Shadow Creek, North Las Vegas, Nevada ? Called ``The Best Golf Course in the World'' by the Robb Report in 2000

Shadow Creek golf course has some unique distinctions in the golfing world. First of all, most world-renowned golf architects, such as the course's designer, Tom Fazio, are lured to a project with promises of an incredible piece of land on which to create a golf course. In the case of Shadow Creek, just the opposite was true. As Fazio explained it, he was told "...the land was flat and boring, one of the ugliest plots of ground I would ever see. It was a parcel of land that only tumbleweeds sought out.''

That fact makes the resulting Shadow Creek course even more remarkable, with its dramatic landscapes, lush gardens, sparkling streams and waterfalls, all beneath the backdrop of mountain peaks. The course also has a built-in sense of intimacy, unlike many western courses that boast of being "wide-open.'' Each hole was carefully designed by Fazio to be "framed'' so that golfers see only the hole they're playing and no adjacent fairways or greens.

To accomplish that, more than 21,000 trees and plants were imported, which also separates the course from the stark desert terrain around it, making a round feel like a walk in a lush park. In true Las Vegas style, colorful Chinese pheasants, along with swans, geese and Australian Wallabies were also brought in to enhance the environment and the spectacle of the course, which made its debut in 1990.

Las Vegas glitz aside, Shadow Creek is also considered a remarkable golf course for the golf. According to Fazio, the 10 par-4 holes on the course are all strong, distinctive and challenging. But it was decided that the par-3 and par-5 holes would be where the design would provide the most drama and evoke a "wow factor'' from players.

Prime examples include No. 8, a par-3 that plays to 145 yards and is the shortest on the course. This hole was said to be inspired by the secret hideaway in the movie Lost Horizon, where travelers could find everlasting youth. To reach this hole, golfers must pass through a tunnel, giving it the isolation factor of a private garden. From the tee, golfers play to a green surrounded by ivy and rosemary, along a pathway bordered by a bouquet of blooming plants.

Another great example is the par-3 No. 17 hole. Here, golfers play what may be the most picturesque and dramatic hole on the course. From elevated tee boxes atop a ridge, tee shots play to an island green surrounded by rocks and water and the backdrop of a waterfall that feeds the lake in front of the green.

Since its opening, Shadow Creek has been lavished with praise. The Robb Report called it "The Best Golf Course in the World,'' ahead of such renowned finalists as Augusta National, Cypress Point, Pebble Beach, Pine Valley, and the Old Course at St. Andrews. Other golf magazines typically rank Shadow Creek in the Top 100, if not the Top 10. And, because of its location and its fame, the course can often boast of high-rollers and celebrities, such as Michael Jordan, Joe Pesci, George Clooney, Michael Douglas, and Matt Damon.

Entry into Shadow Creek is limited to guests of the MGM Mirage properties, and a tee time includes a private limousine ride and a personal caddie to guide golfers through their experience at the course.