Witches, Giggles, $15,000 Saturday, Holiday Gifts, Golf and More

Comedy Coming!

Just a little over two weeks until our Core 4 Comedy show on Saturday, November 10 in our Valley Ballroom. Join Headliner Brian Lee, Host Jeff Anderson, Special Guest Luke Westberg and Feature Act Andy Picarro for 4X Laughs . . . . Tickets are just $20 either online or at our hotel desk!

Which Witch is Which?

Which Witch? Which Wednesday?

This is a tale of two witches and two Wednesdays. Let’s start with the two witches pictured above. The one on the left is Julie and the one on the right is Kim. They’ve been witching it up the last few Ladies’ Nights in preparation for tonight’s Witch Hat Contest with a cauldron filled with five prizes!  So wear your witch’s hat to Ladies’ Night today starting at 5:30 PM and our judges will decide which witches win at 8 PM. First place is $100.00 Cash, second is $50.00 in FreePlay, and the third through fifth place prizes are special gift baskets. As for next Wednesday, our witches will be out riding their brooms so we’ll be taking a week off from Ladies’ Night so all can enjoy Halloween!

Spectacular Fall View at #7 Tee Box - Genoa Lakes

Golf in the Carson Valley – Plan Now for 2019

Almost 100 folks enjoyed two days of spectacular fall golf earlier this week during our annual “Golf Chairpersons’ Appreciation Event.”   You could be part of this complimentary event next year, here’s how: Dozens of golf groups visit the Carson Valley Inn each season to enjoy our area’s courses and various group food and beverage receptions and dinners. Each fall, we invite the gracious people who “chair” each event to join us in celebrating the year with a stress-free visit “on us!”  So, if you have a group of golfers – with as few as 8 to as many as 100+ – we’d like to share how we can package a golf visit for your group in 2019. We arrange the golf reservations, rooms and social functions . . . you gather the troops. To find out more, contact Greg Enholm in our Sales Department at 775-783-6615. He’ll walk you through the process, set up your group for a fun visit, and then make sure you are invited to our 2019 Appreciation Event next fall!

Christmas Gifts and Other Holiday Crafts

Abundance of Clever Crafts This Weekend

Almost 4,000 sq. ft. of handmade crafts and other gifts will be available in our Valley Ballroom this Thursday, Friday and Saturday when the A Touch of Class craft show returns for its 5th year at the Carson Valley Inn and 18^th year overall. The holidays shopping weekend features 28-30 crafters . . . but no booths! This setup makes your shopping experience more like a boutique with central cashiers eliminating the need to make separate purchases from individual crafters. Come in and check it out from 10 AM to 8 PM, Thursday, Friday and Saturday!

Football and Other Sports at the Inn

• Our Guys Picks!  A bit of a stumble last week, as the “team” only managed to pick one game correctly.  1-7 is probably their worst week ever.  So, will they stay in a slump or will the law of averages kick in?  Mike went with the meekest mascots last week: cute little golden gophers and a happy duck.  Both lost. This week, he’s going with the Killer Whales and the Godzillas. The next best thing is the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes -2½ hosting the Tulane Green Wave.  That is one (kind of an ugly green) wave against multiple Hurricanes.  Mike also likes the Washington State Cougars +3 on the road against the Stanford Cardinal.  It’s a color for goodness sake.  The cougars will run right past the dancing tree. Steve picked against his Saints again: The Vikings -1 at home.  He also likes the Steelers -8 at home against the Cleveland Browns.  They’ll have to avoid overtime in the rematch to cover the 8 points! Greg thinks both Bay area teams have turned the corner: he likes the 49’ers at the Phoenix Cardinals (pick-em), and the Raiders +3 hosting the Indianapolis Colts.  Alan decided to give serious consideration to his picks this week.  He was still calculating as we went to press.  He finally blurted out the Eagles -3 in London against the tanking Jacksonville Jaguars.  And he went with Florida +7 against the Georgia Bulldogs in the "world's largest outdoor cocktail party."  Given more time, he would have made 2 absolutely certain selections.
• The Progressive Pro PK'EM failed to hit last week and inched up to $3,429 for this week . . . play a $5 card and it’s paid out to any to whoever picks all 15 games (any ties split).
• Monday Night Football Poker Room Grid:  We had $112 carryover from this past Monday so the squares are worth $88 each for this coming Monday’s Bills/Patriots game. “The Grid” pays the first three quarters and the final score . . . you must be present to win and any unclaimed winnings roll to the following week. Check the details on this page. 
• Enjoy $2 Domestic Draft Beer during all NFL games at the CVI.
• On The Board! This week you can bet NCAA and NFL Football, NHL Hockey, NBA Basketball, the World Series, Canadian Football League, the Sunday NASCAR First Data 500 (down to 8 drivers for the Monster Energy Cup) and Horseracing. Futures include winners of the World Series, NASCAR Monster Energy Series, the NFL Conference Championships, the 2019 Super Bowl, the 2019 NCAA Football Championship, the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, the 2019 Stanley Cup and the 2019 NBA Championship.

