Shangri-La Resort in Monkey Island, Oklahoma, announced Thursday that it will officially open its new 18-hole par-3 course, The Battlefield, on June 30. Designed by Tom Clark and Kevin Atkinson, the layout features more than 100 feet of elevation changes and will play to 3,000 yards.
In a media release announcing the news, the resort said it cost $15 million to build The Battlefield, each hole of which has been named in honor of an Oklahoma veteran of World War II. It’s part of a $100 million investment in the property since owner Eddy Gibbs took over in 2010. The resort is managed by Crescent Hotels and Resorts as part of the Lifestyles by Crescent Collection.
The Battlefield features holes ranging from 110 to 245 yards. It joins the three existing nine-hole courses already at Shangri-La – the Legends, Heritage and Champions nines – along the shores of Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees in northeast Oklahoma. Shangri-La ranks No. 4 on Golfweek’s Best list of public-access courses in Oklahoma.
“The Battlefield is a beautiful, captivating, and purposefully designed short course like no other,” Shangri-La director of golf operations Rob Yanovitch said in the media release. “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.”
The new par-3 course also has a 165-yard warmup area and a 10,000-square-foot practice green. There are five sets of tees on The Battlefield, plus a set of close-up tees for beginners, children and players wanting to work on their short games.
“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,” Shangri-La president & CEO Barry Willingham said in the media release. “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.”