Page 60 - LVGL Winter 2021 FLIPBOOK_Neat

LIVING

going to be like coming out of the pandemic,” Flatt said.
“Are we still going to see play increasing or will play go
back to what it was pre-pandemic. I believe that golf will be
strong once we come out of the pandemic.”

Another byproduct of the Covid-19 pandemic is the addi-
tion of two professional golf tournaments in Las Vegas. The
Shriners Hospitals for Children Open was played during its
regular time slot in 2020, but the next week saw the play-
ing of the PGA Tour’s CJ Cup at Shadow Creek. It was most
likely a one-time phenomenon because the plan is for the
event to return to Asia in 2021.

And in April 2021, the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort is
scheduled to host the Paiute Las Vegas Championship on
the Korn Ferry Tour. The tournament slot is open due to
the cancellation of a 2020 tournament in the Bahamas.
“We are excited to bring the Korn Ferry Tour to Las Vegas
and continue building on the tremendous history between
this community and the PGA TOUR,” said Korn Ferry
Tour President Alex Baldwin. “With bdG Sports, we have a
vibrant partner with a great track record of building spec- TPC Summerlin
tacular events across a number of sports platforms, and we
know our debut next April will further that tradition. The
Sun Mountain Course at the Paiute Resort is an ideal venue
to host the next generation of PGA TOUR stars and will pro-
vide our players a world-class experience both on and off
the course throughout the duration of tournament week.”

Another professional tournament on a beautiful course is
something to get excited about. Now let’s hope the rest of
the world enjoys the same resurgence in 2021 that golf had
in 2020.

Red Rock Country Club general manager Thom Blinkinsop,
a former United States Marine, also looks forward to 2021
and believes the industry has a responsibility to take advan-
tage of the renewed interest. “I believe people have more
time due to not working as much and they feel safer outside,
The great weather has also helped,” Blinkinsop said. “Now
it is our goal to hold on to these people and keep them play-
ing after the pandemic.”

The key words in that quote being “after the pandemic,” and Red Rock Country Club
let’s hope that happens sooner than later.

58 LAS VEGAS GOLF & LEISURE WINTER 2021 www.lasvegasgolfandleisure.com