About Us
Tahoe City Golf Course History
The Tahoe City Golf Course was established in 1918 and was designed by May “Queenie” Dunn Hupfel, where she served as pro and manager. As a favorite pastime of the wealthy, golf came into its own in the early years of the 20th Century, as did the Tahoe Tavern. A railroad spur line brought guests of the Tahoe Tavern to Tahoe City, thus a portion of the Tavern’s extensive holdings was set aside for a golf course. First built as a 6-holer with sand greens, the Tavern links became nine holes and 2,700 yards in 1926, a status which later development of surrounding property obliged it to maintain permanently.
Through several sales of the Tahoe Tavern, its outlying and separately deeded parcels were divvied up among the partners. Thus the Golf Course became the property of Gordon and Pat Hyde. The large partnership in which they were involved sold to Carl Bechdolt, Jr. and wife Elsie in 1948. The Golf Course was purchased from the Bechdolt family in 2012 by four partners; Tahoe City Public Utility District (TCPUD), Placer County, North Lake Tahoe Resort Association and Truckee Tahoe Airport District, with the goal to retain the property as a recreational public golf course for Tahoe City.
Over the years, the Tahoe City Golf Course was host to big money games in the fifties, including such names of old time players as Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, the Mills Brothers, Ken Venturi, Harvey Ward, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Andy Williams.
Tahoe City Golf Course Today
The Tahoe City Public Utility District, under the supervision of Golf Course Manager Bob “Bobby” Bonino, currently manage operations of the Golf Course today. Bob, a collegiate golfer at the University of San Francisco, is following in his father’s, Angelo Bonino’s, footsteps. Angelo was the Tahoe City Golf Course Manager from 1951 to 1974 and married Christine Bechdolt, Carl and Elsie's oldest child, most likely on the golf course. Christine even went into labor with Bob on the 3rd green. Golf definitely runs deep in the Bonino and Bechdolt families, and we hope our guests feel like family when greeted by our service-orientated golf staff.
The Tahoe City Golf Course is a family friendly 2700 yard 9 hole par 33 golf course that includes 1 par 5, 4 par 4's, and 4 par 3's. Amenities include a full service restaurant and bar, netted practice/warm up facility, golf carts, rentals, lessons, tournaments, special events, and a friendly welcoming that makes you feel part of the local community.
Come join our family and feel for yourself the rich history of the Tahoe City Golf Course. Tee off where the Rat Pack did, imagine putting on greens of sand, and experience the hospitality of the staff of the Tahoe City Golf Course. Plus the course is dog friendly - so bring your pup!
The Tahoe City Golf Course is the host course of the annual Two Bills Memorial Golf Tournament, generating over $200,000 for the Tahoe City Little League over the last 10 years.
Recent course improvements include:
- New sand in all bunkers
- New practice hitting area
- New turf maintenance fleet
- New netting and poles
- New upper parking area, doubling golf course parking
- Improved greens health / playability, irrigation / drainage, tee box areas and cart paths
- Upgrades to Pro Shop and Restaurant, Café Zenon
- Enhanced youth & adult golf instruction through Golf Course Manager Bob Bonino
Future planned course improvements include:
- New maintenance and operations building
- New clubhouse and restaurant
- New golf cart fleet
- New netting and poles
- Continued improvements for greens health / playability, irrigation / drainage, tee box areas and cart paths throughout the property