EDGEWOOD TAHOE GOLF COURSE
Course Architects: George Fazio/Tom Fazio (1968), Tom Fazio
(renovation/redesign)
Year Opened: 1968
Location: Stateline, Nevada
Slope: 144. Rating: 75.4
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,445
Hole-by-Hole: 1 - Par 4 436 Yds 10 - Par 4 441 Yds
2 - Par 4 417 Yds 11 - Par 4 407 Yds
3 - Par 5 599 Yds 12 - Par 3 205 Yds
4 - Par 5 572 Yds 13 - Par 4 434 Yds
5 - Par 3 220 Yds 14 - Par 4 447 Yds
6 - Par 4 442 Yds 15 - Par 4 394 Yds
7 - Par 3 169 Yds 16 - Par 5 564 Yds
8 - Par 4 458 Yds 17 - Par 3 207 Yds
9 - Par 4 461 Yds 18 - Par 5 572 Yds
Par 36 3,774 Yds Par 36 3,671 Yds
Key Events Held: U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship (1980),
U.S. Senior Open Championship (1985),
Celebrity Golf Championship (1990-95),
Isuzu Celebrity Golf Championship (1996-98),
American Century Celebrity Golf Championship (1999-present).
Awards Won: Rated #5 by Golf Digest - Best in State (NV) Rankings (2005-10),
#6 by Golf Magazine - Best Courses Near Your (2008-09),
#4 by Golfweek - Best Courses You Can Play (Nevada, 2009-10),
4 1/2 stars by Golf Digest - Best Places to Play (2006-10),
#98 by Golf Magazine - Top 100 You Can Play (2000).
Website: www.edgewoodtahoe.com.
HISTORY: We can thank Kit Carson and John C. Fremont for discovering what is
now called Lake Tahoe back in 1844. Twenty-two miles long and 12 miles wide,
Tahoe, which comes from the Washo Indian word meaning "big water," is on
average 1,000 feet deep. One of the deepest fresh water lakes in the world,
Tahoe is 99.9 percent pure.
At the turn of the 20th century, the Park family purchased a wonderful parcel
of land where Edgewood Tahoe stands today. Originally called Friday's Station,
it served as a stage line for the Pony Express and Wells Fargo Express, as it
sits only a few miles from the California border.
In its infancy, the Edgewood Resort featured camping, hunting and fishing and
it wasn't until Brooks Park had a vision of creating a world-class facility
for golf did the Resort take off. Mr. Park called upon George Fazio to design
the layout.
Known more for losing a playoff to Ben Hogan in the 1950 U.S. Open at Merion
and being the uncle of Tom Fazio than for designing golf courses, George Fazio
was nonetheless a gifted golf course architect. The elder Fazio, who finished
in the top-five in three U.S. Open Championships in a four-year stretch,
crafted courses at Champions Golf Club, Jupiter Hills, Moselem Springs and
designed the renowned Butler National Golf Club in Illinois along with his
nephew.
The Fazios created a simple but elegant layout, featuring stately pines,
babbling brooks, natural wetlands and incorporating the biggest asset of the
region, Lake Tahoe, into a wonderful course. At over 6,000 feet above sea
level, the Fazio's used the natural beauty of the environment to invent a
tract that has withstood the many changes in golf.
Since its original design, Tom, who has garnered many accolades for his golf
design, has continued to tweak and improve the layout and to this day is the
only architect allowed to work on the course. Tom has rebuilt several tees and
greens in an effort to redefine the layout.
"The site is one of the most beautiful in the United States," argued Fazio, in
his book Golf Course Designs. "The elevations and contours of the Tahoe
site, together with the tall conifers, the wide lake, and the snow-capped
mountains, provide a tremendous environment for golf...[The Parks] are
committed to continuing those same standards of quality that have made
Edgewood Tahoe a popular, year-round destination. It's a wonderful place, and
no matter when I go there, I never tire of that magnificent setting."
The United States Golf Association made its first visit to the state of Nevada
back in 1980, as Edgewood Tahoe hosted the U.S. Amateur Public Links
Championship. Future PGA Tour player Jodie Mudd won the first of his back-to-
back USAPL titles, as he defeated Rick Gordon in the championship match, 9 &
8.
