Bear’s Best Golf Course in Las Vegas: Transformation into an Exclusive Private Country Club and What It Means for Homebuyers & Sellers

Amara Golf Club at The Ridges — What the $300 Million Transformation of Bear's Best Means for Summerlin Real Estate in 2026

Amara Golf Club is likely to become one of the most important luxury real estate value drivers in The Ridges and Summerlin South because it transforms the former Bear’s Best golf course into an exclusive private club, protects the surrounding green space, and adds a new level of scarcity to one of Las Vegas’s most prestigious communities. For buyers and sellers in The Ridges, this is more than a golf course renovation — it is a major shift in the lifestyle, pricing, and long-term appeal of the community.

The former Bear’s Best Las Vegas course is being rebuilt as Amara Golf Club, a private members-only club with a planned $300 million transformation, limited membership, a redesigned championship course, new clubhouse amenities, and a small collection of luxury club villas. If you own a home in The Ridges, are considering buying in Summerlin South, or want to understand how this project may affect property values, this is one of the most important real estate stories to watch in 2026.

I’m Bryan Jones, a REALTOR® and Broker/Salesperson with Real Broker LLC, licensed in Nevada since 1998. With 28 years of experience, more than 1,150 closed transactions, and prior experience as State Broker overseeing more than 670 agents, I bring a depth of market knowledge and professional judgment that is genuinely rare in the Las Vegas Valley. I have watched this market evolve through every cycle, and the transformation of Bear’s Best into Amara Golf Club is one of the more compelling luxury-market value drivers I have seen in Summerlin in years.

I am not a team, and I am not a call center. When you work with me, you work with me directly — from our first conversation to the closing table.

From Bear's Best to Amara Golf Club — What Happened

The former Bear's Best Las Vegas golf course — a Jack Nicklaus-designed public course that opened in 2001 featuring replicas of Nicklaus's favorite holes from championship courses around the world — has embarked on a bold transformation into Amara Golf Club, a $300 million private club and residential enclave that is redefining luxury living in the Las Vegas Valley.

In 2024, Mulligan Holdings Inc. acquired Bear's Best for $30.5 million. The buyers were not outside investors — they were Andrew Pascal, CEO of PlayStudios and former COO of Wynn Resorts, and Mike Mixer, co-founder of the Las Vegas office of Colliers International. Both Pascal and Mixer are residents of The Ridges themselves, meaning this transformation was driven by people who live in the community and have a personal stake in its future.

The Badlands golf course saga — which ended in a costly legal battle after a developer tried to rezone a shuttered course for housing — was top of mind for both buyers. Protecting The Ridges from a similar outcome was a primary driver of the acquisition. With $300 million invested in a private club, the likelihood of any future rezoning attempt is essentially eliminated. The green space that defines The Ridges is permanently protected.

Bear's Best closed to the public on June 28, 2025.  Redevelopment began in September 2025 in partnership with Oliphant Golf Construction and Jackson Kahn Golf Course Design.  The grand reopening as Amara Golf Club is targeted for around November 2026.

Amara Golf Club Membership — What You Need to Know

Amara is designed to be one of the most exclusive private clubs in the country — and the membership structure reflects that. Here are the details every buyer and seller in The Ridges should understand:

Membership is capped at 250 — an extraordinarily limited number for a region of over two million people. The initiation fee began at $250,000 and has already increased to $300,000 as memberships have sold, with further increases expected as the November 2026 reopening approaches. Monthly dues run approximately $4,000 and cover full family access including children up to age 25.  Memberships are non-transferable in the traditional sense. Resale is permitted but carries a 50% convenience fee. 

One important detail for villa buyers: purchasing a villa does not automatically include a club membership. Villa real estate and club membership are sold separately — however Amara has reserved 15 dedicated membership spots specifically for original villa owners, giving villa buyers a guaranteed path to membership.

