Columnist Barb Henderson: Country club opens in our neck of woods

Barb Henderson

Friday, Sept. 13, 2002 | 9:12 a.m.

Barb Henderson is an outdoors enthusiast, freelance writer and producer/host of outdoors radio television programming. Her column appears Friday in the Sun.

When you think of a country club you might envision a golf course. At Desert Lake Country Club in Boulder City, you won't need a caddy.

Shotguns, bows and arrows replace woods, irons and putters -- but there are golf carts. Some shooters/golfers have compared the shooting sport of sporting clays to golf. I have never played a round of golf (yet) so, I'm not sure of the similarity.

This new 80-acre members only country club has been designed specifically for shooting sports and is part of PMC (Precision Made Cartridges) Ammunition, the fourth largest ammunition company in the United States.

Located on high desert terrain in Boulder City and nestled in Eldorado Valley between the Eldorado Mountains and Black Mountains, the shooting club when completed will comprise a mile-long, 20-station sporting clay course; two five-stand sporting clay station; trap and skeet shooting facility; 25 station, 50-yard handgun range; 10 station, 300-yard rifle range; and a mile-long, 24-target 3-D archery course.

A gorgeous 6,400-square-foot lodge (still under construction) will allow a 360-degree view of desert mountain scenery. The lodge will house a pro shop stocked with shotguns, ammunition and shooting accessories (attended by a resident gunsmith) and a cozy dining room.

During the grand opening last week, PMC offered me the opportunity to shoot the sporting clay course with range Manager Dick Mandeville, a NSCA Level 111 Instructor.

We spent most of the morning traveling along the sporting clay course in a golf cart, winding along the paved trail that had been designed like a maze through the high desert mountain terrain. The cart would stop at each station, allowing us the opportunity to take our best shot at the variety of challenging patterns that simulate actual behavior of game out in the field.

The skeet and trap facilities are finished and the 24-target archery course is nearing completion. This exciting course is designed to keep the archer in natural, rough desert mountain habitat. Members will not be have the luxury of a paved trail or an opportunity to ride the mile-long course in a golf cart.

The course will have archers hiking around cactus and through sagebrush around high desert terrain in search of unique 3-D targets of turkey, javelina, bear, deer, antelope, sheep and many others -- including an alligator.

For more information on Desert Lake Country Club and/or PMC Ammunition, please call 294-0025 or visit the websites at: www.desertlakecc.com or www.pmcammo.com.

At least now I understand what it means to say: "I had a marvelous day at the country club."

Outdoor digest

WATER FOR WILDLIFE: The Nevada Division of Wildlife along with members of Wildlife and Habitat Improvement of Nevada (WHIN), Southern Nevada Off-Road Enthusiasts (SNORE) and Southern Nevada Chapter of Trout Unlimited (SNCTU), recently hauled approximately 2,000 gallons of water to 13 water guzzlers projects used by various species of wildlife in the Nelson Hills and Searchlight area.

LAS VEGAS FLY FISHING: Las Vegas Fly Fishing Club and NDOW will hold a free fly tying workshop on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m at the NDOW offices. For more information/registration, contact NDOW at 486-5127 ext. 3504.

ONE-FLY FISHING: The Southern Nevada Chapter of Trout Unlimited and High Desert Fly-Casters will hold a one-fly tournament, banquet and the 2003 Nevada Trout Stamp Judging Contest in Ely on Sept. 28. For more information call 497-9396.

VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking volunteers to work the National Public Lands Day celebration at the Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge on Sept. 28 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Volunteers will restore and recreate historically suitable habitat for the endangered Moapa dace and other native species. Volunteers can register before Sept. 19 by calling 515-5453.

PAINTBALL PROHIBITED: The USFS reminds the public that paintball activities are banned in the SMNRA in the areas of but not limited to Kyle and Lee Canyon, Cold Creek, Lovell Canyon, Mount Potosi and Trout and Carpenter Canyons. For information contact the U.S. Forest Service at 515-5400.

Until next week -- enjoy the great outdoors!