Zephyr Cove, NV

Zephyr Cove Park

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4.285(based on 50 reviews)
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16 0
Upshawt1979
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.8 years 548 played 429 reviews
5.00 star(s)

TreaZure Cove

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 3, 2022 Played the course:once

Pros:

LOTS of elevation change and incredible views are the headliners for Zephyr Cove. It is all par 3, but offers a good challenge and is very fun. The first 8 holes are uphill from the tee to the basket. There are a handful of downhill drives that range from 35 to 75 feet of drop, mostly on the back 9. The tees are reasonably level rubber mats and signs are good. The basket is usually not hard to spot from the pad.

The fairways usually lie between a number of tall pines, but still have enough airspace to give you an honest chance at getting distance out of the box. Some are certainly more demanding than others. Behemoth boulders here and there limit the angles as you approach the pin on a few holes. Many holes have multitudes of manzanita bushes. They're just over knee high, and cover a lot of ground, but I didn't have much trouble finding my discs that landed amongst them.

I liked hole 4 a lot. The trees combine with the contour the land to create a tough shot off the tee. It's a '425 hole, and it plays across a trough with the basket on the opposite hillside. There are quite a few trees out of the box and it takes a good flex shot to get between them and close to the basket. I managed to make it through and canned a 50 footer up the hill. The seventh basket is when you begin to see some magnificent views of the lake. Hole 9 is the first nice downhill run and there are many more of them from that point forward. It is a mid range throw that is fairly open. 9-12 and 15-18 are all significant drops in elevation, with hole 15 being the largest descent at 75 feet.

I loved the look from the tenth tee. It really drops off a cliff visually, but it isn't that tough to get down there. There is a pocket at the bottom with a nice landing zone and three pin locations spread around the edges. I played pin A that is just under 500'. Hole 15 is the next great scenic lookout. The pics are pretty nice, but I highly recommend seeing it in person. The hole is a major run down the slope and 425, a very fun tee shot. The pin on 16 is set in front of a huge boulder that is cleaved into several slices, a unique backstop.

Cons:

Keep a close eye on the landings, the manzanitas can shroud the direct views. It's good to have an idea where to start looking. If you have trouble hiking up and down hills this one is not a good choice for you.

The layout is par 54, so there are not any long distance par 4's and 5's.

Other Thoughts:

I would put this in my top 10. It isn't the most difficult layout, but it requires skill to play at or near par and it's super fun. Plays fast if it isn't busy, as long as you don't have to search for discs. The scenery may be top 2 or 3.

If there is an afterlife, my spirit will be happy to inhabit this course. Even if ghosts can't throw discs, floating amongst the tree tops here and watching others let it fly would be suitable to me.

I only pulled off the one birdie on hole 4. I finished at 61 on the round. This is the first course I return to the next time I am anywhere nearby, no doubt. I'd love to take a few more trips around this one.
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9 0
matycakes
Experience: 9.8 years 22 played 2 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Awesome course that's also a short hike 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 1, 2021 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Lots of elevation change...up and down. Amazing views. Rarely too crowded. Minimal risk of losing a disc.

Cons:

No water after the first couple holes. Uneven tee pads. Too many huck it as far uphill as you can holes. Manzanita bushes.

Other Thoughts:

This is a great mountain course. Love the up and down and the fact that it's a bit of a hike to complete. The only significant drawback for me is that there are a fair number of holes (7 maybe?) that just require you to throw it uphill as far as you can with little shot shaping required. Not that they are completely open but they mostly test your ability to throw uphill and maybe miss a few trees. Not my favorite type of throw but the rest of the course more than makes up for it. There are a few really fun downhill shots and the terrain is awesome with all the big boulders and trees. The manzanita will scrape up your shins and ankles if you're not careful but I'll take that over poison oak any day of the week. My favorite course in the area for sure.
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14 0
The Flying Discman
Experience: 3.2 years 24 played 11 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Astounding Views & Fun Tee Offs 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 1, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

The crowning gem of this course is the elevated tees #9 (75 feet of elevation) & 15 (60 feet of elevation) and their astounding views of Lake Tahoe, (which makes for priceless disc golf photos). The elevated tees, #4, 10 (45 feet of elev.) & 16 - all over small canyons, #11 & #12, and #18 (45-50 feet) - make this course so fun. The course is in great shape - Tee pads, signage good) & baskets. The topographical course map is great to print out and take with you. We had no issues finding the baskets. Loved the 16th hold basket surrounded by boulders on 3 sides.