The USGA made a return visit to the South Lake Tahoe region in 1985, as
Edgewood played host to the United States Senior Open Championship. Miller
Barber won his third and final Senior Open title, as he clipped Roberto De
Vicenzo by four shots. Barber was the lone player in the field of 150 to
finish under par for the championship at three-under 285, a by-product of the
fact that the course plays at 7,055 yards, the third-longest course in Senior
Open history. Leading by three shots heading into the final day, Barber
birdied three of the first four holes to seal the victory. Mysterious Mr. X
was a picture of consistency, shooting rounds of 71-72-71-71 and was the only
player to shoot par or better all four days. For the week, just three players
broke 70 (all shooting 68) - Walt Zembriski, De Vicenzo and Dick King. In
fact, the 36-hole cut was a whopping 14-over-par 158, the highest in Senior
Open history.
Since 1990, Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course has been the venue for the American
Century Celebrity Golf Championship, a fitting site for the longest-running
celebrity golf tournament.
The list of past participants in this star-studded event reads like a who's
who in sports and entertainment. From Marcus Allen, John Elway and Dan Marino
in the NFL to NBA greats Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley, to Wayne Gretzky
and Mario Lemieux of the NHL, to actors and comedians like Kevin Nealon, Bruce
McGill and Ray Romano, and even former U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle has
graced the fairways of Edgewood Tahoe.
Former NFL quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien captured the first
event, followed by Pittsburgh Pirates all-star pitcher Rick Rhoden, who won
the first of his record seven American Century Celebrity Golf Championships
in 1991. Rhoden has dominated this event with 17 top-five finishes the last 18
years.
Dan Quinn, a 14-year player in the NHL, has also enjoyed amazing success in
Lake Tahoe, winning this event four times. Former NFL signal-caller Billy Joe
Tolliver is a two-time winner of this event. Tolliver, who played 12 years in
the NFL, has recorded nine top-10 finishes at Edgewood.
Since 2003, the championship has used the Stableford format for scoring and in
those six seasons, only Rhoden has repeated as champion. Actor Jack Wagner
became the first non-professional athlete to capture the coveted title when he
won the 2006 event. The victory came in dramatic fashion, as he birdied the
final hole from 14 feet. Wagner, who began playing this event in its inaugural
season, has posted 15 top-10s, including a runner-up finish to Rhoden in 2003.
In 2007, Chris Chandler knocked Rhoden off his throne, amassing 31 points in
round three to come from behind and defeat Rhoden by five points. With the
win, the former All-Pro quarterback set both single-day and tournament records
for points.
Rhoden returned to his winning ways in 2008, as he birdied the final two
holes to defeat Quinn for his seventh title. The all-time leading money winner
on the Celebrity Tour sank a six-foot putt for birdie on the last to secure
the win. Quinn's 28 points on the final day left him one point shy. Dallas
Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo placed third, while NHL Hall-of-Famer Grant Fuhr
finished fourth.
Rhoden continued his domination of the premiere celebrity event in 2009, as he
defeated Romo by three points. Rhoden collected 18 points on the final day and
won the 20th American Century Championship with a total of 74 points. On the
final hole, Rhoden held a slight edge over Quinn, but both players hit
terrible tee shots into the trees. Each player got back into the fairway, and
Rhoden knocked his over the flag. Quinn came up short in the water,
essentially handing Rhoden his eighth win. Quinn and Billy Joe Tolliver tied
for third.
REVIEW: The opening hole at Edgewood is a mid-length par four of 436 yards.
Avoid the long fairway bunker on the right and the water on the left and
you're left with just a mid- to short-iron to a fairly wide green. Two bunkers
on either side of the long putting surface will keep you honest.
One of the many signature holes at Edgewood Tahoe, the second is a beautiful
par four, featuring a babbling brook down the entire left side through the
green. No sand whatsoever, so play down the right with a fairway metal off the
tee and you'll give yourself a shot at the pin. The putting surface is long
and narrow with a swale on the left. Remember, when the pin is back-left, play
towards the center, otherwise, you'll bring the water into play.
The first of back-to-back par-fives, the third is also the longest hole on the
course at a whopping 599 yards. Sweeping hard from left to right, you'll need
to avoid the bunkers down the right side of the dogleg to set up your best
approach to the green. Your tee shot will definitely dictate your next play,
as water creeps in down the left side of the landing area, not to mention a
massive bunker that tightens the fairway. Another long, undulating green
awaits with a pair of traps guarding the entrance to the putting surface. It
comes as no surprise that the third is the No. 1 handicap hole on the course.
