Incline Village (Championship)

Both “Incline Village” and “Championship” in the title at this Lake Tahoe club suggest what players should be expecting when they arrive. To the former, the course is based on mountainous terrain with plenty of altitude around the tourist destination on the Nevada/California border. To the latter, Robert Trent Jones (and, later, renovator Kyle Phillips) was known for creating stiff challenges and the 7,100 yards of tree-lined fairways from the back tees will provide one here.

Although the course does not come near the lake, struggling players will get many opportunities to look up from their ugly scorecards and gaze out from vistas on high. The downhill par three at No. 14 will be the prime photo opportunity...just don’t let the water far beyond the green distract you from the small pond at the fore.

Water is not a prominent hazard at the Incline Village, however many an approach shot will need to reckon with small creek crossings on the back nine. The three-hole stretch from Nos. 10-12, as well as nos. 15 and 16, will call for tee shots in the fairway; those who go awry may not be able to get over the streams ahead of the green in order to get home in regulation.