{"id":1206,"date":"2013-06-16T00:53:06","date_gmt":"2013-06-16T00:53:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theaposition.com\/jaystuller\/?p=1206"},"modified":"2013-06-20T16:44:56","modified_gmt":"2013-06-20T16:44:56","slug":"spring-breaks-and-tahoe-golf-hits-mid-season-form","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/jaystuller\/golf\/1206\/spring-breaks-and-tahoe-golf-hits-mid-season-form","title":{"rendered":"Tahoe Golf Hits Mid-Season Form"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"On<\/a>

On the southern shore of cobalt-blue Lake Tahoe is the Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course.<\/p><\/div>\n

High Sierra cabins shuttered against snow began opening around Memorial Day, as owners raked pine needles into bags and fired up Webbers for the first time in months. Ski shops closed, kayak and cycle rentals emerged and thanks to a mild winter many golf courses opened before June. And from Nevada\u2019s Carson Valley to North Lake Tahoe and beyond to Plumas County, the robust fairways and fast greens were in remarkable mid-summer form.<\/p>\n

Exactly a year ago and in many seasons past, most of these courses would not be playable for another three or four weeks.<\/p>\n

The fast breaking springtime start to the summer of 2013 was clearly evident during the recent 15th<\/sup> Annual Tahoe\/Reno Media Tour, managed by public relations guru Phil Weidinger.\u00a0 Mostly a treat involving fine accommodations and late nights at culinary hot spots with resident characters, civic boosters and business representatives, the tour is at times an ordeal for those foolish enough to play 36 holes daily for six straight days.\u00a0 But with major league leg cramps serving as a wake-up call, even the most fuzzyheaded scribe makes the morning tee times.<\/p>\n

On The Nevada Side<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

While they don\u2019t always get as much attention as the scenic High Sierra courses, Reno has more than its share of challenging layouts, including the Red Hawk Golf and Resort<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0LakeRidge Golf Course<\/strong> <\/a>and the Montreux Golf and Country Club<\/strong><\/a>, which hosts the PGA Tour\u2019s Reno Tahoe Open<\/strong><\/a>. \u00a0My tour started down the road in the Carson Valley, at the Eagle Valley West Golf Course<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 One of two public golf courses priced to draw a healthy volume of players, the West is a desert links-style track that is home to a den of coyotes, which we unfortunately didn’t see.<\/p>\n

Dinner that night was at the San Marcos Grill<\/strong> <\/a>in Carson City, a family-owned and operated Mexican grill and tequileria, which features several large tables to accommodate groups and especially large families.\u00a0 Most memorable was the spicy guacamole, prepared from scratch with fresh ingredients, right at the table.\u00a0 Afterwards I stayed at the Hampton Inn & Suites<\/a><\/strong>, from which I wished I could have slipped away with an unusually comfortable bed, with the mattress strapped to the top of the car.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The Genoa Lakes course sits at the base of the Carson Range.<\/p><\/div>\n

In any event, the morning started with a round at the Genoa Lakes Club<\/strong><\/a>, which sits at the base of the looming Carson Range. \u00a0A well-maintained 6,851-yard layout, it bears distinctive touches of co-designers Peter Jacobsen and the late John Harbottle, who cherished tall and dense rough around bunkers and near greens.\u00a0 Weaving around small lakes, the course features a particularly monstrous par 5, with the 13th hole playing at 652 yards from the tips. The following 14th hole is magical, seemingly the most remote part of the course, with a tee surrounded by cottonwood trees and a green framed by still more.<\/p>\n

The peace of the round at Genoa was abruptly changed by a nerve-rattling drive up the Kingsbury Grade, with switchbacks carved into rock and striking vistas that one simply can\u2019t look at while behind the wheel. Topping out at 7,344 feet at Daggett Pass, where State Route 207 passes the Heavenly Valley ski resort and then drops into Stateline, which is the home of Harvey\u2019s<\/a> and Harrah\u2019s Casinos<\/a><\/strong> and the Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course<\/strong><\/a>, our venue for the afternoon\u2019s round.<\/p>\n

