Answer: The same as great golfers, wildlife, great scenery, cardivascular exercise, a kids party zone, awesome food and drinks and of course the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open.

Take a look at these photos and see what you are missing if you don’t get out to the Montreux Golf Course and see this great event for yourself.

Legends Reno-Tahoe Open
Jack Nicklaus Signature Design course, Montrêux Golf & Country Club
August 3 – 9, 2009
http://www.visitrenotahoe.com/reno-tahoe/what-to-do/events/08-03-2009/legends-reno-tahoe-open

Exciting PGA TOUR action returns to northern Nevada with the 11th annual Legends at Sparks Marina Reno-Tahoe Open, playing through Aug. 9 at Montrêux Golf & Country Club.

As the PGA TOUR’s only summer West Coast stop, the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open offers fans a fun-filled week of low-scoring professional golf along with the return of many of the tournament’s most popular events including “Fiesta Loco,” “Kidz Par-Tee Zone,” Vino 100 Wine Walk, as well as the charity events “Renown Get Fit Fore Charity” and “Birdies for Charity.”

The 16th hole is once again home to “Fiesta Loco,” a fiesta-themed hospitality area featuring margaritas, a taco and burrito bar and the fan-favorite Mariachi Band. Also back for a fourth consecutive year is the “Vino 100 Wine Walk” beginning each day at 9 a.m. with mimosas at the driving range and inviting spectators and wine enthusiasts to walk the course and enjoy a wine tasting along the way. The “Kidz Par-Tee Zone” also makes its return to entertain the junior fans Friday through Sunday with a play area including a putting green, bounce houses, face painting and more.

While the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open is committed to helping the community in which it plays year-round, tournament time brings two charity events that encourage attendees to join along in the spirit of giving, “Get Fit Fore Charity,” and “Birdies for Charity.”

The “Renown Get Fit Fore Charity” walk is a course-long pedometer walk through Montrêux’s beautiful tree-lined fairways. With a $5 donation, each participant receives a pedometer and a chance to win a prize based on the number of steps taken along the course. “Birdies for Charity” is another way to follow the action and compete among friends while helping a worthy cause as participants are tempted to donate anywhere from 10 cents to $10 or more for each birdie carded during the tournament with the closest guess taking home a prize. Proceeds from both charity events benefit local non-profit organizations.

The following is a list of activities and offerings at the 2009 Legends Reno-Tahoe Open, Aug. 5 – 9:

Thursday, Aug. 6

• 7 a.m.: First Round Tournament Play
• 9 a.m.: “Renown Get Fit Fore Charity” Walk begins
• 10 a.m.: “Kidz Par-Tee Zone” opens
• 11 a.m.: “Fiesta Loco” on the 16th hole; “Taste of Reno: Beers and Brats” on the 9th hole
• 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.: Golf Channel Broadcast – Live First Round Coverage
• 10:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. Golf Channel Re-Broadcast – First Round

Friday, Aug. 7

• 7a.m.: Second Round Tournament Play
• 9 a.m.: “Renown Get Fit Fore Charity” Walk begins
• 10 a.m.: “Kidz Par-Tee Zone” opens; “Vino 100 Wine Walk” begins
• 11 a.m.: “Fiesta Loco” on the 16th green; “Taste of Reno: Beers and Brats” on the 9th hole
• 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.: Golf Channel Broadcast – Live Second Round Coverage
• 10 p.m. – 12 a.m.: Golf Channel Re-Broadcast – Second Round

Saturday, Aug. 8

• 9 a.m.: “Renown Get Fit Fore Charity” Walk begins
• 9:30 a.m.: Third Round Tournament Play
• 10 a.m.: “Kidz Par-Tee Zone” opens; “Vino 100 Wine Walk” begins
• 11 a.m.: “Fiesta Loco” on the 16th hole; “Taste of Reno: Beers and Brats” on the 9th hole
• 3:30 – 6 p.m.: Golf Channel Broadcast – Live Third Round Coverage
• 9 – 11 p.m.: Golf Channel Re-Broadcast – Third Round

