Shadow Creek Golf Course
Encyclopedia
Shadow Creek is an 18-hole golf course in North Las Vegas, Nevada
, designed by Tom Fazio
and built by Las Vegas
casino magnate Steve Wynn in 1989. Built from empty desert flatland on a 350 acres (1.4 km²) site, it cost a reported sixty million dollars. During construction, over three million cubic yards of dirt was dug up from the desert floor and pushed around the perimeter, creating a berm that blocked any view from the outside. An estimated 21,000 trees of more than 200 varieties were then planted around the sides of the course and in and around each individual hole, providing a sense of seclusion and intimacy. It opened in 1989 as one of the most exclusive golf courses in the world. Only invited casino guests of Steve Wynn or the Mirage
properties could play the course, and tee times were one hour apart, so only a handful of groups played the course every day. Today the course is open to all MGM Resorts International property guests, and the green fee is $500, including round-trip limousine rental from the Strip
and club rental. The course rarely sees more than two dozen rounds in a day, many from PGA professionals, Las Vegas local dignitaries and VIPs, celebrities, professional athletes, spokespeople, and the occasional CEO. Some of the names on the lockers in the clubhouse are George Bush, Michael Jordan
, John Elway
, and Wilt Chamberlain
.
The course features lakes, waterfalls, rolling hillsides, more than 200 varieties of trees, flowing rock bed streams, rocky outcroppings, and exotic birds. Through its design, it was intended be an experience; one that worked in movements that would begin subtly and crescendo to a peak every several holes, and then repeat. No hole was to be visible from another. All four par 3s are unique and extraordinary; one is hit over a valley full of trees, another is in a bowl-shaped valley entered and exited through a tunnel.
The course is also the location of private residences. One, near the 18th hole, was Steve Wynn's home until 2005, when he sold it to MGM Mirage for $17 million. The four-bedroom house includes a two-story library, theater, wine cellar, and two pools, one with an underwater speaker system, and a zero-gravity jacuzzi. The second house was owned by Wynn Las Vegas
COO Mark Schorr until 2004.
The course went through a 17 million dollar renovation May 2008 – December 2008 through care of Tom Fazio and is now open. The course received all new tees, fairways, rough, bunkers and greens. A number of holes were redesigned and lengthened with bunkers added. The course now sets up at 7,560 yards compared to 7,239 on its original design. During renovation they also added a 7 acres (28,328 m²) short game facility with four target greens and bunkers and a generous putting green.
Famous holes:
Shadow Creek is generally ranked among the top 25 courses in the world by many major golf publications.
North Las Vegas, Nevada
North Las Vegas is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States, located in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The city was incorporated on May 16, 1946.-Geography:...
, designed by Tom Fazio
Tom Fazio
Thomas Fazio, ASGCA is a golf course architect.Fazio graduated in 1962 from Lansdale Catholic High School and was inducted into its "Hall of Fame" in 2007. He began his career in golf course design with his family's firm in suburban Philadelphia, which he left in the 1960s; he established his own...
and built by Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
casino magnate Steve Wynn in 1989. Built from empty desert flatland on a 350 acres (1.4 km²) site, it cost a reported sixty million dollars. During construction, over three million cubic yards of dirt was dug up from the desert floor and pushed around the perimeter, creating a berm that blocked any view from the outside. An estimated 21,000 trees of more than 200 varieties were then planted around the sides of the course and in and around each individual hole, providing a sense of seclusion and intimacy. It opened in 1989 as one of the most exclusive golf courses in the world. Only invited casino guests of Steve Wynn or the Mirage
Mirage
A mirage is a naturally occurring optical phenomenon in which light rays are bent to produce a displaced image of distant objects or the sky. The word comes to English via the French mirage, from the Latin mirare, meaning "to look at, to wonder at"...
properties could play the course, and tee times were one hour apart, so only a handful of groups played the course every day. Today the course is open to all MGM Resorts International property guests, and the green fee is $500, including round-trip limousine rental from the Strip
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
and club rental. The course rarely sees more than two dozen rounds in a day, many from PGA professionals, Las Vegas local dignitaries and VIPs, celebrities, professional athletes, spokespeople, and the occasional CEO. Some of the names on the lockers in the clubhouse are George Bush, Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
, John Elway
John Elway
John Albert Elway, Jr. is a former American football quarterback and currently is the executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He played college football at Stanford and his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos...
, and Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American professional NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; he also played for the Harlem Globetrotters prior to playing in the NBA...
.
The course features lakes, waterfalls, rolling hillsides, more than 200 varieties of trees, flowing rock bed streams, rocky outcroppings, and exotic birds. Through its design, it was intended be an experience; one that worked in movements that would begin subtly and crescendo to a peak every several holes, and then repeat. No hole was to be visible from another. All four par 3s are unique and extraordinary; one is hit over a valley full of trees, another is in a bowl-shaped valley entered and exited through a tunnel.
The course is also the location of private residences. One, near the 18th hole, was Steve Wynn's home until 2005, when he sold it to MGM Mirage for $17 million. The four-bedroom house includes a two-story library, theater, wine cellar, and two pools, one with an underwater speaker system, and a zero-gravity jacuzzi. The second house was owned by Wynn Las Vegas
Wynn Las Vegas
Wynn Las Vegas is a resort and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The US $2.7 billion resort is named after casino developer Steve Wynn and is the flagship property of Wynn Resorts Limited. The resort covers . It is located on Las Vegas Boulevard and Sands Avenue Wynn Las...
COO Mark Schorr until 2004.
The course went through a 17 million dollar renovation May 2008 – December 2008 through care of Tom Fazio and is now open. The course received all new tees, fairways, rough, bunkers and greens. A number of holes were redesigned and lengthened with bunkers added. The course now sets up at 7,560 yards compared to 7,239 on its original design. During renovation they also added a 7 acres (28,328 m²) short game facility with four target greens and bunkers and a generous putting green.
- Course record: Original design: Tiger Woods and Fred Couples (60)
- Current course record: Post renovation: Dustin Johnson and Chien-Soon Lu (66)
Famous holes:
- 17: par 3, plays from 150 to 130. The hole features an island green with a waterfall in the back.
- 16: a behemoth par 5 that measures 622 yards (568.8 m). The hole doglegs right and features an elevated tee box.
- 15: a par 4 of 483 yards in which players hit back into the mountains. A creek runs down the left side of the hole and across the green.
Shadow Creek is generally ranked among the top 25 courses in the world by many major golf publications.