Amara Golf Club Amenities

The two-level clubhouse is being designed to rival any private club in the country. Planned amenities include valet parking, a reception area, full spa, fitness center, wine lounge, business center, banquet rooms, and a fine dining restaurant. Recreation amenities include two pools with cabanas, smoothie bar, sports lounge, four pickleball courts, volleyball, and an expansive event lawn. Golf amenities include a completely redesigned championship course plus a new 6-hole Par-3 course (The Hard Six)  and  8 simulator bays — a combination that positions Amara alongside The Summit Club and TPC Summerlin at the very top of Las Vegas private golf.

The Amara Golf Club Villas — A New Residential Category in Las Vegas Luxury Real Estate

The Amara Golf Club development includes an exclusive collection of boutique Club Villas situated directly within the club grounds — a completely new residential product in the Las Vegas luxury market. These residences are designed for turnkey, maintenance-free luxury living fully integrated with the private country club lifestyle.

Amara Golf Club will feature 15 private villas ranging from 2,000 to 6,000 square feet. These homes will be positioned along holes 1, 9, and 18 of the redesigned championship course, offering direct golf course views and seamless access to the club. Members who reside within The Ridges will also have dedicated access points to the club.

All villas are designed to include first-floor primary suites, infinity pools, and 3-4 car garages. Resort-grade services include on-demand private chef, full villa maintenance, landscaping, and dedicated car washing services.

Villa construction is slated to begin in 2027 with completion targeted by December 2028. If you are interested in learning more about villa availability or securing information about remaining memberships, I would be happy to provide current details and personally connect you with the right people.

Why This Transformation Matters for Real Estate in The Ridges and Summerlin South

If you are considering purchasing in The Ridges or Summerlin South, the window before Amara Golf Club's November 2026 reopening is an opportunity worth paying close attention to. Historically, luxury communities see meaningful price appreciation as major amenity additions approach completion — buyers who purchase during the construction phase often capture value that post-opening buyers pay a premium for.

For buyers considering The Ridges more broadly, Azure — the crown jewel enclave of The Ridges — regularly produces the valley's most expensive sales. In 2025 two of the top 10 luxury sales in all of Las Vegas were Azure properties: 68 Sun Glow Lane at $16 million and 19 Flying Cloud Lane at $13.5 million.

What This Means for Sellers

If you own a home in The Ridges or Summerlin South with golf course frontage or views of the Amara development, now is a compelling time to evaluate your positioning. The buzz around Amara Golf Club is already attracting national attention from luxury buyers — the combination of a completely reimagined championship course developed in partnership by Oliphant Golf Construction and Jackson Kahn Golf Course Design, $300 million in new investment, a $300,000 initiation fee, and a 250-membership cap creates genuine scarcity that resonates powerfully with the luxury buyer profile.

Properties along the golf course corridor are expected to see the strongest appreciation as the November 2026 reopening approaches and membership demand builds. If you are thinking about selling, the story you have to tell about your home's proximity to Amara Golf Club is more compelling today than it has been at any point in The Ridges' history.

The Ridges — A Community Worth Understanding

The Ridges is Summerlin's most prestigious guard-gated community and one of the most exclusive addresses in all of Southern Nevada. With modern architecture, dramatic desert landscapes, and now the addition of Amara Golf Club, The Ridges offers a lifestyle that is genuinely unmatched in the Las Vegas Valley.

The Ridges is a community I know well — the enclaves, the pricing dynamics, and the buyer profile that this neighborhood attracts. After 28 years working across Summerlin's luxury market, I understand what makes The Ridges different from every other community in the Las Vegas Valley and what buyers at this level are looking for. Most homes require advance appointment showings through the guard gate, and the buying and selling process in this community requires an agent who understands the unique nature of luxury transactions at this price point and knows how to navigate them on your behalf.