Sunday, Aug. 9

• 9 a.m.: Final Round Tournament Play; “Renown Get Fit Fore Charity” Walk begins
• 10 a.m.: “Kidz Par-Tee Zone” opens; “Vino 100 Wine Walk” begins
• 11 a.m.: “Fiesta Loco” on the 16th hole; “Taste of Reno: Beers and Brats” on the 9th hole
• 3:30 – 6 p.m.: Golf Channel Broadcast – LIVE Final Round
• 6 p.m.: Trophy Presentation on 18th Green
• 9 – 11 p.m.: Golf Channel Re-Broadcast – Final Round

Monday, Aug. 10

• 5 – 7 a.m.:  Golf Channel Re-Broadcast – Final Round

**All times are approximate and subject to change.

For more information on this year’s Legends at Sparks Marina Reno-Tahoe Open, including ticket sales, volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.LegendsRenoTahoeOpen.com or contact the tournament office at 775-322-3900.

For one week a year, some of the best golfers in the game stream into Reno Tahoe, seeking birdies, avoiding bogies and playing on one of the best golf courses in the West.

The Legends Reno-Tahoe Open, a PGA TOUR stop at Montreux Golf and Country Club (Aug. 3-9) in south Reno, offers a unique setting among the pines of the Tahoe forest (just minutes from Lake Tahoe) but is also right at the tree line with the Nevada desert on display in the valley below.

And although the LRTO offers a true PGA experience, this isn’t your father’s – or even grandfather’s – golf tourney. Spectators come out for the laid-back party atmosphere. It’s serious golf without the serious attitudes.

Take the Fiesta Loco-themed hole at #16. Here the margaritas and tequila drinks will be flowing, along with a burrito and taco bar. Oh, and there is also a Mariachi band. What would a PGA TOUR event be without a Mariachi band?

And of course there is plenty of fun for the kids. The Kidz Par Tee Zone offers a bounce house, face painting, putt-putt golf and more. This may be the only tournament where the cheers of the gallery have to compete with the sound of squealing kids having a blast.

If you are a wine lover, the Vino 100 Wine Walk offers the opportunity to enjoy all of the golf action while sampling wines at various tasting stations throughout the course. What could be better than a sunny day, high-level pro golf and wine tasting all at the same time?

On top of it all, the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open is an open invitation to have a great time viewing the game that we all love. Beyond the unique events and attractions – and of course competitive golf (players are competing for a $3 million purse as well as all-important FedExCup points), tickets are reasonable, and transportation from Reno Tahoe hotels is fast and easy.

For more information, visit the LRTO page at VisitRenoTahoe.com.

A partnership between the Legends at Sparks Marina Reno-Tahoe Open and Tahoe Creamery is bringing together two favorite summer pastimes – ice cream and golf.

With the purchase of a pint of Tahoe Creamery coffee or chocolate ice cream (with the tournament logo), earn a $5 discount on tourney tickets. The PGA TOUR stop comes to Montreux Golf and Country Club Aug. 3-9, bringing some of the biggest names in golf as they compete for $3 million in purse money and a chance to earn valuable FedExCup points.

Read the Reno Gazette-Journal story and learn more about the tournament online.

Disc Golf has been part of Reno’s master plan for years but never became a reality – until now, with the partial opening of “The Ranch” at Rancho San Rafael Park.

The Ranch, Reno’s disc golf course, is under construction at the north end of Rancho San Rafael Park behind the Reno Sports Complex. Nine holes are currently open and the other nine will be installed following additional community fundraising. The effort is being spearheaded by the Reno Disc Golf Association.

Disc Golf is on a steep growth curve, with more than 100 new courses installed each year. The game doesn’t require deep instruction or investment, so it is approachable. All you need is a disc or two, and a good attitude.

There are now more than 1,300 disc golf courses in the U.S., with hundreds more around the world. The Ranch is Reno’s first disc golf course, although there are several others in the Reno-Tahoe area

- Photo and post courtesy of Michael Jacobus, president of the Reno Disc Golf Association