Signature Golf Tours Takes on the Inaugural NRL Double Header in Vegas
In February–March last year, Signature Golf Tours hosted an unforgettable tour to the inaugural NRL Double Header in Las Vegas, USA. This event was a historic first for rugby league in Australia, marking the first time four NRL teams kicked off the season on international soil—introducing the American market to one of Australia’s most beloved sports.
As the NRL’s licensed golf tour provider, Signature Golf Tours put together an incredible 6-night experience based on the iconic Las Vegas Strip. The itinerary featured three rounds of golf at some of Vegas’ premier courses, plus Gold Section tickets to witness history unfold at Allegiant Stadium.
I had the absolute pleasure of escorting a group of 25 guests on this tour, and I want to give a huge thanks to Michael from SGT for trusting me with such an important role—it was truly an amazing experience!
A special highlight was having my good friend Harrison along for the journey. Harrison and I have played some of the world’s best golf courses together, from Scotland and Ireland to Australia, and sharing this Vegas adventure with him made it even more memorable.
From world-class golf to witnessing history at the NRL Double Header, this tour had it all and was set to be an epic adventure!
The Journey Begins
This was my first-ever visit to the USA, and I made the most of it by adding a few extra days on either side of the Las Vegas tour—which I’ll cover in Part 2 of this blog.
Flying to the west coast of the USA is a fairly straightforward journey from Australia’s east coast, with direct flights taking just over 13 hours. There’s also now an additional direct service to Dallas, Texas, operated jointly by American Airlines and Qantas, offering another convenient route for Aussie travelers.
We arrived in Las Vegas two days before the tour officially began. The Vegas experience starts the moment you step off the plane—where else would you find poker machines in the airport arrivals hall? After settling into our accommodation at the Luxor Hotel & Casino, we took a stroll along the Vegas Strip, spotting just a handful of NRL jersey-clad Australians. But that number quickly multiplied as the days went on—it wasn’t long before it was clear that the Aussies had taken over Vegas!
And it wasn’t just Aussie footy fans—we also spotted plenty of English Super League jerseys in the mix. The buzz around town was undeniable, and with each plane-load of footy supporters arriving, the excitement for the NRL Double Header continued to build.
Inside the Luxor, the sports bar near reception set the perfect scene for the SGT Welcome Function. As a passionate Brisbane Broncos supporter and golf enthusiast, I loved meeting our guests, many of whom shared the same interests. The group of 25 travelers mostly hailed from the NRL-loving eastern states of Australia, along with one solo guest from rugby league-obsessed Papua New Guinea—a true sign of how far the game’s reach extends!
It was clear from the start—this was going to be an unforgettable tour.
Golfing in the Desert – Sun Mountain at Paiute Golf Resort
Our first round of the SGT Vegas Tour took us to the Sun Mountain course at Paiute Golf Resort—a breathtaking start to the golf component of our trip. Designed by Pete Dye, Paiute is a 54-hole resort owned and managed by the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, located on a Native American reserve just outside the city.
The setting was simply spectacular. Sun Mountain offers pristine course conditions, stunning desert landscapes, water features, and panoramic views of the Nevada plains and mountains. As you play the opening holes, it feels like you’re at the bottom of a vast desert plain—until you realise there’s still a significant descent to the lowest point, followed by a long climb back up, seemingly into the clouds.
Adding to the experience, I even spotted my first real-life tumbleweed rolling by in the desert winds—a true Wild West moment! The course’s strategic routing keeps you engaged from start to finish, with every hole delivering a fresh perspective on the incredible desert and mountain vistas.
If you’re planning a golf trip to Vegas, Paiute’s Sun Mountain course is an absolute must-play. It was the perfect way to kick off our tour, and our guests were just as captivated by its beauty as I was.
That night, many of our group joined the now thousands of NRL supporters in town for the NRL Fan Experience on Fremont Street, located in the heart of “Old Las Vegas.”
The NRL put on a glamorous production, complete with a red carpet, where fans had the chance to meet current players from the four competing teams, as well as former players and NRL media personalities. The atmosphere was electric, with passionate footy fans soaking up the moment. Perhaps some of the locals and American tourists were a little puzzled by the spectacle, but there was no denying the NRL brought a touch of sporting stardom to the entertainment capital of the world.
For those unfamiliar, the Fremont Street Experience is a covered pedestrian mall in Old Vegas, located at the northern end of the Strip. Lined with some of Vegas’ most iconic casinos—like the Golden Nugget and Golden Gate—it’s a must-visit spot, offering live music, eye-catching street performers, and well-priced food and drinks.
The NRL Fan Experience was the perfect way to build excitement before game day, and it was incredible to see how the rugby league community took over Vegas for the weekend!
The Jaw-Dropping Wolf Creek Experience
For Round 2 of our SGT Vegas Tour, we traveled to the legendary Wolf Creek Golf Club in Mesquite, Nevada, near the Arizona state line. If golfers think of bucket-list courses in the Las Vegas area, Wolf Creek is almost always at the top—and with good reason.