Just Gotta Mention These "Days"

• Today is World Pasta Day, not to be confused with National Pasta Day which was last Wednesday. Since pasta is obviously the “message,” we will tempt you with the three most popular pasta dishes in CV Steak: The Seafood Linguini with shrimp, scallops and diced lobster; the Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo and the Mushroom Ravioli (served as an appetizer or entrée).
• Friday is Pumpkin Day. Not that an excuse is needed, but if you want to show your support, you could always order a slice of pumpkin pie in Katie’s or take home a whole pumpkin pie from the Katie’s Bakery Counter!
• Saturday is Cranky Coworker Day. Not a problem since the “crank” probably is off Saturdays!
• Tuesday is Haunted Refrigerator Night,  supposedly “best celebrated by cleaning out the horrors that live deep within your icebox.” So, if someone invites you to celebrate this “holiday” with dinner at their house, immediately counter with an offer to buy them dinner in Katie’s or CV Steak!

This Week in the Casino

• Ladies’ Night Tonight: Join us from 5:30 to 8:30 PM with a Free Chocolate Shoppe Gift and Manicure Set for the first 150 ladies and Chocolate Shoppe Presents as hot seat prizes.  Also tonight: the Witch Hat Contest mentioned above, games, raffles, a weekly drink special and free bingo for ladies playing in the pit or at slots. 
• Point Multipliers Friday: 4X Points on Reel Slots and Video Poker Slots all day every Friday in October. Watch those points add up fast and use them for dining, FreePlay, Katie’s Bakery products and more!
• Giveaways Friday:  Join us at 5, 7 and 9 PM for our giveaway drawings for cash and FreePlay.
• $55,000 Giveaways Promotion Grand Prize Drawings Saturday:  Join us at 6 and 8 PM at the CVI for Thirty (30) - $500 Winners (cash & FreePlay) Guaranteed between CVI and Sharkey’s (Sharkey’s drawings at 5 and 7 PM.)
• Your Rewards Monday: INN Club members can swipe at the casino kiosk once on Monday for Your Reward. Could be FreePlay, a Free Food offer, a Free Multiplier or a Free Gift!

In Our Restaurants

• Wednesday is Italian Day in Katie’s – three specials for $6.99 each served from 11 AM to 10 PM! Our Friday and Saturday night special in Katie’s is Roasted Prime Rib & Fried Shrimp for $14.99 served from 4 PM.
• Thursday’s special in CV Steak is the CV Steak Mix Grill, a combination of our Filet Mignon, a Dijon and molasses Marinated Pork Tenderloin Medallion and Herb Marinated Lamb Chop for $26. This Friday it’s Syrah Braised Bison Osso Bucco slow-cooked with vegetables, wine, herbs and natural pan sauce; served with a potato cauliflower puree for $35.00. Saturday night’s special is Garlic Studded Prime Rib for $26 and Sunday's special is King Crab Legs for $28. These specials are served with fresh vegetable, choice of rice or potato – au gratin, baked, or a one-pound, twice-baked – tableside tossed salad and warm demi-loaf of bread.

