Hole No. 9 at Shadow Creek Golf Course. So vast. So mysterious.
By Robin Leach (contact)
Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011 | 2:13 p.m.
Superstars from the entertainment and sports worlds will collide at Michael Jordan’s 10th annual celebrity invitational golf tournament to be played over four days in Las Vegas for the first time starting March 31. It coincides with the Academy of Country Music Awards, so expect a real cavalcade of headline names.
The tournament will be played at the prestigious private golf course Shadow Creek, which is being opened to the public for the first time. The course, built by Steve Wynn, has been available only to MGM Resorts’ high rollers and VIPS, and then eventually to casino resort guests.
Las Vegas Wonderground
Al Powers/Powers Imagery
Jack Osbourne, right, and a friend at Lavo at the Palazzo on Jan. 19, 2011.
Michael has set a target of more than $5 million for his event, with funds going to Make-A-Wish Foundation and Nevada Cancer Institute, among others. The all-star roster has included Wayne Gretzky, Charles Barkley, Mario Lemieux, Julius Irving, Mark Wahlberg, Samuel L. Jackson and Kurt Russell.
VIPs will have their own party deck at the Par 5 128th hole to watch the celebrities take their final shots. Tickets went on sale yesterday and are available at the Viva Elvis box office at Aria and online at MJCIGolf.com.
*Fifty U.S. cities are joining in this year’s Feb. 27 Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences’ 83rd Annual Academy Awards, and one of them is Las Vegas. It’s part of a nationwide network of fundraising parties and includes the live broadcast of the show on ABC. Expect an official announcement next week that the Palms will play host to a gala black-tie dinner on Oscar night, with the telecast played on a big screen at Brenden Theaters.
It’s an officially sanctioned Academy event, so guests receive an official Oscar show program and the nominees and winners commemorative poster. Last year, 17,000 guests at the 51 parties raised more than $3 million for charities including the American Red Cross, Special Olympics and Starlight Children’s Foundation.
*Las Vegas magician Jeff McBride’s monthly show Wonderground at The Olive on East Sunset near McCarran hits a highpoint tonight with so many performers, he’s had to break it into three sections. The first features no less than 11 performers, and an hour later, it’s a close-up show with five magicians, dancers, tarot readings and body painting. The continuing third and late-night show will have five more performers and the Mojo Go-Go dancers. For more info, check out VegasWonderground.com.
Star surveillance
Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky dined with four friends at Lavo at the Palazzo last night. Jack Osbourne partied upstairs in the boutique nightclub with friends at the kickoff of the monthly Glam party. Lady Tigra, hip-hop artist, original member of L’Trimm and real name Rachel de Rougemont, partied and performed at Bang Wednesdays at Moon at the Palms. Also in attendance: DJ Adir Tal, retired Croatian footballer Davor Suker and Cisco Adler and Shwayze, who performed an impromptu set.
Tonight’s tips
Grammy Award-winning singer Jon Secada performs for three nights at Tropicana. Chris Willis with his hits “Love Is Gone” and “Getting Over You.” Comic Robert Kelly is at The Playboy Comedy Lounge in the Palms for three nights.
Tomorrow’s teases
We have the weekend celebrity forecast of who’s where and doing what around town on and off The Strip led by an all-star comedy lineup of Jay Leno, David Spade and the irrepressible Paula Poundstone. Plus our Merry Mayor of Mirth Oscar Goodman reveals that he’s not going to hang around until the end of his term once it’s clear who’ll step into his shoes, and Naya Rivera of Glee celebrates her birthday with castmates of the hit and award-winning Fox series.
Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.
Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.
Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.
Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.
I don't care how old I am. If Jordan comes to Las Vegas it still makes feel like the Pope is in town.
All hail Jordan.
Roll the Dice,
Art
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