(June 2009). OK, here's what I want you to do. When you land at McCarran airport in Las Vegas, get in your rental car, find I-15, and drive north towards Mesquite. After driving through the desert for about 45 minutes, get off at Highway 93 and head east for about 25 minutes. Oh yeah, if you want something to eat, stop at the Sinclair gas station and grab something. There's not a whole lot available where you're going. Better fill 'er up too!

In case you didn't know it - and many of you won't - you are headed to Coyote Springs; the master planned brainchild of Nevada developer Henry Whittemore. Over the next 50 years, the as yet to be developed town of Coyote Springs will become a state of the art community with 160,000 homes, several schools, a couple of libraries and up to 12 golf courses. Each Coyote Springs home will support the latest in fiber-optic technology and high-speed data communications, making broadband-based entertainment, learning, and business a reality. This infrastructure will give residents access to not only their world but also the world at large from the community in which they live; truly high tech. This is all well and good, considering that during my visit I couldn't even get a cell signal (more bars in more places my eye).

For now, all there is at Coyote Springs is a golf course. But not just any golf course, a Jack Nicklaus signature course - one of the most beautiful golf courses I have ever had the pleasure of playing.

The Chase at Coyote Canyon is a shot maker's paradise; would Jack have it any other way? You can see the Bear's paw marks all over this course. Water affects play on more than half the holes, but it's the firm, fast fairways and speedy greens that will ultimately determine your fate, not to mention your final score. Landing areas are wide and lakes and waterfalls abound. The eleven lakes on the course look like they are right out of a Hollywood movie scene. The land below is so rich in minerals that the water flowing out of the ground is a beautiful turquoise blue color.

Here you can expect the unexpected from Jack. Ragged-edge bunkers, a multitude of forced carries and hilly terrain make up the landscape. Even though the temperatures can easily climb into triple digits, an ever-present desert breeze blows through the mountains providing a modicum of relief.

The greens are a story all their own; their deep green color provides a stark contrast to the deep, white-sand bunkers that surround them. If you are looking for putting surfaces that are flat and lead to lower scores, you have come to the wrong place. These are some of the trickiest greens I have ever played; placement on them from the fairway is at a premium. Even the shortest of putts can have the most unimaginable amount of break; often your second putt will be longer than your first. Pray that the greenskeeper was in a good mood when he set the pin placements for the day.

Awards

• Number 2 on Golf Digest's Best New Courses of 2008
• Links Magazine's Best New Public Courses of 2009: PGA Golf Club Coyote Springs
• Number 3 on Golf.com's 2008 List of Best Course You Can Play
• Travel & Leisure Golf's Top 10 2008 Best New Courses
• The Chase has been named by the nation's top three consumer golf publications, Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and Travel & Leisure Golf, as one of the "Best New Courses of 2008." This marks the first time a Las Vegas area golf course has been named to all three Best New Courses lists.

Memorable Holes

Number 2: Par 5, 575 yards. "Deuces Wild." You have to like a course that names their holes! This is a gorgeous dogleg right par 5 that is dotted with fairway bunkers on both sides of the fairway. With water on the right side of the green, few will reach this hole in two. Mounding throughout the fairway places an emphasis on accuracy in order to leave a level lie. The green complex is reminiscent of Augusta with a lot of undulation and bunkers all around.

Number 5: Par 5, 585 yards. "Nickel." Accuracy and shot execution is at a premium on this hole; you almost have to have made up your mind how you are going to play this hole before you get to the tee box. Tee off in the middle of the desert to a very wide, well mounded landing area with a lone bunker on the right side. The same thing can be said about the layup area. Your approach shot is to a well sloped and undulating green guarded by bunkers in front and behind.

Number 10: Par 4, 438 yards. "Double Down." This is a good hole to set the pace for the back nine. The best play off the tees is to play up the right side and take the fairway bunkers on the left out of play. A solid tee shot will leave a mid to low iron to a green that undulates less than most. This is one of few true birdie opportunities.

Number 12: Par 3, 185 yards. "Box Cars." Believe it or not, this relatively short par three is one of the more challenging holes on the course. Your tee shot is all carry over desert and bunkers to a green that is very long and not real deep. An iron to the middle of the green and a two putt will yield a much deserved par. Take it and run!

Number 16: Par 5, 607 yards. "All In." This is one of those holes where you want to have earned the right to tee off first; then you can watch the competition crumble. Water down the right side typically takes driver out of your hand off the tee and the fairway bunker left and desert straightaway can often leave you second guessing off the tee. Your approach shot is slightly downhill to a long, narrow green that slopes towards the water.

The Chase at Coyote Springs also features a truly outstanding practice facility. The 19.6 acre practice facility features 100,000 square feet of teeing ground, 13 target greens, and laser measurement for greater accuracy. Huge, undulating practice greens get you ready for the toughest part of the course.

In addition to The Chase, a second course at PGA Golf Club is currently under development. This course will be collaboration between Jack Nicklaus and another legendary architect, Pete Dye. The 2nd as of yet unnamed course should be open in 2010.

The pure golf experience is enhanced by the club's mandatory forecaddie program, offering each guest the information and tools necessary for the lowest and most enjoyable round ever! Food and Beverage facilities are still under development at the course. Until the clubhouse facility is complete, feel free to take your own food and beverages to enjoy while playing this beauty.