By Thomas Lester ·
18 holes | Par 72
Yardage | 5,374-7,411
Slope | 129-140
Rating | 71.1-74.9
Courtesy Grizzly Ranch
Grizzly Ranch Golf Club is conveniently located along Highway 70 in the small town of Portola. Only a 50-minute drive from Reno and Truckee, this award-winning Bob Cupp design is a unique golf experience that is a must play for any golfer. The property is surrounded by more than 1 million acres of protected state and national forest land.
Despite the continuing drought, Grizzly Ranch is exceptionally lush and green. Currently conditions are flawless with true greens, pure fairways and vibrant green rough.
The course is aptly named, playing to a grizzly 7,411 yards from the back tees, but there are four tee boxes to choose from, allowing one to pick the ideal length for an enjoyable round. Unlike many mountain golf courses, Grizzly Ranch does not have any ridiculous elevation changes or forced carries. It plays fair for all levels of golfers.
Before teeing off, make sure to use their top-notch practice facility. There is a spacious driving range with pyramid-shaped stacks of range balls, a putting green that resembles the greens found throughout the course, and a short game area that has two sand bunkers to practice in.
The most difficult hole at Grizzly Ranch and in the High Sierra is Hole 3 and is a monster of a par 5. It is slightly uphill and is 640 yards from the back tees. Two enormous shots can still leave you with a middle iron into this green. Laying up on this hole is incredibly difficult since the fairway pinches in and gets extremely narrow at about 175 yards from the green. The approach shot into the green plays uphill over a large hazard that forces the third shot to be all carry. Par on this hole is exceptional.
There are two holes that allow you a fantastic opportunity to tame the Grizz. Holes 11 and 15 are both short drivable par 4s. Hole 11 is only 318 yards from the black tees. The green must be given some respect as it is undulating. Hole 15 is 330 yards from the back tees. A solid drive off the tee can leave a short pitch into the green. Look to make birdie on at least one of these two holes.
Grizzly Ranch offers stay-and-play packages with onsite lodging at Wolf Tree Cabins. Membership options are also available. For more information and tee times, call (530) 832-4200 or visit grizzlyranch.com.
