Question of the Day - 07 August 2020

[Editor's Note: This Question of the Day might be the only time in more than 16 years that the person who submitted the question also answered it.

Long-time QoDer and sometime correspondent Mike Scudiero sent today's QoD question last month. We answered it directly ("Are you asking for golf tips? Keep your eye on the ball.") and after a little back and forth, we prevailed on Mike to send us a trip report when he got back. It was so good that we made today's QoD on the Wynn course out of it.

Mike is a resident of Ormond Beach, Florida. A visitor to Las Vegas since 2005, he's been an avid reader of the Advisor and occasional participant in Question of the Day posts since 2010. He works in politics and represents police officers for a living. He and his wife, Dixie, have four kids excited to join them in Las Vegas when they each turn 21. Mike's on the right in the photo. Here's his report.]

As a long-time Las Vegas fanatic who has traveled there 23 times since 2005, one thing I’d never done was try my hand at a round of golf. Earlier this year, I read that the Wynn Golf Course offered free loaner clubs with the green fee, so I looked into it a bit more. Suddenly, it was practical; I wouldn’t have to lug a set of clubs across the country on a flight.

Now, by no means am I a respected golfer in any way, shape, or form. But the whole idea of playing such a nice-looking course with views of the Strip seemed appealing, so I proceeded. At 41, married with four kids, and juggling two careers, I make the most of a vacation when I actually get a chance to take one.

On July 10, my cousin Anthony and I had the pleasure of playing the Wynn course. We were staying at the hotel, so we could make tee-time reservations up to 90 days in advance. It's best to take advantage of this perk; when I called around 30 days before (when non-guests can make reservations), there were limited options remaining for our date.

The green fee, as you might imagine for a five-star resort and with views second to none, isn’t cheap. The summer rate was $375 (it’s $550 in the winter); while still less than some of the country’s top courses, it’s far higher than average. The way we saw it, though, as fast as you can lose $375 at a crap table a few hundred yards in from the course, for a nice leisurely 3.5-hour round of golf in an immaculate setting with 5-star service and amenities as part of the round, it felt reasonable enough, and after finishing the day, I believe we were right. 

Among the amenities included in the green fee for each player: the clubs and tees, a cooler of ice with water bottles, another cooler of ice with sodas and sports drinks, locker-room access, driving-range balls, a personalized bag tag with the Wynn logo and your name engraved (a nice keepsake, so be sure and give them the proper spelling of each name in your group when you book the reservation!), and most significantly, a PGA-certified caddie.

Because of COVID, the caddie follows you and/or leads the way in a separate cart. Our guy, Jon, was a real treat to work with. He was knowledgeable about the course, helpful with club selection and shot angles, friendly to chat with, and made us feel like pros, even when we stunk! There’s a recommended gratuity of $50 per person for the caddie, but we each tipped $70, as we were only a twosome and Jon definitely exceeded expectations, raking sand traps after us, repairing divots, and cleaning the balls and club heads throughout the round. 

My biggest takeaway from the course itself was how hilly it was. Maybe it comes from being a Florida golfer where almost all the courses are flat, but I was surprised at the Wynn’s up-and-down layout.

Overall, it was challenging, but not impossible. It seemed to have just the right mix of trees, water, and bunkers, yet was safe enough even for someone with a natural slice like me. The sight lines were predictably spectacular. On most holes, it seemed you were hitting with one of two backdrops: either the Palazzo/Wynn/Encore direction or the Westgate/STRAT direction. With all the hustle and bustle of the Strip, it was fun to realize what we were doing just off it and had to remind ourselves we were playing golf in such a unique setting. 

I asked Jon the caddie a question I have wondered about for years: Why, with its amazing landscape, backdrop, and features, hasn’t the Wynn course been used for a professional, celebrity, or charity event? He pointed out two things.

First is the lack of a true driving range. The practice area here, because of space considerations, features a high catch net about 30 feet from the practice tees. He noted that PGA golfers would require a full-sized driving range for warm-ups.

Second, it would mean shuttering the course for two-three weeks a year to accommodate such a tournament event and that might not be bottom-line-friendly.

We did agree that it might be the perfect option for a fan-less, primetime-TV event like we’ve seen Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson engage in a couple of times in the past year, so who knows? 

All in all, while I went in viewing it as a one-off situation to check an item off a bucket list, I would do it again in a second, and probably will plan to play it on future trips. For anyone so inclined, get out there early in these summer months to beat the heat and be sure to take photos with the scenic views to remember it by.

And here's your link to the results of the most recent poll on whether or not the casinos should close in the face of the upsurge of the pandemic. We believe you'll find the results (and analysis) worth a few extra minutes of your time.