DarkHorse GC: Aerial
Aerial view from DarkHorse Golf Club.
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Rating Index Rating
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4.0
1559 Reviews (1559)
5 Stars
802
4 Stars
473
3 Stars
154
2 Stars
64
1 Stars
66
Conditions
4.0
Value
4.0
Layout
4.7
Friendliness
4.1
Pace
3.9
Amenities
2.7
85.4%
Recommend this course
1367 out of 1559 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
31 Reviews (31)
5 Stars
14
4 Stars
15
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.6
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.1
Amenities
2.9
StaffFriendliness
4.1
96.8%
Recommend this course
30 out of 31 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.1
84 Reviews (84)
5 Stars
35
4 Stars
29
3 Stars
14
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
4
Conditions
4.1
Value
4.1
Layout
4.7
Pace
3.9
Amenities
2.6
StaffFriendliness
3.9
88.1%
Recommend this course
74 out of 84 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
The course layout consistently earns top praise, with scenic views and a challenging design that rewards repeat visits. Fairways and greens hold up well, and the overall value makes it a worthwhile destination for golfers seeking quality at a reasonable price.

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
1559 Reviews (1559)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 20
Watching the Game 8
Brunch 6
Course Challenges Include:
Elevation Changes 65
Bunkers 62
Undulating Greens 56
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 59
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 55
Locals 37
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 67
In the 'Burbs 16
Convenient to the City 8

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 10
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
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 Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Super slow

Had a tee-time of 2 PM, finally let us out at 2:35 PM and told us to start on hole number three. Played holes 16 and 17 in the dark. So we ended up playing 15 holes but no discount on the price.

I get that frost delays can happen, and that backs everything up but I would think they would discount the price and/or give you some range balls.

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Course is great, management is terrible

Zero Marshall’s, zero pace of play. Would be an amazing course if they brought in new management and new regulations. I’ve played 8-10 times and never teed off on the correct time. Always late and have to wait for golf carts

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 28
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Beautiful course

Lots of walking even with a cart.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Golf w college friends

Dark Horse is my personal favorite in the area and we had a great as usual!

That said, the severe backup and overcrowding on tee boxes was brutal due to early frost delay, and, our cart ran out of juice on 14 - sad not to get to finish the final 4 holes :(

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Nice Track, but...

This course is a nice track and overall in pretty good shape although I don't think it's a very good course in the winter just because of the drainage problems. The amenities of the course like a pro shop and a restaurant are pretty much non-existent. Also, I can't believe there isn't a single ball washer in the whole place, especially with how muddy it is in the winter out there. We were victims of a frost delay on top of a shotgun tournament on February 11th. That caused us to wait over 45 minutes past our allotted tee off time. When we finally did tee off, we had to wait at every subsequent tee box. That meant we couldn't finish 18 holes before it got dark. Very disappointing! Nobody offering any credits or discount for the fact that we booked a tee time that was well early enough for us to finish but we're unable to start until so late that it was pitch dark on hole number 16. My advice would be, do not play this course in winter and that, in general, there are other choices that I prefer. I am not sure I'll be back.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 45
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Foothill beauty

The course is great greens supper fast. But a 5 hour round is too long. The had cart paths only on several holes that could have been 90 degrees

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great layout, ridiculous greens

Course layout is tough but fair except for the greens. We were told they were 12 on the stimp meter, but for the average golfer they were stupid. I consider myself a decent putter, and.I took 40 putts to shoot 83. If you aren’t near the hole on your approach shot, it’s a 3 putt.

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

Great condition…lightning fast greens

The course is in great condition, especially when you consider the amount of rain that came down in the last few weeks. The greens were extremely fast!

The new carts are a great feature. But there were numerous holes (not just par 3s) that were cart path only.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great course but…

Outstanding golf course. Maintenance crews were all over course during prime time and lacked basic etiquette. There are very limited warm up facilities, no clubhouse, no restaurant (except beverage cart).

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Slow day

Pace of play could have been better . Otherwise all went well

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

Notifications

I wish they had informed me it was cart path only before I booked tee time. My other player has some health issues. I asked for handicap flag but was told they don’t have them. Other than that and amenities, great course.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 18
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Improvements

Every time I play this course, I see improvements being made.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Previously Played

Skip it

Welcome to Darkhorse, a course that has been in the process of failing for many years now. A course where you will be asked to pay premium prices for some stunning views, disrespectful and disorganized staff, a lack of fundamental amenities both on and off the course, and any attempts to provide feedback will be met with further irritation.

This course is the embodiment of the people we all hate playing with. The random guy you get paired up with throws a fit over every bad shot, even though most of his shots are far from good. The guy whose foul mood brings down the foursome. The guy dressed in designer golf clothes, smoking a four dollar cigar while reminiscing about that one time he "shot in the 60's" and "just barely missed qualifying for the tour".

Don't mistake this for a personal attack on the staff. This is just an attempt at creating a personification of their fundamentally dysfunctional business model.

But also understand that their staff will act like you are inconveniencing them when you show up to pay for your round.

Understand that they have actually made it difficult to do basic things like get your cart, which you can't take into the parking lot, which is directly adjacent to the clubhouse, and in full view of the window where you check in.

Understand that even though they don't sell water, they will also not have it available on the course because there is no one to refill the stations. There is a cart girl, but she works there just 3 days a week, and sometimes just doesn't come in because there aren't enough rounds booked to make it worth her time. Her words, not mine.

No clubhouse. No food to speak of (unless they were hiding it?). No reason to come back, especially considering the area is littered with great courses that want your business.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Poor
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 30
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
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