Southern California's No. 1 Golf Source
SITE
SEARCH
GOLF RESOURCE GUIDE:
Travel
|
||||
 Coyote Moon Golf Course in Truckee winds through majestic pines and has a lot of elevation changes. There’s no need to call Guinness, but I recently played 11 rounds in six days during a golf trip to the High Sierra region of Reno and Lake Tahoe. Considering that I had only played three rounds in the previous eight months, it was quite a feat. And quite a blast. All it took was a precise itinerary, good directions, a tube of Ben-Gay, two golf gloves, three boxes of balls and an area set up to handle the quest. What could have been monotonous and mundane was anything but, as all the courses on the Golf the High Sierra route were in spectacular settings and in pristine condition. And getting there is half the fun, with journeys between courses taking players through wooded wonderlands, around lakes and streams and over rugged mountain terrain. Two particular routes along the California/Nevada border were incredible: Going from Genoa Lakes Golf Club to Edgewood Tahoe is a thrill ride up the curving highway known as Kingsbury Grade SR/207; and the trip from South Lake Tahoe to Old Greenwood and Coyote Moon in Truckee that skirts Lake Tahoe and winds through rustic forest settings is a thing of beauty. “When we started 10 years ago, we were a really deep, dark hidden secret and now we’re gradually becoming one of the best-kept secret destinations,” said Larry Windsor, communications director of Golf the High Sierra, a consortium of 19 golf courses that banded together 10 years ago to spotlight the region. “The primary objective is to promote Reno/Lake Tahoe as the premier golf destination on the West Coast.” From ArrowCreek Country Club in Reno to Whitehawk Ranch Golf Club in Clio, the quality easily equals the quanity. “We have desert golf, mountain golf and valley golf,” Windsor said. “Most of the courses just fit the natural setting. You’re going to find spectacular views, a lot of variety and diversity, and different levels of challenge that make for a great golf getaway in an area that has so much to offer.” But try to keep your eyes on the road because there’s a lot of golf to be played. Here are a few courses to check out. D’Andrea Golf Club Sparks, Nevada 6,849 yards, par 71 (775) 331-6363 • dandreagolf.com Be ready for an up-and-down round, with elevation changes challenging players nearly every step of the way. The layout through foothills and high desert canyons ascends to a point on the back nine that features some incredible long views of the Reno area and Sierra Nevada peaks. Genoa Lakes Golf Club & Resort Genoa, Nevada Lakes Course: 7,358 yards, par 72 Resort Course: 7,290 yards, par 72 (866) 795-2709 • genoalakes.com Located just below the Sierra Nevada foothills, the Lakes Course is a John Harbottle and Peter Jacobsen design that blends seamlessly into the terrain, with water coming into play on 13 holes. The view from the tee box on the 489-yard par-4 sixth hole on the Resort Course alone is worth the trip. Don’t be mesmerized by the 400-foot view of the valley below because the drive will require your full attention. ArrowCreek Country Club Reno, Nevada Legend Course: 7,115 yards, par 72 Challenge Course: 7,443 yards, par 72 (775) 850-4653 • golfarrowcreek.com The Legend and Challenge courses make ArrowCreek one of the premier 36-hole facilities in the region because of the subtle differences in design. Legend has narrow fairways, large bunkers and views in the shadow of Mt. Rose, while Challenge has a more linksy feel, with rolling fairways and sod-wall bunkers. LakeRidge Golf Course Reno, Nevada 6,715 yards, par 71 (775) 825-2200 • lakeridgegolf.com The Robert Trent Jones Sr. design provides glimpses of the Reno skyline and surrounding mountains, and the tee box on the par-3 15th hole is atop a rocky ridge 140 feet above Lake Stanley. It’s a gorgeous sight, but pay attention, because your ball has to land on the island green below. Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course Lake Tahoe, Nevada 7,555 yards, par 72 (888) 881-8659 • edgewoodtahoe.com The annual site of the American Century Celebrity Championship, Edgewood Tahoe is one of the most spectacular pieces of property in the country. The George Fazio design that borders the shores of Lake Tahoe and offers panoramic views of the mountains will test your game and thrill your senses. Particularly beautiful are the closing trio of holes, with the 564-yard, par-5 16th fairway heading straight for the lake, and the 207-yard, par-3 17th laid out on the edge of the water. After playing No. 18, stick around and watch the sunset over Lake Tahoe at Brooks’ Bar and Deck.  Old GreenwoodTruckee, California 7,518 yards, par 72 (530) 550-7010 • oldgreenwood.com The Jack Nicklaus Design team carved out a serene and spectacular course among 600 acres of towering pines (pictured, right). The layout, which earned status as an Audubon Gold International Signature Sanctuary, could be Nicklaus’s best effort as far as layout, scenery and playability are concerned. It’s a visual treat, particularly the sixth and seventh holes that curve around the only water feature on the front nine. Coyote Moon Golf Course Truckee, California 7,177 yards, par 72 (530) 587-0886 • coyotemoongolf.com The wow factor at Coyote Moon follows players from start to finish. The course on 250 acres of rolling hills is a mountain masterpiece that combines creative design with jaw-dropping scenery. Majestic pines, granite outcroppings, wildflowers, Trout Creek and even the howl of a coyote or two adds to the experience. One hole sure to stick in players’ minds is the 227-yard, par-3 13th, where tee shots must clear a tree-filled canyon and creek before landing on the green 200 feet below. Timilick Tahoe Club Truckee, California 7,042 yards, par 72 (530) 582-6964 • timilick.com This bucolic course, which opened for play in 2008, is the newest member of the consortium. Perhaps it was added because it is a microcosm of everything the area has to offer. The 500-acre layout, designed by John Harbottle and Johnny Miller, has two distinct nines — the Meadow, which winds through trees at the base of a ridge, and the Mountain, which offers elevation changes and views of the Carson Range, Martis Valley and Lookout Mountain. It’s the type of course that makes you want to circle back and tee it up again. Resort at Squaw Creek Olympic Valley, California 6,931 yards, par 71 (800) 401-9501 • visitsquawcreek.com A meadow setting, surrounded by Sierra Nevada peaks, in historic Olympic Valley makes Squaw Creek a one-of-a-kind destination. The first tee is only steps from the lodging tower, and driving past the Olympic rings on the way to the resort is kind of cool and could invoke memories for certain people. Plumas Pines Golf Resort Graeagle, California 6,421 yards, par 72 (530) 836-1420 • plumaspinesgolf.com Carved into a comfortable mountain setting, Plumas Pines combines exhilarating tee shots and tough approaches for better players and reachable holes for women and weekend warriors. Whitehawk Ranch Golf Club Clio, California 6,983 yards, par 72 (877) 424-4494 • golfwhitehawk.com The Dick Bailey-designed course, which is sculpted into the Mohawk Valley terrain, features ponds, waterfalls and a stream meandering through pines, cedars and aspens. The experience is serene, and the rustic layout flows smoothly through the natural splendor. STAYING IN THE HIGH SIERRA REGION: The High Sierra region is a four-season recreational area, with golf courses typically open from May through October. And while the spring and summer scenery is spectacular, it can be even more gorgeous in the fall and winter. Year-round lodging ranges from quaint and cozy to upscale and lavish, and the communities — from the trendy vibe of South Lake Tahoe to the relaxed pace of Truckee — are as diverse as the surrounding landscape. For golf and lodging packages, or to learn more about the courses involved with Golf the High Sierra, visit golfthehighsierra.com. For more about the region’s communities and lodging choices, visit: truckee.com, visitcarsoncity.com, graeagle.com, visitrenotahoe.com and visitinglaketahoe.com. ALSO SEE: High Sierra Reno-Tahoe Golf Course Directory |
||||
RSS Subscribe