Free Entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge

Adam Donald tonight, Voodoo Cowboys Thursday - Saturday, NFL Football Sunday and Monday nights and Cliff & Dave next Tuesday and Wednesday. Adam Donald brings an upbeat and entertaining solo show with a heavy arsenal of songs mixing today’s hits with some old country favorites. Playing together since 2009, the Voodoo Cowboys are the life of the party with their dance-inducing, hard drivin' style whether playing country music (and not the cryin' in your beer stuff) or an impressive selection of classic rock ‘n’ roll. Cliff & Dave is powerhouse singer/gospel drummer Cliff Porter and southern-fried singer/guitarist Dave Berry, often seen fronting the band Jelly Bread. The Duo provides an evening of  sultry R&B, funk and swinging rock ’n’ roll.

Planning a Stay at the CVI? You will always get the best rate by booking directly with the Carson Valley Inn either online or by calling our Reservation Department directly at 775-783-6629 or 800-321-6983.

Comments? Have questions or comments about the CVI? Use the comments section below, shoot us an email or pick up the phone and call us @ 775-782-9711. Hit “0” when the automated voice comes on and you'll go right to the hotel operator who can get you to the correct person or department.  We have a lot more coming up at the Carson Valley Inn so check our Blog posting every Wednesday morning!

Marshall Tucker Band Friday, $25,000 Guaranteed this Saturday

Notice we didn’t say “as much as $25,000” or “up to $25,000.” We’re talking a guaranteed $25,000 in cash and free play going out this Saturday between the Carson Valley Inn, Sharkey’s Casino, and Bodines Casino. It’s the wrap up of our Independence Cash Giveaways Promotion and here’s the breakout: $15,000 will be given away at CVI in drawings at 6 and 8 PM, another $5,000 goes out at Sharkey’s (drawings at 5 & 7 PM) and yet another $5,000 at Bodines (7 & 9 PM). If you’ve been using your player card during the month, and/or use it through the time of drawings, you are accumulating a drawing entry for every five points earned. What are the chances of you winning? Depends how many people show up and how many drawing tickets you have earned . . . but we'll keep drawing until all $25,000 of the cash and free play is distributed! 

Upcoming TJ's Corral Events

• Marshall Tucker Band Concert this Friday, July 28: One of their biggest hits “Heard It in a Love Song" (above video) was also recorded in the mid-2000s by another artist who has appeared here at the CVI in our Valley Ballroom. Can you name him? We’re predicting there will be a few general admission (standing or sit on the grass) tickets available at the door. However, just to be sure we suggest you buy your tickets in advance either online or at our hotel desk. As a reminder, gates open at 7:15 PM and the concert starts at 8 PM. Please leave folding chairs at home and same with the pets.  
• 33^rd Birthday Celebration Blues, Brews & BBQ’s on Saturday, August 5: Admission is free for the Blues entertainment by Maxx Cabello, Jr., Alastair Greene and the Buddy Emmer Blues Band starting at 6 PM. We kick off the festivities at 5:30 PM with Free ice cream and fun for the kids, $1 Water and Soda, $1 Hot Dogs, $2 Pulled Pork Sandwiches with slaw, $2 Beer and $3 Wine. No tickets or reservations needed – just show up and enjoy!
• Michael McDonald Concert on Friday, August 18: It was "months away" when we first announced this concert and each week we have watched the supply of available tickets dwindle. It was the same pattern with the Kenny Loggins concert which sold out and left a few people grumbling about waiting too long and not getting tickets. We’re not crying wolf, just suggesting the same pattern seems to be developing for Michael McDonald. Check it out and buy tickets here.
• Ronnie Milsap Concert on Saturday, August 26: Yea we know that many of the younger country fans who've enjoyed concerts at TJ's Corral don't immediately "sync" with Ronnie Milsap. However, his music has inspired young country artists like multi-time Grammy award nominee Hunter Hayes as described in this Rolling Stone Article.  Milsap was the iconic country star from the mid-70s through the mid-80s and anyone who followed country back then will not want to miss this opportunity to enjoy dozens of Ronnie's hits . . .  and support the The Children's Cabinet to boot!  

