Shadow Creek Golf Course

Shadow Creek is a golf course in Winchester, Nevada, designed by Tom Fazio and built by Steve Wynn in 1989. Built from empty desert flatland on a convert|350|acre|km2|sing=on site, it cost a reported sixty million dollars.Fact|date=January 2008 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.Fact|date=January 2008 It opened in 1989 as one of the most exclusive golf courses in the world. Only invited casino guests of the MGM Mirage properties could play the course, and tee times were one hour apart,Fact|date=November 2007 so only a handful of groups played the course every day. Today the course is open to all MGM Mirage 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, spokespeople and the occasional CEO.Fact|date=November 2007

The course features lakes, waterfalls, rolling hillsides, more than 200 varieties of trees, flowing rock bed streams and 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 3's are uniques and extraordinary; the one is hit over a valley full of trees, another is in a bowl shaped valley entered and exited through a tunnel.

Famous holes:
*17: par 3, plays from 160 to 130. The hole features an island green with a waterfall in the back.
*16: a behemoth par 5 that measures convert|617|yd. The hole doglegs right and features an elevated tee box.
*15: a par 4 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.Fact|date=November 2007

References

External links

* [http://www.shadowcreek.com/ Shadow Creek Golf Course]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=shadow+creek+golf+course,+las+vegas&sll=36.257762,-115.105959&sspn=0.002972,0.005021&ie=UTF8&ei=B8j3R5KMOZLYigGarei9Aw&cd=1&cid=36257500,-115105589,178780259127219708&li=lmd/ Map]