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Rating Index Rating
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3.5
236 Reviews (236)
5 Stars
53
4 Stars
83
3 Stars
47
2 Stars
30
1 Stars
23
Conditions
3.4
Value
3.5
Layout
3.7
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
4.1
Amenities
3.3
64.6%
Recommend this course
148 out of 236 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
2.7
3 Reviews (3)
5 Stars
1
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
1
Conditions
2.7
Value
3.0
Layout
3.3
Pace
4.0
Amenities
3.0
StaffFriendliness
4.3
66.7%
Recommend this course
2 out of 3 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.5
22 Reviews (22)
5 Stars
7
4 Stars
6
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
2
Conditions
3.5
Value
3.5
Layout
3.6
Pace
4.0
Amenities
3.4
StaffFriendliness
4.7
68.2%
Recommend this course
15 out of 22 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Style Links
Par 72
Length 6781 yards
Slope 139
Rating 72.4

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

Reviews

3.5
236 Reviews (236)

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
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Beautiful setting

Rough too long for resort course. Sometimes lost a ball 3 feet off fairway. Greens okay. Back 9 is a completely different course from front. Target golf on the back with a lot of elevation change. Fun course if you don’t care too much about score

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Not a good value

Unfortunately, the golf courses in pretty shoddy condition. I see weeds growing in their bent grass greens. Bunkers are awful, a lot of the rough hasn’t been mowed as you can see dandelion heads growing.

For an additional $70 you can go play Coyote Moon and it’s in fantastic shape. You amortize that over 18 holes you’re talking about three dollars or so more per hole for a greater playing experience.

The worst part about it is I drove two hours to get there, and was very disappointed.

The best thing about playing yesterday, the two guys I played with were fun, and the Smashburger was delicious.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Not worth the money

We were excited to play Northstar for the first time - well not impressed at all - course is not in good shape for the cost to play - it is not a forgiving golf course at all - course knowledge is a must on this course. We were given a very poor photo copy of a score card with recommendations on where to hit listed on the edge of the card - most of the recommendations were cut off and could not read. For the cost to play as well as high cost of food/drink, this course should be much better.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather

Tale of two nines

The back nine can ruin your day. Target golf on the back to be sure but if you have never played there you'll have no idea where your targets should be. Even then, you'll need to be on your game to score. If you're just out to kill some time in a nice setting? Maybe. But then there are other choices. The front nine is basically flat and wide open but you still need to hit fairways to score. The two nines couldn't be more different! But hey, it's golf. And who said it should be fair? ;') (I won't return, however.)

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Poor
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Course was not a great value.

Northstar has a great layout, but is not maintained well. The greens had a lot of weeds in them, the bunkers were not maintained at all. The scorecard was a paper copy. For $140, the experience was extremely disappointing.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Northstar Golf Course Review

My experience at the Northstar GC was like playing two different golf courses. The front 9 is pretty straight forward. Wide open and laid out nicely. The back 9 is a different story. The lay out is a lot different from most courses I play. I had a great deal of difficulty with the design. For me…it just didn’t flow well. That’s just my personal opinion. The staff are very nice. For the price this was not a great deal.

Conditions Good
Value Good
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

Rough long around greens. Greens spongy and slow. Good family value with kids or grand kids.
Use golf moose deals for best price.
Currently not in best shape. Surprised because it’s July and not May/June after thaw. It was fun once. Probably wouldn’t go back.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Management and Maintenance Win

Best conditions I've ever seen in the 15 years ive lived and played in Tahoe. Hats off to the maintenance team for doing such a great job, especially after this winter. Greens rolling true. Staff in pro shop is vey friendly and starters are helpful. Pace of play is a little slow but its Tahoe golf so its slow everywhere. Wish the outdoor bar styed open a little later to accomodate the turn if you start after 330 but i get it, syaffing is tough right now.

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

Disapponted

Front nine is like a cow pasture. Fairways and greens in poor condition. Back nine is much better. Won’t go baxk

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Looking good Star!

I am so impressed with the condition of the course!! It was a big wet winter and Northstar did a great job putting together the best conditions I've seen in years. The greens look great and play true! Great atmosphere all around! Nice job Northstar team. If you haven't played the area I would recommend Northstar, they have really good online rates and in my opinion the best views.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
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
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Golf nut

It is early for a mountain course to recover from the winter snow. Fairways were a bit thin/sparse in places. The greens were very good, could be faster.
The support staff were excellent, engaging, courteous very friendly.
I would definitely play here again.

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