Shadow Creek Golf Course

The Robb Report voted this the #1 course in the world; Golf Digest lauds Shadow Creek as one of America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses; Golfweek, one of America’s 100 Best Modern Courses; TravelGolf called this “a masterpiece.” Designed by Dallas-based Tom Fazio, this is perhaps the most famous course in Las Vegas , an “opulent, golfing fantasyland” in which each hole “is a picture postcard onto itself with its breathtaking elegance.” Ron Whitten told Golf Digest, “I’m often asked, ‘is Shadow Creek worth its $500 green fee?’ Sure, I reply. There are worse ways to spend your money in Las Vegas ,” and it would seem that celebrities prefer this course to Nevada ’s other offerings. After detailing the Shadow Creek experience, from the limo ride from one of the hotels (since play is restricted to guests of selected MGM Grand properties), to the VIP treatment from the clubhouse staff (caddies are mandatory), Whitten got to the point: “One round at Shadow Creek and you’ll forever look at golf and golf architecture differently.”

Developer Steve Wynn’s Mirage Resorts wanted a round of golf to unfold in three parts, like a musical score, with heavy beats and light moments, building to a crescendo. Towering pines line the fairways, and water features abound. The par-4 15 th hole is Shadow Creek’s signature, with a creek down the left side of the hole and across the green. The par-5 16 th hole doglegs right, and features a Fazio trademark elevated tee box. As Whitten summed up the course’s last two holes, “Some golfers feel they’re the two most challenging and interesting holds on the course. Others feel they’re contrived and out of character. All I can promise: you won’t forget them.” Whitten offered his final verdict: “It’s one of a kind, and arguably Tom Fazio’s finest work ever. On Golf Digest’s 10 point scale (1 being unacceptable, 5 being good, 10 being absolutely perfect), I rate it a 9.1.”

Golfcourse.com found thirty-five players who had recently played Shadow Creek, and were willing to rate their experience. On a scale from one to five, with one being the lowest and five being the highest, for conditions, the average score was 4.7; for pace, the average score was 4.6; for service, the average score was 4.7; for value, the average score was 4.0; and as an overall rating, the average score was 4.7. Individual players’ comments included “truly remarkable,” “Heaven,” “truly magnificent,” “simply awesome,” “unreal,” and “shocking… Fazio at his best.”