Oh, how delightful it is to hear that the most expensive tee time in golf is about to get even more exorbitant. I mean, who doesn’t love shelling out a small fortune just to hit a little white ball into a hole? But fear not, my fellow golf enthusiasts, for the saga of Shadow Creek Golf Course and its ever-ascending green fees is a tale of opulence and extravagance that deserves our utmost admiration.
Let us begin by marveling at the sheer audacity of Shadow Creek’s debut in 1989. A golf course —with construction costs in the neighborhood of $60 million that could feed a small nation, an “impossibly lush” landscape designed by Tom Fazio, and all of this dropped right in the middle of the desert in North Las Vegas. Because why not? Who needs water conservation when you can have impeccably manicured fairways?
Back in the day, this golfing paradise was a closely guarded secret, reserved only for the elite circle of high-rollers and its owner, the golf-loving mogul, Steve Wynn. But fear not, common folk, for the benevolent MGM Resorts International came to the rescue in 2000. They graciously opened the doors of Shadow Creek to guests of their designated properties—for the mere sum of $500. Pocket change, really, for the chance to experience such golfing splendor.
Fast forward to 2019, and golfers are gasping in awe as the green fees reached the staggering heights of $600. Oh, how we all longed to be part of this exclusive club, where for just a few hundred dollars, you could have a private limo ride, a caddie (don’t forget to tip generously), a locker, and, oh yes, the privilege of playing a round of golf on what can only be described as a “landscape-engineering marvel.” I mean, who needs retirement savings anyway, right?
But hold on to your putters, folks, because there’s a twist in this epic tale. In a shocking turn of events, those fees decided to go for a little jog and leaped to an even $1,000 in just two short years. Truly, the price of excellence knows no bounds. Who cares about inflation or the cost of living when you can walk in the footsteps of golfing legends?
And now, as we eagerly await the course’s reopening after over-seeding (because even golf courses need a spa day), we learn that the peak season fees will ascend to a princely $1,250. A 25% increase! Oh, the audacity! But fret not, dear readers, for the explanation behind this price hike is as elusive as a hole-in-one on a windy day.
Perhaps MGM believes that demand will continue to soar, thanks to the nationally-televised exposure Shadow Creek has enjoyed in recent years. After all, hosting The Match: Tiger vs. Phil in 2018 and becoming the site of the PGA Tour’s CJ Cup two years later are mere trifles. And let’s not forget its role as the backdrop for the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play event since 2021. Clearly, these televised events are driving the masses to open their wallets and splurge on the golfing experience of a lifetime.
So there you have it, folks. The saga of Shadow Creek Golf Course and its ever-escalating green fees is a testament to human ambition and the boundless desire to tee off in style. As Las Vegas performer extraordinaire Sammy Davis Jr. once said, “The only way to enjoy golf is to be a masochist.” Well, in this case, you’d better be a wealthy masochist, because the price of admission just keeps going up. But fear not, for as long as there are golfers with deep pockets and a penchant for extravagance, Shadow Creek will continue to thrive as the pinnacle of opulence in the world of golf. Cheers to emptying our wallets one round at a time!
