Always in Season
With two exceptional golf courses and a rich offering of year-round activities, Tahoe Mountain Club takes full advantage of its gorgeous surroundings — and then improves upon them. The club, tucked away in the resort community of Truckee, California, enjoys
a backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains, which allows it to blend elegance and nature for a one-of-a-kind experience.
Outdoor adventures will find plenty to delight them, regardless of the season. With exceptional skiing in the winter, trails to explore in the summer, and year-round swimming and fitness options that includes tennis and pickleball courts, there’s never a bad time to pack your bags and spend a few days.
A TALE OF TWO COURSES
When Tahoe Mountain Club was established in 2001, its goal was to unite luxury living with the area’s natural beauty. To blend nature and golf, it collaborated with Jack Nicklaus — a golf course architectural company known for bringing out the best in nature.
That course, Old Greenwood, was unveiled in 2004. Using the natural rolling hills and towering pines to create a scenic challenge, and boasting numerous bunkers and large greens, the par-72 course has become a must-play for golfers. Its design requires precision play and includes several signature holes, beginning with the memorable first hole: a 475-yard par-4 that requires a strategic tee shot favoring the left center of the fairway.
With an elevation of nearly 6,000 feet above sea level, Old Greenwood’s elevated tees encourage soaring tee shots and has been home to the PGA Tour’s Barracuda Championship since 2020. It also earned the No. 5 spot on GolfPass’ Golfers’ Choice Top 50 U.S. public courses.
If Old Greenwood is about strategy, the second course, Gray’s Crossing, is all about creativity. The Peter Jacobsen-designed course initially opened as a private course in 2007 but today is open for public play. Stretching across more than 7,466 yards, the par-72 course is tucked away in a stunning mountain meadow in the shadow of Mount Rose and rewards long hitters while testing their appetite for risk.
With fast greens and tournament-like conditions, this course is created for fun but challenging play — and the challenge changes with the prevailing winds on the course. As players quickly discover, the environment plays as big a role in the game as the course itself. Watch out for Hole 10, which has earned its reputation for being one of the toughest greens on the course.
If you’re looking to polish your game, the Performance Golf Academy at Old Greenwood offers everything from online lessons and personalized two-hour boot camps to one-on-one playing lessons.
FOOD ABOVE PAR
In addition to its impeccable golf courses, Tahoe Mountain Club offers guests a sought-after unique dining experience with PJ’s Restaurant, one of few places in the area where diners can enjoy their meals outdoors and soak in the magnificence of the scenery around them.
Overlooking the 18th hole at Gray’s Crossing Golf Course, this casual dining spot is particularly popular during sunsets, with the California skies providing an epic nightly show. The open-air indoor bar and dining room opens up to a patio with unparalleled views of Mt. Rose, and there’s an outdoor event lawn and patio.
The creative and thoughtful seasonal menu draws food from the region’s harvest, ensuring a sustainable, fresh, and carefully crafted culinary experience every time.
PJ’s Restaurant is not just considered one of the best restaurants in the region, it’s also an incredible spot to relax after a day of activity. The menu also includes craft cocktails, beers, and select wines by the glass.
And, for golfers who are in a hurry, PJ offers a special menu called Turn, which features food that’s fast, delicious — and easy to grab on the go. Players can call in their order from the 9th hole and have it ready to go on the way to the 10th hole.
Tahoe Mountain Club also has private dining options, which include Schaffer’s Camp, a mountaintop lodge restaurant; Alpine Club, which offers après-ski relaxation; and Bearfoot Bar & Grill, with its comfortable, creative take on the classic dining experience.
STAY AWHILE
The Cottages at Old Greenwood put all the beauty and luxury of Tahoe Mountain Club directly outside your door. Guests staying in The Cottages have private club access, views of the golf course, and get to enjoy all the charm the neighborhood has to offer — including access to the private restaurants, daily fitness classes, pools and hot tubs and even poolside dining. With two- and three-bedroom options, there’s room to spread out and enjoy your time away, although with the abundance of outdoor offerings and amenities, it might be challenging to make a case for staying indoors.
Tahoe Mountain Club, 13051 Fairway Dr., Truckee, CA, (530) 550-3800, tahoemountainclub.com