Raiders Targeting Vegas Golf Courses For Stadium Site?

All I know: they aren't coming to LA. Woohoo!

I've got to think Bali Hai is leader in the clubhouse if a golf course is the ultimate destination for a new stadium. Given that its purveyor may not be too focused on saving it.

Nice round up by John Strege here at GolfDigest.com.

Bali Hai is on the southern end of the strip in Las Vegas, between the airport and Interstate 15. Incidentally, it is part of Walters Golf, owned by renowned gambler Billy Walters, who recently was indicted on insider trading charges in the same case in which Phil Mickelson was identified as a “relief defendant.”

The Wynn, formerly the Desert Inn, is also headed for extinction soon.

Comments

[PABoy]

The Wynn article is worth a read, the new 38 acre pool/lagoon will use 1/30th of the water that the nine holes of golf it will replace uses and generate 120 - 160 times the cash profit.

[Greg B.]

I remember when Wynn opened that Fazio course, it was said to be utterly spectacular. It was supposedly very private because Wynn himself liked to play without a lot of people around and strings had to be pulled just to get a tee time. Now it is being bulldozed. Unreal.

[bill]

bali hai won't be missed

[Tom]

I hear there is a lot of desert around Vegas going for cheap :-)

[Trashton]

I believe the Vegas course you are referring to, Greg B., is Shadow Creek, also built by Wynn. Very difficult to get on, but still in existence. Wynn's home is on the course. The course at the Wynn was/is a similar design, but was open for resort play, at a staggering green fee.

[digsouth]

Desert
Inn course is awesome. RIP.

Vegas tore down the Flamigo. They are not a historic site. Go once for 3 days, and say goodby. Contact one of the ''helper compaqnies'' and go to a couple of shows withut waiting in line, sitting front row, and not having to tip as you go in. Not cheap, but what an experience if you want to see someone great, and not the FloridaMississippi Brine, or some other one trick pony. Pickup, beer, tailgate,halter top, moon, like 28 other song justt like it, oh, and 4 wheel drive, mud, hangover, fart.

[Manku]

Shadow Creek was very exclusive when it opened, but I believe (about 90% certain) that anyone staying at an MGM property can play now, provided they pony up $500/round....which is probably less than you would lose if you hung out at the casino!

[Taylor Anderson]

PABoy, that's an interesting metric right there. Current golf course operations at $5 million earnings. New development would generate $300-$400 million in earnings. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for new golf course developments...

[TLB]

The $500+++ greens fees at the Wynn and Shadow Creek is designed to keep out the hoi-poloi. Most of the play there is compt for the high rollers (whales) and celebs. The few who pay are mostly asian visitors. The Walters coursed are pretty much rip-offs too.

[Patches O'Houlihan]

I recall being told a few years back that Caesars was shopping Cascata and it could be had for 25 cents on the development cost dollar. And they'd throw in Rio Secco as a BOGO.

That was a lot closer to all the troubles out there, but I wonder how much has changed?

[digsouth]

Playing golf in LV is like going out clubbing on New Years Eve....leave it to the amateurs.

[OWGR Fan]

@digsouth .... what Desert Inn course are you referencing? The current soon to be bull dozed one is not the same as the old Desert Inn course that the pro tours used previously.

[digsouth]

OWGR- I am talking abut the original course, when the hotel was still standing---I went to the first LPGA top 30 end of year championship event that was held there.

Aside: it flooded like crazy one day from 2 inches of rain, and they had to save several people swept into gullys and runoff dry creekbeds. ......from 2 inches!

Las Vegas has stated that blowing up and building new is their gig, and they don't seem to have any exceptions. I used to spend 10 days a year there for the SEMA Show, and all the business meetings of manufacturers I represented, and parties every night. I usd to drink aLOT every nght for 2 weeks before I went, where I could take all the abuse thru the business drunk sessions. 2 nights in a row, I came in to my room as the phone was ringing my wake up call. LV sucks- I don't have a clue why anyone would want to live in 110 temp, cheezy places, fake elegance, unless they like .99 shrimp cocktail!