At 572 yards, the fourth is no pushover either. A narrow tee box requires a
fade off the tee, avoiding the lone fairway bunker down the left. Trees adorn
most of the left side of the landing area, not to mention part of the right. A
creek comes into play down the right side of the layup area, splitting the
fairway in two. Just a wedge will remain to a kidney-shaped putting surface
with the creek around the right and sand left. A back-left flag will be tough
to get at, but with less than 100 yards, go for it.
The longest par three on the course, the fifth is a rugged 220 yards from the
gold pine cones. A fairway-metal or long-iron is needed to reach the putting
surface that's fronted by a creek and two deep bunkers. The green is rather
circular and runs from back to front, with very little undulations. Thank
goodness, as this one-shotter will certainly test your short game.
Another favorite hole at Edgewood is the 442-yard sixth, a wonderful par four
that bends to the right. The key is avoiding the fairway bunkers on either
side of the landing area off the tee. This will set up a mid- to long-iron to
a well-guarded green. Your second shot will play across the corner of a lake
to the putting surface that features a U-shaped bunker on the left, three pot
bunkers in the rear and one to the right. This hole is rated the most
difficult on the course for the women. Did I mention that the putting surface
is the longest on the course at 48 paces!
The shortest hole on the course, the seventh is just a straightforward, 169-
yarder. Bunkers left and a horseshoe trap on the right protect another lengthy
putting surface. A back-right flag could add 20 yards to this beauty. During
the second round of the U.S. Senior Open, Mac Main aced the seventh.
Number eight is a wonderful, dogleg right par four. Certainly worthy of
signature status. Your tee ball must favor the left side of the fairway, thus
avoiding the tall pine that lurks in the right-center of the landing area. Two
greens lay in waiting for your approach. The left putting surface is long, but
more accessible than the right. This green is well-guarded with plenty of
sand. Add a stroke or two if playing towards the right.
The closing hole on the outward nine is a hard, dogleg right par four, one of
nine on the course over 400 yards and the longest at 461 yards. You must cut
the corner of the fairway to give yourself a realistic shot at getting on in
two. A pair of bunkers blanket the left corner of the fairway, while deep
pines cover the right. The slender fairway is tough to hit, but you'll be
rewarded with a straightforward shot to the green. At 31 paces, the putting
surface is smallest on the first nine. The slightly undulating green features
a bunker on either side, just to put more pressure on your approach.
The 10th is another 400-plus par four at Edgewood. This time, the hole bends
to the right and then back to the left, as it wraps around a lake. Trees
guard the right corner off the tee, while a pair of bunkers lay in waiting
down the left. A medium iron should remain to a fairly long and undulating
green. Play down the right side of the fairway to avoid crossing the water on
your approach. A massive bunker deep will snare any errant play, not to
mention the water lurking to the left.
Number 11 requires accuracy off the tee, not brawn at just 407 yards from the
gold pine cones. Crossing the pond with your tee ball should not be an issue,
however the tall pines on the right and left will be. Miss left and your
uphill approach will be blocked, as it will on the right. The putting surface
slopes hard from back to front with a trap to the right. Although one of the
easier holes on the course, it is not to be taken lightly.
Talk about a tiny target, the par-three 12th is just over 200 yards, but
features a very shallow green at just 20 paces deep. A deep fronting bunker
will force even the best player to be spot on and the back trap, well let's
just say this is not the place to be. Playing slightly uphill, a medium- to
long-iron should get you home, but that's just half the battle, as the putting
surface is two-tiered and quite slick. A back-left pin is hard to get at, so
stay below the hole and get your par. Don't be greedy.
Playing downhill from the tee, the 13th at first blush looks like a pushover.
Don't be misled by the wide fairway. The trees down the right side block the
view of the water that looms large and the three fairway bunkers, two right
and one left are very much in play. Your approach plays straight uphill to the
green, so add a club or two to reach promised land. Bunkers left, right and
deep will keep you honest, not to mention the smallish green that's engulfed
by tall pines. The view from behind is killer, so take notice.
Another dogleg right, the 14th is the longest par four on the back nine at 447
yards. Downhill from the start, avoid the water left and the trees and sand
right and you'll be in A-1 position. Although the lake runs the entire left
side of the hole, it's far enough away from the fairway, that it shouldn't
come into play. Your mid-iron approach should favor the left side of the
green, away from the deep, greenside trap on the right. The putting surface
rolls from back to front, so stay below the hole for your best shot at birdie.
