Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course

[GolfSpy Dave]

Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course– REVIEW

An Official MyGolfSpy.com Review

http://www.edgewoodtahoe.com/

 

 

Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course: It's more than Charles Barkley and Jim McMahon

I was fortunate enough to play a round at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course while on vacation with the family at Lake Tahoe last week. Like many of you, my previous experience with Edgewood was limited to what I had seen on TV during the annual Celebrity Golf Tournament that is held there each July. While watching on TV, the beauty of the course sometimes seemed to be overshadowed by the people playing the course. TV coverage primarily provided me with images of McMahon playing barefoot (supposedly to avoid tan lines) and Sir Charles almost killing gallery members with errant tee shots. Television coverage definitely includes beautiful shots of Lake Tahoe, but that many showing the true beauty of the course itself. What I found out last week was that the Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course really needs a better agent. It is the true celebrity and it should get more close-ups during the broadcast.

 

For this and future course reviews, Golfspy Matt and I have come up with the following ten scoring criteria:

 

Amenities

Club house, pro shop, carts, GPS, bathrooms, beer cart, etc

The owners of Edgewood Tahoe definitely spent some time paying attention to the amenities of the course. The main building at Edgewood houses the pro shop, restaurant, and Brooks' Bar and Deck. The building itself is architecturally pleasing and reflects the style of the Lake Tahoe area.

 

 

Both of the dining areas are decorated in rich, but simple décor. It seems to me that the decorator really understood that Lake Tahoe is the design element that should be emphasized. While my brother and I were not able to dine in the main restaurant after our round, we did enjoy a fine adult beverage on the Brooks' Bar deck. The views of the course and Lake Tahoe from this deck are amazing. I forgot all about the score of the round and just sat and soaked up the beauty of the surroundings.

 

 

The carts came with an excellent GPS system that not only provided numerical data, but also repeated the playing suggestions found in the course yardage book. As a first time player of the course, this was a very welcome addition.

 

 

The main bathroom on the course was excellent. Love the small touch of having folded hand towels rather than a roll.

 

 

 

The beer cart did circle frequently and featured a fairly extensive bar along with the usual cart goodies. One real culinary gem was the snack bar at the turn. You can place an order at the 8th tee and pick it up at the 10th. Great hotdog and an amazing chocolate shake really got the back nine off to a proper start.

Amenities: 10/10 Points

 

Beauty/Scenery

Would this be a place you would enjoy simply walking because it's beautiful?

 

 

This golf course could easily be a public park. Multitudes of people would come to walk the cart paths to see the amazing trees and views of Lake Tahoe. The architects definitely took the natural beauty of the area into account when they put Edgewood together. Even the views toward the city and casinos are still overall attractive.

 

 

Beauty/Scenery: 10/10 (Maybe it should be a 15 or 20 out of 10…)

 

Course Conditions

Greens, tee boxes, fairways, rough, bunker. Are they good and are they uniform throughout the course?

 

 

Overall the course was in great shape. However there were some issues with the uniformity as we made our way around the course. Green speed was not quite uniform from hole to hole. Basically it comes down to the exposure of the green. Greens that were in the sunny open spaces were very fast and those more shaded by trees were noticeably slower. The eighth green in particular was surprisingly slow compared to the previous ones. I fault nature for this more than the groundskeepers. I bring this up not so much as a complaint, but as information to benefit of those going to play there.

 

Sand was good, but also a bit inconsistent. There was fluffy sand in some places and wetter, clumpier sand in others. Again, this seemed to relate directly to the amount of sun that the bunker received throughout the day.

 

One thing that did surprise me a bit though was the number of unfilled divots in the fairways and ball marks on the green. These were not as severe as they get at my local muni, but more than I expected from a course that likely has fewer players per day than a muni. Plus, I assume that the challenge and the price of playing at Edgewood would attract golfers who are versed in repair etiquette. Players need to fix their course wounds. The started will even give you a nice free ball mark repair tool. We did play at 2:30 in the afternoon with a tournament occurring there that morning so perhaps the course was stressed a bit more than normal.

 

Tee boxes were a little dug up here and there, but they also had very cool painted pinecone markers to mark the different tees.

 

 

Course Conditions: 8/10

 

Practice Facilities

Is there a driving range? Is it included or extra? Putting green? Short game area? How accessible is it? How close is it to the first tee/can I putt until I tee off?

The practice green and the driving range are right next to the main clubhouse and also the starter. It is very easy to keep track of your tee time position while you practice and warm-up. Should you feel plenty warmed-up, you could also jump up to the deck and enjoy a cold beverage while you wait to start.

 

The practice area at Edgewood is awesome. The putting green is right off of the water and is complex enough that you can actually practice multiple types of putts. The stimp on the putting green was fairly representative of the speeds found on the actual playing greens.

 

 

The driving range is right next to the putting green and the clubhouse. It is a grass range that provides views of the lake as you drive balls out into the trees. Limitless balls are available for warm-up. One cool feature of the range is a cooler filled with water bottles and chilled apples. All is included in the price of play.

