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 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great course terribly managed.

This course could be great if it was actually managed properly. We were charged $70 for a course that was in $35 shape. The layout is awesome and plays good. However this will be the last time I play it until they actually get someone who can manage it. The course was over watered, so most shots were taken from soggy ground (even on the fairway) the par 3 16th tee back was disgraceful, it was like teeing off from a beach at low tide.

The ground was so wet in places that the ball plugged so deep you couldn’t find it. Some bunkers didn’t have rakes, tee boxes are uneven and the pace of play was terribly slow because they don’t have a Marshall.

I usually love playing this course but it has become unplayable. You are better off playing the ridge, just down the road from Dark Horse.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

plugged

greens plugged I would like play mofe don't like playing by myself

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Didn’t say greens are sanding when booking

Got hustled by golf now and dark horse with their hot deal that usually represents one good value valued round everybody wants. So I was happy when I was able to grab one on weekday at 2:20.

But there was no mention the price reflects fees while the greens are being sanded, this was not a “hot deal” but a discounted round offered for crap green conditions just like when the greens get plugged. Wouldn’t have bought if I knew.

Also, this course has ZERO ball washers & ZERO water coolers/drinking fountain on course. Long hot day too

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Punched greens

Greens punched 1 week prior. Fairways getting much better from getting beat up by the heat. Lots of fairway divots that are not filled, that’s more on patrons than the course staff. Place will be in amazing shape in a few weeks I believe.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

So glad I played

Fantastic shape. Pace was slow but got better after about 5-6 holes. Worth every penny and I got a fantastic rate. Will definitely play again!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 25
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Bit of a disappointment overall. Needs work!

Was really looking forward to playing here. Let me start by saying the best part of this course by far are the greens. I have played many private and public courses throughout the US and the greens were up there with some of the best. The fairways and 1st cut were a different story. Many of the fairways had large bare spots or patchy areas and carts were not allowed in much of the fairways via signs or cart electrical restrictions yet there was no mention of so much restriction when we got there. I did reserve (ahead of time) the only rental set of clubs they claimed were nice however, they failed to mention ahead of time there was no sand wedge and the original putter (both stolen apparently) Putter was in such bad shape I used the someone else’s.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Used cart

not worth $80

they lost all the fairways and the course is in the worse shape I have ever seen. Truly a shame loved this place. Will be a while before the course is even close to good again. Around the greens dirt no grass. Greens tho are in good shape

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Staff was horrible and crazy rude

Course was okay. It was overwatered which made it feel hot/stickier, but also impacted some holes chipping off the fairway, which sucks.

The worst part was by far the customer service and staff. We had 20 scheduled to play and unfortunately one woke up sick and couldn't arrive and the other was on call (which the course knew about) and had to go into work. Instead of discussing things with me they decided to charge me an extra $180.. as if they've never encountered a no show before.

ALSO - they apparently don't have enough carts to supply the course. Although pace of play was behind some (not our fault either - the closest group behind us was 2 holes back), they were irate when we were returning carts and even took a friend's bag off of the cart and threw it on the ground. Super unprofessional and the guy was a 100% jerk. Can't believe he works with people. I won't be recommending this course to anyone.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Poor
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 09/23/2024

That wasn't me dude. Get your facts straight.

Default User Avatar
Commented on 09/21/2024

You were drunk and harassing everyone. It was time for you to go and your statement about what happened couldn’t be a bigger fabrication. Sorry you were having a bad day but you were threatening staff and members saying you would come back and do something we’d all regret. If you would like to come watch the videos of you causing a scene you are more than welcome to.

Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Terrible management

Have no idea how to run a course. Terrible shape. Terrible management. Will never go back

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
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 Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 30
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Beautiful Course Layout - Excellent Greens

DarkHorse is in a beautiful location and has a beautiful course/hole layout. Tough course--a lot of uneven, hillside lies. The greens are in outstanding shape, as if it was early Spring, but it's late summer and the greens are perfect. Tee to green though has that late summer burn and dry marks. A lot of rough patches on the tees and fairways, due to the summer heat / time of year.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Very tough course.

Very tough, long course. Huge greens with lots of slope and lots of bunkering. I liked the course a lot, but unfortunately, the fairways were in very rough shape. I saw a note that they were killing crabgrass in areas. There were many bare spots on the fairway and also overwatered muddy spots. That said, I will play again when it’s not so hot outside.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great greens!

The greens are beautiful and challenging! The course lost a few various size fairway patches during the intense heat this summer. Happy to say grass is already sprouting in those areas. Never get tired of the beauty or the course and its surroundings!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

First Time Playing at Darkhorse

The course conditions were decent. While there were some areas with worn-out grass, staying in the fairway kept the impact minimal. The staff presence was limited, with only two individuals seen—one at the clubhouse (if you can call it that) and the other being the cart attendant. I was a bit surprised when they wanted to check my cooler for alcohol, but I complied despite finding it unnecessary. The cost of $90 per person seems steep, especially when considering the high prices of beverages. Overall, the experience was below par. I would suggest playing the course in the Fall or Spring for better conditions.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Fair
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

First time out - beautiful course

While the weather and the course conditions were great, we were sandwiched between groups with the group ahead of us very inexperienced causing pace of play to be frustrating.

There is no clubhouse per se, but the practice facility and anything directly golf related is top notch. I like they put the investment into the golf first, and the club house amenities can follow.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great course

Good to see the weeds going away . Looks a little ugly now but later you will have great fairways again

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