Robert Trent Jones Sr. carved the Championship Course at Incline Village into the pine-covered slopes above Lake Tahoe's north shore in 1964, and the design still anchors golf in the Tahoe basin six decades on. Run by the Incline Village General Improvement District (IVGID), the layout stretches 7,106 yards from the Black tees at par 72, and its 74.3 rating and 142 slope make it one of the sternest public examinations in the region. A roughly $5 million renovation led by Kyle Phillips, reopened in 2005, modernized the bunkering and greens while keeping Jones's framework intact.

On the course

The routing is a classic Jones balance of four par 3s and four par 5s, threaded with mountain creeks, large strategic bunkers, and quick greens that tend to break toward the lake. The 621-yard 13th is the monster of the card, the sharp dogleg-right 12th plays as the No. 1 handicap hole, and the downhill 7th points its fairway straight at Lake Tahoe. Six tee sets running from 7,106 down to 4,324 yards keep it playable for every level.

Who it suits

This is alpine golf, so the season runs roughly mid-May through mid-October — the course opened May 8 for the 2026 season. Pricing is two-tiered: IVGID Picture Pass holders (local residents and parcel owners) pay $113 for a prime peak-summer weekday round while guests pay $180, with twilight rates after 2 p.m. and super-twilight after 4 p.m. Green fees include a shared cart with GPS, and tee times open two weeks in advance.

The practice setup includes a driving range with premium hitting mats, chipping and putting greens, and a golf shop that stays open year-round, with The Grille at The Chateau handling food and drink. Golfers have noticed the conditioning: the 2022 GolfPass Golfers' Choice awards ranked it the #17 course in the United States, #2 nationally for conditions, and #3 for layout.

Architect: Robert Trent Jones Sr. · Opened: 1964