The Golf Lodge, now open in Carson City, offers players the advantage of lowering their scores | Carson City Nevada News

On one of our notoriously windy summer afternoons, when a golf ball would have flown all the way to Lake Tahoe and possibly beyond, The Golf Lodge in Carson City formally opened its doors Thursday, showcasing the contrast between two experiences.

One would be to play a round of golf on a simulator at a world-famous golf course in a warm, windless, and welcoming environment. And the other, that same evening: to play golf in 30 mph winds that would have you running after your golf cap instead of playing a leisurely round.

As the wind blew its top, members of the Carson City Chamber of Commerce, family, friends and dignitaries gathered for a brief ribbon cutting outside the city’s newest entertainment center.

Assemblyman PK O’Neill presented a certificate of commendation to 26-year owner Alec Emmons, and then he tried out his rusty golf putt at Pebble Beach. Emmons gave him some tips and he immediately improved his stance and putting. Mayor Lori Bagwell and House Speaker Melanie Thomas also handed out certificates of commendation and those who wanted to try out the simulator got a chance to show off.

The Golf Lodge features a full-service bar and a private meeting/party room, as well as a main lounge with three simulator bays where fans can follow the efforts of their favorite local golfer while enjoying a cocktail. In total, there are four Trackman iO simulators and four practice bays to practice skills while playing more than 330 courses.

No matter what the weather, hot, cold or windy outside, this year-round golf club is open to both serious golfers who want to improve their score and beginner golfers who won’t have to line up foursomes while learning the finer points of the game. The simulators are a great learning and “training” tool.

The simulators score quite accurately and provide valuable information on every aspect of swing and putting technique to allow for better form when playing one of the region’s excellent outdoor courses.

Conveniently located at 4530 S. Carson Street, adjacent to the soon-to-open law offices of Benson & Bingham, The Golf Lodge offers a variety of craft cocktails, draft beer, wines, and over 48 selections of bourbon, scotch, bourbon, and more. Memberships available. Visit the website here.

— Ronni Hannaman is Executive Director of the Carson City Chamber of Commerce.