The drive from Vegas to Mesquite is an experience in itself. The flat, lifeless desert stretches endlessly along the highway, giving little hint of what awaits. Then, you arrive at Wolf Creek, step onto the first tee, and suddenly, you’re staring at one of the most dramatic golf landscapes on earth.
Wolf Creek is pure desert golf magic, with elevated tees, deep ravines, towering cliffs, and emerald-green fairwaysweaving through rugged valleys. The undulating greens are lightning-fast, and the doglegs tempt you to cut corners—until you push your luck a little too far and watch your ball vanish into a ravine or settle atop a rocky ledge. But when you pull it off? You feel like a hero. (The par-5 5th hole is a prime example—I had a wind-assisted tee shot and was left with a full wedge for my second shot!)
The elevation changes are huge, making for some of the most exhilarating tee shots you’ll ever hit. Even the steep cart paths have built-in speed bumps to prevent wild rides—so feather that brake and take it slow! The contrast between the lush creeks winding through the valleys and the burnt-orange desert cliffs makes every hole feel like a postcard.
And then there’s the desert wind. It was an advantage for most of our front nine, but the moment we turned, it became a brutal headwind. Even from the white tees, the course was a beast. The par-4 14th hole, playing 370 yards into the wind, was a terror—doglegging left, climbing uphill, and hugging a deep ravine the entire way.
Wolf Creek is as much a visual spectacle as it is a golfing challenge. It feels almost otherworldly—a surreal, unforgettable experience that truly belongs on every golfer’s bucket list.
NRL Match Day – A Historic Moment in Vegas
The much-anticipated NRL match day had finally arrived. From the morning of game day, Las Vegas was hit with gale-force winds, forcing the cancellation of the planned tailgate parties outside Allegiant Stadium—a tradition borrowed from the NFL season. Despite the setback, the excitement in the air was undeniable.
From our accommodation at the Luxor Hotel, we joined a sea of NRL supporters decked out in team colours, making the pilgrimage toward the stadium. As we got closer, Allegiant Stadium loomed large—a USD $2 billion sporting fortress, purpose-built for the Las Vegas Raiders. Just a few weeks earlier, it had hosted the NFL Super Bowl, one of the world’s biggest sporting events, and now it was set to witness history as the NRL kicked off its season on American soil.
Luckily, with the stadium’s retractable roof closed, the cold, blustery conditions outside were no longer an issue.
Game Time – A Surreal Experience
Our group had prime sideline seats, right near the action, as the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Manly Sea Eagles took the field for the first-ever NRL season opener in Vegas. The few Manly fans in our group had reason to celebrate early, as their team overpowered the Rabbitohs to claim the first win of the season.
Then came the big one—my Brisbane Broncos versus the Sydney Roosters. This time, it was the Roosters who came out on top, kicking off their campaign in style.
Seeing NRL footy played in such an epic stadium, on the other side of the world, was truly surreal. It all seemed to fly by so quickly—but what an incredible experience just to be there, soaking it all in!
For those considering an SGT NRL Vegas tour, be prepared—locals will call it “Rugby” and often mix up Rugby League with Rugby Union. But that actually made for some great conversations! It was clear that the American fans in attendance were genuinely impressed by the athleticism, nonstop action, and the fact that NRL players wear no helmets or pads.
This event marked the first of a five-year agreement for the NRL to open its season in Las Vegas, so the locals might just get a lot more familiar with our game yet!
Final Round – Wrapping Up an Unforgettable Week
Our final round of the trip took us to Arroyo Golf Club at Red Rock, just a short drive from the Las Vegas Strip. While not as visually dramatic as Wolf Creek or Paiute, Arroyo is still a stunning Arnold Palmer-designed layout, carved out of the Nevada desert with breathtaking mountain views as its backdrop.
The course features lush fairways framed by rocky saltbush waste areas, ready to swallow up any wayward drives. But what really stood out? The greens. They were the fastest of the three courses we played, making for some exciting (and nerve-wracking) moments. A few friendly bets were won and lost as putts raced past the hole!
After the round, we gathered in the clubhouse for lunch, a few final drinks, and plenty of laughs, reminiscing about the incredible week we’d just had.
More Than Just Golf – The Power of a Tour Group
One of the best things about joining a tour like this is the shared love of golf, but what makes it truly special is the diverse mix of people you meet. Hearing stories from different walks of life and sharing experiences with like-minded golf and NRL fans was a highlight of the trip.
I was also impressed by the side adventures that different members of our group took part in throughout the week—like:
🏜 A helicopter tour over the Grand Canyon, complete with champagne at the bottom
🏎 A day at the NASCAR races
📺 A visit to the TV-famous Pawn Stars shop
Harrison and I also visited the Las Vegas Sphere and experienced the Sphere Experience—which I highly recommend. If you’re lucky, you might even catch your favourite band there (U2’s residency was completely sold out during our tour!).
Final Thoughts – Vegas Has It All
Las Vegas truly offers something for everyone—world-class golf, sports, entertainment, and unforgettable experiences. If you love golf and NRL, an SGT Vegas Tour is the ultimate way to experience it all.
Until next time, Vegas! 🎰🏌️♀️🏈
