In October 1966, Jack Nicklaus captured the Sahara Invitational at what was then Paradise Valley Country Club, a course that today operates as Wildhorse Golf Club in Henderson. That connection makes the victory especially notable for local golfers, as the same fairways where Nicklaus once lifted a PGA Tour trophy remain open to the public more than half a century later.
Sponsored by the famed Sahara Hotel and Casino, the Sahara Invitational had quickly become one of the premier PGA Tour stops of the 1960s thanks to its large purse and the attraction of Las Vegas entertainment and hospitality. The event was also played in some years at Sahara National, what is now Las Vegas National Golf Club.
While what is now Wildhorse Golf Club has been changed substantially since 1966, it is still fun to know that some of the game’s greatest have walked–and won–on this land. Want to play Wildhorse, visit www.golfwildhorse.com
Wildhorse is a local’s favorite and was build by legendary Las Vegas Sun Newspaper Founder Hank Greenspun.
The 1966 tournament featured one of the strongest fields on the PGA Tour, with many of the game’s biggest stars competing for a share of the $100,000 purse, which was among the richest prizes in professional golf at the time. Paradise Valley’s desert layout proved challenging throughout the week, with firm conditions and swirling winds keeping scores near par. Nicklaus opened the tournament with steady rounds that kept him near the top of the leaderboard before separating himself over the weekend with his powerful driving and precise iron play. He finished the four-round event at 282, two-under par, three shots ahead of Arnold Palmer and Miller Barber, while fellow stars such as Billy Casper and Tony Lema were also part of the field.
The triumph came during one of the most impressive seasons of Nicklaus’ career. Earlier in 1966 he had already won the 1966 Masters Tournament and the 1966 Open Championship, becoming the youngest player at the time to complete the career Grand Slam. Las Vegas would continue to be a successful stop for Nicklaus, who ultimately won the Sahara Invitational four times — 1963, 1966, 1967 and 1969 — more than any other player in the tournament’s history.