — and bonus here we finally got the drone up as the wind died from the past few days died down.

Quick lunch, then on to The Ledges — a laid-back, beautifully maintained course with views of Snow Canyon. It’s smooth, scorable, and a great mid-trip decompression round. We had the drone up to capture the beauty of Snow Canyon until the local birds took issue and attacked our winged friend forcing an emergency landing.

Post round we met up with the rest of the crew at their Ledges Villas. It was important to get a firsthand look at one of the properties we’ve booked for client trips in 2026.

The vibe? Spot on for a group setting. We gathered around some SoCal-style tri-tip and swapped stories from the last few rounds. The houses are an excellent fit for traveling golf crews — with shared common areas, rooftop hot tubs, game rooms, and plenty of space to hang out or get some quiet time to recharge. If your crew likes to stay under one roof, this is the spot.

Day 4: Copper Rock + Entrada Finale

Another sunrise drive through the desert cliffs brought us to Copper Rock — host site of the Epson Tour. While the courses are spread out a bit between St. George and Hurricane (about 35 minutes apart), the drive is part of the experience. The roads cut through towering red cliffs, shading the early sun, while the vast desert landscape reminds you just how incredible it is that they’re able to build golf courses out here at all.

Before teeing off, the starter delivered an epic pre-round speech, promising lightning-fast greens and pristine conditions:

“Pick your line, commit and hope it hits the cup.”

He wasn’t wrong. Copper Rock is incredibly fun — and seriously tough.

And trust us, you don’t want to be on the wrong side of the peanut-shaped green... IYKYK.

A few pro tips that stuck with us all trip:

• Your clubs go about 10% farther in the desert.

• You won’t find many straight putts out here.

• And most importantly: HYDRATE.

One more highlight: Mike got his hands on a demo LAB Golf Mezz.1 putter (thanks to one of the guys from Second Swing who joined us for the round). Seven one-putts later, he was outside the clubhouse making deals — and walked off the course with a new weapon in the bag.

Bonus Round:

After bonding with our caddy Rocky during that wild thunderstorm at Black Desert, he invited us to his home club — Entrada at Snow Canyon.

Entrada was the perfect way to end the trip. It’s a fun, challenging layout that fits the theme of the week: a tale of two nines. The back nine flows dramatically through black lava rock, offering a final dose of scenic desert golf.

Red-Eye Exit

After 117 holes, we still weren’t ready to leave — but we packed our bags, our footage, and some unforgettable memories, and headed back to Vegas for the red-eye home.

This trip needs to be on your list!

Hit us up — we’ll tailor the perfect itinerary for your group.

So when should you go?

We arrived just at the end of peak season as the temps start to climb significantly in the desert. This is a fantastic location for winter and spring travel as the weather stays warm the majority of the year.

• Fall (Sept–Nov): Arguably the best time to go. Warm days (70s–80s), crisp mornings, and perfect course conditions.

  
  

• Winter (Dec–Feb): Chillier mornings (40s–50s), but still golfable most days with highs in the 50s–60s. Great for budget-friendly trips and smaller crowds.

• Spring (March–May): Popular season with highs in the 70s–80s. Expect perfect turf, blooming desert, and full tee sheets.

• Summer (June–Aug): Hot (90s–100s+), but playable early in the day. Great for early-bird tee times and resort deals

Pro Tip: October and April are prime time for a perfect mix of sunshine, scenery, and playable temps.

Booking now for 2026 - is your group ready?

Email us at trips@golftrip-guys.com or fill out your interest here