Genoa Lakes leads Carson City's Divine 9

CARSON CITY, Nevada - During the days of westward expansion, settlers descended upon Carson City intent on mining for precious minerals, silver in particular. Today, Nevada's state capital is a hub of history proudly displaying its Wild West record.

To the east, large swaths of desert mark the treacherous terrain settlers had to endure to reach the city. To the west, the breathtaking Sierra Nevada Mountains loom as a gateway to the Pacific. The remnants of a storied past remain but are now joined by the trappings of modern consumerism, like Wal-Mart and McDonald's. 

Still, the capital city does well to preserve its roots and remain in touch with its history. While that history is proudly displayed in museums and placards throughout Carson City, a new wave of activities for tourists is making its way ashore. By day visitors can find plenty to do outdoors and when the sun goes down, casinos, restaurants and watering holes take center stage.

A great place to golf

Carson City is situated in a high desert valley of approximately 4,730 feet above sea level. There are four fairly distinct seasons, all of which are relatively mild compared to many parts of the country, making it a year-round vacation destination.

The peak tourist season, which directly affects the area's golf industry, begins around the 4^th of July and tapers off sometime in September. The best time to visit is actually just before and after that period, namely June or October, when the weather is still enjoyable but the crowds have thinned out.

Nearby attractions worth visiting include Spooner Lake, Washoe State Park and of course, majestic Lake Tahoe. Horseback riding is a popular diversion as is taking to the air, whether on a hang glider or in a hot air balloon.

Mild spring temperatures offer the option of skiing one of Lake Tahoe's premier ski resorts in the morning and hitting the links in the afternoon. Lake Tahoe boasts 15 alpine and nine cross country resorts; Heavenly, Mount Rose, Kirkwood, Diamond Peak, Northstar-at-Tahoe and Squaw Valley USA are all within short driving distance from Carson City lodging and dining.

At night, Carson City's gaming tables come alive at the city's major casinos: Cactus Jack's, Carson Nugget, Carson Station, Gold Dust West, Casino Fandango and Horseshoe Club.

The Divine Nine

Robert Trent Jones' conglomerate of courses in Alabama put golf trails on the map and in the years since its introduction and considerable commercial success, golf destinations from Canada to Myrtle Beach have began branding bunches of courses as one entity.

Carson City has taken a similar yet distinctly different approach to marketing its top courses to the masses.

The Divine Nine is a consortium of the area's top courses, consisting of Carson Valley Golf Course, Dayton Valley Golf Club, Eagle Valley East and West Golf Courses, Empire Ranch Golf Course, Genoa Lakes Golf Club & Resort: The Lakes Course & The Resort Course, Silver Oak Golf Club and Sunridge Golf Club. Combined, the Divine 9 courses offer 171 holes of championship golf spread across more than 70,000 challenging yards of the most scenic terrain in the valley.

Carson City's pseudo golf trail has taken a lighter approach with events such as the "Divine 9" road trip to showcase its course collection. The road trip has two holes at nine separate courses, takes 12 hours to complete and zigzags nearly 100 miles. The inaugural event is set for Monday, Aug. 4 in the Carson City/Carson Valley area.

The registration fee of $295 includes two nights lodging at the Carson Valley Inn, a welcome reception, awards dinner, 18 holes of golf, shuttle service between courses, breakfast, traveling lunch, snacks, tee prizes and awards. For more information or to secure your spot, visit www.Divine9.com or call 775-588-2412.

Carson's Signature Course

Set against the eastern slope of the Sierra, The Golf Club at Genoa Lakes - Lakes Course is a links style course designed by John Harbottle and PGA Tour professional Peter Jacobsen. With water coming into play on 14 of the 18 holes, The Lakes Course is a unique blend of desert and marshland golf.

Only one year after it opened, Golf Digest ranked it as the 4^th Best New Public Course in North America. The course annually hosts U.S. Open and U.S. Public Links qualifying and has been a competition site for the Nevada State Amateur Championship and the Sierra Nevada PGA Chapter Stroke Play Championship, among others.

The par-4 18^th is the signature hole at the Lakes Course and is widely considered to be the signature hole of the entire Divine 9. The slight dogleg left is completely bordered by water on the left hand side. If you're able to find the fairway with your second shot, you'll be treated to a spectacular view of the course's majestic clubhouse and the mountains behind it.

The course is located a short drive from downtown Carson City in an expansive valley surrounded by the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range. The Lakes Course is lined with luxurious seasonal homes that add a welcome ambiance to the course.

Where to Eat

Like any casino town, fine dining is available at affordable prices. Located along route 395 South, which passes through historic downtown, is Red's Old 395 Grill. The restaurant is adorned with all types of Western décor and artwork, creating an authentic atmosphere. The menu isn't bad either. Locals say you can't go wrong with a rack of ribs or any of Red's cuts of steak.

Drink it up

If you're looking to sample one of the area's native drinks, order a Picon Punch. It's the national drink of the Basques, whose roots can be traced to Bakersfield, California. But be warned, you might want to stop at one; it's got a bit of a kick to it. It's based on a bitter orange spirit called Amer Picon, which itself is based on bitter oranges, gentian and cinchona. Also included in the recipe is grenadine, brandy, soda water and lemon peel.

Location

In relation to other famous Nevada locales, Carson City is roughly a seven hour drive from Las Vegas but just over 30 miles from Reno. San Francisco is four hours to the west of Nevada's capital city. Lake Tahoe is a mere 20 miles from Carson.