COURSE REVIEW

The Revere at Anthem: A 'Revolutionary'
Golf Experience

By Diana Rowe Martinez,
TravelGolf.com Staff Writer

LAS VEGAS, NV - Draped through the rugged desert canyons and valleys of the Las Vegas foothills, The Revere at Anthem offers awe-inspiring views of the city below and mountains beyond, and its stunning layout will test your shot-making skills. Its first year garnered a write up in Golf Magazine as a "Top New Course You Can Play."

The Revere's motif is designed around Paul Revere, the well-known American revolutionary, and their mantra is appropriately "A Revolutionary Golf Experience." The philosophy of the design was to create a revolutionary golf experience for players of all skill levels and to build the course into the natural canyon landscape, providing golfers with an intimate golfing experience. One look and you'll think you've gone to golf heaven.

Although you won't hear the echoes of "The British are coming! The British are coming!" The Revere will give you an encounter unlike any other course. With each new golf course that opens in Vegas, the message rings loud and clear--Las Vegas is becoming an international golf destination. The Revere adds to the list of world-class golf in this city that is fast gaining a reputation of much more than casinos and neon lights.

Designed by PGA legend Billy Casper and architect Greg Nash, The Revere Golf Club at Anthem opened on April 17, 1999 and is located at Del Webb's new Anthem community, just 15 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip. Revere is the fifth golf course in the Vegas area for Nash and Casper, and, by far, it is their greatest achievement to date.

According to Nash in a VEGAS GOLFER interview, the surroundings were a gift from Mother Nature. "The site for the golf course has to be one of the best we've ever had. It's a very unique piece of property and hopefully we enhanced it."

The interview continues to quote player consultant Billy Casper, a player with 51 PGA Tour victories in the bag. "It's one of the most beautiful golf courses I've ever seen and it's very playable, but it's also frightening to look out from many of the tees to see what's before you."

I'll agree with the fear factor. The fairways and greens look intimidating even before you take your clubs out of the car. As you drive toward the golf course, the desert canyon views roll out below you to reveal a course that cuts through these canyons like a work of art on canvas.

Built in a desert canyon, the lush, 7,143-yard, par 72 course features countless natural elevation changes and beautiful views of the Las Vegas skyline. Every hole offers sweeping panoramic views. The course laces its way through dramatic desert canyons, far above the city lights. Of the 18 holes, no fewer than 16 have elevated tee boxes, many play over rugged desert canyons, and several finish at elevated greens. Water isn't a major factor, with only two holes affected, but you'll be glad you don't have that albatross to deal with also. To pick one signature hole over another would be a travesty, as each progressive hole is more picturesque than the last.

With the first swing and view from Hole 1, aptly named Midnight Ride, golfers will be rudely awakened to the extreme challenges that lay before. An elevated tee provides a view of the Las Vegas Valley and reveals a 390-yard par 4 downhill shot. An almost S-shaped narrow fairway threads its way through jumbled bunkers and a narrow landing into the downhill hole. The best lay up shot is a tee shot to the fairway, situated on the right, that cuts the edge of the long and deep bunker to land (hopefully) in the middle of the narrow fairway. Too far right places you on a hill and in trees. Too far left, well, you're starting your game off in the sand or paying for windows at the homes of the golf community residents.

According to Revere architect Nash, "…We want to make the first few holes memorable and exciting but not too difficult." And that he did accomplish. In fact, I'd almost say Nash is an over-achiever.

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Your roller coaster ride continues on to Old Ironside (Hole 2), a par 5, 591-yarder that again plays from elevated tees set in a rock canyon and a double-dogleg fairway. Hole 3 is more difficult than it looks. Shots not in the narrow fairway usually end up in the thick rough with a bad lay and cursing not fit for your mother's ears. Holes 4-6 continue with the elevation changes and stunning views, so get your camera ready.

King's Chapel, Hole 7, is another shot from an elevated tee for this 489-yard, par 5. A desert scrub area juts into the fairway where it starts a climb into a canyon. The elevated, severely tiered green completes this intriguing (translation: exasperating) hole with a waterfall flowing behind the green.

The back 9 starts off with another winner, Lantern's Light, from an elevated tee overlooking a valley that feeds onto the heavily bunker-protected green. A straight, accurate shot is a must for this par 4, 379-yard hole, or you'll find yourself in the surrounding arroyo or digging the sand wedge out of your bag.

Another par 5, Longfellow's 11th hourglass-shaped hole, is a winding maze through 625-yards of sheer mystery. Desert islands, like random fairy dust, are sprinkled on this split fairway with heavily scrubbed desert pushing its way to the edges. Fortunately, two local golfers completed my foursome and explained the ins and outs of this tricky hole. According to these ladies, "This hole never plays the same because every shot you make lands you in a different dilemma, making your next shot a surprise." Their advice was right on. The first island begins at 160 yards off the tee, and the second island is just 160 yards from the green right through the narrow hourglass fairway at 250 yards. Drink up, because this is going to be a long hole.

The remaining holes continue to cut through dramatic desert terrain and offer a sense that you've entered a different world. Concentrating on one shot at a time, is your best plan, as well as having a local golfer as a guide.

The premium of the four Revere par 3's is Castle Island (17) appropriately named since your tee shot is off elevated tee to a green guarded by water on both sides. A waterfall tumbles on the right flowing to the left and under the putting surface to cascade down into another waterfall on the opposite side.

Anthem is the finishing hole (18), a par 4, 444-yarder similar to the 9th hole, one of only a few holes that plays on the plateau with slightly undulating fairway and a grassy canyon messing with shots short and right.

A new equally spectacular course is in the construction stage right now. Sticking with the revolutionary theme, this all Bermuda turf course will be named Concord and the anticipated and eagerly awaited opening is realistically sometime early spring of 2002. The third course, as yet unnamed, will follow. The existing course (Revere at Anthem) will be renamed to the Lexington.

Currently, temporary buildings house the 19th hole and Pro Shop. The site for the new clubhouse is just up the hill and will also offer spectacular views of the course and the Vegas lights while sipping on your well-deserved cocktail.

On the trek back home, stop and sample the fare at Trumpets, serving up culinary delights waiting to settle in on your taste buds. Trumpets is an architecturally splendid upscale dining room located in the Anthem Community Center. Dining at Trumpets affords great city views and terrific food. Appetizers include buffalo mozzarella stack and house-smoked salmon. Main courses vary from pan-seared Chilean sea bass, crispy chicken breast and the pork Porterhouse. The luncheon menu features refreshing salads or specialty sandwiches, light but filling, and the presentation of the meal is almost too dazzling to eat. Almost.

Even with the "fear" factor, The Revere at Anthem offers every player a chance to shine, as well as a guaranteed humbling experience. Golf is not a game for the faint-hearted or easily intimidated, nor is it a game easily conquerable. Revere is not a course easily forgotten with its desert canyon design and panoramic views of the valley extending to the infamous Strip and downtown Vegas, not to mention the challenging course design.

After a round at The Revere, no matter how your score adds up, you'll leave the clubhouse with a smile and the affirmation that Nash and Casper are in cahoots with the golf gods.

Trumpets
Anthem Sun City
2450 Hampton Road

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.