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Rating Index Rating
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3.7
301 Reviews (301)
5 Stars
72
4 Stars
107
3 Stars
58
2 Stars
36
1 Stars
28
Conditions
3.4
Value
3.6
Layout
4.2
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
4.3
Amenities
3.6
70.4%
Recommend this course
193 out of 301 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
12 Reviews (12)
5 Stars
5
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.4
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.7
Amenities
4.2
StaffFriendliness
4.9
100.0%
Recommend this course
12 out of 12 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.0
29 Reviews (29)
5 Stars
10
4 Stars
13
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
1
Conditions
3.8
Value
3.9
Layout
4.6
Pace
4.6
Amenities
3.9
StaffFriendliness
4.6
86.2%
Recommend this course
25 out of 29 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
The accommodating staff consistently impresses golfers, from flexible booking changes to patient, helpful service throughout the round. The course layout stands out, with a notably challenging forest-lined back nine that rewards experienced players.

About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Style Links
Par 72
Length 6820 yards
Slope 140
Rating 73.0

Northstar California Golf Course has a unique layout that was seamlessly integrated with the rugged, wooded terrain of Tahoe. The front nine plays through a scenic, rolling valley while the back nine plays through the towering pines of the forest. The first nine holes have a classic links layout and the back nine demands precision with its tree-lined fairways and small greens. Native vegetation and scenic water hazards are scattered throughout the golf course. Strategically placed sand bunkers add another challenging element. The signature hole at Northstar California Golf Course is the par-3 15th, which requires a shot over a creek to a small green.

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Northstar California Golf Course
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Course Details

Year Built 1974
Fairways Blue Grass
Greens Blue Grass
Golf Season May - October
Architect Robert Muir Graves (1974)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - $25
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, MasterCard, Amex, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No

Food & Beverage

Food & Beverage

Lodging

Lodging Available

Available Activities

Swimming, Billiards
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Reviews

3.7
301 Reviews (301)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 12
Patio Dining 9
19th Hole Scenic Views 6
Course Challenges Include:
Narrow Fairways 19
Forced Carries 18
Elevation Changes 16
This course/club is great for:
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 14
Advanced Golfers 11
Locals 8
This Course's Location is:
At a Resort 18
Worth the Drive 15
Near Local Attractions 11

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
2.0
Verified Purchaser

Greens were half sand half grass

Not sure why but the greens were the worst I’ve ever seen. They were half sand half grass. I’ve played there a hand full of times over the last couple years and love the course but today was the worst greens I’ve ever seen by far!

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 16
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Winter Damage to Greens

Course is greatly overpriced for conditions. Greens suffered damage from winter ice and has not recovered. Hold off playing until at least August. We won’t be back soon.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Greens are bad.

Overall ok. Greens are very bad for only being able to play 9 holes.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
3.0
First Time Playing

Course is in bad shape

Course may be decent the end of August, its not worth playing now

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 21
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Northstar fun

Course was just opening after a frozen winter. Tough on the fairways and especially on the greens. Wait until mid July to play here.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Course Needs TLC

Nice layout and setting. Course really needs attention. Particularly, the greens need significant attention.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Course is in bad condition

Greens are horrible, Only front 9 open, played twice for 18. Should have been $40 not $70 for the condition it was in

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

They just opened June 9th but probably should have waited until next year. Continuing problem growing grass. Only front meadow 9 holes open and grass on tee boxes, greens, & fairways has too many weeds & dirt!!!

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Early season open

My wife and I signed up to play Northstar on Golfnow.com at $50 per only to find that only nine holes of the course had only been open less than a week.. We discovered that only the front nine holes were open and the greens on most of those holes were sanded and in quite poor condition. Neither Golfnow nor anyone at the golf desk mentioned that only nine holes were open. We discovered this when we finished the first nine and made the turn to start the back nine--only to find it closed! We played part of the first nine again but were disappointed in the overall experience. We've played Northstar a number of times in previous visits to the Tahoe area and had good experiences but it was way to early in the season this year.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Love this course

I like that 9 holes in the meadow and nine holes in the pines. Course was not in great condtion, dont know if it was the time of year or due to the corona virus. We played this course in years past and it was one of our favorites in the Truckee area. We will try again the next time we are there.

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

One of the better values in Tahoe

Front 9 relatively open and plays through the meadow, back 9 tightens up through the mountainside and into the woodlands. Course is short & rough is relatively forgiving, so a good opportunity for those who hit a long drive to get some swings in with their long irons. The scorecard has a helpful little tip for each hole, which I found to be a nice touch. Will definitely get back out on this course soon.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 46
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Great round w/COVID and smoke conditions

Easy booking through GN and we got a really good rate. We were greeted by friendly staff who made us feel welcomed. Very courteous, and introduced us to the new normal re the COVID compliance regulations for the course. The fairways and greens were in great shape. We played under smoky conditions given the CA fires, which, under the circumstances, on this day we lucked out and for this area didn’t seem as bad as around the Lake. The front nine has wider fairways and more like links style, open with some trees, but gotta keep it out of the rough. The back nine is a narrow, forest mountain course, keep it accurate and straight. We finished in under four hours. Bathrooms and water fountains not available out on the course, but inside the clubhouse, and prepackaged food (could use some improvement), and beverages at the turn only. All in all, it was a really fun day for this husband/wife twosome.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 26
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather

Fun course

First time playing this course. Fun and challenging layout. Great course to walk.

One of the staffers who was operating the beverage cart stopped and gave a quick swing lesson to a young boy who appeared to be pretty new to the game. Thought that was pretty cool.

Had some pace of play and etiquette issues on the back nine with others golfers but those things come with a holiday weekend.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Nice day/new course

First day at Northstar for most of us. Course was in 'ok' condition; the greens were disappointing. The tee boxes are being maintained/moved so for the ladies tees this was not good - some far too close...

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Fun Track

Course is getting better after a late start. Greens good now. Love the back nine.

Best value in Tahoe!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 46
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
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