By Gavin Ernstone
A three-hundred-million-dollar redevelopment is turning the former Bear's Best course into a private club that will admit only 250 members. Amara rises inside The Ridges in Summerlin, where the old public fairways give way to a members-only course and a cluster of boutique villas.
I've followed the plans for Amara closely, because a hard cap on access reshapes value in ways a normal community never will.
Key Takeaways
- Hard cap: Membership stops at 250, plus 15 for villa owners.
- Steep entry: Initiation starts at 250,000 dollars.
- Separate purchase: Owning a villa does not include the club.
- Full rebuild: The old Bear's Best becomes a private course.
What Amara Brings to The Ridges
Amara Las Vegas marks a roughly three-hundred-million-dollar transformation of the former Bear's Best golf course inside The Ridges in Summerlin. Mulligan Holdings, led by Andrew Pascal and Mike Mixer, acquired the site and set out to build a private club with a small ring of villas.
The Basics of the Project
- Former Bear's Best: A public Nicklaus course going private.
- 300 million dollars: The scale of the redevelopment.
- Mulligan Holdings: The developer behind the plan.
- Boutique villas: A limited set of homes on site.
Few Las Vegas projects rework an entire golf course into a members-only club. The ambition here caught my attention the moment the sale closed, and I have tracked every filing since.
The 250-Membership Cap Explained
The Amara The Ridges membership plan draws a firm line at 250 total memberships, with another 15 held back for villa owners. Initiation opens at 250,000 dollars and climbs with every fifty memberships sold, while monthly dues run near four thousand dollars.
How the Membership Works
- Capped count: 250 memberships, plus 15 for villas.
- Rising initiation: 250,000 dollars and up over time.
- Monthly dues: Around four thousand dollars.
- Non-transferable: Resale carries a convenience fee.
A ceiling set this low turns membership into a finite asset from day one. Anyone counting on a spot needs to move before the roster fills, and I watch the count as it climbs.
Why the Cap Matters
A hard limit sits at the center of the Amara The Ridges membership story, and scarcity tends to hold value. Clubs that cap their rolls protect the experience on the course and the exclusivity that members prize.
What Scarcity Means
- Uncrowded course: Fewer members per tee sheet.
- Held value: Limited supply supports demand.
- Prestige: A finite roster signals exclusivity.
- Early advantage: Lower initiation for the first in.
A capped club behaves more like a limited release than an open amenity. I explain that dynamic whenever someone weighs the initiation against the long view.
How the Villas and Membership Fit Together
The residential side of Amara stays deliberately small, with a boutique collection of villas beside the clubhouse and along the course. Owning one of those villas, however, does not automatically hand over a club membership.
The Residences at a Glance
- Clubhouse villas: Around 2,000 to 2,500 square feet.
- Larger homes: Villas in the 4,000 to 6,000 range.
- Separate membership: The club is bought on its own.
- 2027 delivery: Villas completing by late 2027.
A villa and a membership travel as two separate decisions here. I walk clients through both so the full cost of the lifestyle stays clear.
The Club, the Course, and the Timeline
The Amara Las Vegas plan pairs a rebuilt championship course with a two-level clubhouse and resort-style amenities. Spa, fitness, fine dining, a family pool, and pickleball round out the offering alongside a six-hole par-3 course.
What Members Will Find
- Championship course: A fully rebuilt eighteen holes.
- Par-3 course: A six-hole short layout.
- Clubhouse: Two levels with spa and dining.
- Family amenities: Pool, cabanas, and pickleball.
A grand reopening is set for late 2026, with the villas following the year after. I keep clients posted as each phase reaches its date.
FAQs
How many memberships will Amara offer?
The club caps its roster at 250 memberships, with an additional 15 set aside for villa owners. Initiation begins at 250,000 dollars and rises as the memberships sell. I track the count so clients know how much runway remains.
Does buying a villa include club access?
Villa ownership and club membership sell separately at Amara, so a home does not carry an automatic spot. Each side of the equation carries its own cost and timing.
When does Amara open?
A grand reopening of the club is planned for late 2026, following a full redevelopment of the former Bear's Best course. The boutique villas are slated to finish by late 2027. I share updates as each milestone firms up.
Work With Gavin Ernstone Today
A capped club rewards early movers, and a spot at Amara will grow harder to secure with every membership that sells. I follow the roster, the villa releases, and the wider Ridges market closely enough to tell you exactly where the opportunity stands.
Contact me, Gavin Ernstone, when you want an agent who understands both the real estate and the membership math behind a project like this.
Contact me, Gavin Ernstone, when you want an agent who understands both the real estate and the membership math behind a project like this.
