Tahoe City Golf Course 100th Anniversary!

May 2, 2018 by Tim Hauserman

(Earliest available view of the clubhouse)

By Tim Hauserman 

The Tahoe City Golf Course is 100 years old this summer! It was originally designed in 1918 by May “Queenie” Dunn-Webb one of the first female course designers in the United States. The course was originally built as a six hole course with sand greens and was known as the Tahoe Tavern Links. It was expanded to nine holes in 1921, and the layout was altered in the 1940s. 

The course was originally built as an amenity of the Tahoe Tavern, the large and luxurious hotel which was the dominant feature of Tahoe City during the late 1800s and early 1900s. The hotel was built by the DL Bliss Family of the state park fame who also built the railroad from Truckee to the Tahoe Tavern Pier.

In celebration of the centennial, the Tahoe City Golf Course has plans for a summer full of activities including: 

From Friday May 11th through Sunday, May 13 a round of golf will cost you 50 cents…the estimated cost of a round when the course was first built. I’m guessing the course may be a bit busy those days. 

On Friday, June 8, the course will host putting and driving contests for all ages using hickory stick putters and other equipment from the good old days. Then Tahoe historian, Mark McLaughlin, will deliver a presentation on the history of the Tahoe City Golf Course.  Admission is free.

The next day, Saturday, June 9, the Two Bills Heritage Golf Tournament will occur again, with proceeds benefiting the Red Cross and the Tahoe City Recreation Association. This annual event has been a highlight of many local golfers summer.  It honors Bill Bechdolt and Bill Conners, two long time stalwarts of the local community, who spent a lot of time on the golf course. 

On Saturday, August 19, Annika Sorenstam, one of the best golfers in the world, will provide a junior golf clinic and demonstration followed by a Q&A and photo session. Following the demonstration, the course will host its inaugural family golf tournament.

Every Tuesday (excluding July 3) will be May Dunn Day, offering a 9-hole lady’s rate of $19.18.  Similarly, every Thursday (excluding July 5) is Throwback Thursday with 9-hole pricing of $19.18 all day for all golfers.