Why Do so Many Golf Groups Make CVI Their Headquarters? Consider this another chapter of “Sometimes Our Customers Tell it Better Than We Could Ever Write It.” Every golf group has someone in charge who gathers the participants, collects their money, figures out the format for their competition and generally “herds the cats.”  Many of our golf groups have been coming to the CVI for a number of years and, as life conditions dictate, sometimes the person in charge turns the duties over to successor. Here’s a verbatim note we received from Jim M. who is “retiring” after bringing a group to us every June for quite a long time and passing it on to someone new:

“Seventeen years leading an army on an attack on CVI and I can count the problems we faced on one hand not using my thumb! From management to housekeeping, the staff was friendly, helpful, competent, especially for our needs . . . Bill, Jacki, front desk staff, Katie’s breakfast staff and the catering staff that provided us with such great service each night, not only this year but every year. We could not ask for a better experience. Our job was easier because of the work you all did. We will not miss not doing what we had to do but we will miss working with you. A simple “thank you” does not adequately express our feelings.”

Jim paints the story of how we keep our golf groups coming back year after year by working with the person in charge to provide a memorable experience for the entire group – whether you're a cozy group of 8 people or a larger gathering of 150!  Are you part of a group of golfers who travel or would consider traveling? If so, contact Greg in our Sales Department at 775-783-6615 and he’ll walk you through how we can help make it happen for your group! 

Rye Brothers and More Free Entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge  

RYE Brothers tonight thru Saturday, Jonathon “JB” Barton Sunday and Monday and Bill Wharton Tuesday and Wednesday. The Rye Brothers are a “power-pop” country act, mixing contemporary country music and rock n’ roll guitar driven songs. Jonathon “JB” Barton’s love for a variety of musical styles is apparent in his selection of favorites from Van Morrison, CCR, Hank Williams, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Eagles and many more. Bill Wharton’s smooth, melodic tone comes out in his vast repertoire from old classic country thru modern country, pop to classic rock, blues and jazz.

In the Casino

Power Out? No Problem - This Will Keep Your Lit!

• Ladies’ Night Tonight: Join us 5:30 to 8:30 PM with a free Hand Crank Powered Light for the first 150 ladies, World Market Gift Baskets as hot seat prizes, games, drink specials, FREE Bingo and the last chance to earn entries for tonight’s drawings for $500 Cash.
• VIP Gifts Thursday: free VIP Gift Giveaways at 2, 4, 6 and 8 PM every Thursday through August!
• 5X Points Friday: That’s 5 times the benefits for your play all day Friday!
• Friday Independence Cash Giveaways: Drawings at 6, 8 & 10 PM for Cash & Free Play, up to $500!
• Saturday Independence Cash Grand Prize Giveaways: Drawings at 6 & 8 PM.
• Sunday Scratcher Drawings:  Join us for drawings at 6 & 8 PM and win up to $5,000!! This one is for those who received the July monthly mailer . . . if you’re not receiving our monthly mailer, be sure to use you INN Club card every time you play in the casino ‘cause that’s how we determine who gets ‘em!
• Here’s a Handy Page with all our Current Casino Promotions!
• Sports and Race Book: We are taking action on the Major League Baseball, Horse Racing, Canadian Football and the NASCAR Overton’s 400 at Pocono Raceway. Futures on the board include winners for the World Series, 2018 Super Bowl, 2018 NCAA Football Championship and the 2018 NBA Championship.  

