1. Bijou Golf Course
City: South Lake Tahoe, CA
Category: Golf
Telephone: (530) 542-6097
Address: 3464 Fairway Boulevard off Johnson Boule
Description: A historic nine-hole executive course built in 1920 in the center of South Lake Tahoe, this course is perfect for all level of players. Bijou Creek winds through the course, providing the water hazards, and of course pine trees add to golfers’ frustration. It has a great view of Heavenly Ski Resort and Freal Peak. The course allows only pull carts and doesn’t take advance reservations, but it is usually easy to get on. The following information is based on 18 holes of play for a nonresident (pull carts are $3). Yardage: 4,056 Par: 64 Greens fees: $33, excluding cart Reservations: None taken in advance
2. Lake Tahoe Golf Course
City: South Lake Tahoe, CA
Category: Golf
Telephone: (530) 577-0788
Address: 2500 Emerald Bay Road
Description: This course used to be called the Lake Tahoe Country Club, to give you an idea of the quality of play here. Conveniently located in an alpine meadow surrounded by tall Sierra peaks, the course is just minutes from the glitter of Stateline, Nevada. It’s flat to slightly rolling, with the Upper Truckee River and artificial lakes coming into play on 16 holes. The greens are in excellent condition. This layout isn’t long, but it is treacherous, making good ball placement a top priority. Over the last decade or so, the course has gone through extensive renovations. Yardage: 6,160 Par: 71 USGA rating: 68.8 Slope: 120 Greens fees: $60 to $80 Reservations: 60 days in advance
3. Tahoe Paradise Golf Course
City: South Lake Tahoe, CA
Category: Golf
Telephone: (530) 577-2121
Address: 3021 U.S. Highway 50
Description: This executive course was South Lake Tahoe’s first 18-holer. The course is short but once again has all the nasty quirks of a mountain course—narrow fairways, tree-lined roughs, and small greens. But thankfully, water comes into play on only two holes. The most difficult hole is a 377-yard par 4 that requires a tee shot through a gap only 50 yards across. The signature hole is the fifth, a 110-yard par 3 with a lake in front and a view of the surrounding mountain peaks. Yardage: 4,034 Par: 66 USGA rating: 60.9 Slope: 103 Greens fees: $42 to $60 Reservations: 7 days in advance