Designed by uncle-nephew team of George and Tom Fazio, the Edgewood fairways and greens are surrounded by tall pines, a sylvan setting that makes the course looks as if it would be at home in Washington State or Central Oregon.\u00a0 With gentle elevation changes, it offers striking views of Lake Tahoe and the Desolation Wilderness on the opposite shore (see first photo, above). Edgewood is by far the most well-known course in the High Sierra, because of its provenance, quality and the 24 years that it has hosted the American Century Championship<\/strong><\/a>, the rare golf tourney featuring sports and entertainment celebrities – – only a few of whom play truly excellent golf – – which is broadcast nationally by NBC Sports<\/strong><\/a>. Charles Barkley is a regular in the late July event; this year Sir Charles, the Round Mound of Rebound, is a prohibitive 500-1 favorite.<\/p>\n

North Lake Tahoe<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Fish<\/a>

Fish and chips with a Mangotini at Wolfdale’s with a view of Lake Tahoe.<\/p><\/div>\n

Tahoe City is the gravity at the north end of the lake, with large grocery stores, shops catering to tourists, bike-rental outlets and more.\u00a0 It also has several fine restaurants, including Wolfdales<\/b><\/a>, which since 1978 has featured East-West fusion dishes that new grow old.\u00a0 Opened year-round, it features seasonally fresh ingredients.\u00a0 I ordered a killer Tamarind Thai Seafood Stew, with prawns, scallops, cod and purple Thai rice.<\/p>\n

Two of the most spectacular courses in the High Sierra are private facilities, the Tom Fazio designed Martis Camp<\/strong><\/a> course and the Tom Weiskopf designed Lahontan Golf Club<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 However, within a few miles and just outside of Truckee are several courses open to the public with almost identical bones and qualities.\u00a0 The Great Recession took a toll on the region’s golf facilities, forcing some bankruptcies and ownership changes. \u00a0But all of the Truckee area courses managed to survive and now appear in good physical and fiscal shape.\u00a0 Over two days I played four of them, and a brief description of each follows:<\/p>\n

Coyote Moon Golf Course<\/b> <\/a>sprawls over 250 acres of secluded mountain terrain, with huge pines, stunning granite outcroppings and not a home in sight.\u00a0 Designed by Brad Bell, it is a total test of golf, with medium-sized greens guarded by water, bunkers and trees. While the landing areas on its fairways are ostensibly wide, they don\u2019t appear so, which brings thinking into every swing.\u00a0 For every downhill shot there is another that must go uphill.\u00a0 Everyone\u2019s favorite, and I mean everyone, is the par 3 13th<\/sup>, which drops roughly 200 feet from tee to green, and can be played from tees from 108 to 227 yards.\u00a0 Depending on wind, the hole can play from one to three clubs less than the yardage.\u00a0 Trust the starter; he knows the pin position and conditions and gives sound advice.<\/p>\n

Tahoe Donner<\/b> <\/a>is the dowager Queen of the High Sierra, the first championship mountain course in the region, opened in 1976.\u00a0 Tahoe Donner\u2019s front nine was designed by Roy Williams, with the back was done by Billy Bell, Jr. In 2006 the track was totally renovated, which earned it a nomination from Golf Digest<\/i><\/strong><\/a> as one of the best-remodeled courses in the country.\u00a0 Its greens are also considered some of the finest in the Tahoe area, with putts that run fast, straight and true.\u00a0 Because it\u2019s some 700 to 800 in elevation higher than most other Sierra courses, Tahoe Donner\u2019s fairways were not yet summer firm in early June.\u00a0 But with scenic views and fairways cutting through the pines, Tahoe Donner may be a dowager, but she\u2019s still a royal golf course.<\/p>\n

The Golf Club at Gray\u2019s Crossing<\/b> <\/a>is a Peter Jacobsen and Jim Hardy design located a few miles east of Truckee.\u00a0 With fast greens and lush fairways lined with the omnipresent pines, Gray\u2019s Crossing is more traditional than many other Sierra courses, with less severe elevation changes.\u00a0 The course is surrounded by mountains, but doesn\u2019t play like it\u2019s atop one.\u00a0 Gray\u2019s Crossing also has a personable head pro named Travis Alley, who has not yet passed his 30th<\/sup> birthday, hits the ball a country mile and is preternaturally patient while giving on-course instruction to Los Angeles Times<\/i><\/strong><\/a> Sports Columnist TJ Simers, who alternates non-stop technical swing questions with equally non-stop trash-talk over a $5 wager that\u2019s pressed several times. With wisdom that transcends years, Travis ensures the match is a tie.<\/p>\n

\"This<\/a>

This Old Greenwood par 5 is guarded by a long bunker and snaking lake, a diabolical Nicklaus hole.<\/p><\/div>\n