 

 

 

Practice Facilities: 10/10

 

Accessibility to All Levels

Are there enough tee boxes to accommodate a variety of levels of golfers? Can all level of golfers play this course and have fun?

Checking the scorecard, you will see that Edgewood has four different sets of tees. The closest tees (red) are 5500 yards and the tips play at 7445.

 

 

I definitely think that although the course is challenging, if one chooses the correct tees, then most should enjoy the round. The number of juniors on the course could also demonstrate the accessibility of Edgewood when we played. There were four junior players in the two foursomes in front of us and a large group of juniors taking lessons teeing off on the first hole when we made the turn.

 

My brother and I played the blue tees during our round. This may have been a bit ambitious as the approach shots and par 3's were a little longer than either one of us would have liked. Still though, we felt that we had a chance at par on most holes.

 

 

Ultimately, the amateur golfer could easily focus on the beauty of the course and have a memorable round, regardless of score.

Accessibility to All Levels: 10/10

 

Difficulty/Fairness

How tough/penal is the course?

I have played some courses that make me want to curl up into fetal position and have a good cry after walking off the eighteenth green. Such was not the case at Edgewood. Now this course is not easy by any stretch of the imagination. However, if you are hitting the ball well and on line, you should have a chance to score. The greens are a bit tough on some holes due to speed and elevation changes. Water is everywhere, but really comes into play when you make a truly bad shot. The rough was very playable, providing you didn't veer too far off into the trees.

 

All that being said, there are a few holes that stand out as being a bit more difficult than others. Both 8 and 16 have trees in the middle of the fairways. From our tees they were at about 220-250 yards from the tee. Definitely something to pay attention to when aiming your tee shot.

 

 

Although #12 is the 10 HCP hole on the course, I thought it was a tough par 3. 187 yards to a wide, but narrow green guarded by a huge bunker in front. It is safer to go a bit long here rather than short. That front bunker is a beast.

 

The greens are definitely not guaranteed to yield two putts. Your approach into some of them is critical as landing in the wrong spot relative to the flag makes for an all-but-unsinkable putt. I watched my chip into the first hole grab the wrong side of a ridge and roll off into the great unknown. They roll very true, but there is a lot going on. Bring your AimPoint charts for sure.

 

 

The course is difficult in places, but fair. Having now played Edgewood, I would not recommend playing Jack Wagner for money.

Difficulty/Fairness: 10/10

 

Variety

Does the course require different shots or does it rely too much on the same ones (same length/shape)? Does the course require any strategic thinking/offer varieties of approaches, or is it just bombs away?

Edgewood offers a great deal of variety from hole to hole. Some holes require accuracy off the tee while others allow you to bomb away. Distance off the tee is definitely helpful on many holes, but hitting it to the right place is often even more important. Each hole presents a different challenge. Some defend par via length, others by bunkers, by trees, or even a touch of madness. The madness comes on holes 13 and 15. 13 features a very cool elevated tee shot to a relatively open landing area. However, if you go too far left off of the tee you may find water as well as a long second lay-up shot. You then go back up hill to a green that seemed to be sloped at about 45° down the hill. Red flag made putting on this one extra special. Hole 15 is a relatively short par 4, but it is super tight off the tee with certain death to those going too far right or left. To make it even more fun, this tee shot is virtually blind and up hill. Pay attention to the position of the carts in front of you on the GPS so you don't kill anyone.

 

Never once while playing did I feel like I was playing the same hole again and the last three holes were nothing short of spectacular.

 

 

Variety: 10/10

 

Customer Service/Guest Experience

Are you met when you pull up at the bag drop? Friendliness of staff in pro shop & 19th hole, rangers/marshals, etc. Do they clean your clubs on completion? Are there caddies? If so, are they good?

 

 

My customer service experience was for the most part excellent throughout our time at Edgewood. Upon arrival, we were met by the gate attendant as we pulled in to Edgewood. His job was probably a bit rougher than normal as Phish was playing an outdoor concert just off the southern boundary of the course. When he saw that we were not Phish phans, and had a 2:30 tee time, he said very simply “Well, you win then. Have a great round.” His sentiment definitely reflected out feelings as we drove in to the course.

 

Service fell off at that point, as there was no attendant present at the bag drop when we pulled up. The attendant was there after we parked and walked back. She took our bags, and after I asked, told us where to go and check in.

 

Sweet parking lot...

 

Upon entering the building, a very nice receptionist with a great accent directed us to the pro shop where we checked in and purchased two yardage books. A very positive and helpful employee again enhanced the overall experience by being helpful and friendly.

 

Outside, we checked in with the starter and began hitting balls on the range. I had a nice discussion with one of the range attendants about which tees to play. The starter was very pleasant and helpful. He happily took a picture of my brother and I and even suggested that we get a picture next to the clock, as that was the classic photo spot.

