Wynn Las Vegas Magazine by MODERN LUXURY

Wynn - 2011 - Issue 2 - Fall

Wynn Magazine - Las Vegas

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"ON EVERY HOLE YOU FEEL LIKE NOBODY ELSE IS ON THE COURSE. SOMETIMES YOU CAN PLAY AN ENTIRE ROUND WITHOUT SEEING ANOTHER GROUP." — BRIAN HAWTHORNE, WYNN DIRECTOR OF GOLF The par-4 18th hole with waterfall backdrop In addition to the 1,200 trees from the old course, Wynn and Fazio brought in 5,700 new trees to isolate each hole. Adding to the feeling of unhurried tranquility is 15-minute spacing between tee times. "On every hole you feel like you're alone, like nobody else is on the course," says Hawthorne. "Sometimes you can play an entire round without seeing another group." Says Fazio: "Steve loves tall trees and narrow openings. It gives a real picturesque quality to the course. The trees create framing and seclu- sion. It screens the golfers' view to the course." The Wynn Golf Club is surrounded by busy streets, the massive Las Vegas Convention Center and an elevated monorail, but golfers might not ever notice them during their round. Fazio jumped at the chance to work with Wynn again after the Shadow Creek project. "The guy has such talent and vision—he's one of a kind," Fazio says. "For me, the biggest challenge building the course wasn't physical, but meeting the expectations that Steve Wynn puts on a project. The Wynn name alone sets the bar high." The Desert Inn has a storied past, a place where the PGA Tour and LPGA once held tournaments, where legendary champions such as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Sam Snead competed. Gone are the Desert Inn's fl at holes running side-by-side and the east-west routing 70 WYNN that made for much eye-squinting early and late in the day. Fazio recon- fi gured most holes to run on a north-south track, including the spec- tacular four fi nishing holes, the last a 448-yard par-4 with the 37-foot waterfall as the backdrop. The hole is illuminated at night, for the benefit of those dining in The Country Club and the guests staying in the Fairway Villas over- looking the course. "We wanted something that was not only great for the finishing golf hole, but also for the resort and whole environment," Fazio says about the waterfall. Players and guests at the Wynn Golf Club will find there's supe- rior service from all, from the locker room attendant who'll shine your street shoes while you play (and your golf shoes following) to the Tee House server. The green fee includes loaner clubs and shoes for guests who don't bring their own, plus the services of a forecaddie. The course offers 30 caddies, most of whom are PGA golf profession- als, instructors or accomplished players. That means they can fix your slice in addition to finding any directionally challenged balls. Even when you're not playing your best, it's hard not to enjoy your round. That's the sign of a well-designed course. "I think it's masterful," says the usually understated Fazio. For golfers of every level, Wynn and Fazio have delivered a sure thing. ■ PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN AND JEANNIE HENEBRY

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