DarkHorse GC: Aerial
Aerial view from DarkHorse Golf Club.
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4.0
1527 Reviews (1527)
5 Stars
788
4 Stars
457
3 Stars
153
2 Stars
63
1 Stars
66
Conditions
3.9
Value
3.9
Layout
4.7
Friendliness
4.1
Pace
3.8
Amenities
2.6
83.7%
Recommend this course
1336 out of 1527 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.9
55 Reviews (55)
5 Stars
22
4 Stars
13
3 Stars
15
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
4
Conditions
4.1
Value
3.8
Layout
4.7
Pace
3.8
Amenities
2.6
StaffFriendliness
3.8
83.6%
Recommend this course
46 out of 55 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.9
98 Reviews (98)
5 Stars
40
4 Stars
28
3 Stars
19
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
7
Conditions
3.9
Value
3.9
Layout
4.7
Pace
3.8
Amenities
2.4
StaffFriendliness
3.9
84.7%
Recommend this course
83 out of 98 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

4.0
1527 Reviews (1527)

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played

Fluff the bunkers!

Friendly staff, great layout.

The sand traps have beautiful white sand in them,

but compacted. Bounced my 60 degree wedge like skipping rocks!

Come on guys, fluff yer sand a little!

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

So dissapointing

Started with the starte bumping our tee time up 10 minutes. Told me we had a 12:00 start when in fact it was 12:10 on golf now. So straight to the tee we went. The sand traps were so bad. They have all this great sand in them but the water in them made them ALL hard pan. Not sure why the grounds crew hasn’t done anything to keep the traps in half way decent order…

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 26
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 12
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser

Traps and weeds

I have played this course a lot over the years and I love the layout, but since the new owner took over and put in the new sand traps, which they were so proud of in the beginning, they’re not in great shape now, weeds are growing in the sand traps. Weeds, all around a lot of the sand traps. Not a good look, especially for the price they charge to play out there. Also, the special they offer is smoke and mirrors. Two for $99 is nice but then they get you for an extra $15 to play the weekend.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 20
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Lost its luster

Have played at darkhorse numerous times in past 6 years. Course condition great. No ball washers or spike cleaners, no water on course,

No marshall, Slow Play took almost 5 hours. midweek. ground crew oblivious to players hitting into them . traps ok but overgrowth needs trimming, cart barriers overdone. driving range tee boxes are neglected now- No pro shop, Something has changed. Lots of homes in construction so maybe course thinking private opportunity on the horizon.

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Course Does Not Live Up To Its Potential

Loved the course layout and views. Course was over-watered in and around the greens. Sand traps were inconsistent, some overgrown some good, and some wet and muddy. No pro shop. Saw the beverage cart on the third hole and never again. Water was nearly non-existent for players. At the turn there was a food truck, but the young lady who we assume was manning the truck was busy on her phone and told us if we wanted anything to get it from the beverage cart, which we never saw on the back nine.

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Poor
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Course falling in rankings

The staff on hand was nice. Food facilities were closed overall Course condition average Greensboro punched kind of slow and inconsistent. Worst part of the course of the sand traps a rack so much about the new sand and the reconditioning of the traps. They’ve let them go. There’s weeds in the traps weeds around the traps. The traps are very seldom right or maintained from the look of it From what the course was to where it’s at it’s gone down the ranking levels in my mind.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Best course in the NorCal Sacramento region

The new ownership have turned this course into the best location by a mile. Price is great and the course is in amazing shape. Hats off.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Loved the challenge

Great layout! Bunkers need a little more care. Fairways were good with a nice roll-out. Greens were in good shape...still can't believe that golfers can't repair their divot. Warm up on mats. Great targets on range.

GPS on comfortable carts is nice!

Take the drive up there. It's worth it!!

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

What a Let Down

Booked a 740 am tee time, guy who checked us in told me it was for 730 (he was wrong) so we didn't get a chance to warm up at all.

Then, when we forgot something in our car and attempted to drive the cart in the parking lot, the same dude screams at me and says the carts aren't allowed in the parking lot. I told him I've never seen a course not allow this before, and he said it's because people leave their carts in the lot, which I've never done or seen. What a way to start the round!

Then, on 16, the course maintenance people were working on a sand trap, their carts in the middle of the fairway. It didn't even cross their mind to move their carts so we could play the hole and not hit their carts. They finish up their work on 16, and go right to 17 and do the same thing.

Then, on 18, what looked like the course manager and a maintenance person were working on some irrigation/drainage issue in the middle of the hole, as we tried to play the hole around them.

It's a first world problem, but this was literally the worst golf experience I think I've ever had. From the rudeness and incompetence of the guy in the shop to the clueless maintenance people, this place doesn't seem like they care if you're there or not despite paying $85 to play their muddy course.

It's a shame because this course used to be a gem with an actual clubhouse. It's a great design with beautiful homes everywhere. But whoever owns it now is running it into the ground and it seems they couldn't care less about providing a good experience to golfers. I won't be returning until they get their act together.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Poor
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 204
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 100 Contributor
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 13
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Fair
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Beautiful & Challenging

My title says it all. I absolutely loved this course. It was both beautiful and challenging. I can’t wait to play it again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Mayhem at Darkhorse

Brought my cousin from SD and his daughter, he hadn't played in a year and it was her first time playing so we got there early to warmup. Got to the course: no range balls.

Beautiful Top Tracer, covered range... no range balls.

Then, no carts. Carts weren't ready until 25 minutes after our T-time. We did get to witness a fight between an employee and a group that just finished.

It's not exactly the employees fault, they should just get more carts. And hire some staff to collect range balls. Problem solvd.

Conditions Good
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Poor
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

A little maintenance would go a long way

Seems like bunkers haven’t been tended to in months. A little TLC would go along way. Nice lay out. Would be hard to beat if they had appropriate bathrooms and clubhouse. Range was closed as they had no balls. No on course ball washers or yardage markers. Seems like ownership is cutting corners on maintenance, facilities, and staff.

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