Page 36 - Las Vegas Golf & Leisure Fall 2021

ANNIVERSARY

A DREAM WORTH

WAITING FOR

SOUTHSHORE COUNTRY CLUB CELEBRATES 25 YEARS

Story by Lynn Leissler
Photography provided by SouthShore Country Club and Lake Las Vegas

reams often come true, though sadly, they industry. “If you give people the tools they need and the
sometimes turn into nightmares as dreamers proper support, they will rise to the occasion.” On a per-
awaken to unforeseen realities, often beyond sonal note, when he and his wife first drove into the area,
their control. Such was the case with the orig- they had a sense of coming home, even though they had
D inal developers of Lake Las Vegas. Five golf never lived there. As native Midwesterners, he adds that
clubs were envisioned, intended to make the location the they don’t miss the snow and sub-zero temperatures.
number one golf destination in the country, in the world.
Three were built, but today only SouthShore and Reflection There were several goals, but first and foremost was to
Bay remain, the first private, the second public. The eco- bring the course to award-winning standards. SouthShore
nomic recession of 2008 led to bankruptcy, and the large has been rated USA Today’s #3 Best Private Courses 2019,
acreage sat mostly vacant for an extended period. 2020; Golfweek’s #3 Best Private Courses in Nevada since
2015; Golf Digest #4 Best Golf Course in Nevada five years
SouthShore Golf Club, the first private Jack Nicklaus in a row. Nicklaus’s first Nevada signature course reaches
Signature Course in Nevada was up for sale, and things the tops of ridges at elevations of 1,410 to 1,750 feet before
were not looking good. Several residents, with vastly dif- falling away down rugged canyons to the lake below. From
ferent backgrounds and hailing from various locales, met the shoreline of Nevada’s largest privately-owned lake to
in late 2017 and decided to take action. They formed an LLC the desert hills, the 6,903-yard, par-71 championship course
and purchased the club. They intended to keep the club pri- offers challenge and a place for peaceful escape.
vate, to protect and promote real estate values in all of Lake
Las Vegas, as well as improve the facilities and the overall Next, dining concerns were of prime importance. Las Vegas
SouthShore experience. is a foodie destination, a place where an excellent meal is
readily available, and Travaglio knew SouthShore couldn’t
Four months later, they brought in Joseph Travaglio as the afford mediocracy for its members. Today, innovation, qual-
club’s general manager and COO. With 35 years’ experi- ified chefs and staff, varied offerings, the highest quality
ence in the hospitality industry, including world-renowned fresh food, and attentive service have made the difference
Medinah Country Club, Travaglio recognized the bones of throughout the club’s various eateries. Where once four to
a world-class club. He set things in motion to reach that sta- eight people ate in the dining room, reservations are now a
tus, moving forward with a philosophy that works in any necessity.

34 FALL 2021 www.lasvegasgolfandleisure.com
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