Jack Nicklaus design at 6,000 feet through Truckee's Jeffrey pines
Old Greenwood is the Nicklaus signature course in the Truckee corridor, opened in 2004 through towering Jeffrey pines at approximately 6,000 feet elevation. The layout hosted the Barracuda Championship on the PGA Tour, which validates both the routing and the conditioning standards. Six tee sets spread across the 7,518-yard footprint make the course playable at virtually any skill level, though the back tees are genuinely demanding at altitude.
The course operates as semi-private through Tahoe Mountain Club, with public tee times available throughout the season. A two-course package with Gray's Crossing, the club's other layout, represents one of the better values in the region for groups planning multiple rounds in the Truckee area.
Nicklaus routed the course through mature forest with enough clearing to let the mountain light in without losing the sense of enclosure that defines Sierra golf. Fairways are generous by Nicklaus standards, but the greenside bunkering is precise and the putting surfaces have the contour and speed that his designs typically demand. Several greens are elevated, adding an approach-shot challenge that compounds at altitude where judging distance requires recalibration.
The par-fives are the signature holes. They reward length off the tee and offer genuine risk-reward on second shots for players willing to take on the carries. The closing stretch from fifteen through eighteen builds momentum without resorting to gimmickry.
Green fees range from $120 to $200 depending on season and day of week. The course is approximately five miles from downtown Truckee and ten minutes from Gray's Crossing, Coyote Moon, and Tahoe Donner. Booking through tahoemountainclub.com or GolfNow provides access to available public times. The two-course package with Gray's Crossing is worth investigating for groups spending two or more days in the Truckee area.
Old Greenwood is the course in the Truckee corridor that most rewards serious players. The Nicklaus design credentials are earned, the conditioning reflects tournament-hosting standards, and the six tee sets ensure the course challenges without punishing. It pairs naturally with Gray's Crossing for a two-day Truckee immersion.
250 acres of Sierra forest with no homes on the course and significant elevation changes
Lakefront golf on Tahoe's south shore, where the closing stretch plays along the water
Meadow and river golf at the base of Northstar with Truckee River frontage
Mountain views and honest golf at Lake Tahoe's most accessible green fee