Cons:

#1 - finding your discs on holes #9 & 15 (and on 10) with the manzanita bushes. From my throws - it took me 8 mins to find my disc on 9th, and 31 mins to find all 4 of our discs on 15th. And about 22 mins on 19th hole. Because of the review just before this one warning about the manzanita, we knew to watch where or discs land, (what bush) and to team up and help each find our discs. Good news - we found all of our discs!
#2 - the hills and the heat.
#3 - the manzanita will scratch up your legs. I wore shorts.
#4 - honestly #14 was hardest uphill hole I have played to date - and maybe this is just a statement about my experience level. My approach shot was so steep, that I has to throw a tomahawk shot, (got lucky and made it to the flat putting area!). But I'd do it again to play 15th tee-off!

Other Thoughts:

There are port-o-potty restrooms at the park gazebo adjacent to the putting practice basket near the #1 Hole tee off.
Recommend playing in the AM when it's cooler in the summer and playing with at least one friend to help with finding discs.
I believe the manzanita had been cleared by the local disc club and I think them for that!
I agree with the earlier reviewer that beginners may not enjoy this course as much, (my family will probably not want to play this again next time), but they enjoyed it.
But I would play this again - knowing these limitations - in a heart beat.
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8 1
elvenschool
Experience: 41.9 years 12 played 12 reviews
1.50 star(s)

The Manzanita is Too Much 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 17, 2020 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

The local DG club has made an effort to clear out some of the manzanita, putting the course in the best shape I've ever seen.
Lots of elevation change and shot challenge here.
Quality tee boxes and baskets.
Beautiful surroundings and you can see the lake from some holes.

Cons:

I know I'll get hate and lots of down votes for saying this, but the manzanita bushes essentially make this course a complete bother to play.
I've played Zephyr Cove off an on since I moved to Tahoe in 2000 and every time I do it I ask myself why I bothered. I keep hoping they'll rip out even more manzanita, but there is still way too much.
There are so many manzanita on most holes that once you throw you have to wonder which bush it went into or which bush is hiding it from view. A perfectly beautiful shot can become absolutely horrid because it's impossible to find your disc.
Thick pants are a necessity and gloves are not a bad idea to avoid scratching your hands up like crazy.
You will spend more time searching for your discs than you will playing with them.
It's not a course for playing solo. You need a spotter.

Other Thoughts:

Don't bring your favorite discs. The potential to lose one is high.
Do dress for a bushwalk.
Be prepared with fluids as there is plenty of up and down walking. If you're a flatlander, you'll feel the altitude here.
Do enjoy the views, scenery and design, as it's the most redeeming quality of the course.
Don't play this course if your time in Tahoe is limited. Hit the Bijou or Kirkwood courses instead.
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1 7
lucasap
Experience: 17.8 years 155 played 3 reviews
5.00 star(s)

beautiful 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 27, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

Beautiful lines and elevation change. Well maintained. Demand for elite shots to score but can easily par out.

Cons:

Signage is out of date with distance They all pins are viewable from teepads
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3 9
Tahoe Cowboy
Experience: 4 played 4 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Exceptional 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 31, 2019 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Very challenging - lots of walking in steep areas

Great views from a few of the higher tee pads

Not as busy as Bijou Disc Golf Course in South Lake Tahoe

Cons:

Challenging for beginners

Bring hiking boots

Lots of shrubs - high potential to lose a disc (still worth going to this course!)

Other Thoughts:

Have a scout when you drive to help spot your disc

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9 1
Ajampalm
Experience: 94 played 11 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Beautiful Tahoe Golf 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 14, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great elevation
Incredible scenery
Fun mix of left, right, up, and down
Only 15 minutes from South Lake Tahoe

Cons:

Signage didn't have indicators for which of the multiple pin positions the pins were at. So lots of scouting was needed.

It was sometimes no clear where the next tee pad was, but not so much a con as a warning if you are in a hurry to play here to plan accordingly!

