Shadow Creek Tops Golfweek List of the Top 50 Casino Golf Courses in the United States`

According to Golfweek, Shadow Creek Golf Course, the ultra-exclusive golf course for the largest spenders at MGM Resorts, is the best track in the US connected to a casino.

Golfweek creates a list of the top 50 golf courses associated with casinos every year. The "hundreds of members of Golfweek's course-ratings panel" continuously evaluate and rank courses according to a number of factors, including routing, design integrity, overall land plan, greens and surrounds, variety/memorability of par 3s, par 4s, and par 5s, tree and landscape management, conditioning and ecology, and enjoyability.

Shadow Creek continues to exist alone for yet another year. Shadow Creek has topped the rankings every year since Golfweek introduced their list of the best casino golf courses in 2014.

MGM Resorts and its flagship properties on the Las Vegas Strip, including the Bellagio, Aria, Vdara, The Cosmopolitan, and MGM Grand, are not connected to any casino in Shadow Creek. However, admission to the private North Las Vegas facility is not guaranteed if one stays at one of those properties.

Only High Rollers

The best casino golf courses in Golfweek offer excellent golf for all budgets.

The 18 holes at Yocha Dehe at Cache Creek Casino in California, ranked No. 3, can be reserved for just $118, including practice balls and a cart, whereas a round at Fallen Oak in Biloxi, another MGM Resorts track that is ranked second on the Golfweek list, would cost you about $275.

During Minnesota's busiest summer months, The Wilderness at Fortune Bay, ranked No. 7, costs $125, with a $10 discount for those staying at a casino hotel. During October's peak season, the Golden Nugget's Country Club in Lake Charles, ranked No. 22, costs $129.

For 18 holes with a warm-up bucket and cart, the majority of public fees for the top 50 casino golf courses are $200 or less. Of course, there are exceptions.

A round at Indiana's French Lick Pete Dye course (No. 4), in addition to Fallen Oak, costs $400 during the week and $450 on weekends. In the summer, the Greenbrier's Old White Course (No. 5) in West Virginia costs $550.

On the other hand, Shadow Creek is unquestionably the most costly round of golf. Only a few groups are allowed each day, but MGM restricts access to its Strip visitors. This means that unless you are a high roller with significant MGM Rewards status, your chances of getting a spot are low even if you are staying in a suite at a five-star MGM facility.

Each player must pay the $1,250 greens charge if they are at the Platinum or Noir level and land a group on Shadow Creek. This includes a private limo ride to the course, however it does not cover all food and drink or the required caddy fee. According to the majority of insiders, the event, including a caddy, lunch, post-round beverages, and tips, costs close to $2,000 per person. 

Fazio Dominate List, Tribal Casinos 

Thirty-two of Golfweek's top fifty casino golf courses were located in tribal casinos, according to a tally by Casino.org.

In addition to Shadow Creek, six other buildings in the top 50 list were created by renowned architect Tom Fazio. Fallen Oak, Turning Stone Atunyote (T9), Wynn Golf Club (No. 15), Dancing Rabbit Oaks (T18), Dancing Rabbit Azaleas (No. 32), and Belterra (No. 39) are among them.