Best in Nevada; second in the country: Thunder Canyon honored by National Golf Course Owners Association

There is no shortage of good golf courses throughout Northern Nevada, and the best according to the National Golf Course Owners Association, just happens to be only a few miles outside Carson City.

Thunder Canyon, a private golf and country club located in Washoe Valley, was named the 2011 Nevada Golf Course of the Year and was second place in the nation. Hidden Valley, located in Norco, Calif., was the national winner.

Golf courses in Nevada are asked to submit an application, and are judged in the following categories:

• Exceptional quality of the course

• Exceptional quality of ownership and management

• Outstanding contribution to its community

• Significant contribution to the game

Gayle Block, who owns the course along with her husband, Roger, was pleased that Thunder Canyon was honored. The Block's have owned Thunder Canyon for 12 years and live within the country club.

"I had no idea we had any chance to win the state award," she said in a telephone interview from Palm Springs where a small group from Thunder Canyon was playing golf for a few days. "It blew me away that we were one of three finalists (nationally). I had no idea we'd be considered for the national award."

Bill Gibson Jr., the general manager at Thunder Canyon, said it's the first time the club has won the prestigious award.

"It's a huge surprise for us," Gibson said. "Traditionally, this award goes to public or semi-private course. They sent us a form, and told us they were looking at us. I sat down and gave them the answers.

"I feel great for myself and the rest of the staff to see the recognition that Gayle and Roger have received."

Obviously the committee liked what they saw, and what's not to like about Thunder Canyon? The par-72 7,241-yard layout from the back tees is a good challenge, and the various tee boxes make it playable for players of all levels. The magnificent views and homes add to the experience.

Gibson said the leadership of the Blocks has been critical to the success of the course, and that their work is one of the reasons Thunder Canyon was selected.

"They have invested themselves in the course and the community," Gibson said. "I'm fortunate to be a part of it. They do a lot of charitable work and host a lot of events at the course. They donated a lot of rounds of golf last year for charitable causes."

In an effort to promote golf and get new members, Thunder Canyon, which currently has about 150 members, has dropped its initiation fees and has no food/beverage minimums. The course offers a monthly family fee of $420, which covers the adults and kids up to 23 years of age. An individual membership is $370 a month.

"We give people an opportunity to try us out," Gibson said. "There are no food and beverage minimums. You pay for what you eat or drink.

"If we were a public course, we'd be in the $100 range."

Even though times are tough, Block said there are no plans for Thunder Canyon to become semi-private.

"I'll never say never," Block said. "We have a special place here."

Thunder Canyon has done a nice job promoting junior golf thanks to the efforts of golf pros Dave LaFata and Joe Casey.

The course has several clinics for kids during the year, and the course also plays host to high school and college practices (Carson High, Bishop Manogue and the University of Nevada) and regional tournaments as well as Northern Nevada Junior Golf Association events. They certainly do their share of giving back to the youth golfers in the area.

"We're trying to bring new golfers into the game," Gibson said. "We started a program that runs one week four times (during the season). They learn on the range and the course.

"Joe is a PGA pro who works in the golf shop. Wednesdays during the summer kids come out and he works with them. He teaches them the rules and the history of the game."

There is even off-the-course teaching, as Thunder Canyon has a state-of-the-art learning center.