Amara Golf Club at The Ridges — Quick Facts

• Bear's Best Las Vegas closed to the public June 28, 2025 — now being transformed into Amara Golf Club
• $300 million total investment in redevelopment led by Ridges residents Andrew Pascal and Mike Mixer
• Course redeveloped in partnership by Oliphant Golf Construction and Jackson Kahn Golf Course Design
• Grand reopening targeted November 2026 — currently under active construction
• Membership limited to 250 general memberships
• Initiation fee starts at $250,000 and increases after every 50 memberships sold - has already increased to $300,000
• Monthly dues approximately $4,000 covering full family access including children up to age 25
• Memberships non-transferable — resale permitted with 50% convenience fee
• 15 Club Villas ranging from 2,000 to 6,000 square feet positioned along holes 1, 9, and 18 — villa construction begins 2027, completion targeted December 2028
• Villa ownership does not automatically include membership 
• Two-level clubhouse, spa, fine dining, family pool, pickleball courts, new Par-3 course and simulators
• Located in The Ridges, Summerlin South — one of the most exclusive guard-gated communities in Southern Nevada
• Bryan Jones | (702) 370-1651 | bryanjoneslv.com | NV License BS.52369

Frequently Asked Questions — Amara Golf Club and The Ridges Real Estate

What happened to Bear's Best Golf Course in Las Vegas? Bear's Best Las Vegas closed to the public on June 28, 2025 and is currently undergoing a complete demolition and rebuild into Amara Golf Club — a private members-only club with a $300 million investment. The project is led by Mulligan Holdings Inc., owned by Ridges residents Andrew Pascal and Mike Mixer. The grand reopening is targeted for November 2026.

What is Amara Golf Club in Las Vegas? Amara Golf Club is the new name for the former Bear's Best Las Vegas golf course, currently under construction in The Ridges community in Summerlin South. It will be a private members-only club limited to 250 general memberships plus 15 reserved for villa owners. Amenities include a two-level clubhouse, spa, fine dining, family pool, four pickleball courts, a redesigned championship course, a new 6-hole Par-3 course called The Hard Six, and 8 simulator bays.

How much does Amara Golf Club membership cost? The Amara Golf Club initiation fee starts at $250,000 and increases after every 50 memberships are sold — meaning early members pay the lowest price. Monthly dues run approximately $4,000 and cover full family access including children up to age 25. Memberships are non-transferable but can be resold with a 50% convenience fee applied.

How will Amara Golf Club affect home values in The Ridges? The transformation of Bear's Best into Amara Golf Club is widely expected to increase property values in The Ridges and surrounding Summerlin South communities. The $300 million investment permanently preserves the golf course green space, eliminates any future rezoning risk, and adds one of the most exclusive private clubs in the country to a community that already ranks among the most prestigious in Las Vegas.

Are there villas for sale at Amara Golf Club? Yes — 15 boutique Club Villas are being developed within the Amara Golf Club grounds, ranging from 4,000 to 6,000 square feet. These homes will be positioned along holes 1, 9, and 18 of the redesigned championship course and are designed to include first-floor primary suites, infinity pools, and 3 to 4 car garages with full resort-grade services. Villa construction begins in 2027 with completion targeted by December 2028. Villa ownership does not automatically include club membership, however 15 dedicated membership spots are reserved exclusively for villa owners. I would be happy to provide current availability and pricing information.

Does buying a villa at Amara Golf Club include a membership? No — villa real estate and club membership are sold separately. However Amara has reserved 15 dedicated membership spots specifically for villa owners, giving the original villa buyers a guaranteed path to membership. This is an important distinction for buyers evaluating the full cost of villa ownership.

Who should I contact about buying or selling in The Ridges near Amara Golf Club? Bryan Jones — REALTOR® and Broker/Salesperson with Real Broker LLC — has 28 years of experience and 1,150+ closed transactions in the Las Vegas Valley with deep expertise in The Ridges and Summerlin luxury communities. Call or text (702) 370-1651, email bryan@bryanjoneslv.com, or visit bryanjoneslv.com.

Ready to Explore The Ridges and Amara Golf Club?

Whether you are considering buying in this community before the November 2026 reopening, thinking about selling your Ridges home as Amara's story builds momentum, or simply want to understand what this transformation means for your property value — I would welcome the opportunity to have a conversation. There is no pressure and no obligation.

📱 Call or text: (702) 370-1651
📧 Email: bryan@bryanjoneslv.com
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Nevada License: BS.52369 | Real Broker LLC