With green fees now reaching $1,250, you have to be well-endowed to get a tee time at Las Vegas’ Shadow Creek. So it makes sense that those lucky enough to play there, or have a membership, throw in a few bills while they learn.
Especially when Shadow Creek’s regular customers are gamblers.
In this week’s GOLF Subpar, longtime Shadow Creek General Manager Monte Montgomery recounts one of his favorite stories of the biggest bets on the course and it focused on none other than the five-time major champion.
“It’s probably noon and I hear this hot rod coming down our highway and I’m like, I wonder who it could be, the manager or someone is coming up next to this gray foreign car,” Montgomery began telling fellow executives Colt Knost and Drew. Stoltz. “And the guy gets in and the doors open like a Lambo or whatever and Phil gets out.”
Mickelson told him that he had become friends with professional poker player Erick Lindgren and that they played together as Lindgren learned to play golf.
But Montgomery was still surprised to see a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, even at a place like Shadow Creek where the usual trip to the course is a rare sports car.
“I understand, when did you get that?” Montgomery asked him.
“And he goes, ‘I just went down and bought it this morning.’
“I said, ‘How much is something like that?’
He says, ‘I just spent 750 bucks[-thousand].’ He says, ‘But it didn’t cost me anything.’ He says, ‘I hit Lingren last night because of…’ Well, I don’t even want to get into that.”
Let’s assume it was for more money than what he paid for the car.
“We’re playing again today and I wanted to go out and show him what I bought with his money,” explained Mickelson.
The message has probably been received.
Before Mickelson left for his round, he tossed the keys to Montgomery’s son, Taylor, 11, who was standing next to him.
“I’m like, ‘He’s not driving that thing.’ I said, ‘Do you mind if I take a spin?'” Montgomery asked.
He goes, ‘Do whatever you want, Monte.’
Not a bad job benefit. Montgomery said he drove down a side street near the golf course and hit 150 mph before returning the car to the parking lot without a scratch, as nothing had happened.
You can listen to the entire interview with Montgomery here, or watch it on YouTube below.
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