Revere’s Concord provides enjoyable play

One of the Las Vegas Valley's premier residential communities, Henderson's Anthem is also home to two of Southern Nevada's most enjoyable public-access golf courses. While the Revere Golf Club's Lexington track is the more well-known of the duo, the Concord course is not to be overshadowed. Stretching nearly 7,100 yards and featuring more ups and downs than the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Concord offers an appealing challenge without being overly taxing.

The front side opens with a visually disconcerting par 4 that descends steeply from the tee box and bends to the right around a stand of pine trees, obscuring much of the landing zone. Because it plays substantially shorter than the 408 yards listed on the scorecard, many players are tempted to crush a drive to set up a short pitch. However, given the relatively tight landing area and the necessity of a left-to-right ball flight, a long iron or fairway metal is probably a more prudent choice for most. Hugging the trees along the right edge provides the optimal angle to the green, which is defended by a trio of bunkers.

After a straightaway par 5 that plays tougher than it should, the assault continues with Concord's toughest challenge, a 468-yard par 4 that again entails a nearly blind tee shot, this time over a hill. While a steep slope forms a bumper along the left side, desert awaits just beyond, and the same closely shaven rough that considerately funnels slightly wayward drives back into the fairway offers little help for more egregious errors.

The next several holes provide welcome relief, including a 184-yard par 3 that is visually intimidating but in reality rather benign. Although the green is wedged between a lake and three bunkers, at 38 paces deep it provides ample margin for error.

Concord launches one more volley to close the front side with the aptly named "Artillery." Although this par 5 stretches only 508 yards from the tips, the fairway is strewn with bunkers, and the hole plays dramatically uphill as it doglegs to the left, making it play considerably longer. The kidney-shaped putting surface is defended right and back by bunkers, so a precise second shot favoring the left side will pay dividends on the approach.

The back nine opens with a couple of good scoring opportunities followed by a long par 3 that entails a tee shot off the edge of a cliff. The tremendous elevation change from tee to green makes it difficult to calculate the correct yardage; fortunately, there is ample room short of the green for those who can't manage all 241 yards in one swing. This hole demonstrates one of Concord's most appealing facets -- an abundance of dramatic vistas from elevated tee boxes.

One of the course's trickiest holes is No. 15, a very short but thoroughly entertaining challenge. Playing only 361 yards, this par 4 features a bunker in the fairway's center. Prodigious hitters will have no trouble carrying the trap, which begins at about 280 yards out. Mere mortals are better served firing a drive down the left side, which takes the large bunkers that guard the fairway's right edge out of play. Although the elevated green is relatively defenseless, coming up short is a critical mistake, as the putting surface falls off steeply from the front edge to the fairway. Missing even a yard short can result in a 30-yard chip, so opt for one more club if in doubt.

Concord's final two holes may leave golfers staggering to the finish. No. 17, which ranks as the second most difficult challenge on the course, is a par 4 that measures 437 yards but plays so steeply up the mountain that some players may want to hire a Sherpa. While a yardage book is always useful, the blind approach on this hole amplifies the investment. The good news is that the deep, narrow green is devoid of bunkers, so players can chip from anywhere in the zip code.

The closing hole is an adventure all its own. The tee shot is fronted by water -- although it really shouldn't be a factor -- and semiblind over a hill.

What makes this hole an E-ticket ride, however, is the second shot, which descends dramatically in stair-step fashion toward a ravine that fronts the green. The hill behind the shallow putting surface is absolutely littered with bunkers, so the key is to hit the second shot to an ideal wedge distance and hope to avoid a downhill lie. As scary as this hole appears, it can be a birdie opportunity.

While Concord doesn't receive the same recognition as its sister course, it does provide a thoroughly entertaining golf outing. Between the stunning vistas and clever design elements, this track is among the most enjoyable in Southern Nevada. Revere Golf Club is located at 2600 Hampton Road in Henderson. For more information or to reserve a tee time, visit www.reveregolf.com or call 259-4653.