Spending time at the Dayton Valley Golf Club at Legado can mean 18 holes of golf and a whole lot more.
The club boasts a new 15,000-square-foot, $6 million clubhouse with restaurant, bar, pro shop, meeting rooms and a ballroom for special events.
Fred Olsen, general manager of the club, said the new clubhouse is just one of the projects designed to make members comfortable and attract nonmembers and homebuyers.
"This is a total lifestyle," he said. "Tahoe is 35 minutes away, Reno is less than an hour away. We are making this a destination."
Members will have a lot of different activities once the entire project is competed, he said. Tennis courts are completed and workers are now putting in a swimming pool and fitness center.
"But golf is at the top," he said.
The 18-hole golf course was designed by legendary golfer Arnold Palmer, Olsen said.
"That computes to lots of water and deep traps - extremely picturesque," he said. "We maintain a platinum facility."
The course has hosted PGA qualifying tournaments, and has golf pros to provide lessons and hold clinics.
"We want to bring the young folks in here to get them acclimated to the sport," Olsen said. "From the mom who wants to get into it to the older generation. We do a large number of tournaments."
If 18 holes is a bit much, or not enough, an additional nine-hole course is planned, Olsen said, promising the nine-hole will be a little more forgiving than the larger course.
The Legado development mirrors a development called Morgan Creek at Roseville. Dayton Valley members can golf at Morgan Creek and vice versa.
"First and foremost, we cater to our members," he said. "That means service."
Service includes a full-scale food and beverage operation with a horseshoe-shaped bar and a dining room that seats about 80, plus a ballroom for weddings and other special events.
Several plays have been produced in the ballroom, by the Misfits Theater and the Gold Hill Theater troupes.
"We had such a great reception for the Misfits that we had a carryover night," he said.
The club has also had wine tastings with a five-course meal with each course designed to accentuate the taste of the wine.
In putting on special events, Olsen said he wanted to attract residents from neighboring areas to the club.
"People from the area are welcome to come here," he said. "We do Sunday brunches, we have a five-star chef."
He said the club also does theme buffets on Wednesdays and has an area for outdoor barbecues.
He also has arrangements with area ski lodges to provide skiing experiences for Legado members and their guests, and hopes to do the same with other venues. The club owns a 24-passenger bus to take members on outside excursions.
In encouraging potential homeowners to consider the complete lifestyle Legado offers, Olsen said some folks are choosing to make it the location for a second home, where they will move upon retirement.
"People are buying here in anticipation of their retirement," he said. "People from Carson City are also starting to discover us."
Lakemont took over the development in the late 1990s and since then has added seven residential developments and plans more. An as-yet unnamed equestrian area is in the works, Olsen said.
The homes range from the low $200,000s to the mid $400,000s and will number 3,800 at total buildout.
"We want to attract families as well as the semi-retired and the retired," he said.
Also planned are casitas, or little houses available for rent, ideal for visiting relatives of members.
The old clubhouse will end up at Airpark Estates, where it will become a residential center, he said.
Airpark Estates is one of several residential developments at Legado that is under construction. It is in the area of the airstrip, and homes will have their own hangars for plane storage.
"The airport can handle jets up to G-5," he said.
A high-end RV park where lots will be sold rather than rented is in the works, as is a park and playground.
Eventually a hotel-casino will be built, he said, and in late 2008, a Club Legado Sports Complex.
According to Marcia Neece, marketer for Lakemont, the Club Legado health and fitness complex will include the tennis courts, a basketball court, volleyball court, horseshoe pit, parking area, with a fully equipped fitness center, pool and spa, and bistro and seating area. There will also be a multipurpose room for yoga and similar activities.
Locker rooms with showers and an outdoor shower by the pool will be included.
Olsen has a staff available to help plan events such as weddings or banquets and with the new clubhouse, expects the club to be a vibrant part of the Dayton community.
He is also putting together a landscaping team that will be available to residents outside the development.
"We want people to discover us and we want to grow the area sooner rather than later," he said. "We want to offer a high-quality product at an affordable price."
It worked for Sam Merchant, a golf aficionado who lives on the 8th hole after retiring 20 years ago. He said his neighbor convinced him to move to Legado.
"I like this area," he said. "It's quiet, and the course is good enough for me."
Golf Course Rates & Packages
*Fees subject to change without notice
Winter Rates
Jan. 1-April & Dec.1-31
Monday-Friday $40
Saturday and Sunday $50
After 1 p.m. $30 seven days a week
Spring & Fall Rates
April 4-May 22 & Oct. 22-Nov. 30
Monday-Friday $50; After 1 p.m. $35
Saturday, Sunday $65; After 1 p.m. $40
Summer Rates
May 23-Oct. 21
Monday-Thursday $85
After 1 p.m. $50; After 3 p.m. $35
Friday, Saturday, Sunday $105
After 1 p.m. $60; After 3 p.m. $40
Call: (775) 246-7888
Developments
Legado
Airpark Estates at Legado
Cypress Point at Legado
Grandevista at Legado
Royal Troon
Sendero
Shadow Creek
On the Net
www.daytonvalley.com
www.lakemont.com
• Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111 ext. 351.