Talk about knowing your market. Carson Valley Golf Course is the area’s original, built in 1965, has a niche and plays to it. And that niche loves playing Carson Valley. Among the area’s most affordable courses, Carson Valley is big with families, beginners, kids and accomplished players looking for birdies. Huge, hundred-year-old Cottonwoods dot the area, lining the Carson River which flows through the course.

The course is 6,021 yards long – which upon first glance may scare off the uninformed long hitter, but Mr. Big will soon find a test with water on 15 holes, and a track where accuracy off the tee and sharp iron play is a premium.

Did I mention Cottonwoods? You’ll love those trees especially on Nos. 14 and 15. Standing on the tee to the 325 yard, par 4, No. 14 for the first time may cause confusion: yes, that is a giant tree literally in the middle of the fairway. First reaction is typically, “What the …?!” But like most great short par 4s, it offers options that offer risk vs. reward. Take it under the tree with a mid-iron low draw and lay up to about 100 yards; try a low, straight shot toward the right; or go big and over the tree. It’s quirky but cool.  A tiny green with protective bunkers says you better be hit a short club accurately. The setting is spectacular with the Carson River all along the right side and huge trees surrounding the hole. A lovely country home sits about 50 yards behind the green so watch the language if that 3-footer goes awry.

No. 15 is a solid par 5 of 492 with the Carson River protecting the entire right side and houses that do not intrude on the course set back along the left with only OB stakes to protect the backyard dog! Don’t forget those trees! A solid drive to the left center of the fairway leaves a low to mid iron in to another tiny green well guarded by bunkers. (Are you noticing a trend here?) Most lay up to leave a wedge in – and again it better be accurate.

The name of the game at Carson Valley is fun. It’s a family operation and they appeal to families with kids’ tees, great rates and friendly service. It’s a must play.

Get your vitamin D and fill of endorphins on the golf course - your choice of nine - a different course each day! Satiate your appetite with a variety of dining options, from all-American to Asian, Italian and more. And keep the party going with casino excitement and live performances from Carson City/Carson Valley’s active entertainment schedule.

Labor Day weekend, George Pickard performs at the Carson Valley Inn’s Cabaret Lounge. Samples from a recent night include Credence Clearwater, Revival’s Green River, the Animal’s House of the Rising Sun and lots of Elvis. Be sure to shake your hips this weekend!

Or take the family on a ride aboard the historic V&T Railroad. Kids will marvel at the sites and sounds on board while adults enjoy another view of the Carson Valley landscape. Trains run thru October so this could be your last chance to ride this season.

Over Labor Day weekend, passengers can catch the action as Civil War battle reenactments will take place along the rugged Wild West landscape between Carson City and Virginia City. Online reservations are recommended as trains will sell out. 

The Divine 9’s courses have PGA in their roots, literally. The Lakes Course at Genoa Lakes is a links style designed by John Harbottle and PGA Tour pro Peter Jacobsen, and Dayton Valley was designed by Arnold Palmer.

The PGA continues the tradition with partnerships with the Divine 9. The Nor Cal PGA Junior Tour recently stopped at the Lakes Course with top high school players throughout the state competing and Dayton Valley will host the PGA Tour Qualifying event for the 17th consecutive year in October.

]]> http://www.divinenine.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=83 http://www.divinenine.com/blog/?p=77 http://www.divinenine.com/blog/?p=77#comments Thu, 12 Aug 2010 20:00:17 +0000 admin http://www.divinenine.com/blog/?p=77 Part three; a series by Phil Weidinger

Going through the tunnel from No. 4 green to No. 5 tee at Sunridge, you’re thinking, “Whew, survived that one.” A short, breeze-aided par 3 of 150 yards from the Blues, it’s all water, all carry, all blue. The folks in the surrounding homes must see some entertaining sights. They sure hear some primal screams! But luckily onward with the same ball to the par 5, 506-yard fifth.

Emerging from underground and it’s, “Oh lord, don’t let me fade another one.” A slice is an automatic watery grave. To the right it’s water down the entire length of the hole and it juts into the fairway at two junctures just to ensure it registers. A great hole: visually intimidating, yet very playable – if you hit three solid shots; two if you can move it. There’s plenty of room for the drive, while the second shot from a peninsula will need to carry the edge of more water.  Unless, of course, you lay up with an iron far left of the next threatening section of pond.

Bunkers front the right portion of the green – and could save a wayward effort; a large bunker left is about 40 yards short of the green making that second shot a bit tighter, and three bunkers behind the green are more directional than diabolical. A large, elevated green welcomes incoming wedges and if you stay dry, birdie is a solid possibility. Then again, so’s a double. Back to back, Nos. 4 and 5 make for a strong challenge of memorable and playable golf.  

By the time you get to No. 8, you need to be ready! Any tentative swings should have been exorcised by this point, so no excuse like tight muscles will hold water. Speaking of which, that is the focus of every player on this beautiful par 3 since it’s all carry over a large pond – no fairway, no bailing out unless it’s dead right and certain bogey or worse.

The yardage stretches from 149 yards from the Blue marker, to 165 from the Green, to 188 yards from the Golds. Even the 97 yard distance from the Forward tees is all over water. A large green evens out the daunting shot, but from every marker, the tee shot has to be hit solidly. There’s no fairway, it’s just tee, water, then green.

The spectacular backdrop of Job’s Peak in the distance and a waterfall behind the green just adds to the drama. This is one of those holes that can make or break a round. Just hitting the green gives players a well-earned sense of accomplishment.

Even if you three-putt, you’re dry and still playing the same ball. Watching the hang time against the Sierra Nevada range is sight to behold. Lofting one up that high means a solid chance that the ball will be dancing on terra firma when it lands. Get to the green, putt out and run like a thief. You just escaped for another day!

