Page 44 - LVGL Magazine Spring 2021

HISTORY

time taking photos with a slightly higher profile figure.
“What most people do when they come in the clubhouse is
stop and look at the large photo of Tiger Woods with the Las
Vegas Invitational trophy and two Vegas showgirls,” Kelly
says. “Then they pull out their phones and take a photo. It’s
kind of like our version of the ‘Fabulous Las Vegas sign’
photo opp. It’s very popular.”
While the Tour pros and celebrities who have frequented
National get the majority of attention, two club professionals
who worked at National have a special place in Kelly’s heart.
“When I think of this place, my mind immediately remem-
bers the late Charlie Teel and also Jerry Roberts, two Las
Vegas professionals who
were the class of the pro-
fession in this area,” says
Kelly, who still regularly
sees Roberts, his fellow
hall of fame inductee, at
board meetings or other
functions. “They were
part of the fabric of golf
in Las Vegas and helped
make this destination
and golf community into
what it is today.”

Teel oversaw the course’s
operations for many
years, while Roberts
worked at the course for
a brief time early in his
career before a stint at
the Las Vegas Country
Club and prior to run-
ning the private Spanish
Trail Country Club for a
couple decades. Legend
has it that while Teel was
the pro at National, he gave the course and in the clubhouse. Yes, main Rat Pack mem-
lessons to Carson, who at the time was a late-night televi- bers Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, and Frank Sinatra
sion icon. Carson traditionally opened his monologue with were said to be regulars, in addition to other extended mem-
a mock golf swing and some believe that the smooth follow bers. Maybe in a future issue, Las Vegas Golf and Leisure
through was inspired by Teel. Magazine editors will give us another 1,500 words to high-
light that story.
There is so much history at National, but we have so lit-
tle time and word count. We haven’t even yet written about It’s yet another National tale worth telling …
how the Rat Pack used to hang out and party and play on

42 LAS VEGAS GOLF & LEISURE SPRING 2021 www.lasvegasgolfandleisure.com