“He saw Reno-Tahoe golf before anyone else did. Then spent 20 years building the infrastructure to prove it.”
Lifelong Reno-Tahoe resident, UNR educated, 30 years in Nevada gaming and hospitality.
Founded Golf the High Sierra in 2004 — when courses like Old Greenwood, Somersett, and Grizzly Ranch were just breaking ground and nobody was packaging them together.
Built GTHS from the ground up through golf shows across the western US, a regional magazine, and relationships with every hotel, casino, and course in the region.
Simultaneously founded ZoomAway Travel Inc., a travel technology platform for hotels, ski resorts, and golf properties — taken public on the TSX Venture Exchange in 2016. The proprietary online registration portal that GTHS groups use today is a direct product of that work.
“The sweet spot is 10 to 16 guys. Big enough that you fill two foursomes and have a real group dynamic on the course, small enough that you can sit at the same table for dinner and move as a crew.”
— Sean Schaeffer
“The man tour operators call by name. When professionals in the group travel industry need the job done right, they ask for Mike.”
BA Environmental Studies, California State University–Sacramento (Class of '94). Took a road less traveled into the golf and hospitality world.
Built his career across Nevada's casino resort industry — including roles at John Ascuaga's Nugget Casino Resort and Silver Voyages — before joining Golf the High Sierra.
Brings deep relationships inside every major casino resort in the Reno-Tahoe corridor, which translates directly into group rates, room blocks, and dining access that public booking can't match.
His event planning and sponsorship background means nothing slips through the cracks — from name-tagged box lunches to charter bus logistics to tee time sequencing for 20 players across three days.
“Mike Milligan just set the gold standard for planning the ultimate golf trip. Our 20-person Ryder Cup was pure golf perfection — flawlessly organized, zero drama, and ridiculously fun from start to finish. Mike, you didn't just plan a trip — you built a masterpiece. 10/10. MIKE IS AWESOME!!!”
“Started on the lesson tee at La Quinta. Grew a golf management company from 2 courses to 9. Now he brings every relationship in Northern Nevada golf to your trip.”
Western Illinois University educated. Began his golf career as an Assistant Golf Professional at La Quinta Resort in Palm Springs — where the game is taken seriously.
Worked through Heritage Palms Golf Club and Fox Acres Country Club before moving to Sparks, NV to manage sales at Red Hawk — The Golf Club at Wingfield Springs.
Joined Duncan Golf Management as Director of Sales and grew the organisation from 2 to 9 courses in under 5 years — building the regional golf sales playbook that still runs today.
Served as General Manager and COO of Hidden Valley Country Club, Reno — Nevada's first private club, founded in 1956, now managed by Troon. Brings the inside knowledge of private club operations that lets GTHS unlock tee times others simply can't access.
Loves animals. Coaches football and baseball for his twin boys.