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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
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Average Rating
Avg Rating
0
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
0
Value
0
Layout
0
Friendliness
0
Pace
0
Amenities
0
0%
Recommend this course
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
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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 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Greatcourse

Beautiful views easier front 9 and challenging back 9 holes. It helps to read the tips when you play.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 108
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Georgia Advisor
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played
Average weather
Used cart

North Star is very scenic

North Star golf resort is truly an enjoyable expirence. I had a tee time at 4 for a twighlight round. The pro shop was great my only complaint for the day was you didn't get many golf balls in the bucket for the range. The range and putting green was great. The hole front 9 was near the he highway and airport. The courses second nine was in the woods and was a little more scenic because you could see the ski lift at the resort. 18 was a buetifully hole with the creek. Nobody in my group played well but we all enjoyed are round.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 34
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Wonderful!

This is the second time we've played Northstar. We really enjoy this course. The facilities are immaculate. The carts are top-notch electric carts. They have an extremely friendly starter (Jim) who makes sure that golfers know the layout of the course and that pace of play is strictly enforced. We saw several rangers during the course of the day who were making sure that golfers were keeping pace. This was great as we played as a twosome and didn't have to worry about slow play holding us up. There were quite a few comfort stations on the course, so that wasn't an issue. Also, they had a beverage cart on the course and we saw her frequently. This is a a great course to play and we highly recommend it.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

Fantastic course

It is such a amazing and beautiful course. It was the first time, but I could play well because the direction on the score card was very detail. I wanted to go play again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

Great setting, okay course.

This course is like two different 9 hole courses, which I didn't care for. Some course design issues in my opinion. You should have a well struck and well placed tee shot bounding out of bounds off mounds and strangely angled fairways. This happened on several occasions. Greens were very slow and course was maintained to the level you would expect to find on the local muni. The staff was nice.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Default User Avatar
Commented on 06/18/2016

The course has a unique layout, which many people enjoy. A well placed tee shot by a 5 handicapper will not go out of bounds. In fact, the course has no out of bounds, just laterals. We give specific guidelines to playing the course, so players can choose the correct line and distance off of the tee. Best value in Tahoe.

Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

Great time, but slow!

This is the second time playing the Northstar Course for me, and I found it better this time around. It is in surprisingly good condition considering how early it is in the season, and the rough made you pay for errant tee shots! It stacked up quite a bit on the back nine, which is the only complaint I have.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Northstar Sep 25, 2015 golf

enjoyable afternoon of golf for my wife and myself. Played as a twosome and had a great time. Very friendly staff. A good, challenging golf course that is very playable and designed well to be fun, scenic and a memorable experience worth the value.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Used cart

Resort Course or Muni? You decide

I was expecting a typical resort course type experience but the it was more of a muni -type. The greens were good but the rest of the course conditions were far from ideal. I played the Ponderosa 9 hole the day before and it's conditions far exceeded Northstar. Mats for the driving range - balls are not included in the green fee....

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 40
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

One of the best courses ever played

On a beautiful morning we played on this course. The staff greeted us, and although we were earlt we we were allowed to start as soonas we were ready. The course was in pristine condition. The layout with lots of doglegs was interesting and well built. On a few holes there were blind hazards which raised our score, but thR is all in the game.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Average weather
Used cart

Windy

Course was in great shape and played really tough on the front 9 with the wind blowing.

But overall was a great experience and thought the back 9 was a lot of fun.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Northstar

The course was in very good shape and the tee times went as planned. Front nine is very different from the back side, which is a mountain feel with more trees.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Affordable Tahoe Golf

We got a great deal and had a fun time. Well worth it.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

narrow fairways

slow as a 5 some was allowed in front of us. Thiscaused backup for several groups behind us and we were hit into 3 times. The fairways were narrow as the second cut on a lot of holes was high and made it more difficult for my twosome who ar16-20 handicaps

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 18
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
4.0
Previously Played

Challenging Course.

Very challenging course with beautiful scenery. Really fun course for an experienced golfer.
Course marshal tells you to play faster when you are 1/2 hole behind. Then when you catch up you wait hole after hole. Do not stop for lunch, under-staffed cafe will keep you waiting and then when you tee up at # 10 the Marshal comes back and says you are behind. Lunch is poor and slow. (they staff 1 person on a Saturday but have a marshal driving around telling you to speed up -- what the h-XX.). Marshal ruined the day: we are still talking about it. Probably need a new management team -- just saying. Lots of great golf at North Shore, no need to put with this.

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Friendliness Poor
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 29
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

A tale of two nines

Front side good, backside bad. Front is an open meadow with good routing and great views, back nine is jammed in and around houses, narrow, goofy layout with just a few straight forward holes, very pretty though. Can get very windy on front nine. Green are in very good shape and fast with some subtle slippery breaks but a true roll, good putters will like them. Staff is great.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 16
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

ESCAPE THE HEAT

nice course-good condition--played it to escape valley heat--back 9 more difficult--greens a little slow and hard to read but overall well worth playing--nice patio too

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather

TWO DISTINCT NINES

Front nine more open than the claustrophic back nine. Trees and elevation changes are challenging on the back nine. Great, friendly staff. Would play again but from the white tees.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Average weather
Used cart

Great course not so on the managment

They must have over booked, I felt like I was being pushed , We finished the 18 in 3:15 hrs but were constantly being rushed by the management. They need to forget about the money and make it a more fun time.

Conditions Good
Value Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/14/2015

Golfers should disregard this review. oldmandave, if you played in 3:15 ? there is no reason you were pushed. I don't think that would happen. Were people waiting behind you? Sounds like sour grapes- no one likes to be told they are slow-especially the SLOW players. In my experience the staff is very friendly.

Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Joevcal

This is a fun course, but the back nine has several holes that require local knowledge.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Poor weather
Used cart

Northstar is a great venue!

Played a rain shortened 18 holes. Had to stop after 8 and go to club house. Waited over an hour to finish 9 and call it a day. Staff was excellent, friendly, and very helpful. They put our clubs in out of the rain while we had hot chocolate and coffee waiting out the storm. Great place and great staff.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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