Winning a round of free golf is always nice but how about securing free and unlimited play at three regional golf courses through 2013?

Dayton Valley is one of the courses you could play year round for $1

Duncan Golf Management, the owners of Divine 9 member course, Dayton Valley Golf Club, has come up with a raffle contest that allows you to enter as many times as you want until Dec. 31 for a chance to win a 2013 membership to Dayton Valley, Wolf Run Golf Club in Reno and Tahoe City Golf Course. The contest is valued at $3,300 and raffle tickets cost $1 each.

“It is a great value. Whoever wins it will love it,” said Beau Server, assistant golf pro at Dayton Valley Golf Club. The chance for unlimited play at three courses? You bet it’s a great value!

Raffle tickets can be purchased inside the pro shop at each course or by calling (775) 246-7888 ex.1.

April has arrived and along with it comes the start to the 2011 golf season on the Divine 9. The courses are open, warmer temperatures are on the way and we’re ready to tee it up for another great season in the Carson Valley.

Empire Ranch is celebrating their 14th birthday April 11 – 22 with $14 rounds, demo days with Taylormade and Adidas on the 16th and 17th with $14 massages by Massage Envy and daily chances to win a new car from Capitol City Ford.

In addition to these great rates at Empire Ranch, be sure to visit each of the Divine 9 course websites to view special spring rates and season pass opportunities.

If you’ve not yet secured your Ticket to Paradise this year, there’s still a chance to get on board. While quantities are limited and getting smaller every day, we have a few left until we hit the magic 300 mark. Pick up your Ticket to Paradise and treat yourself to nine rounds (one at each of the Divine 9) for just $265 – a 50% savings off normal rates.

If our heavenly views of the high desert and open valley in Carson City/Carson Valley aren’t reason enough, course improvements offer another reason to worship the Divine 9 golf courses. We’ve highlighted a few of the updates golfers have benefited from this season:

Carson Valley’s new back tee box on their 12th hole, as well as a widened fairway.

Eagle Valley East’s new nine tees on seven of their holes.

Eagle Valley West’s fresh new look with new banquet facility and outside covered patio.

The Resort Course at Genoa Lakes’s reversed nines now feature a subtler introduction to the course with a more challenging finish.

Part four, a series by Phil Weidinger

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.

Part two; a series by Phil Weidinger

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!