Vegas Baby

BETTER THAN EVER

Vegas Offers Spectacular Golf Courses Story by PAUL LEAHY

If you are looking for a great golf vacation with your buddies, look no further than Las Vegas. I was there recently and Vegas is definitely back and better than ever after COVID. The strip is alive, mask mandates have ended, the shows are up and running, and golf courses are spectacular.

I have been able to play some fantastic golf courses over the past several years in Vegas and here are my recommendations for a special trip.

If you stay at a MGM property you have the opportunity to play Shadow Creek. The course that Steve Wynn built for $60 million dollars in 1989 is now affiliated with the MGM properties and is only available to play by members and MGM guests. The Tom Fazio designed course was built by moving three million cubic yards of earth and 20,000 trees were brought in to create this manmade masterpiece. Shadow Creek has hosted the PGA Tour CJ Cup and last year’s Bryson DeChambeau vs. Brooks Koepka match made for television. The price is upward of $600 and if you can afford the price tag it is worth the trip.

Another course on a similar level is Cascata. Opened in 2000, Cascata was designed by Rees Jones to revival Shadow Creek. Its dramatic elevation changes and encounters with the Big Horn Sheep that call Cascata home make for wonderful pictures and memories that will last a lifetime. A price tag to match its beauty, ranks this course another must play. You can also take a lesson from famed instructor Butch Harmon at Cascata’s sister course Rio Secco. Rio Secco, another Rees Jones design, opened in 1997 and makes the perfect complement for a wonderful two-day golf trip.

Las Vegas Country Club is right on the Vegas strip and has some great history in the desert. Opened in 1967 the club hosted 19 PGA and Ladies Professional Golf Association tournaments with winners such as Greg Norman, Davis Love, Paul Azinger and Lorena Ochoa. The club’s members early on included Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra. It was the place to be seen in the 70’s as celebrities, gangsters, high rollers and even presidents were commonly on the links. A unique feature of the club is the Cessna plane that sits in the pond adjacent to the 10th green. In 1981, during an FBI surveillance operation of mafia activity at the club, the plane would fly over the club. One day it ran out of gas, landed on the 10th fairway, missed some golfers, and ended up in the pond. New ownership at the club recently purchased the exact replica and placed it in the lake with a plaque describing the bizarre story. If you have ever seen the movie Casino, they reenacted the event for a scene in the movie. A museum has been established at the club to document its rich history and shouldn’t be missed if you get a chance to play.

Bali Hai Golf Club is one of closest courses to the Vegas strip. If you like airplanes the McCarron International airport sits adjacent to the course and you get some unbelievable views of planes landing as you traverse the course. Some of the best views of the famous Las Vegas Strip are found here while you enjoy your round. Hiring a friendly and golf-knowledgeable ParMates caddy will just enhance the experience. Built in 2000 it has quickly become a must-play.

One of my all-time favorite courses is also found in Vegas. Southern Highlands is a gem. On the scale of Shadow Creek and Cascata, this course has beauty, views, elevation changes and is player-friendly for everyone. Located 15 minutes from the strip, in an exclusive golf community in Henderson, Nev., this property is home to professional athletes, politicians, musicians and more. Designed by Robert Trent Jones and son Robert in 1998 it has matured into the place to live and play for the who’s who of Las Vegas.

With more than 70 golf courses that call Las Vegas home, there is a plethora of courses to choose from offering everything from high-end, forecaddie-required masterpieces to the daily fee value-player courses, and everything in between. Top Golf Las Vegas is also an option. Centrally located on the strip it makes for a great distraction from the casino floor.

The shows are once again thrilling guests, and the casino floors are buzzing with action. If you have never been to Vegas or haven’t been since the pandemic it is open and welcoming. New activities, shows and experiences are opening weekly. I love the golf, the people watching and excitement of Vegas, so do yourself a favor and visit and enjoy. Vegas is back baby!

The Bali Hai Golf Course (left) in Las Vegas is the only championship golf course on the Las Vegas Strip. Cascata Golf Course (right) has views of Red Mountain, lakes and streams.

Paul Leahy is a PGA Golf Professional and the Director of Golf at The Oaks at Margaritaville Lake Resort.