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Golfing In Atlantis?By Anthony Scaggs
NORTHGATE GOLF CLUB – Reno, NevadaI arrived early at Northgate and stopped at the grill for breakfast prior to warming-up. I had a long talk with Lou Laverdy who is the Club Cook. While his handicap has not reached single digits, it is respectable. For the past four years, he has been playing at Northgate and assured me that "it does not get any easier." "The first six holes are tough. If you can survive the first six holes then the beauty and challenge of the rest of the course will ease the pain. One of the many things that Lou likes about Northgate is the GPS on all the carts. From the Championship tees the Rating/Slope for Northgate is 69.8/126. The course yardage ranges from 5,521 yards at the Forward tees to 6,966 yards from the Tiger tees. The PGA Professional is Don Boyle and Doug Fine, the Golf Course Superintendent, maintains this beautiful course. Also, Northgate has two Assistant Professionals – Newt Crumley and Aaron Cudek. Hole number 16 is Northgate’s signature hole and two of the most favorite holes are #5 and #17. Northgate opened in 1988 and has Daily Fees as well as Annual Passes. They average about 30,000 guests per year.
From the blue tees, Hole 18 is a 526-yard, par 5 with a dogleg to the right. There are two landing areas. If you can hit your drive long and straight then go for the second landing. You will still have a 200-yard to 250-yard drive to the green for an attempt at an eagle.
After finishing 18 holes at Northgate, I was driving back o Atlantis when I decided to stop at Wildcreek for another 18. WILDCREEK GOLF COURSE – Reno, NevadaWildcreek has a 9-hole Executive Course and an 18-hole course also known as the Championship Course. The Championship Course averages 45,000 rounds a year and about 40,000 rounds are played at the 9-hole Executive Course. The Head Professional is Fred Elliott and Dan Osborn is the Golf Course Superintendent. The yardage for the Championship Course is from 6,244-yards to 6,932-yards with a rating from 69.4 to 74.1 and a slope of 127 to 137.
Contacts:Atlantis Sales office toll-free at: 800-994-5900. To request brochures write to Sales Department, Atlantis Casino Resort, 3800 South Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada 89502, or fax your request to: 775-825-1170, Atlantic Casino Northgate Golf Club, 1111 Clubhouse Drive, Reno,
NV 89523 Wildcreek Golf Course, 3500 Sullivan Lane,
Sparks, NV 89431 Images copyright 2000 SearchWrite |
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The fabled
continent of Atlantis that is sung about, written about and in some New Age
philosophy is the zenith of our human race. Everything that is good, or
technology that has never existed in modern society or advances that cannot
be explained are credited to the unknown residents of the undiscovered
continent of Atlantis. Therefore, they must have invented golf. Golf’s
origins are mysterious at best. But ask any golfer the importance of golf to
societal development and the elevation of the human conscientious, I am sure
that they would attribute all that is good about the individual and society
is directly related to golf.
When I arrived at
the Atlantis Hotel in Reno NV, I was convinced that it must have been a
duplicate of my image of the fabled Lost Continent. The doorman greeted me
as though I was a visiting dignitary. The bellman swiftly loaded my luggage
and carefully packed my golf bag on the luggage cart. I was directed to the
front desk where a cadre of well-trained and professional hotel staff
awaited my arrival. They were efficient and thorough. Their polite,
personable professionalism was only exceeded by their desire to complete all
the necessary details of check-in as quickly as possible so I (the quest)
could begin my visit to Reno.
Golfing
attracted me to the Atlantis. The Atlantis offered "Golfing a Master’s
Paradise" with a choice of 28 premier golf courses. If you have not made
arrangements for golfing prior your arrival, the Concierge will assist you
in selecting a golf course and tee time. I selected Northgate and Wildcreek.
Both courses were within driving distance of Atlantis.
Hole #18 finishes at
the practice range and depending how one played it could be a good place to
finish the day or clean up the miscues. Standing on the edge of the Practice
Facility, one can look back over the 18th green back towards the Sierra
Nevada or Peavine Mountain Ranges. To the left of the 18th hole one can see
the 10th hole which runs adjacent to #18. The 17th hole is to the right.
The view from the
gold tees at hole 6 looks back over the 8th hole. Hole #8 is a short
160-yard, par 3. Short is easy to say when one is standing looking at the
green prior to addressing the ball. When the golfer addresses the ball the
view dramatically changes in the minds eye because of the narrow green and
the bunkers in the front and back. Focus on the a quadrant of the green and
play for a par. If you get a birdie, it’s a bonus.
The views from hole
#6 towards the mountains.
Walking
from the parking lot to the Clubhouse, you are welcomed by the scenic view
of the mountains, driving range, putting green and the challenging finish of
your 18 holes of golf. Golf cart valets like Pete Scheffel and Chad Carlson
may also greet you upon your arrival.
My
partner for the day was Rick. He works in one of the local casinos and plays
golf whenever he has a chance. As he said he "loves the game and there never
is enough time to play as much as he wishes". He also stated that the
"course is always in good shape, an excellent layout, challenging and there
is never a long delay if any delay at all." Hole number 3 from the blue tees
is a 177-yard, par 3 with little room for mistakes. You miss to the left and
you are wet. At least if you miss to the right, you will be in the bunker
and have a chance for par.
From the blues
Hole 6 is a 174-yard, par 3 with bunkers in the front and the back. A six or
seven iron (For Tiger a soft 8 or a 9 iron) and two putts, what could be
easier? The real temptation will be to stand on the green and take in the
views of the mountains and Reno.
Hole #12 is a 357
yard par 4 from the blues. I used a 3 wood and a short iron to reach the
green. Then I "oops" three putted. I was distracted by the view of the
entire course, the mountains, blue sky and the city.
With
the clubhouse in the background, this view gives you a taste of the course
layout, the terrain and the numerous hazards that will guarantee a
challenging and fun filled day of golf.