Sierra Nevada Golf Ranch
Sierra Nevada Golf Ranch, is a Semi-Private, 18 hole golf course located in Genoa, Nevada.
Golf Course at Sierra Nevada Golf Ranch first opened for play in 1998. The course was designed by Johnny Miller and John Harbottle.
This course, which sits at an elevation of 4,500 feet, was built on desert plains that touch against the Sierra Nevada mountain range. A 300-foot vertical elevation range and 114 bunkers make this a mountainous challenge. Three holes plummet straight downhill, while two others shoot right back up. Water is also a big part of the design, including a shimmering pond, a cascading waterfall and rushing step pools.
The front nine starts out on the floor of the Carson Valley and then climbs more than 350 feet up the eastern slope of the Sierras. The back nine wanders through desert terrain and is highlighted by spectacular water features supplied by spring-fed James Canyon Creek.
There are six different tees at Sierra Nevada and because of the great elevation changes, this course could be stretched out to take advantage of it. From the back tees (Tour Tees) this course plays to 7,358 yards with a 75.3 rating and a slope of 137. These tees are only for players with a 0-4 handicap, but it is fun to walk back and look at some of the holes from this perspective. The Championship Tees for 0-10 handicap players play to 6,820 yards and a slope of 132, while the Players tees are where the majority of players will find a comfort zone golf course that plays to 6,207 yards, but still at a hefty 129 slope rating.
Some of the more memorable and challenging holes are:
#9, a downhill 618-yard, par 5.
#17, a 188-yard, par 3, that plays to an island green.
#18, a 561-yard, par 5, which calls for a tee shot over a lake, then an approach that must squeeze between water on the left and sand bunkers on the right. The approach is to a small, undulating green that is surrounded by more water and bunkers.
The driving range has five tiers and is part of the 10-acre, manicured grass practice facility that also includes seven target greens with bunkers, chipping and pitching greens, and a 12,000-square-foot putting green.
Gold tees: par-72, 7290 yards, 75.3/137
Gold tees(W): par-72, 7290 yards, 82.3/149
Green tees: par-72, 6797 yards, 72.9/132
Green tees(W): par-72, 6797 yards, 79.1/142
Blue tees: par-72, 6277 yards, 69.7/129
Blue tees(W): par-72, 6277 yards, 75.7/135
Forward tees: par-72, 5249 yards, 63.4/112
Forward tees(W): par-72, 5249 yards, 70.5/124