Straddling the border of California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe is nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and widely regarded as one of the most stunning destinations in the United States.
Surrounding the largest alpine lake in North America, which sits at more than 6,000 feet above sea level and stretches 22 miles long and 12 miles wide with a surface area of 193 square miles, are some of the finest high-country golf courses in the country. Among the top options is Old Greenwood, managed by East West Hospitality.
Tucked among the pines, the cottages feature spacious two- and three-bedroom layouts with fully equipped kitchens, making them ideal for golf trips, couples’ getaways, and family escapes. While your guest enjoys a drink in the private hot tub and watches the next foursome move down the fairway, you can tend to the grill and prepare lunch. Between rounds, guests are within easy reach of swimming, pickleball, tennis, a fitness center, hiking trails, and access to exclusive dining experiences.
Old Greenwood
Old Greenwood
A short trip from your private home leads you to the trail you came for. The experience of playing the Golden Bear’s course does not disappoint.
On the par-72, 7,518-yard Signature course, golfers can expect rolling hills, numerous bunkers, large greens, and the kind of strategic challenge that defines Old Greenwood. The course is demanding but rewarding, with a mountain setting that makes every hole feel connected to the surrounding landscape.
There are also plenty of fine courses nearby to test your skills, including Gray’s Crossing, Martis Camp, Lahontan, Clear Creek, and Edgewood Tahoe, which hosts the annual American Century Championship.
At Incline Village, golfers can access two popular courses: the Championship Course and the Mountain Course. The Mountain Course is the highest-elevation short course in Nevada. Combining breathtaking scenery with demanding golf, the Championship Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and renovated by Kyle Phillips, is known for its tight fairways and stunning views. With a slope rating that exceeds 140, it is also one of the area’s tougher challenges.
Old Greenwood
Another demanding test is Schaffer’s Mill, a par-71 course that measures more than 7,000 yards and debuted in 2008 to immediate acclaim. It was named the No. 1 New Private Club in California and ranked among the Top 10 New Clubs in the Country by Golfweek magazine. U.S. Open winner Johnny Miller designed the front nine, while John Harbottle III crafted the back nine. Set between historic Truckee and beautiful Lake Tahoe, the course offers a varied and memorable experience.
The landscape features a meadow nine accented by pine forests, lakes, and streams, followed by a mountain nine defined by rocky outcroppings and dramatic elevation changes of up to 400 feet. Throughout the round, players are treated to sweeping 360-degree views of Martis Valley, Lookout Mountain, and the Carson Range. Tight fairways and several water hazards make shot placement essential for optimal scoring.
Kevin Mathis, the director of golf, offers valuable advice on navigating the course.
“There are definitely places you don’t want to hit and areas to avoid missing, both on the fairways and greens. With green speeds usually between 12 and 12 ½ and the undulations, course management becomes crucial,” says Mathis.
Gray’s Crossing
He adds, “As with many courses, hitting it short is often your best bet. Most of our bunkers are located mid to back of the greens, and the greens slope back to front, so leaving the ball a bit short generally provides the best option.”
There is no shortage of other outdoor activities in the area. Between rounds, visitors can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and horseback riding. Many visitors and locals also head to the lake’s sandy south shore beaches to soak up the sun. Water sports are a major part of the Tahoe experience as well, including waterskiing, sailing, fishing, powerboating, kayaking, parasailing, jet skiing, paddleboarding, wakeboarding, and even scuba diving.
In winter, Lake Tahoe offers world-class skiing, and one destination that features both golf and skiing is Northstar California.
Northstar offers a variety of conveniently located condos and hotel rooms, ensuring guests are never far from ski lifts, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. For golfers, the first tee is just a two-minute drive from the main village. The par-72 resort course blends beautifully with Tahoe’s rugged, wooded terrain. The front nine moves through a scenic, rolling valley, while the back nine winds through towering pines.
Another must-play before golf season ends in Tahoe is Grizzly Ranch Golf Club, known for being both challenging and remarkable.
Grizzly Ranch Golf Club
Located less than an hour’s drive north of Truckee, this semi-private par-72 course stretches 7,411 yards and is surrounded by more than a million acres of national and state forest. The mountainous terrain features dramatic elevation changes and picturesque valleys lined with trees. With a slope rating of 140 and a course rating of 74.9, it presents a tough challenge from designer Bob Cupp. However, five sets of tees make the course accessible to players of varying skill levels. In 2021, it was ranked among the Top Ten Public Golf Courses in California by Golf Digest.
While the golf season in Lake Tahoe may be shorter than in other renowned California golf regions, including Monterey, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Palm Springs, it is undeniably rewarding. The combination of alpine air, postcard scenery, strong course design, and relaxed mountain hospitality gives Lake Tahoe golf a character all its own.
For golfers planning a summer visit to Old Greenwood, the timing can be especially appealing in July. The American Century Championship returns to Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline, Nevada, from July 8–12, bringing together sports and entertainment celebrities for one of the most popular annual events on the Lake Tahoe calendar. From Old Greenwood in Truckee, Edgewood Tahoe is about an hour’s drive, making it a realistic day trip for guests who want to pair a high-country golf stay with the energy of a nationally recognized celebrity golf tournament.
Lake Tahoe
Old Greenwood also carries its own PGA TOUR pedigree as the longtime home of the Barracuda Championship, a summer stop recognized as a favorite among golf professionals. Formerly known as the Reno-Tahoe Open, the tournament has been part of the Reno-Tahoe golf scene since 1999 and is operated by the Reno-Tahoe Open Foundation. Played on the Jack Nicklaus-designed Old Greenwood course, set across 600 forested acres and framed by the Sierra Nevada mountains, the Barracuda Championship has given fans a chance to see PGA TOUR players take on one of the region’s most scenic and demanding layouts.
For travelers who come for the golf and stay for the scenery, Lake Tahoe offers a rare summer combination: a Jack Nicklaus course at Old Greenwood, days framed by mountains and pines, evenings by the lake, and the bonus of nearby tournament energy at Edgewood Tahoe.
