It wasn’t that long ago that the first thing that came to mind when the words Las Vegas were uttered was gambling, glitzy shows and world famous entertainers.

Dwight B. Heard, a native of Chicago, first saw the Valley of the Sun in 1895 and decided to stay because he felt the arid weather was the perfect tonic for his health problems.

The scenic Idaho panhandle wasn’t always on the radar as a top golf destination. Now the area features as good a one-two punch of resort courses as perhaps exists in North America.

The circa 1990 definition of a golf destination has been altered dramatically over the past fifteen years. So much so that golf is only part of the vacation equation.

Crafted by some of the finest designers in the game, golf courses at Fairmont offer layouts that intrigue the senses and challenge both body and mind.

The place is the JW Marriott Las Vegas in Summerlin, a quaint suburb about fifteen minutes northeast of the Las Vegas Strip. It’s a place to unwind, stop and smell the roses.