Old Greenwood Golf Course
Old Greenwood is a Jack Nicklaus Signature course set on 600 acres of pine forest and meadow in Truckee, just north of Lake Tahoe. Opened in 2004, it plays as a par 72 of 7,518 yards at altitude and hosts the PGA Tour's Barracuda Championship, all while welcoming public play seven days a week.
Photo: Ryan Warpinski via Google.
The verdict
Old Greenwood is the rare combination of a tournament-tested championship course and a genuinely public one, which makes it one of the most attractive rounds in the Lake Tahoe region. Jack Nicklaus laid out the course on roughly 600 acres of high-country pine forest and meadow near Truckee, and it opened in 2004 as the headline golf of what is now Tahoe Mountain Club. Since 2020 it has hosted the PGA Tour's Barracuda Championship, the tour's distinctive modified-Stableford event, which tells you how serious the test is.
It plays to a par 72 of 7,518 yards from the back tees, a real handful at altitude, but the generous corridors and multiple tees keep it playable and enjoyable for a visiting group. The conditioning is tour-grade, the mountain setting is superb, and the fact that anyone can book a tee time makes Old Greenwood a centerpiece of a North Tahoe or Truckee golf trip rather than a course you only dream about.
Old Greenwood at a glance
- Opened
- 2004
- Designer
- Jack Nicklaus
- Type
- Public resort
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 7,518 yds
- Green fee
- From about $100
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from leading course databases and the operator. Old Greenwood is a Jack Nicklaus Signature design that opened in 2004 and plays as a par 72 of 7,518 yards. It is part of Tahoe Mountain Club, is open to the public seven days a week, and has hosted the PGA Tour's Barracuda Championship. Indicative 2026 green fees run roughly $100 to $185 for 18 holes depending on day and season. Fees move with season and demand, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Nicklaus routed Old Greenwood to move naturally through the Sierra terrain, with holes that wind between stands of mature pine, across meadow and along gentle ridgelines. The fairways are wider than the score suggests, which suits the high-altitude game, but the bunkering, the contoured greens and the smart use of the land keep the better player thinking. It is a course that gives a group room to enjoy itself while still rewarding a sharp short game.
The altitude is part of the fun: the thin Sierra air adds noticeable carry, so the long course plays shorter than the 7,518-yard card and big drives feel even bigger. Around the greens, though, the slopes and the firm putting surfaces demand touch, and the tournament setup for the Barracuda Championship shows how much defense the design holds in reserve.
Conditioning is consistently excellent through the short Sierra summer, the practice facilities are first rate, and the on-site cottages make Old Greenwood an easy stay-and-play base. With the cool mountain air, the pine-scented setting and the quality of the layout, it is one of the most complete public golf experiences anywhere near Lake Tahoe.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public course at Tahoe Mountain Club; visitors welcome seven days a week, with stay-and-play options through the on-site cottages |
| Green fee | Indicative 2026 range about $100 to $185 for 18 holes depending on day and season; confirm at booking |
| Booking | Reserve online or by phone; summer weekends and the area's short season fill quickly, so book ahead |
| On the day | Cart or walk; the altitude adds carry, the greens demand touch; bring layers for cool mountain mornings and sun protection |
| Getting there | Truckee, California, just off Interstate 80, about 30 minutes from North Lake Tahoe and the Reno-Tahoe airport |
| Best months | Roughly late May to October, with summer and early fall the prime window |
Access and fee details verified June 2026. Pricing moves with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. See our United States green fees guide for the wider picture.
Where to stay nearby
The cottages at Old Greenwood put you on the property for an easy stay-and-play, while Truckee's historic downtown and the lodging around North Lake Tahoe give a trip more range, from lakeside resorts to mountain rentals. Reno's airport is the simplest gateway, under an hour away, which makes a North Tahoe golf trip refreshingly straightforward to reach.
For a Tahoe golf trip, Old Greenwood pairs naturally with Edgewood Tahoe on the lake's south shore, and the two anchor a strong Sierra week. It suits a group that wants tournament-quality, fully public mountain golf with a cool-summer climate and plenty to do off the course.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Truckee and North Lake Tahoe.
Build a Lake Tahoe golf trip
We arrange the Old Greenwood tee times, pair them with Edgewood Tahoe and the best of the Sierra and sort the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Old Greenwood questions
Who designed Old Greenwood Golf Course and when did it open?
Old Greenwood is a Jack Nicklaus Signature design that opened in 2004, set on roughly 600 acres of pine forest and meadow near Truckee, California, north of Lake Tahoe.
What are the par and length of Old Greenwood Golf Course?
Old Greenwood plays as a par 72 of 7,518 yards from the championship tees, at altitude near Truckee, with multiple tee options for shorter rounds.
Has Old Greenwood hosted professional golf?
Yes. Old Greenwood, part of Tahoe Mountain Club, has hosted the PGA Tour's Barracuda Championship, the tour's modified-Stableford event held in the Tahoe region.
Can visitors play Old Greenwood Golf Course?
Yes. It is a public course that welcomes visitors seven days a week. Indicative 2026 green fees run roughly $100 to $185 for 18 holes depending on day and season; always confirm directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.