If you enjoy watching celebrities, capturing an autograph, and spending the day in a spectacular location, The American Century Celebrity Golf Championship at Edgewood Tahoe is the place for you.  This year’s event runs from July 13 – 18, 2010.  John Elway, Charles Barkley, Ray Romano and scads of other celebs have competed in this tournament over the last few years.  The line up changes each year, but there are always plenty of well-known personalities to observe.

The first days of the event, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, are the up close and personal days.  One of the best places to watch the action is between the 16th green and the 17th tee box.  You get a nice breeze from the lake and the views are amazing.  From this vantage you may even hear some of the interviews going on between the players and commentators.

Here’s the scoop on the details.  The best deal by far is the $60 pass allowing entry all days.  Daily passes are available if you don’t plan to attend all days; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday go for $15 each day.  The price goes up to $25 per day for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Discount tickets are available at Raleys.  If you are planning to stay the night, check out Lakeside's "Live Like a Celebrity package. The gate opens at 7:00 a.m. each morning.  Ages 10 and under are free with a paying adult, limit two kids per grown-up.  If buying your tickets at the gate take cash or a credit card as no checks are accepted.  You can purchase tickets ahead of time at www.bluelaketahoe.com using a credit card.

Parking is a tough one, either get there early or plan on a little bit of a walk.  You may just want to hoof it and forget the car entirely.  Edgewood is right behind The Horizon Casino, it’s a pretty quick walk from most lodging properties.  Limited parking is available on Loop Road, paid parking in Horizon’s lot, or you may find a place in the upper lot at Mt. Bleu.

Take a light lawn chair for maximum comfort, otherwise these are long days of standing.  There is plenty of grass to sit on, maybe just a beach towel or mat to put down.  If you are taking a chair it can’t be in a bag or pouch.  Backpacks, bags and carry-ins can and will be searched:  no food or drink on any of the days.  Point and shoot cameras are allowed but no professional cameras (long range lenses).  Cell phones must be off and no banners or signs.

For Complete tournament details and a roster of this year’s celebrity players, log on to www.TahoeCelebrityGolf.com. Here's a printable Spectator Guide to help you plan accordingly.

Disc-Golf; Not Just For Hippies Anymore
by:  Curly (Lakeside Inn Blackjack Dealer, Graveyard)

Low-impact Outdoor Recreation
High up in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Lake Tahoe offers a lot of outdoor recreational activities in the summertime.  When the valleys below are piping hot and finding cool shelter is the priority, Tahoe often offers a cooler climate that is conducive to a casual stroll in the woods.  In my opinion the best way to stroll through the woods and enjoy Lake Tahoe’s natural scenery first-hand is to play disc-golf, A.K.A. “Frisbee-golf” or sometimes called “Hippie-golf”.  The moniker “hippie-golf” is certainly a fun take on a fun game but it doesn’t reflect the broad range of participants that enjoy this sport nationwide, from rank beginners to professional disc-golfers, from small children to retirees.


Disc Golf Basics
Best of all disc golf is free to play in Lake Tahoe once you own a disc or two!  (Sports LTD has a great selection! www.tahoesportsltd.com )  There are different kinds of discs (specially designed Frisbees) for different kinds of shots, just like there are different clubs for ball-golf.  There are drivers, putters and approach discs, as well as discs that prefer to go right or left, glide or roll.  The target is a basket that sits a couple of feet off the ground with hanging chains to kill the flight of your disc, instead of a hole in the ground.  In disc golf you get to pick up your disc where it lands and throw again from that spot.  If you get the disc into the basket in 3 shots, that’s a par.  The great part of the game is that whether you shoot a ‘deuce’ or ‘birdie’ on a hole or if it takes you 10 strokes to get it in there, it’s a great social activity that really gets you in touch with the environment as the course winds its way through changing landscapes!  That one great putt, “oh the sweet music of the chains!”, or that one great birdie drive, will bring you back for more.


