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Options all-around
By Paul Ramsdell, PNGA Media
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| D'Andrea Golf Club |
John Harbottle III has gotten to know the Reno/Tahoe area quite well, even though that part of the Nevada-California border can be a difficult region to grasp.
"There's a lot of different characteristics there between the mountains, the lake, the valley. All three have distinct characteristics," Harbottle said.
All three are feeling the imprint of a Northwesterner as Harbottle, the golf course architect from Tacoma, is beginning his fourth project in the region.
Almost like wine country with its microclimates, the Reno/Tahoe area can be broken down into six different sub-regions.
Harbottle could almost have a sub-region of his own, but his work is wide-ranging, stretching from the Carson Valley to the hills overlooking Reno to his next project near the north end of Lake Tahoe.
His first two projects, Genoa Lakes Golf Course and Sierra Nevada Golf Ranch (recently purchased by Mario Antoci, the owner of Genoa Lakes Golf Course and now renamed Genoa Lakes Golf Resort), are only about a mile apart in the Carson Valley. Harbottle then added the Challenge Course at ArrowCreek, a private course in Reno, and now has plans for Eaglewood, a private course in the Truckee area.
While they are in different parts of the region, one common theme has been that golf has been the top priority.
"It was one of the most fun jobs I've ever had the opportunity to work on," Harbottle said of his first Genoa Lakes course. "The ownership was great, they gave us all the land we wanted for the golf course. They wanted the golf course to come first so we were able to site the golf course and then he just fit in the houses where he could."
The same managing partner, Jeff Dingman, called Harbottle back to design Sierra Nevada Ranch and ArrowCreek.
"They put a lot of money in building Sierra and there were some creative water features there at Sierra that were pretty interesting. It was the first time we had built a lot of streams and waterfall type characteristics."
The same top-of-the-line attitude prevailed at ArrowCreek, which Harbottle includes among his best creations.
"It was a real rugged, high-desert savannah type of site," he said. "It had a very good budget so we were able to move all the rock around where we wanted.
"It's 18 holes of pure golf - no ponds, no waterfalls. The bunkers there are probably the most diabolical bunkers we've ever built anywhere. They fit this bold, rugged site. We built these bold, rugged Royal County Down-type bunkers where the faces are gnarly and cavernous. They're definitely going to affect your score by a half-a-stroke or more."
The Carson Valley is home to the Divine Nine, a promotional grouping of courses in and around Carson City. With the Carson River running through the valley that's flanked by the Sierra Nevada range and the Pinehut Mountains, it was a perfect spot for Harbottle to construct two of his courses.
At the former Sierra Nevada Golf Ranch, there's an elevation drop of 145 feet on the 13th hole, which is a 503-yard, par-4 because of the advantage of going downhill.
The next hole is a par-5, but is actually shorter at 498 yards. It just feels so much longer because you keep climbing toward the sky.
That's just all part of the serious opportunities for different types of golf in and around the Reno/Tahoe area.
A Closer Look at Six Sub-Regions of Reno/Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe combines the beauty of the lake and the excitement of the casinos, and it's all within view of the first tee of Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course. With its location right on the lake, Edgewood Tahoe deserves a listing all its own. It's held the U.S. Senior Open in the past and currently is featured every summer as the site of the Celebrity Golf Championship. The course winds its way through the fir trees and back to a stunning conclusion along the lakefront.
COURSE TO CONSIDER
EDGEWOOD TAHOE GOLF COURSE
Designed by George Fazio, renovated by Tom Fazio
www.edgewood-tahoe.com . 775-588-3566
North Lake Tahoe
The recent renovation of the Championship Course at Incline Village highlights this region, which is more known for its ski resorts. The renovation cost $4.5 million and the changes were unveiled with its seasonal opening last month. At Squaw Creek, the Olympic Flame still burns from the 1960 Winter Games at Squaw Valley and golfers will need their own special skills to navigate the wetlands that dominate the course.
