Grizzly Ranch Golf Club is a semi-private Bob Cupp course about an hour north of Reno that anyone can book, with a par-72 layout that stretches to 7,411 yards and peak-season green fees of about $175–$195 with a cart.
It’s closed for winter right now, so if you’re planning a round in 2027, keep reading for what you need to know about the holes, rates, booking and getting there.
Grizzly Ranch at a Glance: History, Setting and Reputation
Grizzly Ranch opened in 2005 as the private centerpiece of a gated community built for 380 owners on 1,040 acres along Big Grizzly Creek.
After the housing downturn, a group of property owners bought the club in late 2012 and opened it to public play. Today it runs as Grizzly Ranch Golf Course, LLC.
The late Bob Cupp, Golf World’s first Golf Architect of the Year in 1992, laid the holes onto the forest floor with very little buildup. The site sits where the Sierra Valley meets the mountains, right next to the million-acre Plumas National Forest, at 4,800 to 5,400 feet.
You’ll play through ponderosa and Jeffrey pine, meadows, wetlands, creeks and dry washes, all on bluegrass fairways and greens.
Experts and regular golfers tend to agree on its quality:
- Golf Digest ranks it No. 53 in California for 2025–26, and it was No. 95 on the magazine’s 100 Greatest Public list for 2021–22.
- Golfers rate it 4.7 out of 5, mostly for its conditioning, scenery and design.
- The usual complaints are rising prices, slow afternoon rounds and the remote drive.
Course Layout, Tee Options and Holes to Know
It’s a par 72, split 36 and 36, with par 3s on holes 2, 6, 14 and 16 and par 5s on 3, 7, 12 and 18. Seven tee options give you plenty of room to match the course to your game:
| Tee | Yards | Men’s Rating / Slope |
|---|---|---|
| Black | 7,411 | 74.8 / 144 |
| Green | 6,782 | 72.4 / 138 |
| Green/Copper | 6,425 | 71.0 / 132 |
| Copper | 6,256 | 70.2 / 128 |
| White | 6,024 | 69.1 / 124 |
| Blue | 5,380 | 66.0 / 119 |
| Yellow | 5,033 | 62.8 / 108 |
Ratings shift slightly over time, so check the card on the day you play.
Most holes start from an elevated tee or ask for an uphill drive, and you’ll face a few blind tee shots, forced carries over arroyos and big, rolling greens. Wide fairways and soft pine straw make it more forgiving than the slope suggests, though. If you’re a mid-handicapper, you’ll probably enjoy the White or Copper tees more than the Green.
Holes Worth Knowing
- No. 3 (640-yard par 5, No. 1 handicap): The approach carries a gully and wetland where the fairway pinches, so lay up to a full-wedge distance.
- No. 9 (439-yard par 4): The signature hole, with a big ponderosa “wolf tree,” Beckwourth Peak behind and a lake and covered bridge beside the green.
- No. 12 (649-yard downhill par 5, No. 2 handicap): Ravines split it into three sections, one about 265 yards from the Green tee. Few players reach it in two.
- No. 15 (330-yard par 4): A reachable risk-reward hole.
- No. 17 (483-yard par 4): A creek cuts diagonally across the driving zone.
- No. 18 (570-yard uphill par 5): Water guards an elevated green, with a waterfall, covered bridge and the Lake House terrace right beside it.
Grab the club’s yardage guide, and pick your layup club on 3 and 12 before you hit your tee shot.
Green Fees, Memberships and Booking a Tee Time
The 2026 schedule is your best guide to 2027 pricing, and every fee includes a cart, range balls and use of the practice facility:
- Spring (May 1–28): $150, play all day
- Prime season (May 29 – Sept. 24): $195 Friday–Saturday, $175 Sunday–Thursday
- Twilight (after 2 p.m.): $130
Sunday through Thursday, NCGA/NNGA members pay $150 after noon and locals pay $150, so ask the pro shop what counts as “local.” The 2025 card also had a $100 nine-hole rate after 2 p.m., a $50 junior rate (17 and under with a parent) and an $85 same-day replay, so it’s worth asking whether those return.
