It appears that Las Vegas has lost 27 holes of golf.
One of our reviewers on Golf Advisor left a review today for Silverstone Golf Club announcing the course has closed permanently as of Sept. 1.
Sure enough, a visit to Silverstone.com, shows a big 'ol closed graphic.
No statement has been released, though Par 4 Golf Management, who manages the course according to the answering machine at the course, have removed Silverstone from their Web site. This is prime time for closures for over-seeding in Las Vegas, but given the nature of the Web site homepage, it's hard to believe that's all that's going on here.
--
Update(8/3/15): A source has told me the facility was in fact sold and that on Monday morning, employees were told they no longer work at the course. Members were also told to clean out their lockers. There has been no information from the new buyers about what they plan to do with the golf course.
A spokesperson from Par 4 Golf Management wants to assure anyone who has booked a tee time or packages at Silverstone to call them (702-210-6101) and they will be moved to a new golf course or accommodated in any other way they choose.
--
Just last week, they had announced a very aggressive $20 tee-time sale for Silverstone, along with merchandise discounts. (I put a call into their tour operator line Wednesday evening and no one answered). The course is a rare Rye grass course in Las Vegas and was planning on enjoying a strong fall season while other closes close to overseed.
$20 Golf at Silverstone ends today! Up to 70% off clearance ends tomorrow! http://t.co/8GmIHt6war pic.twitter.com/fcY7hprzfr
— Golf Par4 Las Vegas (@GolfinNevada) August 30, 2015
Recent reviews at Silverstone haven't been all that bad this summer. The most recent review of the course, dated Aug. 27, is a four-star review titled "Potential."
"Greens above average," wrote PP1. "Tee boxes and green-side areas need attention."
I played the course, designed by Bob Cupp and opened in 2001, a few years ago. It was the fall, so conditions were a little rough as the course was set to close for overseed shortly after we left (green fees were only about $40 that day). The course was decent but the large clubhouse (par for the course during pre-bust Vegas) and practice range seemed to be even better. Part of a residential community, the facility was certainly busy the afternoon we were there.
The reviewer who wrote to us with the tip it was closed, had this to say (not without some of his own editorializing):
"Effective, 9-1-15, the course is closed," wrote the reviewer. "It was losing hundreds of thousands of dollars per year and the former owner could not sustain the losses any longer. It wasted an incredible amount of water as well. The golf course was sold for land value."
We'll update this story with any further details.
Update (9/3/15): NBC local affiliate KSNV has obtained a letter from the former owner to his members revealing the course will not be reopened by the new owner:
"I've come to the conclusion that I need to cut my losses & sell Silverstone." Paul Jaramillo
http://t.co/dQ2HFPy6C8 pic.twitter.com/wu5KKuaP5m
— NBC KSNV News 3 (@News3LV) September 3, 2015