'The CJ Cup Battleground' Shadow Creek "The Ultimate Luxury Golf"... How to Conquer the Course?

Ranked 26th in Golf Digest's 'Top 100 Courses' in the US, Green Fee a Staggering 810,000 KRW, Winning Keyword: 'Jeongta (Accurate Shot)'

Overview of Shadok Creek Hole 1.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "The most expensive course in the United States."

The battleground for the PGA Tour's The CJ Cup (total prize money $9.75 million) is the Shadow Creek Golf Course (par 72, 7,634 yards) in Las Vegas, Nevada. First of all, the green fee itself catches attention at $700 (810,000 KRW). Among 20,000 courses in the U.S., it competes for first and second place along with Pebble Beach Golf Links in California. Naturally, it is a prestigious course. It was ranked 26th in Golf Digest's "Top 100 Courses" and reached 8th place in 1993.

Casino hotel tycoon Steve Wynn commissioned world-renowned designer Tom Fazio to open it in 1990. An astonishing $47 million (54.2 billion KRW) was poured in to create a lush forest in the middle of the desert, resulting in a 'bucket list' destination comparable to Augusta National. Over 2,000 trees of more than 200 species approach each hole with a unique appearance, and players can enjoy so-called 'presidential golf' where they do not encounter groups ahead or behind. It is truly the "ultimate luxury golf."

MGM Resorts acquired it in 2000 and made it public. Of course, it is not a typical public course. It is mainly used by casino VIPs staying at MGM Resorts and prominent figures from various social sectors. When playing, players are chauffeured to the golf course by limousine. Actual lockers bear the names of former U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, NBA superstar Michael Jordan (USA), and ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky (Canada), among others.

Shadok Creek Hole 17 creates a picturesque scene harmonizing with the pond.

Amateur golfers widely recognized it through the special event "Capital One’s The Match" in 2018, where Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson (both USA) clashed. Mickelson made headlines by winning the '9 million dollar (10.37 billion KRW) jackpot' after a grueling 22-hole battle including 4 extra holes. The only PGA Tour event in Korea, The CJ Cup, moved from Jeju to the U.S. due to the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing renewed attention.

This year, world No. 2 Jon Rahm (Spain), No. 3 Justin Thomas (USA), and No. 4 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) have declared their participation, making it a truly elite match. Korea also fields 11 players including Im Sung-jae (22, CJ Logistics). The key to victory is 'jeongta' (accurate hitting). The fairways are uneven and bend left and right, with ponds and streams scattered throughout the course, and the front of the greens is especially guarded by high-edged bunkers.

From the 1st hole (par 4), a stream appears, and on the 2nd hole (par 4), a minefield-like bunker emerges. Four par-3 holes?5th, 8th, 13th, and 17th?have virtually no fairways. They are decisive spots crossing forests or lakes. The 11th hole (par 4) in the back nine is a signature hole at 324 yards, where players attempt a '1-on.' The 16th hole (par 5) is a challenging 622 yards. The final 18th hole (par 5) is the most spectacular. Three lakes run along the right side of the fairway, ending a long journey in front of the green.