5001 Northstar Drive, Truckee, California 96161, US
(530) 562-2267
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About Northstar California Resort

Although known as a ski resort first and foremost, golfers will love life in the summer on the mountain. Northstar's Robert Muir Graves course is a tale of two nines with the front in a meadow in Martis Valley and the back nine climbing into the trees. The ski village rocks with live concerts on weekends, multiple restaurants and a kids zone. No matter your age, there's plenty to discover: arts and crafts for the kids or yoga, mountain biking, hiking and spa for the adults.

Facts

Price Range$$$$, $$$
Property Class★★★
Acres3170
Year Opened1972
Number of Units100-300

Amenities

RestaurantsBar, Casual
Room TypesRoom, Suite, Fractional Ownership
TennisYes
Fitness CenterYes
Practice FacilityYes
Golf School/AcademyYes
SpaYes

Services

Kids ProgramYes
ConciergeYes

Rules

Is the resort pet friendly?Yes
Is resort stay required for a tee time?No

Golf courses at Northstar California Resort

Reviews

3.7
294 Reviews (294)
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Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
2.0
Previously Played

Very poor condition

Greens were ok, but fairways, bunkers and many tees are in poor condition. Appears to be a victim of little to no regular maintenance due to the lockdown.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0

Poor condition

As a pass holder last year and paying customer this year, I can honestly say that this course is long overdue for some much needed maintenance. Last year 3-4 of the greens were closed a majority of the summer months with temporary greens being set up ~100 yards short of the actual green. This year, I had hopes that work would have been performed with the course being closed until July, but my hopes were unfortunately denied. Many of the greens & fairways have dead spots and the overall condition of the course is a 2/5. I won’t be returning here any time soon.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Pace

So the pace of the game was fantastic and the staff were wonderful. The facility was great at following covid -19 rules. As for the course it self, the layout is fun. If your new watch out there is a lot of blind spots so plan your shots right. The fairways are great, the greens are Poorly keep. Besides that great course to play in Tahoe.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 26
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Spring conditions but getting close

My understanding is that due to COVID, the course opened later than usual this season. So here in the first week of August, there were some spring conditions, mostly on the greens. They were sanded and slow, but showing signs of life. The rest of the course was in good shape.

I love this track because you get two completely different experiences between the nines. The front nine is open in the meadows, and the wind can present some challenges. The back nine winds above the treeline and tightens up dramatically. Fun challenge.

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

Beautiful and challenging

We make it a point when we come to Lake Tahoe to play this course.

Staff is always helpful and friendly

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Not Resort Course Quality

Average clubhouse and practice putting and chipping greens but the driving range was closed. Friendly, helpful staff following COVID-19 precautions. For a mountain resort course in the Lake Tahoe area I expected it to be in much better overall condition: the greens had been punched and sanded weeks ago but they were still very bumpy and slow, the tee boxes were not well maintained with bare spots and weeds. The fairways were the best kept parts of the course. The rough was very deep and weedy. The layout is quite challenging from the blue or back tees.

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

Disappointed

The back nine was beautiful however the course was in terrible condition. The tee boxes were overgrown the fairways were patchy at best and the greens felt more like fairway. If the course were in better condition it would be a lot of fun, open in the front and lots of trees on the back but not worth the money til they fix it

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

North Star Golf Course

This was such a disappointment!!

We have plYed the course many times.

It was in such poor shape won’t plY it agIn .

We paid for 18 holes and only played 9.

VERY DISSATISFIED!!!

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 30
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Northstar Golf

The conditions of the course were disappointing especially the greens. It looked like the course had not been maintained during the closure.

They are running low on carts and are encouraging players to walk.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 47
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Beautiful Course

Northstar is such a beautiful course. There are so many interesting holes with many risk reward opportunities. Overall the course was in very good shape. The greens were very slow and a little bumpy in spots so it took some time to adjust. Due to the pandemic there is very little to shop for in the pro shop. They have a snack bar operating but be warned in order to get a beer you must purchase a sandwich or wrap.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Overcharging and Under-delivering

I've played the Northstar course dozens of times over the years. My wife and I own a fractional share in a property in the village, so we've been going every summer for the last 18 years. This used to be a very well-kept property. Last year, conditions had deteriorated significantly, but we attributed that to a bad winter and late snow. This year, however, overall course conditions are even worse. Many of the greens are un-puttable (if that's a word). in places the greens have gone to seed., while on the same green there are bare patches. Fairways are only playable using winter rules (in July!) .

Vail Resorts has abdicated their responsibility to maintain the course. Although they had almost three months (while the course was closed due to the COVID outbreak) , it appears that they did nothing to prepare the course. No seeding. No repairs. Just mow and open. To charge $90 for the online rate, and $100 as the "rack rate" is inexcusable.

There are many other more playable and enjoyable options in the Tahoe/Truckee area for the same or less money. Go to one of them.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
1.0
Previously Played

Whatever, Northstar - times have changed?

I had an 8:20 tee time this morning. Called the pro shop before, leaving a message to question reviews within the last week of players truly disappointed in current (not past) course conditions. The voicemail still says closed for season - huh? Then, No return call back. No overpriced green fees from me! Sticking to the core courses up here: Gray’s, old Greenwood, heck maybe even Ponderosa if they call me back. Seems like a change in personnel needed. PS the call back doesn’t require laid off COVID 19 workers.

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

Horrible greens. Just opened for summer. Fairways ok. Rough is way too think for this type of course in non/tournament time.

As stated, ok overall for just opening for summer but horribly slow greens and way too deep rough.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
First Time Playing

Course in bad shape...should be disclosed and discounted

They should be disclosing how bad the greens and overall conditions are and discounting the price dramatically because of it. I played another course in slightly better condition recently that both disclosed the conditions ahead of time and only charged half of the regular green fees.

We stopped even attempting putts a couple holes in and just took a standard 2-putt for the rest of the round.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
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 Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Scenic Twilight

3 of us really enjoyed 1st trip to Northstar. Thought the design was interesting & fair, 3 out of the 4 par 5's are risk/reward off the tee, Driver to try and get home in 2 or play for par with 3W off tee. The meadow front 9 is straightforward & back 9 in the trees gives interesting options off tee, & huge elevation changes for such short holes. Staff (pro, bartender, cart kid, snack shack) could not have been friendlier. Coming in on 18 out of the shadows with a sunlit 18 green was a brilliant end to a great day. Although we couldn't make a birdie on the day, we had a ton of pars & the scratch player in our group had 2 eagles on the front (par 5 & a chip in on a par 4)

Yup, there are about 4 greens (#5 & about 3 on back where the greens don't get much sun) that are in rough shape after a historic winter, if those greens cause a 3 Putt then take a 2 Putt & enjoy the views.

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

Hole in one

Course was very diverse, sage brush desert meadow on front night, then pine forest right back nine. Was awesome as my buddy Mike Lyons aced #13, hole! Group in front of us witnessed it as well as groups behind us. Unfortunately bar was closing at 6 when we finished so drinks were limited. Staff was awesome though.

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