Genoa Lakes Golf Club & Resort

The Ranch at Genoa Lakes Golf Club & Resort occupies land in the Carson Valley near Genoa, Nevada's oldest settlement, with the Sierra Nevada rising dramatically to the west. Designed by PGA Tour champion Johnny Miller in collaboration with John Harbottle and opened in the late 1990s, the course reflects Miller's playing experience and his preference for strategic shot values and natural integration with the high-desert landscape. The routing takes advantage of the valley's relatively flat terrain while incorporating water features, native grasses, and mature cottonwoods that define playing corridors and frame views toward the surrounding peaks. The layout emphasizes position over pure length, with fairway bunkering and water hazards placed to reward accurate driving and thoughtful club selection on approaches. Several holes play along or across ponds and wetlands that are part of the property's irrigation and ecological systems, adding both visual interest and strategic consequence. The greens are typically moderate in size with subtle contours, requiring sound lag putting on longer approaches. Conditioning tends to reflect the high-desert climate, with firm fairways and fast greens during the dry summer months. Genoa Lakes operates as a semi-private facility, offering resort access alongside member play. The property includes a second course, The Lakes, also designed by Miller and Harbottle, giving visitors options for multi-round stays. The setting provides a quieter alternative to the casino-resort courses in nearby Stateline and South Lake Tahoe, appealing to golfers seeking a more relaxed pace and mountain scenery without the elevation extremes of courses higher in the Sierra.