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DESTINATION SPOTLIGHT |
NEVADA | Wondering why Travel + Leisure Golf named the Chase at PGA Village one of its "2008 best new courses?" The reasons are plenty—a par-72 Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, the Chase is an inviting desert oasis for golfers who enjoy prime conditions, cutting-edge design and big-city proximity. (Located in Coyote Springs, Nev., the Chase is just an hour north of Las Vegas.) Situated between two mountain ranges with a towering five-tiered waterfall as one of 11 water features, serene and inspiring views are also part of the total Chase experience.
| Contact |
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PGA Village Coyote Springs
3100 State Route 168
P.O. Box 37010
Coyote Springs, NV 89037
877.742.8455
www.coyotesprings.com |
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Location |
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The Chase at PGA Village is located in Coyote Springs, a brand-new master-planned community in Nevada. The community is within easy driving distance to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix and Salt Lake City. |
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Course Stats |
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Black Tee
Slope: 141
Rating: 75.8
Blue Tee
Slope: 137
Rating: 72.0
White Tee
Slope: 132
Rating: 69.7
Red Tee
To be determined |
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Awards |
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Named on three 2008 best new courses lists:
- Golf Digest
- Golf Magazine
- Travel + Leisure Golf
| And the best may be yet to come: a second golf course to be designed in tandem by Nicklaus and Pete Dye is planned for construction in 2010. It's all part of a larger vision: the 43,000-acre master-planned community of Coyote Springs—which may have up to 15 golf courses by the time the entire city project is completed. (Commercial, retail and single-family home development is also in the works, along with many parks and hiking trails.) The Chase, which opened in April 2008, currently serves as the centerpiece of this fledgling new destination.
"The scale of this project is so large," says Josh Whellams, vice president of corporate affairs. "We're truly building a new city here, and that includes the municipal infrastructure. It's not your typical master-planned community."
One aspect that sets Coyote Springs apart is the still-in-progress PGA Village, poised to be the first of its kind in the Western United States. Plans include an events center, a learning center, a 20-acre practice facility, an exhibition amphitheater and a 12,000-square-foot clubhouse. Projected to open in 2010, the clubhouse will feature a high-end golf shop and restaurant to offer "a diverse menu above and beyond traditional golf course hamburgers and hot dogs," notes Whellams. Also in the works is a breezeway that can be partitioned by glass doors to host a 100-person event.
To that end, the Chase has hosted three events to date: a 350-person PGA member event in 2006, a 120-person event for local government officials in 2007 and a 70-person media event to commemorate the course's opening to the public last May. ("To have that golf course finally open as the first example of the community to the public was very noteworthy," Whellams says.)
Of course, creative solutions have been required for event planners as amenities are still being put in place: "From an event standpoint, we've done different things—we have a site where we construct a large tent and have catering," says Whellams. "Even though we don't yet offer the traditional [event] services that other golf courses do, we still offer a world-class golf experience."
The lengths the Chase goes to in order to ensure that high-end golf experience are impressive—the course's director of agronomy hails from Shadow Creek, which Whellams says is "probably the highest-regarded facility in the Southwest." The Chase additionally offers "Golf Club Ambassadors" that provide full caddy services to all groups. Also of note is the detail paid to optimal turf-growing conditions; in a $3 million effort, all turf areas have been capped by 12 inches of sand to improve drainage. "Conditions on an annual basis are literally second to none," says Whellams. "Plus, we don't run off a traditional city water system; no salts or other chemicals are put in to treat water, so the quality is very good."
The first new golf course to hit the Las Vegas area in six years, it's far from a gamble to predict that the Chase will be a success. Featuring lush fairways and greens, the Chase has all the earmarks of a Nicklaus Signature course while retaining its own unique appeal. "[Jack Nicklaus] himself has literally reviewed every single contour and elevation," shares Whellams. "Having him layout those features with all his design and golf experience from a player's standpoint really gave us an exceptional product at the end of the day."
| Where Golf Lives |
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Though no residents live in Coyote Springs yet, odds are good that the population will be a golf-loving one. A golf cart sidewalk network will be integrated into the road path system, and the PGA Village will act as the heart of the community. Within the PGA Village will lie numerous custom home sites and several resort and vacation properties. "Our overall marketing plan is centered on lifestyle," says Josh Whellams, vice president of corporate affairs, "and here will be a golf lifestyle."
Once completed, PGA Village Coyote Springs will feature:
- PGA Golf Club Clubhouse – An intimate atmosphere with restaurant and bar, PGA golf shop, meeting facility and event courtyard.
- Practice Facility – A completed 20-acre practice facility with 100,000 square feet of tee area, 13 target greens and laser measurement for greater accuracy.
A phase two expansion is anticipated to include:
- PGA Learning Center Club Fitting – Individual club fitting demo bays from select manufacturers.
- Short Game Practice Area – Two manicured greens for chipping and pitching and one for flop shots and bunker play.
- PGA Exhibition Amphitheater – Will provide a setting for golf school programs and demonstrations.=
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Jen Jones is a freelance writer and author based in Los Angeles. |
