Shangri-La Resort and Crescent Hotels & Resorts to Celebrate Grand Opening of The Battlefield Golf Course

MONKEY ISLAND, OK - Shangri-La Resort, Oklahoma's premier waterfront golf and outdoor recreation destination, and Crescent Hotels & Resorts are celebrating the grand opening of The Battlefield, a spectacularly designed 18-hole par-3 golf course. Oklahoma government officials and other dignitaries - including Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell, State Representative and Gulf War veteran Josh West, and former Broadway performer Ron Young - will be on hand for the official Grand Opening and Dedication hosted by Shangri-La owner Eddy Gibbs, Executive Chairman Jason Sheffield, and President & CEO Barry Willingham, on Friday, June 30.

The Tom Clark and Kevin Atkinson-designed, 3,000-yard Battlefield layout is a short course of creative, articulated scale and vision, constructed on an exceptional piece of land that features more than 100 feet of elevation change across its acreage. The scenic, strategic course was completed for $15 million with each hole named in honor of an Oklahoma veteran of WWII.

It's a memorable, immersive playing experience from any of the five sets of tee boxes, plus up-close "Felix Tees" for beginners, youngsters or those wanting to work on their short game. This short course also has a 165-yard warm-up area and 10,000-square-foot putting green, and there's also a practice range and short-game facility at the main clubhouse. While challenging from the back tees - the course record since the soft opening is just one-under-par - 12 holes-in-one have already been recorded in this thrilling, hilly funscape.

"The Battlefield is a beautiful, captivating, and purposefully designed short course like no other," says Director of Golf Operations Rob Yanovitch. "It's an endlessly fun and engaging experience for golfers of every skill level that also recognizes our brave military personnel, with special commemorations to World War II veterans on every hole. Daily presentations in The Battlefield Clubhouse also honor military personnel and American veterans. The course has an energy and excitement that, along with our renovated, world-class 27-hole championship course, elevates the golf experience at Shangri-La into the 'Must Play' category among Midwest destination resorts. We're living in Shangri-La's 'Hello, World!' era."

This enjoyable, accessible par-54 course which features holes from 110 to 245 yards, joins the acclaimed 27 championship holes at Shangri-La, the Legends, Heritage and Champions courses (framed elegantly on the shores of the expansive Grand Lake O' The Cherokees) to present an extraordinary 45-hole golfer's paradise that buddies' trip groups and golf aficionados from all over the country will want to add to their bucket list.

READY FOR THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Shangri-La's visionary owner Gibbs has transformed the resort into the pride of Northeast Oklahoma and put the lakefront vacation oasis on the map nationally with an investment of more than $100 million into the property's accommodations and upscale leisure amenities since taking it over in 2010. Crescent Hotels & Resorts, the award winning, nationally recognized, operator of hotels and resorts with over 120 properties in the United States & Canada, recently added the Shangri-La Resort & Marina to the growing list of properties Crescent manages under the Latitudes: Lifestyles by Crescent collection.

In addition to the 119-room resort hotel, an indoor pool, 6,500 square-foot outdoor resort pool with splash pad and tanning ledge, luxury spa, full-service marina on gleaming, 46,500-acre Grand Lake O' The Cherokees, and six distinct dining and cocktails venues culminate in an unforgettable getaway for golfers, families, groups, corporate and association retreats, and weddings.

Surrounded by the waters of Grand Lake O' The Cherokees on three sides, the revered 27-hole championship Shangri-La golf course meanders through rolling parkland landscapes with elevated Bentgrass greens and clever bunkering along with more open, flowing fairways accented by ponds, streams and the breathtaking lakefront. The Legends ninth, "The Mickey Mantle Hole," uniquely features two separate greens complexes separated by a blissful but daunting waterfall. It's named after the New York Yankees legend who hosted his Mickey Mantle Golf Classic charity tournament at Shangri-La from 1991 until his death in 1995 and once holed an albatross on this iconic par five.

The Anchor, a two-year-old, six-acre indoor/outdoor activity park has basketball, tennis, pickleball, cornhole, and a unique "Mini-Fenway" WIFFLE®Ball park, as well as a catch-and-release fishing pond for children under 12. The Anchor's 11,000 square-foot indoor space offers traditional arcade games plus virtual reality games, a LaserShot shooting simulator, and Trackman Golf simulators.

A popular spot for drinks and dining, the Sports Bar at The Anchor features dozens of sports screens including two giant video walls, along with ping-pong, pool, shuffleboard, darts, and foosball.

JUNE 30 GRAND OPENING AND DEDICATION
The June 30 open-to-the-public Grand Opening and Dedication event begins at 10 a.m. with the formal presentation of colors by the Ritual Team from Grove American Legion Post 178 and Young's stirring rendition of the National Anthem. Lieutenant Governor Pinnell (who also spoke at dedication ceremonies for The Anchor Activity Park and USS Oklahoma Memorial at Shangri-La in 2021) will keynote the opening.

As Lieutenant Governor, Pinnell serves as Chairman of the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Commission and as Secretary of Tourism, Wildlife, and Heritage on Governor Kevin Stitt's cabinet. In that role, he leads Oklahoma's efforts to promote tourism, the state's third largest industry. He is currently leading the launch of the Oklahoma Golf Trail.

The Battlefield's formal dedication by State Representative Josh West will honor all military veterans, but especially WWII veterans, in keeping with The Battlefield's theme and mission. West, who earned the Purple Heart and Bronze Star with "V" device for Valor for his service in the U.S. Army, has since founded the Oklahoma Veterans Caucus in the Oklahoma legislature and remains involved in numerous veterans' organizations.

"We take great pride in Shangri-La having become a beloved destination for outdoor recreation, world-class golf, quality time with family and friends - all in an idyllic natural environment," says Shangri-La President & CEO Barry Willingham. "The opening of The Battlefield, though, marks an achievement and source of pride that's difficult to put into words. To have a grand-scale living monument that honors our veterans and military service people fulfills a meaningful vision for our team and our commitment to never forget to honor those who have made our freedoms possible. We can't wait for golfers of all ages to enjoy the special experience of playing The Battlefield."