Kyle Kirwan is a Henderson, Nevada-based wealth advisor with more than two decades of experience in the financial services industry. As an independent financial advisor with Cornerstone Wealth Management, where he has worked since 1997, Kirwan provides retirement income planning, investment strategy, tax planning, long-term care, and legacy planning for high-net-worth clients throughout the Las Vegas area. He holds a business administration degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, along with a life and health insurance license and a Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP) designation, and has passed the FINRA Series 7 and 65 exams required for his practice. Kirwan has earned multiple top producer awards throughout his career. Outside the office, he stays active playing softball and traveling throughout Europe, and as a longtime Nevada resident, he also keeps an eye on the state’s standout golf courses.
Golfers living in or visiting Nevada have a wide range of options, including several high-quality public courses to choose from. According to Golf Digest, 13 of the state’s top 20 courses have public access.
Shadow Creek has ranked No. 1 in the state since 1991 and, according to Golf Digest, is the No. 24 course in the nation. Located in North Las Vegas, Shadow Creek is known as one of the most expensive courses in the United States, costing developers $120 million when accounting for inflation. The Tom Fazio design demanded a comprehensive overhaul of the surrounding environment, including the creation of hills and canyons from what had previously been flat desert country. The investment has proved worthwhile for Nevada golfers, as many competitors have attempted similarly costly feats only to achieve lesser results.
Designers Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw collaborated on Clear Creek Tahoe in Carson City, one of the state’s finest courses. Unlike Shadow Creek, Clear Creek Tahoe sits on naturally mountainous terrain surrounded by an evergreen forest, resulting in one of the most unique and visually striking golf experiences in the US. The course demanded careful, thoughtful hole routing, a particular challenge between holes 10 and 15, but the team’s exhaustive strategic planning resulted in one of America’s 100 Greatest Courses, based on Golf Digest reviews and data. The course has drawn comparisons to other beautiful courses, such as Montana’s Rock Creek Cattle Company and Gozzer Ranch Golf & Lake Club in Idaho.
With its construction beginning in 1998, the Southern Highlands Golf Club in Las Vegas is one of the first solo designs from Robert “Bobby” Trent Jones, Jr., though it was promoted as a joint design between Jones and his accomplished father. Regardless of his actual contributions, the 12th hole features a plaque that commemorates the senior Jones’s final hole. Bobby, meanwhile, certainly made a name for himself with Southern Heights, turning in one of the most lavish courses in the western United States. Influenced by Shadow Creek, Southern Highlands embraces a similar Carolina-pines theme, with comparable bunkers and water hazards, though Bobby’s designs integrated more significant elevation changes; the tee box on the 11th hole sits ten stories above the fairway, offering an iconic view of the Las Vegas Strip. The course often ranks among the nation’s top 200.
The Summit Club, also in Las Vegas, is another Tom Fazio creation. This time, the accomplished designer prioritized panoramic vistas of the Strip, taking advantage of the property’s 3,000 feet of elevation. The unique course routing provides plenty of wonderful views, yet completely screens upcoming holes until golfers reach the tee box. Golfers can flex their strategic instincts at Summit Club, particularly on the course’s diverse par 5s. One of the state’s finest private courses, The Summit Club finished as the runner-up for Golf Digest’s Best New Private award in 2017. The Summit Club ranks just behind Southern Highlands, a testament to the state’s depth of quality.
Finally, the course at Wolf Creek Golf Club in Mesquite is characterized by striking canyons, rolling hills, and deep ravines. One of the finest public courses in the US, it has drawn favorable comparisons to Pacific Dunes and the Bluffs course at Arcadia Bluffs. The trio debuted together in 2001, and all rank among Golf Digest’s 100 Greatest Public Courses.
These are only a few of the well-reviewed golf clubs located throughout the state of Nevada. Other popular options include the courses at Cascata Golf Club, Wynn Golf Club, SouthShore Country Club, and Edgewood Tahoe, among others.
About Kyle Kirwan
Kyle Kirwan is a Henderson, Nevada-based wealth advisor with more than two decades of experience at Cornerstone Wealth Management, where he specializes in retirement income planning, investment strategy, and long-term care and legacy planning for clients throughout the Vegas area. He holds a business administration degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, along with an RICP designation and FINRA Series 7 and 65 licenses. Outside of work, Kirwan enjoys softball and traveling.
