Shadow Creek Golf Course — Local services in North Las Vegas

If you’re here, you’ve probably read many reviews of Shadow Creek and you already know that the experience is absolutely world class. So I’d like to use this space to talk about some details of my experience that I haven’t seen in a lot of reviews.

They send a limo to pick you up at your mgm property. They actually sent me a little text link so I could track your driver, who will be precisely on time. Also my driver drove super smooth which I appreciated.

The drive up the road to the clubhouse is serene. They obviously designed it to warm you up to the experience. You get a glimpse of the 5th hole as you arrive. My driver went slow so I could soak up the experience.

As soon as I arrived, the head pro and my caddy (Moose) met me. Moose took my bag (which, btw, I never touched until I returned to the hotel) and prepped it for the round. The pro showed me around the locker room (I was assigned Greg Maddux’s locker), which was beautiful but surprisingly non pretentious.

The practice area is absolutely perfect. The grass hitting bays were stocked with TP5s and not dissimilar to my local muni’s greens. The putting green was my first experience of the Shadow Creek greens, which were consistently hard and fast (prob 11 on the stimp).

When I played, most of the “middle” tees (7100 yards) were closed due to an upcoming LPGA event, so, those being the tees I wanted to play, Moose just bounced me around whatever tee boxes I wanted. This perfectly represents the vibe on the day, which was “we are here to make you happy, and we are happy to do it.”

The course, of course, was absolutely stunning. I have, without exaggeration, never seen a course in better condition. almost no divots anywhere. Fairways like greens, and greens straight off the PGA tour. Incredible views. The grass was over seeded ryegrass in the fairways (I played in mid May) and bent grass greens and fringes. Btw they use an incredibly complicated irrigation system that involves continuously watering most of the trees and bushes on the course.

At the 9th tee, I called in a breakfast order (well, Moose called it in for me) and it was hot and ready for me at the green. Unbelievable service!

The golf itself was stupendous. The layout was challenging, with lots of doglegs to challenge off the tee, and forced carries around the green. I actually had the most trouble with the short par 4 11th, at which I duffed three chips to the tabletop green! Every hole would be a signature hole on a normal course.

However, the most breathtaking holes were, without a doubt, 15, 17, and 18.

15 is a long par 4 with Shadow Creek running in front of the green. For most humans, laying up on the second shot is a play worth considering. I managed to hit a good drive and barely clear the creek with a 3H.

17 is the signature hole on the course—a very short downhill par 3 over water to a tiny green with a waterfall in the background. Absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. I ended up skying my 8i over the green into one of the back bunkers.

18 is one of the best short par 5s in golf. A solid drive in between a handful of carefully placed bunkers gives you a good shot at the green in two, but Shadow Creek looms in front of the green and all along the right side of the hole. It’s gorgeous. I hit a great drive but my 3W didn’t quite clear the creek on my second.

After the round, I was welcome to stay on property as long as I liked, so I enjoyed a leisurely lunch overlooking 18, bought some merch, explored the clubhouse, and hit some putts on the practice green. Sadly, it was time to go so I simply informed a staff member and they called my limo back. There was a Rolls Royce waiting out front but I got one of the “normal” super luxury Cadillac stretch limos on my way back to The Mirage.

In closing, this was, quite possibly, the best overall golf experience I will ever have in my lifetime. You will not regret saving the $ and taking the...

Was just ever so SLIGHTLY disappointed in my experience with Shadow Creek. Candidly, this disappointment may have been self inflected due to my own very lofty expectations.

The good: Our caddy, Adam, was incredible. Consummate professional. Knew the course incredibly well. Great reader of greens. Gave me the right numbers/lines the entire round. Good guy and nice to talk with.

“Special Extras”. All the little cool/unique touches were great! From the limo pickup to the clubhouse. The little things that are included with a round here are really cool and make you feel “special”.

The staff. Everyone from the club pro to the restaurant staff was very nice, professional and made us feel like VIPs

Locker room. The locker room was awesome! So many cool lockers. Nice amenities. Not over the top, but just nice enough.

Course layout and greens. I really enjoyed the mix of holes, especially the finishing 6 holes. The greens were running exceptional. Great pace and true lines.

The SLIGHTLY disappointing. I would give the place a 4.5 if I could. But it’s not a perfect 5 stars. Course Conditions. I had built up this place as PRISTINE, like no blade of grass out of place pristine. It wasn’t...it was ok...this likely had more to do with the fact that it was august in Vegas. But still. For a course that bills itself as the “top of the top” and as “close to Augusta as you can get”, the fairways were burnt, tee boxes were just ok. Rough was...rough. Greens were the only part that were close to perfect and even some of them had chewed up collars under repair.

Pro Shop. I WANTED to drop money on merchandise. They just didn’t have anything worth buying. And the logo is terrible ha. Again, a very minor thing, but for all the mystique, intrigue and exclusivity, you’d think the pro shop would be stocked with buyable merch.

Value. The price tag adds to the mystique, personality and exclusivity of the place. But it is $300 overpriced without the pedigree of a Pebble Beach to justify the inflated cost.

Again, overall I’m glad I did it. It’s certainly a bucket list course and I understand why. Perhaps if I’d played it in March I would have had my lofty expectations met. But as it stands Shadow Creek will remain a once in a lifetime experience. Now take me back to...

Shadow Creek is the best golf course in Nevada and one of the best in America: The latest Golf Digest rankings have SC as the 27th best golf course in America. A veritable oasis amidst the glitz and glare of Las Vegas. This course is a testament to what human ingenuity, paired with a true love for the game, can produce in the most unexpected of terrains. This is like having Augusta in the middle of a desert, complete with green awnings at the clubhouse. It's also why the first "The Match" between Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods was played and televised here.

From the very first tee, one is immediately transported to a different realm, far from the bustling heart of Sin City. The meticulous landscaping, the gentle undulations of the fairways, and the serenity of the water features all evoke the finest parklands I've seen around the world. You first ask, how in the world did they get all these pine trees to the desert?

The course itself demands precision, but rewards bold play. Much like the philosophy I've always endorsed, golf is not just about strength, but about thinking, strategizing, and most importantly, respecting the course. And at Shadow Creek, respect is something you learn quickly. Tom Fazio designed each hole with such intricate details that even the most seasoned golfers will find themselves pausing to rethink their usual strategies.

But more than the challenge it poses, what truly captivated me about Shadow Creek is its commitment to the essence of golf. Despite being in the middle of the desert, it manages to echo the greenery and tranquility of the sport's Scottish origins.

Of course, the facilities and service are second to none. From the attentive staff to the top-tier amenities, every aspect of the Shadow Creek experience speaks of luxury and class. The practice facilities are world-class.

Yet, what stands out the most is how the course makes one feel. Even with all my years in golf, playing on countless courses, it’s rare to find one that elicits such a profound sense of awe and admiration. Shadow Creek isn't just a golf course, it's a reminder of why we fell in love with this game in the first place.

Amid Las Vegas, Shadow Creek shines not just as a beacon of golfing excellence, but as a tribute to the timeless spirit...