Tahoe is a disc-golf Mecca!
Even a lot of local disc golfers don’t know about all of the courses in the area, so here’s a run down of what is available.  Lakeside Inn & Casino is a great home base from which to explore all of these disc golf courses;


SOUTH SHORE
• Bijou Park, Al Tahoe Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe (27 holes) This is a relatively flat, rolling, wooded course with some great views of Freel Peak (highest peak in the area at 10,880’) in a public park with free parking and restrooms.

• Zephyr Cove Park, Warrior Way, Douglas County (18 holes).  This course is very hilly and full of Manzanita, but the rewards are the challenge and the unbelievable views of Lake Tahoe from the highest holes.  Hole 15 feels like your throwing for the Lake!  Won’t be playable until mid-June when a fuel reduction project will be complete.  The project should improve course play!  Beginning behind the library in Zephyr Cove Park, there is ample free parking and amenities.

• Kirkwood, Highway 88, (18 holes).  Kirkwood which has legendary skiing and snowfall in the winter, is about 50 minutes from South Lake Tahoe to the south, but its worth the drive in the summer if your up for some BIG disc golf on their slopes and wildflower displays in July.  It’s a totally different landscape down there.  Free parking.  Check out the village afterwards!

NORTH SHORE
• Tahoe Vista Course, North Tahoe Regional Park, National Avenue (18 holes).  Lake Views. Moderate elevation changes. $3 for parking.

• Truckee Regional Park, Brockaway Road across from 7-11 (18 holes).  Mostly flat and relatively open course along the Truckee River.  Check out historic downtown Truckee right across the river afterwards!  Free parking.

• Donner Ski Ranch, Coming Soon! This course will not be free, as there will be an access charge for using their ski lifts to get there.

RENO/CARSON
When Tahoe is just a bit too nippy for disc golf, you might want to take a trip to “The Biggest Little City in The World” for some perfect disc weather.

• “The Ranch”,  Rancho San Rafael Park, North Virginia Street (9 holes), soon to be 18.  Reno’s first disc golf course just opened the back nine!  Great for beginners and experts alike among the park’s rolling sagebrush and views of downtown Reno and Mount Rose.  Free parking.

• Carson City, Centennial Park. (18 holes) COMING SOON!  Nevada’s capital city is planning its first disc golf course that will double as an interpretive trail.


Remember, practice etiquette, always bring plenty of water/sun protection and don’t litter.  Visit www.pdga.com for more information about disc golf.

Happy Throwing!
 

Edgewood Golf Course
Edgewood Golf Course is nestled along the beautiful shore of Lake Tahoe, Edgewood has played host to a variety of major golf events, the most notable being the American Century Celebrity Championship each July.  Since Edgewood is located at lake level of 6,326 feet they are open only seasonally.  They open as soon as the course is clear of snow and ready for action, sometimes as early as April and close sometime in October.  For current rates and tee times visit edgewoodtahoe.com.

Genoa Lakes Golf Club
Genoa Lakes Golf Club (times two) is open year round and is located just a short 30 minute drive down the hill from Lake Tahoe. They offer two dramatically different 18-hole championship courses.  The courses offer sweeping views of the Carson Valley as well as an array of wildlife.    For more information, rates and tee times visit genoalakes.com. If you are interested in playing both courses give them a call at 866-795-2709 and ask about their Double Down Rate.
 

Incline Village
Incline Village offers two different golf courses to fit any budget.   Incline Village Championship Golf Course is a classic Robert Trent Jones Sr. design and was completely renovated in 2003.  Add to that the most beautiful views imaginable.  Incline Village Mountain Course plays among old growth trees and elevation changes.  This course is fun and affordable.  They are open only seasonally.  Please check golfincline.com for information, rates and tee times.

Carson Valley Golf Course
Carson Valley Golf Course opened in 1965 and is located less than 30 minutes from Lake Tahoe.  The course meanders back and forth across the Carson River.  You’ll also enjoy the shade of century old cottonwood trees.  Green Fees are reasonable, too!  Please check carsonvalleygolf.com for information, rates and tee times.