DarkHorse GC: Aerial
View of a green from DarkHorse Golf Club.
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3.9
1530 Reviews (1530)
5 Stars
789
4 Stars
459
3 Stars
153
2 Stars
63
1 Stars
66
Conditions
3.9
Value
3.9
Layout
4.7
Friendliness
4.0
Pace
3.8
Amenities
2.6
82.7%
Recommend this course
1339 out of 1530 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.1
27 Reviews (27)
5 Stars
13
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
6
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.1
Layout
4.9
Pace
3.9
Amenities
2.6
StaffFriendliness
4.0
88.9%
Recommend this course
24 out of 27 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.9
87 Reviews (87)
5 Stars
35
4 Stars
25
3 Stars
17
2 Stars
3
1 Stars
7
Conditions
4.0
Value
3.9
Layout
4.7
Pace
3.8
Amenities
2.6
StaffFriendliness
3.9
83.9%
Recommend this course
73 out of 87 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 7005 yards
Slope 139
Rating 74.7

Nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills, DarkHorse Golf Club tumbles across a magnificent landscape that once served as a cattle ranch. The course incorporates a variety of elevation changes that range from subtle to dramatic. This tough layout is definitely not for the faint of heart. From short par 3s to monstrous par 5s, this course has a little bit of everything. The severely sloped greens demand accuracy and the bunkers were strategically placed to provide a multitude of shot-making opportunities. Tricky doglegs and uphill and downhill lies aren't the only challenges you'll face, there are also several water hazards that come into play throughout and an abundance of trees that make it even more difficult to navigate your ball. DarkHorse G.C. is situated 50 miles east of Sacramento and though it might be a bit of a drive to get there, local golfers consider the round well worth the trip.

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Course Details

Year Built 2002
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Keith Foster (2002)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
GPS Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted Visa, MC, AMEX, Discover
Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code No Denim, Collared Shirt Required

Available Facilities

Clubhouse

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top Courses in California (2014 #4)
  • Golf Advisor: Golfers' Choice (2014 #32)
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Reviews

3.9
1530 Reviews (1530)

Reviewer Photos

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Nice course

Nice course in great condition. Play got a little slow towards the end as the group in front of us seemed to been playing a scramble and took several minutes between putts . Complimentary bottles of water at several locations on the course. Bring food as the beverage cart never had hot dogs when we saw her. Good course at a good value. Every hole was different and I used each club in my bag at least once.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great course poorly maintained

I love this course but wish for $80/round they could afford to rake the sand traps prior to weekend play—than maybe people would care enough to rake them after they play—not enough rakes around traps and can anything be done about the idiots that don’t care enough about the game to fix ball marks on the greens?

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Difficulty

Difficulty level for a 13.5 handicap is a good test.

There are some excellent holes. Some holes are more forgiving than others. I throughly enjoyed the course. Playing with my brother-in-law who is a 2+ shot 75. It was great to see his game at Darkhorse.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Nice layout. Friendly staff.

This course is worth the drive. Challenging but fair. Greens always in great shape. Great value and fun course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Good Day

Will come back to play more! It was nice and relaxing round of golf.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

DH Review

My favorite layout, great price, beautiful area. Only negatives. Traps were solid and not raked to be sandy. Completely compacted. Several greens were pot marked with ball marks. Maybe signs reminding golfers to fix hallmarks and divots to keep course in great shape. I fixed or sanded many as I played.

Ball tracker and putting green are awesome and price and ease are super!!

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Love it!

Course was in very good/great condition. Enjoyed the course and experience. Only bummer was group in front of us playing WAY too slow. Beginners playing from blue tees. They were running about 20-30 minutes slow. We picked up on one hole and jumped them. Marshall caught them soon thereafter.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Previously Played

Beware

They will charge you if you an extra 79 dollars if one of your guys don’t show up. 3/4 showed up and they charged me 79 for the 4th be careful.

Also no Marshall, 4:50 round. Slow

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 14
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 19
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

excellent course

Great course layout, would play it everyday if i could

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 18
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Perfect spot

Simply the best public course around. Conditions are always top notch and the layout is playable, but challenging. Great views and the newer carts are nice. As everyone else mentioned, it would be nice if they had a bar or restaurant, but ill take great golf over amenities any day. Will definitely be back.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Not sure why this place ever gets bad reviews

Have played here many times. Jason is great. Course is always well manicured. Bunkers have great sand, but have been damp from watering. That’s the only possible negative I have to say about the track. Toptracer range is nice, practice greens have plenty of variety, and the best carts in the area. Don’t have a clubhouse or on-site restaurant/bar. Do offer water though and has cart girl.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap Don't know
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 19
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Darkhorse

The course is in great shape. Greens were fast but rolling true, sand traps were in perfect condition. Overall 5 stars as it’s one of the best courses in the area.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Fun to play

I played this course on opening day and several times after. I haven’t played this course for several years. No longer having a club house/bar to go to at the end of a round was missed. I would still come back and play again.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
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