Stars shine on links

Tuesday, July 29, 1997 | 10:44 a.m.

FOR a few hours Monday, "Air Jordan" supplanted "Air Force One" as the hottest ticket in town.

NBA superstar Michael Jordan showed off his golfing skills for President Clinton during a marathon outing at the Las Vegas Country Club.

Following a morning address to the National Governors' Association at The Mirage, Clinton spent six hours on the links with Jordan before the real Air Force One took the president back to Washington late in the evening.

The Chicago Bulls all-star thrilled onlookers and members of the presidential press pool watching from a clubhouse terrace when he sank a 40-foot, downhill putt on his way to an eagle on the difficult par five 9th hole.

Other members of Clinton's five-some -- Gov Bob Miller, Las Vegas SUN Editor Brian Greenspun and ex-Hawaii Gov. John Waihee -- watched with the president as an elated Jordan threw his arms into the air.

"It went right in the heart of the hole," Greenspun said this morning. "I was used to it by then."

Greenspun said Jordan played well, shooting a 34 on the front nine, two under par. He described Jordan as a "wonderful person to play with."

For the entire 18 holes, Greenspun said, Jordan "played around par." A score of 72 is par for the country club, which sits behind the Las Vegas Hilton.

Greenspun, an excellent golfer himself, said Clinton did well on the back nine, but he could not recall his score.

He said playing with Clinton, his longtime friend, and Jordan at the same time was a "double thrill."

"In my opinion, I was playing with two superstars," he said.

One longtime country club employee said it was the first time a sitting president played the well-kept course, which has hosted PGA events. The late former Vice President Spiro Agnew is believed to be the highest-ranking official to hit the links prior to Clinton.

Jordan, employees said, has played there before. Jordan also has teamed with Miller in the past. The two were paired in a celebrity golf classic at Lake Tahoe two years ago.

A group of former governors, Evan Bayh of Indiana, Jim Blanchard of Michigan and Mike Sullivan of Wyoming, joined the president's group on the 10th tee. They brought with them John Creaney, an assistant golf pro at the country club.

Miller had to leave the outing after the 10th hole to return to his duties at the governors conference. The governor is the outgoing chairman.

Clinton, meanwhile, showing little signs of March surgery to repair a torn knee tendon, allowed Jordan to tee-off first on the first hole. Jordan hit a long ball just off the left side of the fairway.

Clinton went next, taking a do-over shot that landed in the fairway short of Jordan's ball.

The presidential entourage, with Secret Service agents in tow, later sped off toward the green. Clinton was behind the wheel in a cart with Jordan.

Clinton arrived at the country club about 2:30 p.m after a luncheon for friends of Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., at the home of Elias Ghanem, a politically connected physician who has raised campaign money for the president in the past.

The president's five-some left the 18th hole about 8:30 p.m. as darkness fell.

At the luncheon catered by Las Vegas Hilton, a who's who of casino bosses showed up to hobnob with Clinton.

Among those attending were Steve Wynn of Mirage Resorts Inc., Clyde Turner of Circus Circus Enterprises, Terry Lanni of MGM Grand Inc., Peter Boynton of Caesars World Inc., Bill Boyd of Boyd Gaming Inc., Claudine Williams of Harrah's Entertainment Inc., Michael Gaughan of Coasts Resorts Inc., Gary Primm of Primadonna Resorts Inc. and Jack Binion of the Horseshoe Club.

A host of local and state elected officials, including Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones, also were among the estimated 170 VIPs in attendance. The event was not a fund-raiser.

Ghanem, a naturalized U.S. citizen of Lebanese descent, described the president's visit to his country club home as "the greatest honor in the world."

"He's unique," said Ghanem, who chairs the Nevada State Athletic Commission. "I've never seen anybody like him. He's so vibrant."

Ghanem said Clinton spoke for about 15 minutes on a variety of subjects and then personally greeted all his guests before heading to the country club to change clothes and hit the links.

One of those attending, longtime clothier Art Marshall, described the president as "very gracious."

"He walked the room and talked to everybody," said Marshall, a member of the Nevada Gaming Commission. "He looked very fit."