MOODY: Golfers strike it rich in the Carson Valley

Golfers who come to the Carson Valley for business or pleasure are extremely fortunate.

They can play unlimited golf when there isn't snow on the ground to screw things up, and they also have a chance to play some tremendous golf courses, nine to be exact.

The nine courses in the Carson Valley - Dayton Valley Golf & Country Club, Genoa Lakes (two courses, Lakes and Resort), Eagle Valley (two courses, East and West), Sunridge, Empire Ranch, Carson Valley Golf Club and Silver Oak - are considered the "Divine 9." The courses offer quite a range for players of varying abilities, and they are all easy to get to, which is another plus.

I have played a full round at eight of the nine courses. The only course I've never played 18 holes at is Sunridge, and quite frankly I just don't like the design of the course.

Golfers are allowed to buy a transferable Ticket to Paradise pass which enables them to play a round of golf at each of the nine courses for less than $265. That's an unbelievable bargain. You're talking less than $30 for a round of golf plus a cart. If you are a once-a-week golfer, you're talking about nine weeks of golf taken care of. All 300 passes available were sold last year.

All nine courses rely heavily on out-of-town vacation golfers and group outings. Those groups stay either in the Carson Valley or Reno. Hotels like the Carson Station, Gold Dust West, Hampton Inn and Suites, Hardman House and Carson Valley Inn cater heavily to golfers as does the Silver Legacy, El Dorado, Peppermill and Atlantis in Reno.

"Mike Pegram (new owner of the Carson Valley Inn) has gotten really aggressive (going after business)," said Lou Eiguren, vice president of golf at Genoa Lakes. "We went to the LA Golf Show for the first time and picked up some business. We'll probably go again this year.

"Genoa hosted the NorCal Open, and I can't tell you how many guys didn't realize what was here (in the Carson Valley). So many people (from California) go up to Tahoe never come down the mountain."

And, many out-of-towners have been finding their way out to Dayton, which has thrived under new owner Tom Duncan. One caveat that Dayton has over every other course is that its been a Stage I PGA Tour qualifying site for 16 years. The course has to be really good for that type of continuity.

Duncan & Co. dropped the price to $40 seven days a week, and people are coming from Reno and Sparks as well as Fernley and Fallon to play the challenging layout.

And, save for Edgewood Golf Club at Stateline and the championship course at Incline, the Carson Valley area is far superior to Lake Tahoe when it comes to golf. It's more affordable.

If you're new to the game, I'd suggest Eagle Valley East, Carson Valley Golf Club and Empire Ranch. They are much more user friendly than the others among the Divine 9.

Golf, like any business, has been hit hard by our downtrodden economy, according to Eiguren. Local courses are battling each other for local business.

"With the economy the way it is, we've (all golf courses) had to get creative," Eiguren said. "We're all doing different programs. People still want to recreate, but their disposal income isn't what it used to be. We've done a lot of online coupons. We have a local rewards program (here at Genoa); you pay for five rounds of golf and the sixth one is free.

"It's true. It's nationwide. Everybody wants a piece of the pie out here."

Jim Kepler, the former general manager at Dayton and the head man at Eagle Valley, was the first guy to really market his product in the area. He's been offering specials online and in the newspaper ever since he took over at Eagle Valley, and without question Eagle Valley East gets the most play of any course in the valley. Eagle Valley has been a haven for young and old alike. Players don't have to be precise off the tee, and water comes into play just twice on the East. It's a walkable course, and that's a really plus with a lot of senior golfers, who are looking to get some exercise. The West is a much tougher course, and you need to be at the top of your game to score well there.