Ike Lawrence Epstein’s office at the recently opened UFC headquarters is sunlit and handsomely decorated. A black and white photo taken by the famous British photographer David Bailey of the Kray brother adorns the wall. Lawrence, as everyone knows him, is the son of Kenny Epstein and Donna Goldstein. He was born, in 1966, and raised in Las Vegas. He attended Vanderbilt University (BA 1989, JD 1992) and then returned to live full time in Las Vegas with his law degree in hand. In addition to being COO of the UFC, he is active in the family business, the El Cortez Hotel and Casino. In this oral history, Lawrence recalls his grandparents, their careers in Las Vegas, and his youthful favorite holidays being Passover and Thanksgiving. He became a bar mitzvah in Israel, a tradition he continues with his own children with Michelle Epstein. Lawrence serves the community as a board member of Meadows School and on the Stadium Board. As an executive with UFC [Ultimate Fighting Championship], Lawrence observes the overall magnitude of sports in Las Vegas in 2017, how it came to this point with professional sports, and what he envisions as the future possibilities of the city as an international sports destination.
Marquee of the Hotel Sahara's 6th Annual Invitational $77,777.77 Golf Tournament, October 15-20 at the Paradise Valley Country Club. A smaller arrow-shaped marquee says "Welcome British Ryder Team". A sign for the Holiday Hotel is visible in the background. The Sahara Invitational was a PGA Tour event that was played in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1958 to 1976. From 1958 to 1961 it was called the Sahara Pro-Am and was not an official PGA Tour event. It was played at the Paradise Valley Country Club from 1962-1968 and from 1970-1971; and at the Sahara Valley Country Club (also referenced as the Sahara Nevada Country Club) in 1969 and from 1973-1976. The Sahara Hotel sponsored the tournament. Two tournaments were won here on October 20th, with the first tournament being won on October 20, 1963 by Jack William "The Golden Bear" Nicklaus with a final score of 276 over second place finisher Arnold Palmer, who shot a total of 285. Juan Antonio "Chi-Chi" Rodriguez won the second tournament on October 20, 1968 with a final score of 274, besting Dale Dwight Douglass, who tied with him at 274, in a sudden death playoff to take the title. Once owned by Howard Hughes, the Golf Club was re-named the Wildhorse Golf Club in 1994. The golf club is located at 2100 W. Warm Springs Road, Henderson, Nevada.