 

 

There was one sort of ugly situation that came up as my brother and I were practicing on the putting green. The practice green is right next to the place where carts are dropped off and an attendant cleans the clubs. While we were putting, two of the attendants were talking about a person out on the course who was complaining about pace of play. I am sure that they deal with this annoying situation all of the time, but it is very unprofessional to discuss one's personal opinions of the complaining customer loud enough that other customers can hear. This is especially true if the only descriptive term that you know is the F-word. There were quite a few young kids around the course that day. I personally was not offended as much as surprised. I am sure that the management would not have appreciated his language. As the manager or owner of Edgewood, I would rather my customers remember the lake than the angry, swearing dude by the lake.

 

The marshal was frequently visible and definitely working to keep the pace of play going forward. The round took my brother and I about four and a half hours. We did have to wait on the groups in front of us here and there, but we were playing as a twosome and it was a father and his sons (I believe) in front of us. We just kept trying to appreciate the beauty of Edgewood as we were waiting to tee off.

 

The attendant at the end of the round was pleasant as she cleaned our clubs and explained that they would be waiting around the corner for us. While she did clip on an Edgewood bag tag that I was not expecting, she really needs to learn that cleaning the irons probably requires getting some of the green or brown stuff off of them. Maybe tipping $10 for two bags was not enough…

 

The staff in the bar after the round was outstanding. Multiple servers asked if we needed anything. Jimmy, who I believe is one of the managers, answered our questions about the course and really made us feel welcome as we topped off our day. Mirror Pond Pale Ale on tap didn't hurt either.

 

 

All in all I would say that with a few exceptions, the staff was excellent. Many realized that although being at Edgewood is their daily routine, it is a once in a lifetime round of golf for some of the visitors. Kudos to those who made our time there memorable.

Customer Service/Guest Experience: 8/10

 

Value

How much do things cost? Are they worth it? Do you get nickel and dimed (range balls, cart fees, expensive water, etc)?

Playing Edgewood is expensive. It will run you $220 during the week and $240 on weekends. Twilight rates are available at a $50 discount. This cost does include range balls, bottled water, awesome apples, and a bag tag souvenir at the end of the round. Is it worth it? Obviously this depends on your current income status, but I would have to say yes it is. For this middle-class worker, Edgewood represents a bucket-list type course. I put playing Edgewood in the same conversation with playing Olympic Club in San Francisco, Pebble Beach, or Del Paso Country Club here in Sacramento. Edgewood did not disappoint. The course is set up for some interesting and challenging golf and the views of Lake Tahoe are amazing and not found at any other course. The marriage of the lake and the course are exceptional. Many would likely pay just to walk the grounds. I would be very surprised if someone walked away from Edgewood feeling like they had not got his or her money's worth.

Value: 10/10

 

Memorability

Is there a course I will remember long after I've played it? Are there holes that will stay with me for a long time?

As I said at the beginning of this review, my previous memories of Edgewood were largely composed from viewing the Celebrity Tournament on television. Now, I have my own memories of the course to fall back on. Sticking a 4H close on 17 while looking over Lake Tahoe. Watching the lake come into view on 16 as we moved toward the green. Even just standing on the deck after the round taking in the Edgewood course and the lake beyond. These are all very powerful memories that I will reflect fondly upon for quite a while.

 

 

Memorability: 10/10

 

TOTAL SCORE: 96/100

 

Summary

Playing at Edgewood Tahoe was an amazing experience. The course and the scenery are both amazing, with a slight edge going to scenery. If you live near the course and have the means, play it as often as you can. If you are going to Lake Tahoe on vacation, start putting a bit of your travel funds aside for the Edgewood Tahoe round. You can even make playing Edgewood the focus of your golf vacation. Many stay and play packages can be accessed directly from the Edgewood Tahoe site. Even though I can now check Edgewood Tahoe off of my golf bucket list, I am already thinking about how I can squeeze in a round there during our family vacation next summer.

 

 

 

[“secret” spy facts about Edgewood Tahoe]

In keeping with the spirit of our site, I did some snooping and uncovered some lesser-known facts about Edgewood Tahoe.

• Some of the creeks and streams that run through Edgewood actually feed Lake Tahoe. This mandates that the course be extremely environmentally friendly.

• Plans are in the works to build a resort attached to the golf course. This is in the planning stage, but it will possibly feature a place to stay and a pool in between the 8th and 9th holes.

• The casinos are close as are a bunch of cheap motels. You can definitely save some cash on lodging and still be close to the course.

• The starter has free ball markers and ball mark repair tools.

• I mentioned it before, but the chocolate shake at the turn is amazing. Go buy one and hit the practice green if you don't have time to play the whole course.

• The 15th hole had an Area 51-like feel. We couldn't see the groups in front of us due to the hill. Sensors would kill the cart if you drove out to the fairway, even though it wasn't supposed to be cart path only. And the weirdest thing was when we got to our balls after teeing off, there were two carts full of women and a couple of dogs waiting for us. These carts did not show up on the GPS. They asked us if the pace was slow and suggested that we just enjoy the scenery more. My brother thought they were the wives of the groups in front of us, but as we were in Nevada, I tend to think alien. Plus, I had a birdie putt on that hole so something was definitely not normal.

• Check the outdoor concert schedule at Harvey's. You may end up hearing the concert when you play the front nine. Here are some sounds from the 8th green.