Grand new start for golf course

Lush green grass fills the fairways and greens.

The transformation of the Fallon Golf Course has breathed new life into the course.

As part of rebranding the course, the club plays host to a public grand opening at noon today. Guests will be treated to a free barbecue and a skins game tees off at 2 p.m. with a $10 buy-in. In addition, free ice cream will also be available.

Members, meanwhile, will participate in a shotgun tournament at 9 a.m.

Scott Wackowski, director of operations for Duncan Golf Mangement, which operates the county course, said today’s event is a rebirth of the course.

“We want to expose everybody to the course,” he said. “We have made numerous improvements to the course as well as the golfing experience.”

Those changes include a lush playing environment, 20 new carts with GPS, an expanded restaurant, new lunch menu, a full-time chef, full pro shop and a new logo.

Wackowski said the management team, which was hired by Churchill County on March 1 after the purchase of the course earlier this year, has received countless compliments of the improvements. The goal, he said, is to provide a golf experience and said in the past the course had a more municipal feel.

“We have improved the golf course conditions dramtically,” Wackowski said. “Now you have a true golf experience. It’s become a real course now and you’re excited to play Fallon. Now you’re going because it’s a great golf course.”

As part of a membership, golfers have access to deals with Duncan Management’s other courses — Tahoe City, Dayton Valley and Wolf Run Golf Club in Reno. Golf pros and members from each club will be in attendance today as part of Fallon’s rebranding efforts.

The logo, which includes fighter jets and a sunrise, is an effort to capture the spirit of the city, Wackowski said. Having never been to Fallon before the company’s involvement with the course, Wackowski said he was pleasantly surprised by the town’s atmosphere.

As a result, he said it is the company’s focus to bring the Fallon Golf Course to the attention of golfers throughout Northern Nevada.

In turn, Wackowski hopes to increase the value of a membership, not by increasing fees, but by improving the course and allowing members access to different courses.

“We want people to think about Fallon, not the Fallon Golf Course, but Fallon,” he added. “Not a lot of people in Reno are exposed to it. I think the people who live out there may make take it for granted a little bit. It’s nice.”

Churchill County bought the course for $695,000 and selected the father-son duo of Tom and T.J. Duncan to operate the course.

Duncan Golf Management owns and operates Wolf Run and Dayton Valley and operates the Tahoe City Golf Course.

“I am extremely pleased that the county was able to step up and continue the operation of the golf course. It is an integral part of the community not just from a sports opportunity, but for our tourism and development,” said Fallon Councilman Bob Erickson.