The Wynn Golf Club story starts in 1952, when the Desert Inn, only the fifth resort to occupy the Las Vegas Strip, opened its 18-hole, par-72 golf course—where Wynn Golf Club resides today.
Back in the early days of the Desert Inn, Frank Sinatra, who made his Vegas debut at the resort in 1951, was a big fan of hitting the greens. The lore says that he and fellow Rat Pack crooner Dean Martin spurred the invention of the beverage cart in the 1960s when they refused to play without a drink in hand. (Now, Wynn Golf Club guests can enjoy complimentary food and nonalcoholic beverages delivered directly on the course. The Tee House serves upscale grab-and-go food and a selection of drinks.)
In addition to being a favorite spot of Sinatra and Martin, the Desert Inn Golf Club hosted the PGA Tour Tournament of Champions from 1953 to 1966. “All the best of the best golfers would have visited the Desert Inn Golf Club through the ’50s and into the early ’60s,” including Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus, shares Scott Cowan, executive director of golf operations. The star power on the course is alive and well today. “The Desert Inn was a place where those who were the biggest in movies and music certainly liked to spend some time, and I think there’s been a bit of a renaissance with that as well, with the likes of Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake spending a good amount of time here and hosting their tournaments,” Cowan says, referring to the annual 8AM Golf Invitational, which has also hosted NFL stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. “This is a place where those who are under the spotlight like to spend time because it’s a safe place for them, especially on the golf course.”
“Our caddies relate to the person, not the persona,” Cowan adds. “They understand that this is the one place where they don’t have cameras on them. They’re not under the light, so to speak, and they can let their hair down and be themselves and enjoy it. And I think that’s one of the things that makes us special. There’s that hearkening back to when Sinatra and Martin used to go out and play golf, just the two of them, and hang out because it was a safe space for them.”
When Wynn Las Vegas opened in 2005, highly lauded golf course architect Tom Fazio designed the 129-acre, 18-hole championship course, and in 2019, he gave it a refreshed look alongside his son Logan. Today, Wynn Golf Club remains revered for its pristine, undulating greens; challenging yet visually stunning course; and convenient location on the Strip. Caddies are trained to share the legendary history of the property, giving players a unique experience on the iconic course. “Most caddies will carry a bag or ride on the back of a cart, and they are useful,” Cowan says, “but ours are trained in things like storytelling, anticipating needs and reading the room, on top of the basic skills that every caddie needs to have, which are reading greens and providing a service.”
In addition to bringing together music, sports and entertainment stars during events like the VGK Golf Classic, Complex Pro-Am and NBA Tees & Threes Tournament, Wynn Golf Club also hosts premier non-golf events for guests, including the popular Concours at Wynn Las Vegas, an annual auto show set to return for its fourth iteration this fall.
“We are always doing our best to showcase the golf course as both a course and an event space,” Cowan shares. “It’s an oasis back here in the middle of the Las Vegas Strip. There’s nothing else like it in Las Vegas.”