Undercard: Reno-Tahoe vs. Central Oregon

by Vic Williams

HIGH DESERT BIG HITTERS

Ask any astute boxing historian what bout marked the beginning of the sweet science’s modern era, and they’ll most likely point to one date: July 4, 1910. The contenders for the undisputed title? Longtime West Coast champ James J. Jeffries, who came out of retirement to take on Jack Johnson. The place? A little ol’ railroad crossroads called Reno, Nevada.

After an epic battle witnessed by a huge, rowdy crowd, Johnson took Jeffries down in 15 brutal rounds. For that brief shining moment, Reno was the center of the universe — a feat, at least in the boxing realm, it would never repeat, though it came close a few times, mostly recently in 1985 when Larry Holmes took a 15-round unanimous decision over Carl Williams to defend his IBF crown.

Other champs in many weight classes have laced ’em up in the Biggest Little City over the years, from Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini to Livingstone Bramble, Alexis Arguello to Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker. Evander Holyfield came through town as a spectator. So did George Foreman and mega-boxing fan John Madden. While not as flashy or extensive as Las Vegas in its pugilistic portfolio, Reno’s history is much deeper — the Johnson-Jeffries bout took place at a time when Vegas was little more than a Mormon outpost — and it’s always been more meat-and-potatoes in its makeup.

It’s the same with golf: less flash, more substance. But when you throw Lake Tahoe and the Sierra into the mix, the Reno region’s got heavyweight cred among locals and traveling golfers alike. Its golfing “ring skills” are as sharp and varied as they come.

It’s not alone. Over the past decade, a contender eyeing Northern Nevada’s high-desert crown has risen up from a similar setting some 450 miles to the north, in Central Oregon. The once-sleepy mill town of Bend is now a golf vacationer’s juggernaut. The region’s collection of both established and brand-new,golf-rich public and private enclaves, with more to come, puts itchy travelers up and down the West Coast ringside for an apt and entertaining set-to with Reno-Tahoe. Even if it’s a pure upstart in boxing terms, with no history at all on the canvas, Oregon’s dry side has the goods to go the distance on the tees and greens. So let’s go to the blow-by-blow in this quick eight-rounder.

Round One. Bend comes out swinging with Sunriver Resort, a powerful combination of forest and meadow golf capped with Crosswater, perhaps architect Bob Cupp’s finest achievement, perennial amateur tournament favorite and new home for the Champions Tour’s Jeld-Wen Tradition. Reno-Tahoe fends off the onslaught with the potent one-two punch of public Edgewood Tahoe on Tahoe’s South Shore and private Montrêux just south of Reno, both of which host big-name events each summer — the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship and the PGA Tour’s Reno-Tahoe Open respectively. Draw.

Round Two. Reno-Tahoe shows its experience with a barrage of established, still-popular daily-fee resort courses: LakeRidge in Reno, Incline’s Championship and Mountain courses, Northstar near Truckee, Graeagle Meadows and Plumas Pines an hour north of Tahoe. Bend comes on strong in the final seconds with a slew of older but no less spectacular weapons of its own, including Lost Tracks just south of town and the two rejuvenated Black Butte Ranch courses out Sisters way. Reno-Tahoe by a whisker.

Round Three. Bend goes for the early KO with plenty of flash and glitter — namely its latest private dual-track masterpiece at Pronghorn, with brand-new Brasada Ranch adding some muscle. Reno-Tahoe hits the ropes for a moment, then rebounds with a slew of body shots straight from Truckee, home to Old Greenwood and Coyote Moon and Tahoe-Donner, which have the upper hand since they’re public. The Resort at Squaw Creek lands some solid shots, too, though newcomers Gray’s Crossing and Timilick — both private — seal the deal. Reno-Tahoe scores again.

Round Four. Back to some tried-and-true tactics for both sides. For Reno-Tahoe that means the Resort at Red Hawk — which boasts a private Hale Irwin and public Trent Jones Jr. test — Genoa Lakes and its own double-dose of great golf (one desert links, one parkland), Dayton Valley’s Arnold Palmer-Ed Seay sass and Wolf Run’s hypnotic, rolling charm. Central Oregon moves inside with Aspen Lakes and its red bunkers and Eagle Crest Resort’s scenic setting, but it’s not quite enough. Give it to Reno-Tahoe.

Round Five. Both corners bring out the architects to take some swings. The list is longer in Reno-Tahoe, led by Nicklaus, Palmer, Trent Jones, Fazio (George designed Edgewood and Tom is laying out Martis Camp in Truckee), plus Johnny Miller, Peter Jacobsen, John Harbottle and even Cupp, who came up strong with Grizzly Ranch in 2005. But Bend doesn’t break here, either; most of these names have left there mark there, too, with Bandon wunderkinds David McLay Kidd and Tom Doak stepping into the fray over the next couple of years. A definite draw.

Round Six. Reno-Tahoe’s not-so-secret weapon comes in the lodging and dining department. Granted, it’s a tourist destination from way back, with dozens of hotel-casinos, gourmet eateries and, more recently, an impressive lineup of high-end condo, resort and fractional options. Central Oregon is getting there — Sunriver and Pronghorn led the way — but for sheer force in numbers and stay-play variety? Reno-Tahoe all the way.

Round Seven. Going to the off-course recreation offensive, Bend scores some points with skiing at Mt. Bachelor, world-class fishing on the Deschutes River, hiking, rafting, camping, you name it. But wait, Reno-Tahoe counters with the lake itself, a world-famous jewel surrounded by the highest concentration of ski resorts in North America, plus epic summertime mountain-loving action. Both regions boast a “ski by morning, golf by afternoon” plan in the spring. A tough call. in fact, it’s a toss-up.

Round Eight. Intangibles and gamesmanship rule this final stanza — accessibility (both are an easy drive from major metro areas, though Reno’s airport has much more service), weather (both enjoy more than 300 days of sunshine each year) and, most importantly, value (great deals abound in both destinations, but we’ve again gotta give the edge to Reno-Tahoe for variety and affordability, especially if you don’t let the tables and slots rule the day). Advantage reno-tahoe.

In all, this bout turns on a few factors that throw it Reno-Tahoe’s way — most based on experience and size. Rest assured that as the years pass, Central Oregon will demand a rematch.

And we’ll be happy to give it to them. FG

RENO-TAHOE                CENTRAL OREGON

10    Setting/Atmosphere        10
10    Course Architecture        10
9        Course Conditioning    10
10               Variety            10
10                Value               9
10        Dining Options            9
10                Lodging            9
10        Non-Golf Recreation    10
10        Travel Accessibility        9
9                Weather                9
98             Final Score            95