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Tahoe Donner Golf Course is an 18-hole, par-72 mountain course in Truckee, California, at approximately 6,500 feet above sea level. The front nine opened in 1975 and was designed by Roy Williams; Billy Bell Jr. designed the back nine, which completed the 18-hole course in 1976.
The Black tees measure 7,002 yards with a 74.1 course rating and 134 slope. The routing follows the Sierra terrain through Jeffrey and lodgepole pines, granite outcroppings, creeks and substantial changes in elevation rather than relying on extensive earthmoving. Cary Bickler directed major improvements in the 2000s and returned as architect for a more than $2 million renovation carried out in 2020, which replaced every green, expanded and redesigned tees, modified fairways and drainage, and relocated cart paths before the course reopened in 2021.
The course is an 18-hole mountain golf course. It plays to par 72, 7,002 yards, course rating 74.1 and slope rating 134. Designed by Roy Williams and William Bell Jr, the course originally opened in 1976. It is semi-private, welcoming both members and visitors. On-site facilities include Driving Range, Short Game Practice Area, Putting Green, Golf Simulator, Golf Lessons, Junior Golf Programs, Pro Shop, Club Hire, and 4 more.
Golf was part of Tahoe Donner's plan from the beginning rather than a later addition to the community. Development of Tahoe Donner began in 1971 as a four-season mountain community, with recreation facilities, trails, open space and a championship golf course included in the original concept. Construction proceeded in stages.
Roy Williams designed the front nine, which opened in 1975, and Billy Bell Jr. created the back nine, completed the following year. The result was Truckee's first 18-hole championship course and one of the community's principal summer recreation facilities.
Tahoe Donner's own historical account says Williams and Bell avoided dramatically remaking the site and instead allowed the Sierra forest to guide the routing. Fairways pass through Jeffrey and lodgepole pines, granite formations and seasonal creeks, with elevation changes repeatedly affecting club selection. That approach remains visible in holes such as the elevated par-3 17th and the downhill finishing hole, Buena Vista.
The current course guide documents named holes throughout the routing and specific strategic features including cross-fairway ditches, doglegs, bunkers, wetlands adjoining Trout Creek and strongly sloped putting surfaces.
The original layout has undergone several significant programmes of work. Architect Cary Bickler directed a major renovation beginning in 2006, part of a 2006-08 period that Tahoe Donner later identified as its previous major course-improvement cycle. After further planning began in 2018, Bickler was retained again for a much larger repair and replacement project carried out in 2020.
More than $2 million was invested while the golf course closed for the season. All greens were reconstructed with creeping bentgrass; tees were expanded or redesigned, including additional forward tees; fairways and drainage were improved; selected trees and mounding were altered; and cart paths were relocated. The reconstructed course reopened in May 2021.
Tahoe Donner's earlier Bickler renovation was nominated by Golf Digest for Best Remodeled Golf Course in America in 2007. More recently, user-review based NBC Golfers' Choice rankings placed the course 17th in the United States and fourth in California for 2023. Tahoe Donner's 2026 media material also records Sierra Sun readers naming it Best Golf Course in North Lake Tahoe and Truckee in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Tahoe Donner operates as a seasonal, semi-private course that is also open to public tee-time bookings. The full Black course measures 7,002 yards at par 72, with a rating of 74.1 and slope of 134. Current supporting facilities include a driving range, short-game practice area, putting facilities, golf simulator, professional instruction, junior programmes, pro shop and rental equipment.
The 2026 season opened on May 22, with daily play scheduled into October subject to conditions.
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| Fee Type | Price |
|---|---|
| Prime Time – 18 holes - Member | $95 – $115 |
| Prime Time – 18 holes - Guest w/Member | $115 – $155 |
| Prime Time – 18 holes - Public | $165 – $205 |
| Prime Time – 18 holes - NCGA* or Registered Guest | $150 – $190 |
| Junior (Under 18) Prime Time 18 Holes (After 12PM) - Member | $40 |
| Junior (Under 18) Prime Time 18 Holes (After 12PM) - Guest w/Member | $50 |
| Junior (Under 18) Prime Time 18 Holes (After 12PM) - Public | $65 |
| Twilight (2-3:50PM) - Member | $80 |
| Twilight (2-3:50PM) - Guest w/Member | $115 |
| Twilight (2-3:50PM) - Public | $165 |
| Twilight (2-3:50PM) - NCGA* or Registered Guest | $155 |
| Super Twilight (4PM-Close) - Member | $60 |
| Super Twilight (4PM-Close) - Guest w/Member | $85 |
| Super Twilight (4PM-Close) - Public | $125 |
| Super Twilight (4PM-Close) - NCGA* or Registered Guest | $125 |
| Last Light (6PM-Close) Walking Only - Member | $40 |
| Last Light (6PM-Close) Walking Only - Guest w/Member | $50 |
| Junior (Under 18) Last Light (6PM-Close) (1) Jr. Per Paid Adult - Guest w/Member | $50 |
| Cart – 18 Holes | $25 |
| Cart – 9 Holes | $15 |
| Rider Fee (nonplaying spectator) | $25 |
| Pull Cart | $8 |
| Private Cart Trail Fee – 18 Holes | $17 |
| Private Cart Trail Fee – 9 Holes | $10 |
| Twilight (1-2:50PM) - Guest w/Member | $90 |
| Twilight (1-2:50PM) - Public | $120 |
| Twilight (1-2:50PM) - NCGA* or Registered Guest | $120 |
| Super Twilight (3PM-Close) - Member | $55 |
| Super Twilight (3PM-Close) - Guest w/Member | $70 |
| Super Twilight (3PM-Close) - Public | $100 |
| Super Twilight (3PM-Close) - NCGA* or Registered Guest | $100 |
| Last Light (5PM-Close) Walking Only - Member | $35 |
| Last Light (5PM-Close) Walking Only - Guest w/Member | $45 |
| Junior (Under 18) Last Light (5PM-Close) with Paid Adult - Guest w/Member | $45 |
| Junior (Under 18) Prime Time – 18 holes (After 12PM) - Member | $40 |
| Junior (Under 18) Prime Time – 18 holes (After 12PM) - Guest w/Member | $50 |
| Junior (Under 18) Prime Time – 18 holes (After 12PM) - Public | $65 |
| Twilight (1-2:50PM) - Member | $70 |
Prices shown are seasonal ranges. Check the course website for current rates.
| Front 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 36 |
| Yards | 452 | 520 | 440 | 201 | 375 | 353 | 165 | 468 | 574 | 3548 |
| Index | 1 | 9 | 5 | 11 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 3 | 7 | - |
| Back 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Yards | 421 | 494 | 203 | 321 | 410 | 510 | 451 | 227 | 417 | 3454 | 7002 |
| Index | 4 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 16 | 10 | - | - |
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