Hello to all...
I've been reading GCA for the last few years and thanks to Ran for making me a recent member. I've been fortunate to play great courses over the years and, as most of you, love the study of golf course architecture. I hope to add some good color to many of the posts, and I also hope to learn from the experts out there. I'll post some basic info about myself on the "Who Are You Guys" thread.
I thought this group may be interested to see Shadow Creek up close...
Built by Steve Wynn in 1989, the Tom Fazio design in Las Vegas is somewhere between Fantasy Island and Jurassic Park. I was constantly reminded of Richard Attenborough’s character in Jurassic Park when the theme park creator often said “we spared no expense”.
Immediately after the limo driver successfully managed the Fort Knox security gate, it was as if we entered Utopia…pheasants were feeding, swans were swimming, exotic birds everywhere…instant tranquility and paradise. Amazing what Vegas money can do.
It is a typical Fazio-esque "beautification" approach to architecture, but I'm not sure how much of that was Fazio and how much was mandated by the owner.
The course has some great hole layouts. As most of you know, they are shutting it down this year to redo the green complexes. As you'll see, some of the current complexes are adequate but plain...a bit of irony given the context of Shadow Creek.
I'm posting pics of most of the holes to give you a feel for the routing and layout as they progress.
Hole #1 - par 4, 404 yards
The course starts off with a straightforward par 4
Hole #1 green
After a good drive, it's a wedge into this green.
Hole #2 - par 4, 401 yards
The fairway opens up past the trees.
Hole #3 - par 4, 443 yards
One of the better holes, a good tee shot leaves 7-9 iron from here.
Hole #4 - par 5, 553 yards
Dogleg left, reachable par 5.
Hole #6 - par 4, 476 yards
Straightforward approach shot on this long par 4.
Hole #7 - par 5, 567 yards
Another reachable par 5 that lets you run it up to the hole.
Hole #8 - par 3, 181 yards
A Fazio par 3. One of the better green complexes on the course. Actually, the par 3's are touted as some of the best holes on the course. Curious to hear your thoughts...
Hole #9 - par 4, 409 yards
The line is the bunker on the right.
Hole #10 - par 4, 426 yards
A solid par 4 to start the back nine.
Hole #11 - par 4, 327 yards
The only short par 4 on the course. A go at the green likely leaves you in the front bunkers, with a fairly easy recovery shot and a chance for birdie.
Hole #12 - par 4, 395 yards
A good drive leaves only a wedge into a very accepting green.
Hole #13 - par 3, 232 yards
A long par 3 with trouble everywhere but left.
Hole #14 - par 4, 473 yards
A difficult dogleg right long par 4 with a challenging approach shot. Wynn built his home (one of only two on the course) just to the right of this hole. The "spared no expense" phrase again comes to mind as you see pieces of it on your approach shot.
Hole #15 - par 4, 438 yards
Another difficult par 4 with right-to-left sloping fairway and a creek that runs in front of the green.
Hole #16 - par 5, 617 yards
A long par 5 with undulating fairway that makes the 2nd/3rd shots interesting.
Hole #17 - par 3, 164 yards
The last of the Fazio par 3s, and probably the most photographed. Island green with a waterfall running in the background. A little too much for my taste, but an interesting tee shot to a postage stamp green. And remember, this was desert flatland.
Hole #18 - par 5, 527 yards
A very solid par 5 to finish the round.
In the end, if you can get past the artificial nature of it all, the sensory overload (e.g. #8 and #17), and the rather bland green complexes (which will be improved this year) on many of the par 4's and 5's, there are some solid hole layouts out there. And when you're walking the course, you do stop more than once to take it all in as you can't deny the natural beauty of this unnatural landscape.
I'm curious to hear thoughts...