Montreux Golf & Country Club

Montreux Golf & Country Club opened in 1997 as the only Jack Nicklaus Signature Design course in Northern Nevada. Built in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada at 5,500 feet elevation south of Reno, the course was carved through ponderosa pines, aspens, and along the banks of Galena Creek. Nicklaus himself has designated Montreux among his top four or five designs worldwide.

The club became closely associated with the PGA Tour when it began hosting the Reno-Tahoe Open in 1999, an event later rebranded as the Barracuda Championship. The tournament used the unique Modified Stableford scoring format. Montreux hosted the event through 2019, establishing itself as one of the most difficult venues on the PGA Tour schedule.

The signature stretch known as the Bear Trap encompasses holes 6, 7, and 8, featuring shimmering lakes, breathtaking mountain views, and undulating greens that test even the best professionals.

Montreux delivers a premier mountain golf experience at 5,500 feet elevation in the Sierra foothills. The course plays to nearly 7,500 yards from the tips with a par of 72 through towering ponderosa pines and aspens along Galena Creek. Elevation changes are significant, and the mountain setting creates constantly shifting wind conditions.

Conditioning is excellent with bentgrass fairways and greens that roll true. The course was rated among the most difficult on the PGA Tour during its years hosting the Barracuda Championship.

Altitude significantly affects ball flight at 5,500 feet. Expect shots to fly 10-15 percent farther than at sea level, and adjust club selection accordingly. The mountain terrain creates unpredictable wind patterns, so check conditions before each shot.

The Bear Trap stretch of holes 6 through 8 is where rounds can unravel. Play conservatively through this section, as water and demanding green complexes punish aggressive misses.