The First Tee of Northern Nevada recently launched its fundraising effort to improve the facilities of Wildcreek Golf Course located on 3500 Sullivan Way, next to the new Hug High School. It shared its architectural renderings for the vision of the project, which includes a two-tiered driving range, new championship nine-hole course, and a learning center.
The project to keep Wildcreek alive was approved at a Washoe County Commission meeting in 2021 in which it unanimously voted to transfer the course’s ownership to the 501(c)3 First Tee, which aims to teach young people life skills and sportsmanship through the game of golf. Its executive director Chris Dewar-Mazzaferri says that Washoe County, the City of Sparks, and the Washoe County School District (WCSD) were all instrumental in supporting this public-private partnership, which in turn provides an additional educational outlet as well as preserves a local open space/recreation resource.
Wildcreek has been operating as a six-hole course on the former nine-hole executive course that is open year-round, but Dewar-Mazzaferri says that it will need more monetary support to build a new nine-hole championship course and driving range. However, First Tee had to wait for escrow to close on the property (which happened on September 29, 2022) for the nonprofit to be able to launch its fundraising campaign.
The new Hug High School was built on part of the property that used to be the old Wildcreek as part of the WC-1 measure that passed in 2016 to support WCSD capital improvement projects. The course was owned for many years by the RSCVA (Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority) before it came on WCSD’s radar as a potential site for a new school. The WCSD bought a part of the property from Washoe County, putting the future of Wildcreek as a golf course potentially in jeopardy. The pandemic worsened things, and Duncan Golf Management walked away from managing it.
Fortunately, Mike Mazzaferri of Mazz Golf Management stepped in to work with the county and First Tee to keep the golf course going. A deal was worked out for First Tee to own the land and Mazz Golf Management to continue operating it. First Tee has partnered with Hug High School to help students with sports management, hospitality, and culinary curriculum, and is one of only 15 chapters nationwide to own a golf course.
The Wildcreek and First Tee Community Restoration Project is to be broken out into three phases that include: 1) Renovating the nine-hole executive course; 2) Building a 2-tier driving range open to the public; and 3) Closing down the property to build a nine-hole championship course. First Tee and Mazz also want to build a safe and innovative learning center for First Tee participants, provide a community meeting room, build a 1.5-acre putting green, and renovate the existing restaurant and pro shop on its 229 acres of land. Wildcreek is expected to employ 10 people fulltime, 40 people for part-time positions, and hire 20 seasonal staff.
The entire golf center renovation is budgeted at $12 million, and the Washoe County Commission has dedicated $2.2 million in a one-to-one match.
For more information about First Tee of Northern Nevada and how to contribute to the Wildcreek Restoration Project, visit https://www.thefirstteenorthernnevada.org.
Ernest Borba says
Looking forward to playing there. I live about 3 miles from Wild Creek I’m retired, played golf my whole life, and what you are describing is perfect for me. Keep me informed