In Our Restaurants

• Wednesday is Italian Day in Katie’s – three specials for $6.99 each served from 11 AM to 10 PM!
• Our Friday special in CV Steak is Roasted Rack of Venison with Cherry Brandy Demi – a 4-bone venison rack seasoned with fresh herbs and roasted for $32. Saturday night’s special is Garlic Studded Prime Rib for $26 Sunday's special is one pound of King Crab Legs for $32. These specials are served with fresh vegetable, choice of rice or potato – au gratin, baked, or a one-pound, twice-baked – tableside tossed salad and warm demi-loaf of bread.
• Click the restaurant name for more info, specials and links to menus for Katie’s, CV Steak and Jobs Perk at the CVI . . . or our nearby sister property restaurants, the Jackpot Café at Sharkey's Casino and the Bodines Restaurant at Bodines Casino. 

Planning a Stay at the CVI? You will always get the best rate by booking directly with the Carson Valley Inn either online or by calling our Reservation Department directly at 775-783-6629 or 800-321-6983.

Comments? Have questions or comments about the CVI? Use the comments section below, shoot us an email or pick up the phone and call us @ 775-782-9711. Hit “0” when the automated voice comes on and you'll go right to the hotel operator who can get you to the correct person or department.  We have a lot more coming up at the Carson Valley Inn so check our Blog posting every Wednesday morning!

A Tribute to Stew, Easter Bunny Cakes Return, MMA in TJ's Corral, More

Turtle’s Last Dance – May 12

Stew “The Turtle” Stewart was with us at the Carson Valley Inn for over six years and he helped us transform our approach to entertainment. Since his passing earlier this year we have been working on a party to serve as his “last dance” . . . that’s what he wanted, so that’s what we’re doing!  The details are set and we hope you’ll join us on Friday evening, May 12 in TJ’s Corral. The Davisson Brothers will be providing entertainment, admission is free and we encourage you to read about the Turtle’s Last Dance event at this link – especially the thoughts expressed on behalf of the CVI by Joey Whitacre, our Director of Casino Operations and Marketing.

Golf Season Is Here! Monday is Golfer’sDay and whether or not it turns out to be the perfect day for playing golf, it is a timely reminder that planning is well underway for the many, many golf groups and events that center around the Carson Valley Inn this year. We put on two of our own sponsored golf events each year: the Spring Stag Golf Outing coming up on the last weekend in April and our Mixed Scramble held on the weekend after Labor Day. We are also the headquarters hotel for about 100 different groups of golfers who visit each year - from as few as 8 to as many as 100+ golfers and guests. We set up all the details (rooms, golf, receptions, dinners, etc.) and would be glad to tell you more about how it all works – just call Greg Enholm (he’s a PGA type) in our Sales department at 775-783-6615. Now, back to Golfer’s Day: If you have any appreciation for the game, you might read the information at the link. You’ll find out when the original video golf game was created (before 1980 if you can believe it), when miniature golf came about, a fun little prank you can pull on your coworkers and some other interesting tidbits.

Easter Bunny Cakes Are Back! Our Easter Bunny Cakes were such big sellers last year that our bakery crew is bringing ‘em back again for the next 10 days. The cutie pictured with this article is one we found scampering through the bakery last year. The 2017 Bunny Cakes were just coming out of the oven and not to the design stage when our blog came out this morning - but we know they will be similar to last year’s hot sellers. Interested in ordering one? We suggest you stop by Katie’s Bakery Counter as soon as possible. If there are no Easter Bunny Cakes available, we will take orders up to a couple of days before Easter.  And while we’re on the Easter subject, Katie's and CV Steak are both serving their regular menu plus specials on Easter Sunday. Click for more on the Easter Specials.

MMA Bouts Live in TJ's Corral

MMA in TJ’s Corral: Additional information and ticket ordering is now available for the World Fighting Championship MMA bouts happening in TJ’s Corral on Saturday, July 1. Should be a pretty exciting evening and we encourage you to check out the information and contact the WFC with any specific questions.

Well, That Was Prophetic! In last week’s blog we casually wrote “As for the $85,000+, that’s our Penny Progressive Jackpot (as of last night) and while we’re not guaranteeing it will be won this week, we can guarantee that when it does hit it can only be won on one of the Triple Red Hot 7's slots at CVI, Sharkey’s or Bodines.” Well, it “hit” on Thursday, March 30 when a lucky local pocketed $86,619 here at the CVI.  The winner asked that we not use their name and we always respect such requests. Now, on to our next prediction: Someone will win a new Toyota Camry or $15,000 in cash on Saturday, April 15 and it will happen here at the CVI. Will it be you?

