The chance to play golf at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course was held in high regard even before the course update and June 2017 opening of the Lodge at Edgewood Tahoe. The 18-hole public course, designed by George Fazio 50 years ago, straddles the California-Nevada border on Lake Tahoe’s southern shoreline, delivering panoramic views of America’s second-deepest lake with the snow-capped Sierras in the distance.
In its storied history, the course has hosted numerous major events, including the 1980 U.S. Public Links with Jodie Mudd as the champion, and the 1985 U.S. Senior Open won by Miller Barber with the only score under par. Since 1990, it has also hosted the American Century Championship, featuring NFL, MLB and NBA stars, along with a few coaches plus big-name entertainers.
The new 154-room lodge elevates Edgewood Tahoe to a must-play destination for golfers wishing to enjoy VIP service and exquisite conditions similar to those experienced at America’s top private clubs. It’s also enticing travelers seeking lakeside accommodations with appealing amenities, including a full-service spa, outdoor pool, fitness facilities and dining options.
Golf at Edgewood Tahoe: Fair but challenging
Golf at Edgewood Tahoe
Overall, the course offers a challenging but fair test through meadows and pine forests. Trees not only border the holes but also dot the fairways, and must be avoided with tee shots and approaches.
Water comes into play on 14 holes and the lake provides other challenges.
Such is the case on the 9th hole. Before Fazio’s nephew, Tom, updated the 9th, it was an inland hole with a sharp dogleg to the right. He shortened it by 30 yards and moved the tee behind the former left green on No. 8, previously two greens on that hole that were alternated. Golfers now get a glimpse of the lake from the tee and must consider the winds off the water when selecting clubs.
While most of this hole is in Nevada like the rest of the course, a right-handed golfer stands the chance of hooking his drive off the tee into California.
The state-line angles from the golfer’s left to the tee to include a portion of the left side of the fairway when approaching the green, maybe 80 yards short, where a marker on the beach denotes the border.
“It’s a dramatic improvement,” said Director of Golf Randy Fox. “It now provides a nice balance with finishing holes on the lake for both nines.”
Edgewood Tahoe’s high-altitude, 6,200-feet-plus elevation offers a few advantages to golfers used to lower altitudes or warmer climates, namely temperatures ranging 70-85 degrees and a 10-15 percent increase in the distance the ball is carried. Who doesn’t need this help most of the time, especially off the tee?
After a round, snag a table on the patio and drink in the views of the golf course, lake and Sierras while sipping a refreshing drink at Brooks’ Bar & Deck, selected by the editors of Golf Digest Magazine as one of the “Best Golf Pubs” in the world. Brooks’ also offers a breakfast buffet and wide array of choices for lunch and dinner.
During the May-October season, green fees vary from $140 (Mondays through Thursdays) to $160 (Fridays through Sundays) in May, to $260 and $280 on those same days in July and August. The course closes during the second week of July for the celebrity event.
Call it a night
If you have the necessary “Benjamins” and want to be spoiled by a great lodging experience, I highly recommend that you consider staying at the Lodge at Edgewood Tahoe, only a short walk from the clubhouse. Designers captured the spirit of storied lodges of the Great American West. After it opened in June 2017, it was named “Most Beautiful Hotel in Nevada” by Architectural Digest.
The clubhouse at dusk
The lodge’s walnut-paneled Great Room features 38-foot-tall floor-to-ceiling windows facing the lake and the mountains. The grand staircase was fabricated from local wood logs and a Bay Area stone mason carved the limestone wall. The patterns and colors of the deer head art were designed to represent the Native American history of the area.
Great Room at Edgewood Tahoe
I was blown away by all the amenities during my one-night stay.
My room had a fireplace, a terrace with a seating area where I enjoyed my $20 room-service hamburger, a mini refrigerator, a desk, and a soaking tub–a great place to relax after a round of golf.
The Coffee Bar is open at 6 a.m. for early risers and there are two great places to dine–the Bistro from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays (and an hour longer on Fridays and Saturdays) and the Edgewood Restaurant, opening at 5 p.m. At the restaurant, Chef Charles Wilson offers creative dishes along with a diverse wine list.
The Bistro
Other resort amenities include a full-service spa, outdoor fire pits, a swimming pool heated to 80-degrees year-round, and a 40-person hot tub. Poolside cabana half- or full-day rentals are also available. A state-of-the-art fitness center, open 24/7, is located on the third floor offering the latest equipment, including an adaptive motion trainer, elliptical stationary bikes, glide functional trainers and weight and strength training machines.
Inviting outdoor seating at the Lodge
The Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course and Lodge is located an hour’s drive from Reno. Standard room rates range from $350 to $800, depending upon the season. Be sure to check packages and specials.
What’s appealing to the over-50 luxury traveler?
- The short walk to the lodge from the course and vice versa
- The chance to reserve a table for drinks or dinner just before dusk to catch the vibrant Sierra sunset
- Use of the in-room soaking tub after a round of golf
- Convenient courtesy shuttles to the casinos across the street and to the Heavenly Mountain gondola when skiing in the winter
Take note
- Unless you carry a single-digit handicap or hit the ball like the touring professionals, play the white or red tees, remembering that you do get a little more distance at 6,000 feet.
- Just because it’s summer, don’t forget to bring a sweater for the cool nights and even cool mornings.
Disclosure: The author’s visit was hosted by the property.
IF YOU GO
All photos courtesy Edgewood Tahoe.