Bear's Best Las Vegas Review

About Bear's Best Las Vegas

Bear's Best Las Vegas permanently closed to public play on June 30, 2025, ending more than two decades as one of Summerlin's most distinctive daily-fee golf experiences. The 18-hole course at 11111 W Flamingo Rd, inside The Ridges, was designed by Jack Nicklaus (Nicklaus Design) on a tribute concept: each hole was a hand-selected replica of one of Nicklaus's finest designs from around the world, including holes channeling Cabo del Sol, Old Works in Montana, and Castle Pines. The course opened in 2001 and was notable for its black-sand bunkers and a back-tee challenge stretching past 7,100 yards. Today the site is under full redevelopment as Amara Golf and Social Club — a private, members-only club owned by Mulligan Holdings LLC (Andrew Pascal and Mike Mixer), with a reported total investment of approximately $300 million. Jackson Kahn Design is redesigning the golf course from scratch, and an October 2026 opening is reported, though not independently confirmed. The course is not currently playable.

Reviews of Bear's Best Las Vegas

Bear's Best Las Vegas drew consistent praise over its two-decade public run. The replica-hole premise gave each round a sense of occasion — golfers could play echoes of Nicklaus's designs from Mexico, the American Southwest, Montana, and Colorado without leaving the Las Vegas desert. The course's black-sand bunkers (modeled on the copper-smelting slag at Old Works Golf Course) became its most photographed signature. From the back tees it was a genuine championship test, well beyond novelty. That course no longer exists. The site is now a private construction project, and the full story of what is replacing it — Amara Golf and Social Club — is covered in detail in our article below. If you played Bear's Best, we'd still love to hear your memories of it.

Is Bear's Best Las Vegas Worth Playing?

It no longer can be. Bear's Best Las Vegas closed permanently to the public in June 2025, and the site is under full demolition and reconstruction. What is rising in its place — Amara Golf and Social Club — will be a private, members-only facility with a reported initiation fee of $250,000 and a membership cap of 265, inaccessible to general public play. For those who want to understand what is being built and what it means for The Ridges and Summerlin real estate, our full story has the details. For golfers looking for a round in Summerlin today, the nearby courses below remain open.

Good to know before you play

• The course is permanently closed: Bear's Best Las Vegas shut its gates to public play on June 30, 2025. The site is under active demolition and reconstruction — it cannot be visited or played.
• Amara Golf and Social Club is the successor: The site is being rebuilt as a private, members-only facility by Mulligan Holdings LLC (Andrew Pascal and Mike Mixer), with a reported $300 million investment and an October 2026 opening targeted but not independently confirmed.
• Amara will be strictly private: Membership is capped at 265, with a reported initiation fee of $250,000 and monthly dues of approximately $4,000. There will be no public access. The original Bear's Best daily-fee model is gone permanently.
• A new course design, not a renovation: Jackson Kahn Design is building an entirely new 18-hole layout from scratch, along with a new six-hole par-3 course and indoor simulators. The replica-hole Nicklaus concept will not be preserved.
• For golfers wanting a round in Summerlin today: The nearby courses listed below remain open to varying degrees of public and semi-private access.

Frequently asked questions about Bear's Best Las Vegas

Where can I find reviews and ratings for Bear's Best Las Vegas?

You can read player reviews of Bear's Best Las Vegas and add your own here on Summerlin.Golf, rated for conditions, value, layout, greens, pace, and staff. Bear's Best Las Vegas is also listed on GolfPass, GolfNow, Golf Digest, and Google Reviews. Note that Bear's Best Las Vegas is currently closed or under redevelopment — check the official website for the latest status.

Is Bear's Best Las Vegas still open?

No. Bear's Best Las Vegas permanently closed to public play on June 30, 2025. The site is under full demolition and reconstruction and is not open to golfers. It is being rebuilt as Amara Golf and Social Club, a private, members-only facility.

Who designed Bear's Best Las Vegas and when did it open?

Bear's Best Las Vegas was designed by Jack Nicklaus through Nicklaus Design and opened in 2001. The course was built on a replica-hole concept, with each of the 18 holes modeled on one of Nicklaus's favorite designs from courses around the world.

What is replacing Bear's Best Las Vegas?

The site is being redeveloped as Amara Golf and Social Club — a strictly private, members-only club owned by Mulligan Holdings LLC (Andrew Pascal and Mike Mixer). The project carries a reported total investment of approximately $300 million. Jackson Kahn Design is redesigning the golf course from scratch. An October 2026 opening has been reported, though not independently confirmed.

Where was Bear's Best Las Vegas located?

Bear's Best Las Vegas was located at 11111 W Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89135, inside The Ridges, a guard-gated luxury enclave on the southern edge of Summerlin.

How much does Amara Golf Club membership cost?

Membership at Amara Golf and Social Club is reported to carry an initiation fee of $250,000, with monthly dues of approximately $4,000 covering family access including dependents to age 25. Membership is capped at 265 total. Verify current pricing directly with the club, as fees are reported to increase at each threshold of 50 memberships sold.

What was distinctive about Bear's Best Las Vegas?

Bear's Best was built around a tribute concept: each of the 18 holes was a hand-selected replica of a Nicklaus design from elsewhere in the world, including holes channeling Cabo del Sol in Mexico, Old Works in Montana, and Castle Pines in Colorado. Its black-sand bunkers, replicating the copper-smelting slag at Old Works, were among its most photographed features. From the back tees the course stretched past 7,100 yards at par 72 with a slope rating of 147.