Tee Time: Resort at Squaw Creek
Photo: Resort at Squaw Creek

“This magnificent links-style course will challenge all levels.”

Course Details: 18 holes, par 71
Yardage: 6,931
Slope: 127 to 135
Ratings: 69.1 to 72.4

By Charlie Good

Surrounded by six majestic Sierra peaks, Resort at Squaw Creek’s18-hole championship golf course sits serenely in Olympic Valley. This magnificent, links-style course will challenge all levels of ability.

Renowned golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed the course to preserve the unique beauty, natural wetlands and wildlife habitat of Olympic Valley. The spectacular result is a natural golf course that blends with its beautiful mountain surroundings. Audubon International has recognized the course as a Certified Cooperative Sanctuary year after year, which means that they use the most ecologically sound maintenance practices to ensure a safe haven for both people and wildlife.

Day golf guests should proceed to the valet for complimentary valet parking and for golf bag portage to the starting area. After using the practice area, I began my round. The course begins with two fairly straightforward par 4s. The first hole is a par 4 measuring 406 yards from the gold tees. The course has four sets of tees: a gold, blue, white and red, with the red tees being the ladies tees. The target area is narrow from the tee boxes and requires at least 250-yard carry down the right side of the fairway in order to find yourself in the more open part of the fairway. It will likely leave you with only a pitching wedge to the large green that slopes from back to front.

The second hole is a dogleg left that allows more room for error on your tee shot while having you hit from an elevated position for this downward sloping hole. However, the toughest part of this hole lies close to the green with three menacing sand traps on both sides of the large green, as well as in the back of it. I was fortunate to be one over par after the first two holes, which tests your accuracy on nearly every shot. The third hole is the first par 3, which lies behind the Resort at Squaw Creek. Make sure to use enough club on this downward sloping hole since anything short of the green will feed from right to left and likely out of bounds. Unfortunately, I found the only bunker on this hole and had to settle for a double bogey.

The next hole is the first and longest par 5 of the course, as well as being the last hole in which you are in the trees before you enter the meadow for the remaining holes of the course. This hole is again downhill to a well-guarded green. Long hitters can get there in two, but will need both length and accuracy and it may be better to lay up short of the green since any errant shot will likely not be found or un-playable. The finishing hole of the front nine is a par 5 that requires a tee shot of approximately 250 yards to the right of the fairway bunker. Your next shot has the opportunity for a high risk-return payoff if you decide to go for the green, which is reachable but guarded by bunkers in the front and sides, as well as water that runs down the left side of the fairway. This concludes the toughest test of the course with the 5, 7, 1 and 3 handicap holes, respectively.

The final two holes will ensure that this course will test you from beginning to end. The 17th and 18th holes, both par 4s, are the No. 2 and 4 handicap holes, respectively. The finishing hole has water lining the right of the hole after about 200 yards with sand traps guarding the front and back of the green. I wisely did not go for the green in two due to the hazards and was rewarded with a par to conclude my round.

Overall, this is a tough resort course requiring target golf and on most holes an errant shot will require that you take another ball out of your bag and take the penalty. The surrounding High Sierra setting is amazing along with the layout and condition of the course, making this course a must play for anyone ready to test their golf mettle.

Signature Hole
The par 3, 6th hole features a demanding over-the-water approach and spectacular views of Olympic Valley’s surrounding peaks. Be sure to take enough club off the tee since the hole measures 210 yards and there is little room for error with water in front of the green and bunkers on either side of the green. Before moving onto the next hole, be sure to stop for a minute and admire the incredible setting of the High Sierra landscape, which includes six mountain peaks.

Amenities
The practice area is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. with $3 per bucket for practice balls. One of the finest golf shops in the Lake Tahoe area, Squaw Creek Sports features everything from golf apparel and accessories to golf clubs and other equipment.

Improve your game by scheduling an individual, group or playing lesson with one of Resort at Squaw Creek’s PGA Professional Staff including Veraguth. After 5:30 or 6 p.m., families can play a quick and easy game of golf on Resort at Squaw Creek’s front nine holes from the family tees (located approximately 150 yards from the green) for $45 per adult, children 17 and under when accompanied by an adult are free and club rentals are half-price.

The Resort at Squaw also offers the Creek Card for $99, which affords holders half off the highest prevailing rate. All fees include use of shared cart and a warm-up session on the driving range prior to play. Creek Card holders may reserve tee times up to five days in advance.

Resort at Squaw Creek Championship Golf Course is located at 400 Squaw Creek Road in Olympic Valley. For tee times, call (530) 581-6637 or visit www.squawcreek.com.