A couple of weeks ago I had the distinct privilege of visiting a golf course I’d heard a great deal about: Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course. Friends of mine had been talking about Edgewood for years and, I have to admit, I was more than a little curious: almost always the enthusiastic descriptions of any given golf course generate images and expectations that rarely do measure up. In this case, however, the descriptions, as passionate as any I’ve heard, did not do the course justice. Situated on the shores of beautiful Lake Tahoe, Nevada, Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course is a very special George Fazio, layout, with enhancements by Tom Fazio, that’s been a world-class destination for golf, dining, weddings and special events since 1968.
- View my Photo Gallery Of Edgewood Golf Course
Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course is rated by Golf Digest as one of "America's Top Golf Courses." Challenging yet fair, Edgewood has been the home of the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship for the last 16 years, as well as host the U.S. Senior Open and U.S. Public Links. Arguably one of the most scenic golf courses in the world, Edgewood opened for play in 1968 and soon established a reputation as one of the world’s leading golf courses.
There’s no doubt that Edgewood is a tough course. It plays some 7,445 yards from the tips for a par of 72. And, from the tips, it’s a major challenge, even for low handicap golfers. But four sets of tees make the course infinitely enjoyable, and playable, for golfers of all levels of skill. The final three holes are unique among golf courses anywhere.
The 16th is an amazing par 5 of 564 yards (from the tips) that sweeps gently downhill between the tall pines that line the tight fairway to an Oceanside green guarded by a phalanx of bunkers the likes of which I’ve not seen before. The 16th at Edgewood must rank as one of the most picturesque holes in golf.
The 17th is a remarkable par 3 of 202 yards from the back tees. The hole closely follows the shore of Lake Tahoe to a green that offers one of the most spectacular views in Nevada. It looks deceptively easy. I watched as five groups of four played the hole. Only five out of 20 players actually hit the green; almost everyone under-clubbed.
The 18th is a classic finishing hole, a par 5 of 572 yards that culminates with water to the front and left, the sand of the Lake Tahoe shoreline to the right, and the beautiful clubhouse overlooking the green to the rear. The approach is narrow and tough to find. The green also is deceptive and difficult to read but, for all that, runs true.
- View my Photo Gallery Of Edgewood Golf Course
And, talking of the clubhouse, the Edgewood Tahoe Restaurant has long set the standard for fine dining in South Lake Tahoe. It’s the perfect venue for special events and weddings – the unparalleled sunset views along the shore and across the lake offer, in my opinion, the ultimate romantic experience. The cuisine, service and ambiance make the restaurant a truly memorable experience. In the clubhouse itself, Brook’s Bar & Deck was rated one of Golf Digest's “Best 19th Holes in America” for 2008.
Throughout its storied history, Edgewood Tahoe has played host to a variety of major golf events. In 1980, the 55th annual US Public Links Championship came to Edgewood Tahoe, the first U.S.G.A. event to be held in Nevada. Jodie Mudd, a junior at Georgia Southern College coming out on top.
The U.S.G.A. returned to Edgewood Tahoe in 1985 for U.S. Senior Open Championship, when Miller Barber captured the title as the only player in the field to manage to break par on the course’s demanding layout. Making birdie on three of the first four holes of the final round, Barber's three-under-par total bested Roberto De Vicenzo by four strokes for Barber’s second consecutive Senior Open title. This also happened to be the first Senior Open to be televised, at that time broadcasted on an unknown sports network called ESPN.
Most notably, for the last twenty years Edgewood Tahoe has been the home of the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship. Each year, this star-studded event features some of the biggest names in sports, entertainment and politics. A favorite on the celebrity circuit, this tournament regularly features such big names as Donald Trump, Michael Jordan, John Elway, Mario Lemieux, Charles Barkeley, Don Cheadle, Stone Phillips, Lou Holtz, Jim McMahon, and Ray Romano. Sponsored by American Century Investments and featured on NBC annually, the Celebrity Golf Championship is an event for the entire family. This year’s Championship will be held July 14-19, 2009.
The Verdict: as you can probably guess, I have nothing negative to say about Edgewood. In fact, I enthusiastically recommend it. It’s a one-of-a-kind golf course, tough but fair, extraordinarily beautiful and a delight to play.
Contact:
Edgewood Golf Club, Lake Parkway Stateline, NV 89449 • Golf Shop 775.588.3566 • Restaurant 775.588.2787