Old Greenwood<\/b> <\/a>may be the best traditional golf course in all Reno\/Tahoe, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Design that opened nine years ago, and run by its original head pro and long-time High Sierra fixture Bob Hickam.\u00a0 Along with Gray\u2019s Crossing, it is part of the Tahoe Mountain Club, which gives members access to Gray’s Crossing and Old Greenwood, facilities at the Northstar Ski Area and at Lake Tahoe itself. \u00a0Here too is \u00a0The Golf Academy at Old Greenwood<\/a>, <\/strong>one of the\u00a0the region\u2019s premier teaching facilities, from the full swing to a computerized putting analysis system.\u00a0 Led by Keith Lyford, the Academy was fully booked with students through the month of June.<\/p>\n

The Truckee Touch<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

In 2013, Truckee is celebrating its 150 anniversary as a frontier town, and its 20th<\/sup> year of incorporation.\u00a0 With a vibrant old downtown, Truckee\u2019s small businesses draw shoppers and diners year-round.\u00a0 I had dinner one night at the legendary Bar of America<\/b><\/a>, which is as much a watering hole for locals as for tourists.<\/p>\n

\"Truckee's<\/a>

Truckee’s Bar of America.<\/p><\/div>\n

I also had the honor of spending the night at the Donner Lake Inn<\/b><\/a>, a small bed & breakfast located near the west end of the eponymous body of water.\u00a0 Run by Mindy & Paul Oesterman as a semi-retirement venture – – who after studying B&B\u2019s for some \u00a0time purchased it about a year ago – – Donner Lake Inn has five suites that are usually full.\u00a0 Indeed, Mindy serves daily gourmet breakfasts, afternoon beverages and appetizers, and finds herself more busy that she ever expected.\u00a0 I don\u2019t usually eat breakfast, but she sent me off to my final round of the tour with two large slices of warm and scrumptious homemade banana bread – – right out of the oven.<\/p>\n

My final stop on this tour was Grizzly Ranch<\/b><\/a>, nestled in a valley where the Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges meet, about an hour\u2019s drive from Truckee, near the town of Portola, population 800. \u00a0 Opened in 2005, the Bob Cupp design can play up to 7,400 yards, but has five sets of tees to accommodate all levels of player.\u00a0 While part of the gated Grizzly Ranch Development, the club offers private memberships as well as reasonable public rates given the course quality.\u00a0 The regular rate, with a cart, is $115, but members of the Northern California Golf Association can play for $105, with a box lunch included. Given the quality of the course and its remote and quiet nature, it’s a deal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

High Sierra cabins shuttered against snow began opening around Memorial Day, as owners raked pine needles into bags and fired… Read more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":48,"featured_media":1208,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,17],"tags":[10030,867423,6553,867424,867409,867425,867410,867426,867411,5194,867412,867428,867413,867429,867414,867430,867415,867431,867416,867432,867417,867433,867418,867434,226328,867435,158,1005,867436,82,867421,5484,867422],"class_list":["post-1206","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-golf","category-courses-and-travel","tag-truckee","tag-tahoe-donner","tag-martis-camp","tag-los-angeles-times","tag-lakeridge-golf-course","tag-tj-simers","tag-montreux-golf-and-country-club","tag-travis-alley","tag-pga-tour-reno-tahoe-open","tag-old-greenwood","tag-eagle-valley-west-golf-course","tag-bob-hickam","tag-san-marcos-grill","tag-keith-lyford","tag-genoa-lakes-golf-club","tag-the-golf-academy-at-old-greenwood","tag-harveys","tag-bar-of-america","tag-harrahs","tag-donner-lake-inn","tag-edgewood-tahoe-golf-course","tag-mindy-oesterman","tag-american-century-championship","tag-paul-oesterman","tag-nbc-sports","tag-portola","tag-jack-nicklaus","tag-charles-barkley","tag-grizzly-ranch","tag-golf-digest","tag-wolfdales","tag-coyote-moon","tag-lahontan"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/jaystuller\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2013\/06\/Fish-and-Chips-with-Mangotini-with-a-View.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/jaystuller\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1206","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/jaystuller\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/jaystuller\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/jaystuller\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/48"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/jaystuller\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1206"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/jaystuller\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1206\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1237,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/jaystuller\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1206\/revisions\/1237"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/jaystuller\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1208"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/jaystuller\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1206"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/jaystuller\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1206"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/jaystuller\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1206"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}