Wolf Run Golf Club worth the old college try in golf-rich Reno

By William K. Wolfrum,
Staff Writer

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Wolf Run Golf Club combines wide fairways with scenic views of the surrounding Reno area. (GolfPublisher.com)

RENO, Nev. - Still shy of its 10th birthday, Wolf Run Golf Club has become a fixture in the diverse Reno golf scene.

The course, which was built on land donated to the University of Nevada-Reno, hosts more than 30,000 rounds per year. Designer John Fleming is known for testing golfers, but fairly.

"It's challenging but won't punish golfers too badly," said Wolf Run Tournament Director Linda Upton. "I'd have to say it's a very fair golf course, with the toughest part being the greens."

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If you go

Wolf Run Golf Club at Fieldcreek Ranch - Semi-Private in Reno

1400 Wolf Run Rd
Reno, Nevada 89511
Washoe County

( one reader rating )

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The property was donated to UNR nearly 20 years ago by a local rancher. The university considered using the land for a satellite campus or an extension farm for the agricultural school but in the end opted for PGA professional Lou Eiguren's idea: Fill a then-niche in the Reno area with a premier golf course.

Eiguren, the former head pro at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, put together an investment group and brought in Fleming. The designer - whose father, Jack, was the lead construction foreman for Alister MacKenzie - jumped at the chance to put his touch on the prime location, creating a course with wide fairways and sprawling views of the city below.

Improvements have continued, with a new sprinkler system installed this year and an improved driving range planned for 2007.

Home course of UNR's golf team, Wolf Run has also hosted the Ladies Publinx Championship. Playing to more than 7,100 yards with a 73.1 rating and 133 slope, it's no pushover, but the challenge is more subtle than dramatic.

You'll feel more confident with driver in hand than at nearby courses like ArrowCreek; an errant tee shot more than likely won't sail out of bounds or into a deep crevasse.

But while the layout is more or less straightforward, Fleming made things tough with elevated, sloping greens that make you work on approach shots.

The Verdict

Simply put, Wolf Run is a very solid course, offering golfers a good test without costing as many balls as the likes of LakeRidge or ArrowCreek. Green fees run from $40 in the winter to $80 during peak season.

As with other Reno-area courses, conditioning is king. The fairways are nearly pristine, as are the greens, where golfers will truly be challenged. Wolf Run also does its part with the bells and whistles: Carts are GPS-equipped and the practice facilities are solid. The spacious clubhouse, restaurant and bar have a rustic charm.

Add in wonderful views and Wolf Run is certainly worth the old college try. It's a fine place to cavort with nature in the golf-rich High Sierras .

December 19, 2006

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management.