COURSE TO CONSIDER
INCLINE VILLAGE GOLF COURSE
Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., renovated by Kyle Phillips
www.golfincline.com . 866-925-4653
RESORT AT SQUAW CREEK
Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
www.squawcreek.com . 530-581-6637
Truckee
This area less than a half-hour north of Lake Tahoe and on the California side quickly is booming into a golf and restaurant mecca. More new high-end developments are going in around Truckee than anywhere else in the Reno/Tahoe area, and the golf courses are receiving rave reviews. The historic town also is a drawing card with its restaurant row offering first-class cuisine.
COURSE TO CONSIDER
COYOTE MOON GOLF COURSE
Designed by Brad Bell
www.coyotemoongolfcourse.com . 530-587-0886
OLD GREENWOOD GOLF COURSE
Designed by Jack Nicklaus
www.oldgreenwood.com . 800-754-3070
Carson Valley
Located less than an hour south of Reno, and just 20 minutes or so from the south end of Lake Tahoe, the Carson Valley still has its own unique feel. It offers tremendous history with Carson City the capital of Nevada, and it offers spectacular views with the Sierra Nevada mountain range and the Pinehut Mountains. The courses on the valley floor can be more flat, but those in the foothills offer plenty of elevation changes.
COURSE TO CONSIDER
DAYTON VALLEY GOLF COURSE
Designed by Arnold Palmer
www.daytonvalley.com . 800-664-3822
GENOA LAKES GOLF CLUB
Designed by John Harbottle III and Peter Jacobsen
www.genoalakes.com . 775-782-4653
GENOA LAKES GOLF RESORT (formerly Sierra Nevada Ranch)
Designed by John Harbottle III and Johnny Miller
www.genoalakes.com . 775-782-4653
SILVER OAK GOLF CLUB
Designed by Bob Simmons
www.silveroakgolf.com . 775-841-7000
Graeagle
Situated in the mountains of northern California, a bit more than an hour northwest of Lake Tahoe, the Graeagle area might be the least known, but not the least appreciated. After one visit, it remains high on everyone's priority list because of the golf, the scenery and the friendly, down-home and small-town atmosphere. Or you can enjoy the plush, high-end experience of the Nakoma Resort and Spa with its The Dragon golf course.
COURSE TO CONSIDER
THE DRAGON
Designed by Robin Nelson
www.dragongolf.com . 530-832-4887
GRAEAGLE MEADOWS GOLF COURSE
Designed by Ellis Van Gorder
www.playgraeagle.com . 530-836-2323
PLUMAS PINES GOLF RESORT
Designed by Homer Flint
www.plumaspinesgolf.com . 530-836-1420
WHITEHAWK RANCH GOLF CLUB
Designed by Dick Bailey
www.golfwhitehawk.com . 530-836-0394
Reno/Sparks
The Reno/Sparks valley offers gentle terrain close into the cities with some of the newer courses venturing up into the foothills on the outskirts of the valley. City views are prevalent from most courses, which means you're not too far away from the nightlife and entertainment the mecca of northern Nevada provides.
COURSE TO CONSIDER
D'ANDREA GOLF CLUB
Designed by Keith Foster
www.dandreagolf.com . 775-331-6363
LAKERIDGE GOLF COURSE
Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr.
www.lakeridgegolf.com . 800-815-6966
NORTHGATE GOLF CLUB
Designed by Brad Benz and J. Michael Poellet
www.renolaketahoe.com/golf/northgate . 775-747-7577
THE RESORT AT RED HAWK
Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
Lakes Course and Hills Course
www.theresortatredhawk.com . 775-626-6000
WILDCREEK GOLF COURSE
Designed by Phelps Benz & Assoc.
www.renolaketahoe.com/golf/wildcreek . 775-673-3100
WOLF RUN GOLF CLUB
Designed by John Fleming and Steve Van Meter
www.golfretahoe.com/nnv/wolfrun.htm . 775-851-3301
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