Press Release

For Immediate Release January 17, 2023

The Western Golf Alliance ranks the best 2023 golf destinations

The "Western Stars" identities the top 12 casino/golf resorts in the western United States

LAS VEGAS. Today, the Western Golf Alliance today released the much-anticipated 2023-24 "Western Stars" rankings, a previously biennial list of the top casino golf resort destinations in the western United States. The full list was distributed to the media during the Board of Directors' annual winter meeting occurring at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.

"After skipping our 2021 version of this ranking due to tbe continued travel challenges caused by the pandemic, it was critical for us to resurrect the rankings for 2023," said Brian Gray, WGA president. "Our biennial rankings is our way of helping the golf travel industry, and golfers everywhere, rediscover the joy of golf travel."

Due to the COVID-19 lockdown and related travel restrictions, the WGA chose not to release a 2021 golf resort ranking. As a result, this 2023 version contains significant differences from the rankings of 2019. Especially, several locations chose to double-down on investments in their resort experience over the last two years, and have emerged as exciting golf destinations. These include major improvements at Cache Creek Resort, Wild Horse Pass Resort, and Sycuan Casino, which earned these locations either new inclusion or significant upgrade on the list. Meanwhile, some of the known names in Las Vegas - Caesars Palace and Wynn specifically - have improved the integration of their golf experience (and in the case of Wynn, reversed a prior decision to eliminate their golf course).

"It was difficult for us to evaluate casino and golf properties 12 months ago, however throughout 2022 we re-dedicated ourselves to serving the golf industry and did our best research the changes and impacts to key resorts," explained Mark Taylor, Western Stars task force chairman. "Many locations have faced the challenges of maintaining quality of their golf, lodging, casinos, and restaurants throughout these trying times, and it is critical to acknowledge them and reward them with your travel dollars in 2023."

"The Western Stars is an important part of our mission to serve golfers and the golf community throughout the western United States," concluded Gray. "We are proud of the fact that everyday golfers will use these rankings to inform and plan their buddy trips and golf weekends, and that the information will lead to selecting a destination that will give them the biggest bang for their buck."

The Western Stars rankings are online at www.westerngolf.org/stars.

#1 = Caesars Palace Las Vegas / Cascata, Rio Secco

#2 = Talking Stick Resort / Talking Stick Golf Club

#3 = We-Ko-Pa Resort / We-Ko-Pa Golf Club

#4 = Cache Creek Resort / Yosha Dehe Golf Club

#5 = Wynn Las Vegas Resort / Wynn Golf Course

#6 = Little Creek Casino Resort / Salish Cliffs Golf Course

#7 = Wild Horse Pass Resort / Whirlwind Golf Course

#8 = MGM Mirage / Shadow Creek

#9 = Harrah's Ak-Chin / Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club

#10 = Sycuan Casino / Singing Hills Golf Resort

#11 = Primm Valley Casino Resorts / Primm Valley Golf Club

#12 = Casino Del Sol / Sewailo Golf Club

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About the Western Golf Alliance: The Western Golf Alliance is the premier golf organization in the United States. The WGA exists to further the greatness of this grand sport of golf through the improvement of golf play by its members, the promotion of golf rules, etiquette, and tradition, and the ability to gather together from time to time for golf events and tournaments. The regional organization spans five western states, and is organized into nine geographic regions. Further information is available at http://www.westerngolf.org/.

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