Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course: Course Review and Playing Guide

Par: 72 | Yardage: 7,529 (tips) | Designer: George Fazio (1968), renovated by Tom Fazio | Type: Resort (public access) | Green Fee: $250–$350 | Walking: Cart included (walking available)

Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course occupies a position that no other course in the country can replicate. The layout sits directly on the south shore of Lake Tahoe, with several holes running along the water's edge at an elevation of 6,229 feet in the Sierra Nevada mountains. George Fazio designed the course in 1968, and his nephew Tom Fazio has overseen renovations that have kept the design current without altering its fundamental relationship to the lake and the surrounding mountain terrain. Since 1990, the course has hosted the American Century Championship, the celebrity golf tournament that has become one of the most-watched events in non-PGA Tour golf. The television exposure has made Edgewood's lakefront holes recognizable to a broad audience, but the course's substance extends well beyond its televised identity.

The Design Story

George Fazio laid out the original routing at a time when Tahoe's south shore was less developed than it is today, and the course occupied a larger footprint relative to the surrounding infrastructure. The design takes advantage of a property that transitions from meadow terrain near the lake to pine-forested hills as it moves inland. The first several holes and the closing stretch occupy the lakefront, while the middle portion of the routing climbs into the trees and engages the mountainous topography. This two-part structure gives the round a distinct narrative: the lake establishes the setting, the mountains provide the challenge, and the return to the water provides the resolution.

Tom Fazio's renovations have been evolutionary rather than revolutionary. He rebuilt greens, modernized bunker placements, and improved drainage, but the routing and the fundamental character of the design remain George Fazio's. The course has a mid-century American sensibility: broad fairways, visible hazards, and greens that reward precision without resorting to architectural tricks. The bunkering is strategic and clearly presented. The water hazards, including Lake Tahoe itself on the closing holes, create definitive boundaries rather than optional carries. The design philosophy is transparent.

The golfer always knows what the hole is asking, and the challenge is in the execution rather than the interpretation.

How the Course Plays

The middle stretch of the course, from the 6th through the 14th, moves through elevation changes that are significant even by mountain-course standards. The 7th is a par 3 that plays downhill through a corridor of pines, and the altitude affects ball flight enough that club selection requires adjustment. At 6,200 feet, the ball carries approximately 10 percent farther than at sea level, a factor that must be applied to every shot and that visiting golfers from lower elevations frequently miscalculate. The tendency is to over-club on the first several holes before the altitude adjustment becomes intuitive.

The 16th is a par 5 that plays along the water's edge, the green positioned with the lake directly behind it. The 17th is a par 3 that plays toward the lake, the tee shot carrying over sand and rough to a green backed by the Sierra Nevada mountains rising from the opposite shore. The 18th is a par 4 that runs along the lakefront, the approach played to a green where the water is the immediate backdrop. This closing sequence is what the American Century Championship broadcasts have made famous, and playing it in person confirms that the television images do not fully convey the scale of the setting.

The return to the lake begins at the 15th and culminates in a three-hole finish that is among the most scenic in American golf.

The altitude is a factor beyond club selection. The thin air affects stamina, particularly for golfers arriving from sea level without acclimatization. The course's elevation changes compound this effect. Arriving a day before the round and staying hydrated are practical measures that improve the experience.

What the Green Fee Purchases

The American Century Championship, held each July, brings a field of current and former professional athletes and entertainers that generates significant media coverage. The tournament has grown from a niche event into a substantial draw, and the course's television exposure has contributed to demand for tee times during peak season. Booking well in advance is advisable for summer rounds, particularly on weekends.

The Edgewood Tahoe Resort, which opened its lodge in 2017, provides lakefront lodging that integrates directly with the golf operation. The lodge represents a significant upgrade to the resort's accommodation offering and positions Edgewood as a destination property rather than merely a daily-fee course. The Lake Tahoe complete golf guide covers additional playing options in the basin for visitors planning a multi-round trip.

Practical Considerations

Reno-Tahoe International Airport is approximately 45 minutes from the course via US-395 South and US-50 West. The drive climbs from the Reno valley floor to the Tahoe basin and provides a scenic introduction to the Sierra Nevada environment. Sacramento International Airport, roughly two and a half hours west, is an alternative with broader flight options.

The golf season runs from May through October, with peak conditions and peak pricing from June through September. Early and late season rounds may encounter cool mornings and afternoon weather that rolls through the mountains with limited warning. Layered clothing and rain gear are worth carrying even on days that begin clear.