Standing on the tee with the entire hole and Job’s Peak reflected in the pond that runs 240 yards along the left side. What a way to end a round. Great golf, great views and a feeling that you’re a small speck in a special place.

It’s 449 yards from the tips and 441 from the Championship tees with the back tee providing a bit more elevation that’s worth the extra yards. The shot needs to carry about 190 – 200 yards to the fairway which then doglegs left to a right to left sloping green. A conservative tee shot toward safety and the first fairway and it’s too long a second shot for a realistic attempt at par, let alone birdie. Pull it or hook it and it’s time to re-load from the tee while you’re cursing yourself for blowing a great finishing hole – especially if you have an “Aloha” on the line. (Double or nothing on every bet.)

Carp are slapping the water with every leap – a reminder you certainly don’t need of what can happen to an errant shot. Take it toward the top of the peak and if you have the wherewithal to bring it back left you’re a better man than me. That left side falls away quickly toward the pond.

A sign of relief for a safe landing is soon followed by trepidation over club selection on the second shot. A late afternoon valley breeze means one more club and you know the ball will follow the terrain and move left after touching down.  A back right pin makes it tough to get close, but anything within 15-feet is good, plus the putt will be uphill. A rushed swing has the ball going dead left into the bunker along the length of the green, and a long carry comes up 20 feet short.  

The glory, cheers and adulation of the imaginary gallery dissipate as the par putt skirts the hole to the right and reality sets back in. Time for a cold one or three from the sports bar in the clubhouse overlooking No. 18 and the course. Tomorrow’s chase will soon be here…  

The wild flowers are bursting with color and the snow capped Sierra Nevada are framing the Divine Nine golf courses’ lush greens in all their glory. Summer is the key time to play the Divine Nine … but what’s a discerning golfer to do before or after hitting the course? Here’s the low down on some local favorites for getting into the swing things in the area:

Happenin’ events like car shows, ghost tours, farmers markets, wine walks and more:

Carson City Events

Carson Valley Events

Get your culture on with diverse dining and area museums:

Carson City is home to the Nevada State Museum, the state Capitol Building, and the Stewart Indian School Museum (and that’s just a few of the many museums and galleries around here). There’s more history in this area than you can swing a nine iron at, including spectacular exhibits on cultural heritage, geology and Nevada’s rugged history.

Sink your teeth into regional specialties at JT Basque Restaurant in Gardnerville, or something exotic at The Basil Thai Restaurant. We think diversity tastes pretty darn good! A stop by historic Genoa to visit the state’s oldest thirst parlor and nearby Tahoe Ridge Winery for a taste of local wines is also worth the trip.

Tame the Wild West, or explore it at your own pace with unique outdoor adventures:

·         White Water Rafting and exploration paddling on the Carson River with Great Basin Sports.

·         Ride the Virginia & Truckee Railroad for a glimpse into the area’s roaring Comstock era. Historic trains depart from Carson City’s Eastgate Depot, minutes from the  Eagle Valley East Golf Course.

·         Rent bikes from Big Daddy’s in Gardnerville and cruise along river paths, ranches and charming downtown districts.

Happy trails!

Ben Wright Testimonial

The Divine Nine are strikingly scenic and affordable Lake Tahoe / Reno area golf courses, where you may just find heaven on earth. Forgiving fairways, tight approaches, strategic water hazards, large greens… These Nevada golf courses are sure to please, offering great views and variety. The Divine 9 golf courses offer 171 holes of championship golf, spread across 70,000 yards of scenic Nevada terrain that can encourage beginners and challenge the pros.

For our latest video, we sought out a name as big as the likes of Divine Nine course architects Palmer, Miller and Jacobson and a personality as grand as the surrounding Sierra Nevada. Ben Wright, noted golf broadcast legend of CBS TV for 23 years, EMMY® award winner and editor at large gives you a glimpse of the Divine Nine. Wright’s wit, humor and nostalgia for his native Scotland make you wish you were playing the courses with this celebrated personality.

Wright, who recently visited remarked, “…it would be shameful if you missed out on such a great area.”

Here’s what else he had to say about the Divine Nine golf courses: http://www.youtube.com/user/divineninegolf

The CV Steak menu features a selection of appetizers and a generous range of entrees including pasta dishes, seafood, chicken and, of course, a number of featured steaks and chops. Most entrees are in the $16 to $24 price range and each entree comes with salad and, except for the hearty pasta dishes, vegetable and your choice of potato - baked, au gratin or a one pound, twice-baked potato.

With rustic dark-wood floors, ambient lighting for a feeling of intimacy and a large panoramic painting of a Sierra sheepherder, CV Steak’s eye-catching centerpiece is a wine rack that graces the center back wall. Recessed areas above each booth showcase black and white photos that recount the history of Minden and Gardnerville and were hand-selected for their historic significance by architect and designer Larry Henry. The entire setting is a perfect complement to the Arts and Crafts motif that ties all elements of the new Carson Valley Inn together.

CV Steak offers 25 different wines plus four reds and four whites by-the-glass. The perfect finish is one of six desserts offered nightly. CV Steak is open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday from 4:30 p.m.  to 10 p.m. and the CV Steak Bar opens daily at noon. For reservations, call 775-783-6650.

The fun starts on Thursday, April 22^nd with an optional early bird round at Eagle Valley Golf Course’s Championship West course.  After a Thursday-night reception, there is golf on Friday at Genoa Lakes Golf Resort and Saturday at the Genoa Lakes – Lakes Course.  The weekend wraps up on Saturday evening with a cocktail party and banquet.  All the details are at www.cvinn.com/stag-golf.  Just give me a call and I’ll be glad to tell you all about it!

Bill Henderson

Carson Valley Inn

(866) 284-7766, Ext. 3