This Nevada golf course has been purchased by First Tee

RENO, Nevada — It took several months for the paperwork to be signed and pushed through, but First Tee Northern Nevada is now the official owner of Wildcreek Golf Course in north Reno.

Washoe County commissioners approved the deal last fall and the deed was signed on Tuesday, transferring ownership to First Tee.

Wildcreek is the new home base for the youth development organization that serves thousands of Washoe County kids and teens. First Tee is one of 10 chapters in the United States to have its own course.

The Washoe County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously last year to transfer ownership of Wildcreek Golf Course on Sullivan Lane in Sparks to the nonprofit youth development organization.

Under the terms of the agreement, First Tee will be required to operate the golf course for charitable or civic purposes for the community. If the property ever ceases being used as agreed upon, it will revert automatically back to Washoe County.

“This is such a fantastic opportunity for First Tee Northern Nevada — our branch of this amazing national organization will now be one of just 10 across the country that has a course of its own to call home,” Chris Dewar, executive director of First Tee Northern Nevada said in a news release. “Every year we teach more than 20,000 youth, ages 5 to 18, life skills through the game of golf, in schools and on golf courses. Having a home course will allow us to reach many thousands more.

“The core values we teach — honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment — serve our young people well for the rest of their lives.”

Wildcreek Golf Course in Sparks, Nevada Oct. 15, 2021.

First Tee Northern Nevada will now begin a fundraising campaign to raise money needed to remodel the current clubhouse so it can be used as an after-school tutoring center.

The balance of the funds the county has earmarked for the Wildcreek Golf Course at the time of transfer will be donated to First Tee Northern Nevada to be used as a one-to-one match for the organization’s fundraising efforts to make facility improvements that better support the organization’s mission.

“I know I speak for the entire board when I say we are so excited to share this opportunity with First Tee,” Vaughn Hartung, chair of the Washoe County Board of Commissioners said in a news release. “Our whole community benefits when we have young people who participate in character-building programs like the ones offered by First Tee.”

“This is the best thing that has happened to public golf in Washoe county in a very long time,” Mike Mazzaferri, owner of Mazz Golf Management, said.

First Tee Northern Nevada began operating in 1997.

Jim Krajewski covers high school and youth sports for the Reno Gazette Journal. Follow him on Twitter @RGJPreps. Support his work by subscribing to RGJ.com.