Fly into the “Biggest Little City in the World,” Reno, Nevada, and you can experience quite the golf adventure. There’s the mountain air and incredible views, gaming, entertainment, terrific restaurants, and most of all, adventure. Just rent a car and start picking from a wonderful array of golf choices.
Reno is very different from Las Vegas. It’s much smaller, of course, generally less expensive, and the weather in the summer time is much milder, especially when you start heading west toward the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the California border.Â
You can still take in shows, great dining and stay at luxury casino hotels while in Reno, but there’s also gambling and entertainment en route to great golf courses like the one at Edgewood-Tahoe Resort, home of the American Century Championship, arguably the most prestigious celebrity event in the country. Played each summer with some of the world’s most famous athletes and entertainers, it draws thousands of spectators and millions on TV. But let’s start a little closer to the Reno International Airport.
There’s plenty of good golf in Reno proper, most of it reasonably priced, like LakeRidge Golf Course, for example, a Robert Trent Jones design that first opened in 1969. It’s just five miles from downtown, has elevated tees, mature trees and excellent conditioning. It’s a great choice for right after you land at the airport. From there, you can start heading to some other courses in the area, and there are plenty. For example, Red Hawk Golf Resort in Sparks, Nev., is a great choice. The Lakes Course is the better of the two courses there (the other is the Hills). Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., it tips out at 7,000 yards, and has plenty of natural lakes, springs, cottonwood trees, and bunkers.Â
(Top and above) Edgewood-Tahoe Resort
On the way to Edgewood-Tahoe
From the Reno area, you could head south to Carson City, near the foothills of the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. There’s plenty of stellar golf choices around this state capital, which is a little more than a half hour from Carson City. Courses like 27-hole Empire Ranch Golf Club, the 36 holes of Eagle Valley Golf Course, or Sunridge Golf Club, which has a 669-yard par-5.
Any of these courses serve as a perfect warm-up spot as you head toward the aforementioned Edgewood-Tahoe, which features some of the most spectacular scenery of any golf course in the world. Located in Stateline, Nev., on the California border, the pristine setting of the crystal-clear blue Lake Tahoe in the background, reflecting the spectacular mountain scenery is just one of the reasons the course is so beloved. Originally designed by George Fazio in 1968 (with updates by nephew Tom Fazio), new accommodations, plus its proximity to great casino resort hotels, make this a wonderful destination all on its own. It’s also a great base for checking out some of the other spectacular courses in and around the Lake Tahoe area.Â
At Edgewood-Tahoe, the views are simply amazing. There are elevated tees and imaginative holes. It has one of the best finishing stretches in all of golf, with the par-5 16th that heads right into Lake Tahoe, which was formed more than two million years ago and is over 1,600 feet deep. The next hole is a par-3 that runs alongside the lake. During the celebrity event, dozens of boats with spectators watching the action are just offshore, adding to the unique atmosphere. A terrific risk-reward par-5 culminates the round.
Empire Ranch
Charming Truckee
Just northwest of Lake Tahoe is one of the most charming spots in the country, Truckee, Calif. This small resort town on the Truckee River features historic and new lodgings, and some of the best restaurants in the area. Exceptional golf courses also await.
One of the best, no doubt, is Coyote Moon Golf Course, which has no homes and one of the most dramatic par-3 holes you’ll ever play. The 13th is around 230 yards, but because there’s a 200-foot drop to the green, it can be a short iron for stronger players. It’s hardly the only highlight, though, with elevated tees throughout, howling coyotes, and a great finishing stretch that includes the difficult par-4 17th, which plays over a lake and doglegs around the trees.
You could in fact spend several days playing golf in and around Truckee. Old Greenwood, for example, is one of the best Jack Nicklaus designs you’ll find anywhere. Originally a premium private club, it’s now a semi-private facility with incredible views, conditioning, and a great variety of holes. Also in Truckee, the Golf Club at Gray’s Crossing, with Mt. Rose as its backdrop, is super fun and challenging. Designed by Jim Hardy and Peter Jacobsen, this wooded course can play nearly 7,500 yards (remember, there’s plenty of elevation, so it never plays as long as its yardage). And 15 minutes south of Truckee in Olympic Valley you can play the Robert Trent Jones-designed Links at Squaw Creek. It’s located at the largest ski complex in the Lake Tahoe region, Palisades Tahoe, site of the 1960 Winter Olympics.
Another hotspot in the area is Clio, California, where you will find The Dragon at Nakoma Resort, a legendary golf course known for its difficulty and incredible scenery. Designed by Robin Nelson, it was softened up a few years ago after new ownership bought the resort. But it’s still plenty tough. You have to be on your game, as missed greens can mean lost balls. Still, it’s a mountain golf experience like no other. The clubhouse and accommodations are reflective of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, adding to this fairy tale-like experience. And although it’s not exactly cheap to play, its rates are among the best in the area, especially when you compare it to comparable resort courses in the area. Also in Clio is The Golf Club at Whitehawk Ranch, a wonderful Dick Bailey design with streams and mountains and great conditioning.
This semi-private facility can be played for significantly less than most of the other excellent offerings in the area, but is arguably just as enjoyable. And over in Portola, Calif., is Grizzly Ranch. It’s a Bob Cupp creation that has the feel of a high-end private club. Playing as long as 7,400 yards, there are meadows, blind shots, plenty of Douglas Firs and great conditioning.Â
There are plenty more great choices worth mentioning, too. Incline Village’s Championship (designed by Robert Trent Jones) and Mountain (Robert Trent Jones Jr.) courses, on the north side of Lake Tahoe, are great choices as well. Lake Tahoe Golf Course, which is one of the better-run munis in California, has its share of wow holes, too, and is quite affordable. And finally, there’s Dayton (Nevada) Valley Golf Club, an Arnold Palmer design and former PGA Tour qualifying site. Forty acres of water come into play on 12 holes.
Coyote Moon
Recommendation
If you’ve never done a golf trip to the Reno-Lake Tahoe area, do yourself a favor and check it out. It’s easy to fly into Reno, rent a car and start your adventure. Nothing is more than an hour or so away, and there are all kinds of great accommodations and other things to do, like enjoying shows, nightlife, great restaurants and gaming. The weather in the summer is spectacular with highs often in the 60s and 70s, and as we mentioned above, there’s an itinerary for every budget.Â