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 This week I'll be golfing and blogging the High Sierra, which encompasses the Reno-Lake Tahoe region and surronding places such as Carson City, Nevada and Truckee, California.
As a golf destination, Reno-Tahoe doesn't deserve to be labeled as underrated, because those who have golfed here tend to offer a decidedly favorable opinion of the place.
But when compared to popular golf hot spots like Central Florida, the Carolinas, Phoenix/Scottsdale, etc...Reno-Tahoe just doesn't have the exposure or the quantity of courses. The High Sierra destination is more like an untapped golf resource with plenty of quality layouts concentrated within an hour's drive of one another. It's out there to be discovered and I hope to highlight some of the places to play, stay, eat and drink over the next few days.
Visit Brandon Underwood's Golf Blog to follow his trip through the Reno-Tahoe Region and all of its spectacular golf courses
In my estimate, the most recognizable course in the area is Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, located in Stateline, Nevada just blocks from the California border.
Today the course is famous for hosting the American Century Celebrity Classic, annually attended by the biggest names in sports including Michael Jordan, John Elway, Mario Lemieux and Jerry Rice. This year the event celebrates its 20th anniversary and with the world watching to see if Hank Haney was able to take Charles Barkley's golf swing from awful to tolerable, fan and media interest is likely to be at an all-time high.
Edgewood isn't just a summer celebrity gathering spot. The course has hosted both the U.S. Senior Open Champioship and the U.S. Public Links Championship in the 1980s. And Golf Digest ranks it as the No. 5 layout in the state of Nevada in its most recent state-by-state rankings.
Just ahead of Edgewood, according to Golf Digest's list, is Montreux Golf & Country Club (No. 4) located 10-15 minutes outside of downtown Reno. While Montreux is a private club in a very upscale development, meaning that there aren't many avenues available for the public golfer to secure a tee time, the golf course has become an ambassador of sorts for the entire Reno-Tahoe golf industry through its relationship with the PGA Tour.
In August (3-9), Montreux will enter its second decade as host of the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open. Granted the event is opposite the WGC - Bridgestone Invitational and the purse of $3 million is one of the smallest on the PGA Tour, but there is something to be said for running a successful tournament 11 years and counting. As we've learned in recent months, hosting a Tour event is a privilege that can be taken for granted.
Under the guidance of new tournament director Michael Stearns, who found himself engulfed in a swarm of criticism for offering a sponsor's exemption to Michelle Wie to play in the Reno-Tahoe Open last year, the event is headed in the right direction and continues to generate exposure for the Reno-Tahoe region.
 Last year I wasn't able to play Montreux, but this year it was the first course on my schedule. Two things I was looking foward to this year: teeing it up at Montreux and the fantastic weather in the Tahoe area this time a year, which consists of cool mornings with temperatures fluctuating between 40-50 degrees and warm, dry days when the temperatures can reach the low 80s.
Average annual rainfall in Reno, NV is about 7.5 inches give or take. So naturally, today it rained, actually hailed, before/during the round at Montreux. It was quite unexpected. What does the Reno-Tahoe vacation planner lead with in the playing conditions secition?
"Golf in the High Sierra is played in a variety of conditions, but for the most part you can count on it being suny and dry." Sunday was the excpetion to that rule. As you'll see in my photos, a cross-country flight and a few downpours, combined with a continually brutal effort off the tee box, can really crush your spirit.
Dinner more than made up for the less than stellar weather. We visited the Charlie Palmer Steakhouse located inside of Reno's Grand Sierra Resort. It was a great, low-key atmosphere and a break from the bright lights and sounds of slot machines I'm experiencing here at the El Dorado. While casinos and cities known for their gaming operations (Atlantic City, Reno, Las Vegas) have not traditionally been my favorite, Reno-Tahoe is different in that it offers plenty of outlets for non-gamblers among the group, especially when you get in and around Tahoe, where outdoor recreation is king. The area really does have something for everyone, so it shouldn't be hard to find an activity to your liking.
Of the courses I sampled last year, my favorite was the Incline Village Championship Course, which I won't be playing this year. If you get a chance to play golf in Tahoe, be sure Incline makes your list.
The town I grew fond of during last year's trip was Truckee, which we'll be visiting for two days this year. Truckee is home to a number of highly-rated courses, including Old Greenwood and Coyote Moon, both of which I'll be playing for the first time this year.
If you'd like to read more about the Reno-Tahoe region, check my blog this week for photos, daily updates/stories and an archive of my golf attire for the week. GolfersGuideTravel.com will also be featuring Golf in the High Sierra in the upcoming weeks. Here are a few photos of the day/night in Reno.
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1"Golf Nut"
at Monday, 01 June 2009 08:27
Obviously you also stopped by 1960s Las Vegas to pick up those pants.
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