Playing back uphill and into the trees, the 15th is the only par four on the
course under 400 yards. The entire hole is lined by majestic pines down both
sides, so accuracy is key. You'll need to favor the right side of the fairway
with driver or 3-metal for your best angle to another large green. This time,
the putting surface is nearly surrounded by sand and slopes from front to
back. With the flag in the back-left quadrant, you might want to add another
club, otherwise a three-putt is right around the corner.
As you head for home, the final three holes at Edgewood will take your breath
away, as if the first 15 didn't. Although the shortest of the four par-fives,
the 16th is a whopping 564 yards, as it plays down towards Lake Tahoe. Staying
focused will not be an easy task as you stand on the tee. There's also the
matter of a tall pine lurking on the right side of the fairway that must be
avoided if you wish to get home in two. Skirting the tree and the two fairway
bunkers will leave you an option. Go for the green or layup. A medium-iron
layup will leave 100 yards to the longest putting surface on the course. If
you decide to go for the glory, you'll have to contend with over 100 yards of
sand, left, right and short of the split fairway. Long bunker shots are never
any fun, so choose option one. The backdrop is sensational and making birdie
is even better.
The famous 17th has seen its share of balls end up in Lake Tahoe. The close
proximity of the green to the water can put a scare into the best of talent.
When the wind is blowing, this could be one of the most intimidating holes in
the region. Two hundred plus from the tee, water down the right, sand short
and deep and a putting surface that's as wide as it is long. Good Luck! It
certainly didn't faze 2008 Celebrity winner Rick Rhoden, as he birdied the
hole on the final day en route to victory.
When the tournament or match is on the line, there's rarely a hole more suited
for the challenge than the 18th at Edgewood Tahoe. A robust par five with
risk-reward written all over it. Topping out at 572 yards, the 18th begins
from a chute of trees to a fairly large fairway. Favor the left-center to give
you the best approach to the green, that is if you're trying to get home in
two. The landing area for your second tightens as you get closer to the green,
with bunkers left and pines to the right. Let's not forget the pond that sits
short and left of the very large putting surface. At 45 paces, there are many
pin positions, none more diabolical than back-left. Just ask former NBA player
Bill Laimbeer, who dumped four straight shots into the water one year. Hence
the remaining of the hazard to "Lake Laimbeer."
FINAL WORD: What more could one ask for? The beautiful views of Lake Tahoe and
the High Sierra...some of the most accommodating people you'd ever want to
meet...oh, and by the way, one heck of a golf course.
First of all, South Lake Tahoe must be experienced to be believed. East Coast
travelers will always brag about Florida, Virginia or the Carolinas, but
vacationing out west, specifically Tahoe, is quite the adventure. Conveniently
located from San Francisco, Los Angeles and Reno, Tahoe is all-inclusive.
Breathtaking scenery, wonderful wining and dining, well-adorned hotels, plenty
of casinos, plenty of outdoor activities and yes...golf.
The Edgewood Tahoe golf course is a wonderful layout, complete with all the
amenities. Wall-to-wall conditioning, some of the finest in the country,
highlight the venue. From velvet fairways and slick greens to well-contoured
bunkers, Edgewood Tahoe is immaculate.
The course itself features four sets of tees, ranging from 5,500 to 7,445
yards. Although the range is 2,000 yards apart, most holes possess five to six
teeing grounds, so playability for all levels is assured.
At 6,200 feet above sea level, the player will gain a few extra yards, which
will certainly be needed if playing from the tips. The course is quite
straightforward. No tricks, just pure golf. Eight holes feature water hazards,
some boast elevation changes and many spotlight the wonderful Jeffrey pines
that adorn the region.
The finishing holes at Edgewood are as good as it gets. Sixteen, which
features a towering pine in the fairway, as it plays towards Lake Tahoe stops
the pulse. Number 17 starts the heart once again, as it borders the pristine
waters and the sandy beach with Mount Tallac's snow-capped peaks in the
distance. Of course, the closer, quite a challenge in its own right, tops off
a magnificent round of golf, with the stately clubhouse in the background. It
doesn't get better than this.
In a word or several...stunning, elegant, gorgeous, charming. You get the
picture. Edgewood Tahoe has character, is quite a challenge and is a
destination that should not be overlooked or missed. I've been seduced and I
can't wait to be overwhelmed again.
