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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 10
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Very disappointed due to the poor greens conditions
Had we been forewarned then it’s acceptable cause it would be our choice . Did talk with staff after our round and they were understanding and thought an alert was posted and that green fees reflected the fact that greens were not up to par. I can’t agree that fees were in sync to conditions. As I said , staff was understanding

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Greens were horrible.

One of the employees shared that most / all the green in Tahoe had been badly damaged last Winter. I’ve subsequently seen Poderosa & Grays crossing however & their greens are both fine.

I love NStar, but they really should have warned patrons of how bad the greens were. Thanknyou

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Very poor condition

I called the course to check on playing condition’s. I was told that due to severe ice damage in the Truckee area from winter weather a couple of greens were recom ended for 2 putt only. After playing the course IMO over half of the greens were not playable! . The tee boxes were full of weeds and the fairways were played with preferred lies. We played three other courses in the area last week, this was by far in the worse condition! I do not recommend this course!

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Greens in bad shape this summer.

The course is normally great, I love this place. I normally don’t even mind paying 90 bucks to play here except this summer the greens are in terrible shape. They should cut the price on half and also put temporary greens in the fairways while they work on the greens - the grass there is in much better shape.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Wait until later in season to play

Not a bad course, but the greens were awful. They need a few more weeks of healing after a rough winter. It didn't seem like they were doing much to improve anything. The price is too high for the conditions.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 73
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played

Bad greens

It’s a beautiful course and a challenging layout. The views are wonderful of the mountains. The fairways are ok, the tees are a little bumpy and the greens are a total disaster. We gave up putting because they were so bad. We enjoyed the day since we decided not to worry about the greens, but I can’t recommend it because of the greens. We talked to a starter at a different course and he said they had problems too. Really all the courses may be in the same condition due to poor growing conditions. Considering the prices, of the courses in the area they really aren’t a good value.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Poor
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Course Conditions

I know the ice/snow caused a lot of problems with the greens. They were pretty bouncy. Hopefully you can fix the greens and tee boxes as this is a fun course.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 14
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Putting greens are terrible

This is a challenging course. The fairways are good condition and the bunkers are missing sand and full of weeds. The greens are in terrible condition and on three there are signs that say take 2 putts.

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

Greens were awful

I have played this course for many years and this is by far the most miserable shape in the month of July I can remember….five greens were ruled “under repair” but most of them should have been labeled as such. The rough is in US Open condition making a difficult course ridiculous if you rolled six inches off the fairway. Pretty brutal.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
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 15
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 20
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
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 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
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