It’s a Mirage . . . for Just a Grand You Get a Suite

Shadow Creek, one of the most exclusive golf courses in the world and until now played by only the highest of high rollers at the Mirage Resort’s casinos in Las Vegas, is going public.

It will cost $1,000 for a starting time, which includes a suite at one of the Mirage hotels. For $500 more, a guest may come along, but there will be no more than two players for each tee time.

The best news is, a caddie is included at no extra charge.

Trivia time: How many women have won national events in top fuel, drag racing’s fastest category?

What’s in a name? Reader George Kiseda points out that Glenn Davis was a first-round draft pick in baseball, an Olympic gold medalist in track and a Heisman Trophy winner in football. He explains:

Glenn Davis is a Vanderbilt first baseman who was the Dodgers’ first pick this year.

Glenn Davis of Ohio State won the 400-meter hurdles in the 1956 and 1960 Olympics.

And Glenn Davis of Army was the Heisman Trophy winner in 1946.

Save the greens: According to Foot-Joy, which makes golf shoes, there are 1,524 golf courses in the country that have banned metal spikes, including most of the private ones in Southern California.

Worth the effort: Steve Abernathy has bruised ribs, a couple of bumps on his head and broken prescription sunglasses, but he also has Greg Norman’s trademark hat, which the Aussie golfer sailed into the crowd after winning last Sunday in Memphis.

“When I saw him take it off, I knew he was going to throw it,” the 6-foot-4 Abernathy said. “It wasn’t coming straight at me, and there seemed like 100 hands reaching for it.”

Abernathy got his hands on it, then fell to the ground and held onto the hat as if it were a football until the other grasping hands let go.

Another Tiger? Baldomero Ballesteros, son of Severiano, has just won his first tournament--at age 6. It was for 5- to 10-year-olds in Pedrena, Spain.

“He’s started winning well before I did!” the proud papa said.

No patience: One frustrated golfer in Tokyo, finding courses and driving ranges too crowded, went to a pier and, over a period of three to four months, drove about 4,000 balls into Tokyo Bay.

Acting on a tip, the Coast Guard investigated, arrested him, and now he faces a $35,000 fine for pollution.

Trivia answer: Five--Shirley Muldowney, Lucille Lee, Lori Johns, Shelly Anderson and Cristen Powell.

And finally: Barred from bringing their own food and drinks into Atlanta’s new Turner Field, Braves’ fans are smuggling in goodies to protest and to protect their wallets from pricey concessions such as $3.50 Cokes.

“I sneak, sure,” one customer said. “I saw a guy pull a turkey leg, once, right out of his pants. The baggy pants help.”

Even Ted Turner, who owns the place, said $3.50 for a Coke was ridiculous.