National Beer Day is this Friday, April 7. Come on by the CVI and enjoy one of our many draft or bottled beers in either the Cabaret Bar or CV Steak Bar. While you’re at it, catch the second round of The Masters on TV and stick around for dinner where you can feast on the Beer Braised Wild Boar Shanks special in CV Steak on Friday night. How's our beer selection you ask? Well, two of us sat down at the CV Steak Bar determined - between the two of us - to drink one of each of our offerings. We had ten different beers each and still had a couple to go when we gave up . . . we figure that should be enough choices for just about any beer drinker!

Concert News: If you are planning to attend the Wynonna and the Big Noise Tour concert on Saturday night, April 29 . . . and you have not yet purchased your tickets . . . we suggest you do so very soon as this concert is just about sold out.  Looking ahead to the other concerts and events coming up in TJ’s Corral, this link will take you to the current 2017 Lineup and yes, we will have tickets for some of the other concerts on sale very soon.

Is Genoa One of the Best Small Towns?  Just might be ‘cause Genoa has been nominated in the latest USA Today10Best Readers' Choice travel award contest!  A panel of experts selected Genoa as one of 20 contenders for Best Southwestern Small Town. Turns out you can vote once a day until the voting ends on Monday, April 24. We never take a stand on political issues or candidates but we will stand up for Genoa in this election and we invite you to give ‘em your vote!

Friday and Saturday in the Cabaret Lounge

Free Entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge

Hans Eberbach tonight and Thursday, John Dawson Band Friday and Saturday, Cliff and Dave Sunday and Monday and Denver Saunders Tuesday and Wednesday. The John Dawson Band is a Reno based group of five fun-lovin' guys who just like to play music and entertain with a variety of modern country and classic rock. According to John, “The Washoe County Parole board took matters into their own hands on a wistful spring evening in 1999, and placed these 5 repeat offenders in a working band, demanding we concentrate on Country Music.” The quintet includes Mitch (Lead Guitar), Brian (keys), J.B.  (Bass), Jhan (drums) and John Dawson (vocals and guitar). When Cliff and Dave make their CVI debut, you’ll enjoy a Powerhouse singer/gospel drummer, Cliff Porter, and southern-fried singer/guitarist, Dave Berry, often seen fronting the band Jelly Bread as they provide an evening of  sultry R&B, funk and swinging rock ’n’ roll.

In the Casino

• Ladies’ Night Tonight: Join us 5:30 to 8:30 PM with a free Coffee Cup Duo Set for the first 150 ladies, Shelly Camp Gift Baskets as hot seat prizes, games, drink specials, FREE Bingo and a chance to earn entries for the April 26 drawing for $500 in Cash!
• Anniversary Giveaways Friday: Drawings at 5, 7 and 9 PM. Win up to $5,000.
• 5X Points Saturday: That’s five times the benefits for your play – every remaining Saturday in April!
• Free CVI Anniversary Wearable Monday: We’ll be doing this for the remaining Mondays in April and this week it’s a Black Short Sleeve T-Shirt. Just earn 125 points Monday and it’s yours, plus you keep the points!
• 10X Golden Tickets Monday: It takes a golden ticket to win the Toyota Camry on April 15 and on Monday you’ll earn 10X Golden Tickets - check in the casino for more information.
• Poker Room: All our Featured Games, Tournaments and Special Promotions are listed on our website, click here for the full story.
• Here’s a Handy Page with all our Current Casino Promotions!
• Sports and Race Book: This week you can bet NBA, MLB, NHL and the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts 500. Futures on the board include winners for The Masters, NBA Championship, NHL Stanley Cup and World Series. 

