Shadow Creek opens gates to public for Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational

Thousands of cars, trucks and buses pass by it every day, the metal gates and high concrete walls serving as a not-so-gentle reminder that only invited guests are welcome at Shadow Creek Golf Club.

That policy will temporarily change beginning Thursday when one of the world's most exclusive courses opens its gates to the general public for the first time to host the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational.

The basketball Hall of Famer relocated his annual tournament from the Bahamas to Shadow Creek this year, thanks to his relationship with course owner MGM Resorts International.

Typically, only guests of MGM properties are allowed to play Shadow Creek. Former President Bill Clinton was once denied access for that reason.

Jordan will set up shop at Aria for this week's event, which runs through Sunday and has a field of 40 celebrities.

When Shadow Creek first opened in 1989, golfers needed owner Steve Wynn's personal approval to get on the course, according to Shadow Creek general manager Mark Brenneman. MGM Resorts purchased the course from Wynn in 2001.

"When MGM took over, the rule was you had to be a guest at one of the properties, and that rule remains in effect to this day," Brenneman said.

For $500, an MGM guest gets transportation to and from the course, a round of golf, a cart and a caddie. There are no yardage markers on the course, which makes having a caddie a necessity.

Spectators this week shouldn't have that problem. Temporary signage will direct them around the 7,102-yard, par-72 Tom Fazio-designed layout.

Brenneman said the course was designed and built to accommodate spectators.

"There's a natural amphitheater kind of setting on virtually every hole," he said. "But we'll have bleachers set up around some of the holes for people who just like to stay in one spot.

"I'm guessing those who can walk will want to walk the course and see the entire 18 holes. There are a lot of fans who love golf architecture, and there isn't any spot out here where you won't be inspired."

With its tall pine trees, Shadow Creek feels more like a course in upstate New York, Pennsylvania or North Carolina.

Its clubhouse is deliberately understated so as not to intimidate guests, yet it retains an elegance one would expect from such an exclusive resort.

"People are shocked when they see the clubhouse," Brenneman said. "They expect to see a mansion, but once they're inside and they see it, they're blown away."

Brenneman wants to make sure the 3,500 or so spectators he's expecting each day aren't blown away by the prices.

"We want to make this as pleasant an experience as possible for the fans," he said. "For the majority of them, this will be their first time at Shadow Creek, and we want to leave them with a positive impression, and that includes not gouging them for concessions and souvenirs."

Brenneman said he expects the Jordan tournament to be the lone annual opportunity for Shadow Creek to open its doors to the public.

"I don't see the PGA Tour coming here anytime soon," he said. "Plus, we have to be aware of our regular guests. This is a huge undertaking to get the course ready, then close it down for a week. But we've had a long relationship with Michael and with the opening last year of Aria, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to try this."

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter @stevecarprj.