Groups need at least 12 players and pay $160 Sunday–Thursday or $180 Friday–Saturday in prime season, dropping to $130 in spring and fall. Groups of 36 or more can request a shotgun start.
If you’ll play often, a Single Membership costs $3,649 and covers unlimited golf, six guest passes and a $130 guest rate. A Family Membership runs $6,849, and the 8-Play Pass is listed at about $1,299, though you should confirm that price. All memberships and passes are nonrefundable.
You can book through the MemberSports tee sheet on the club’s website, on GolfNow, or by calling (530) 832-4200, and you don’t need a package to get a time. Summer weekend mornings fill fast, so book 30 or more days ahead. Since no cancellation policy is published, ask about cancellations and card holds when you reserve.
Season, Conditions and On-Course Rules
The course closes roughly November through April and doesn’t offer winter golf. In 2026, members teed off April 26 and the public followed on May 1, but spring openings depend on snowmelt, so watch the club’s website and e-newsletter in March and April for 2027 dates and rates. In season, hours run from about 7 a.m. to between 5 and 7 p.m., following daylight.
At this altitude, the ball carries about 5–10% farther, so a 150-yard club can play like 165. You won’t get extra rollout on uphill holes, though. It’s warmer than most Lake Tahoe courses, with cool mornings, warm afternoons and afternoon wind. Greens run about 10–11 on the Stimpmeter in peak season and are easy to under-read on slopes.
Wildfire is a real summer risk. A July 2024 evacuation warning interrupted play, so check CAL FIRE, sheriff alerts and air quality before you drive up between July and September.
A few things to know before you tee off:
- Wear a collared shirt and soft spikes, and leave the denim at home. The dress code isn’t posted, so confirm when you book.
- Walking is possible but strenuous, with no paths past tee boxes and no footbridges over creeks.
- Bring a rangefinder.
- Take an early tee time for the best pace, since busy afternoons can stretch to 4.5–6 hours.
Practice, Dining, Weddings and Lodging
Practice and Pro Shop
The natural-grass range has about six practice tees, plus a putting green and a short-game area with a bunker. A teaching pro is on staff if you want a lesson. The pro shop stocks equipment and apparel alongside Western wear like boots and hats, and it rents clubs.
The Lake House
Next to the 18th green, the Lake House serves lunch daily and has a sunken full bar with beer on tap. You can sit on the terrace or grab an Adirondack chair on the lawn. Breakfast burritos, burgers and “totchos” are favorites, though quality can vary. If you’re in a late group, check the closing time before you tee off.
Weddings
The club began hosting weddings in 2025, on Wednesdays or Saturdays, for about 200 guests outdoors or 45 indoors. Bookings include four rounds of golf, and the average all-in budget is $50,000+.
Lodging
There’s no on-site hotel, and lodging inside the community is limited to private vacation rentals. Third-party stay-and-play packages start around $130 per golfer, so compare that with booking the club directly.
Getting There and Final Tips
The club sits at 250 Clubhouse Drive, Portola, CA 96122, about 5 miles northeast of Portola off Highway 70. Some map apps list other addresses, so enter the club’s name or this address in your GPS.
- From Reno (50–60 minutes): Take US-395 north and CA-70 west, then turn right on Grizzly Road into the gated community.
- From Truckee (about 50 minutes): Take CA-89 north and County Road A23 to CA-70, then Grizzly Road. This is also your backup route if US-395 closes.
- From Graeagle (about 18 minutes): Head east on Highway 70.
If you’re flying in, land at Reno-Tahoe International (RNO) and rent a car. Sacramento is about 2.5 hours away if you’d rather drive.
Pack extra balls and layers for the cool mornings, and save some time after your round for a drink overlooking the 18th.
Conclusion
Grizzly Ranch gives you a highly ranked mountain course at a mid-range price, with a fair challenge from the right tees and a setting that keeps the drive from Reno worth it.
Since it’s closed until spring, use the winter to watch for the 2027 opening date and rate card, then lock in your tee time early if you want a summer weekend morning.
Pick your tees honestly, plan your layups and leave time for the Lake House, and you’ll get the most out of your round.