In Our Restaurants

• Wednesday is Italian Day in Katie’s – three specials for $6.99 each served from 11 AM to 10 PM!
• Our Friday special in Beer Braised Wild Boar Shanks $28. Saturday night’s special is Garlic Studded Prime Rib for $26 and Sunday's special is one pound of King Crab Legs for $32. These specials are served with fresh vegetable, choice of rice or potato (au gratin, baked, or a one-pound, twice-baked), tableside tossed salad and warm demi-loaf of bread.
• Click the restaurant name for more info, specials and links to menus for Katie’s, CV Steak and Jobs Perk at the CVI . . . or our nearby sister property restaurants, the Jackpot Café at Sharkey's Casino and the Bodines Restaurant at Bodines Casino. 

Planning a Stay at the CVI? You will always get the best rate by booking directly with the Carson Valley Inn either online or by calling our Reservation Department directly at 775-783-6629 or 800-321-6983.

Comments? Have questions or comments about the CVI? Use the comments section below, shoot us an email or pick up the phone and call us @ 775-782-9711. Hit “0” when the automated voice comes on and you'll go right to the hotel operator who can get you to the correct person or department.  We have a lot more coming up at the Carson Valley Inn so check our Blog posting every Wednesday morning!

Clear Creek Tahoe Golf Course Now Accessible for CVI Hotel Guests

Hi, I'm Greg Enholm and I am a PGA Golf Professional and proud member of the Carson Valley Inn Sales and Special Events Team! I'll be posting to the CVI blog this season with news and insights about the many area golf courses used by the 100+ golf groups that headquarter at the Carson Valley Inn each year. Today, I'm starting with the newest course added to our line-up of offerings for this year, Clear Creek Tahoe.

Clear Creek Tahoe, one of the best and most exclusive golf courses in the world, is located within minutes of the Carson Valley Inn! And, for 2014, we have access to this course for a limited number of Carson Valley Inn overnight guests! 

Clear Creak Tahoe was designed by arguable the best modern design team of our time – Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore.  The Crenshaw-Coore design uses the natural lay of the land as the canvas to produce unique, challenging and breathtaking layouts – I realize this description sounds like it's out of a hi-gloss brochure, but, in this case, it happens to be quite true!Speaking of that, the pictures in this post are not out of a hi-gloss brochure - I took tham last year. If you have any doubts - you'll know by the last picture!

Clear Creek Tahoe is the ultimate golf experience in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.  If lucky enough to play Clear Creek, do not expect a grandiose clubhouse and other facilities.  Simplicity can be found everywhere on the property.  The golf shop and restaurant are small, classy and well appointed. The driving range has perfect target greens . . .  and the short game area and putting greens have the appropriate slope to get you ready for what you will find on the golf course.

The golf course rolls with the natural terrain of the eastern slope of the Sierra.  The designers did not move much besides hundreds of pine trees to carve out the par-70 layout.  The course can be lengthened to 6900 yards but the four sets of tees allows for an enjoyable game for all abilities.  The major defenses of the course are the undulating fast greens.  If your ball comes to rest on the wrong section of the green be prepared to play some major break.

There are many reasons to play Clear Creek Tahoe.  My favorite characteristic of the course is the lack of rough.  From tree line to tree line the grass is fairway high allowing a better chance to negotiate a shot into the green.  Another high-end touch is the Pro-V1 practice balls on the practice tee.  Don’t even think about taking the range balls to the first tee. Rumor has it Clear Creek employs a Sasquatch which looms in the forest watching your every move. If ‘Satch’ catches you taking range balls – enjoy your time with the Donner’s as you won’t be making it to the first tee.  

The Carson Valley Inn has a membership to Clear Creek Tahoe for the 2014 golf season, allowing us access for up to eight people in any day.  So, if you are traveling to the CVI with a golf group, come a day early or extend your trip by a day to play Clear Creek.   

With the  addition of Clear Creek Tahoe to the other area courses the time is now to see why over 100 golf groups stay with the CVI annually.  Access to Clear Creek is not guaranteed in 2015 so call me today at 775-783-6615 or post a comment below . . . quick, before 'Satch' gets me!