Other Thoughts:

I loved this course. It was everything I was hoping Tahoe would be for disc golf. Great elevation, incredible views,

The course wasn't too challenging from a scoring perspective, but it had enough elevation to keep my score in check. I think shooting in the mid to high 40's here is about right for advanced level players that can throw 400+.

This was my favorite course I played around Tahoe, and I would go even if only for the view and the hike!

This is a do no miss course in my opinion!
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4 2
droidly
Experience: 9.7 years 37 played 4 reviews
5.00 star(s)

The Most Fun I've Had in Nevada 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 4, 2017 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

* Such a gorgeous setting that you don't really care how your game is going. SO GORGEOUS!
* Universally interesting holes, with a lot of elevation change and fun obstacles.
* Really well-maintained course--as far as I know, this park is the absolute nicest place in all of Nevada.

Cons:

* Pretty sun-exposed and a lot of climbing (especially if you're a low-lander--how heavy are O2 tanks?).
* Manzanita is everywhere, and you'll probably accumulate an hour of staring at it while you search for wayward discs.

Other Thoughts:

I always have to re-learn how to throw, coming up here from sea level. (And the recovery on returning is worse!) Putt hard and low, and expect your drives to mysteriously stabilize. (Turns out physics actually matters? Who knew?) Better yet, shrug off all thoughts about your performance and savor the tasty vistas.
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1 6
nogginfur
Experience: 9.8 years 62 played 4 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Zephyr Cove is the best course near Tahoe 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 18, 2016 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Great course to play, with many well thought out holes that can be played from a variety of shots. Elevated slopers make for some challenging puts too. Nice tee boxes, which the locals put a lot if work into.

Cons:

A few tee boxes were not as obvious to get to first time through,. But still pretty obvious.
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2 5
Gdizzle
Experience: 3 played 3 reviews
4.50 star(s)

A MUST PLAY course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 8, 2016 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

One of my favorite courses
Lots of elevation change
Some great Lake views
Well maintained
Very challenging
Ive played over 50 times and still love this course, far superior to Bijou

Cons:

Honestly, I cant think of any. I've lost some discs off the ridges but that's just part of the game.

Other Thoughts:

This is one of my favorites in the Tahoe Basin, a MUST PLAY if you come to the area and are a disc player.
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4 3
gmgoober
Experience: 22 played 5 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Amazing course! A must see! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 26, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Great views!!!!
-Challenging but not impossibly hard shots.
-Plenty of variety
-Amazing views!!!
-Good signage
-Not crowded at all
-And did I mention Beautiful views!!!

Cons:

-Very Tiring if you are not prepared
-Could use a few markers pointing to the next tee box.
-One Hole has the wrong distance by about 200 feet on the sign

Other Thoughts:

Amazing course. One of if not the best course I have played. It is quite a hike, but worth the reward. Wear long pants to protect your legs from the manzanita, and pack water. But you will not regret seeing this one.
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7 1
bobmcnelly
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.9 years 324 played 189 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 14, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

- excellent use of elevation change, lots of "wow" shots
- great flat rubber tee pads
- great tee signs that give you all the info you need
- good variety of distances and line shaping shots
- very challenging course that will test the best of players

Cons:

- this course could really use some navigation signs, there were multiple times when I was just wandering, looking for the next tee
- tons of blind tee shots, and with the elevation scouting ahead can be quite daunting
- during early morning rounds the front 9 plays mostly into the sun
- if you are not in good shape and used to the elevation this course can really be exhausting

Other Thoughts:

This is an incredible course that if some signage were put in and maybe some flags to mark the baskets this could easily be a 4.5. Bring water and hiking boots.
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1 11
AngelK
Experience: 8.8 years 6 played 6 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Nice course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 24, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great area. Good distances. Trees weren't too narrow and underbrush wasn't bad at all.

Cons:

Watch out for boulders, they were unforgiving when my discs hit them. Trail could be marked better.

Other Thoughts:

Manzanita undergrowth had speckles of yellow leaves, the exact same color as several of my yellow discs. Recommend against using yellow discs (at least during the summer).
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11 0
goat00
Experience: 17.8 years 20 played 4 reviews
4.00 star(s)

The Mountains 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Mar 25, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This is a beautiful course, fairly difficult overall, and well maintained. Most of the pins have multiple placements, and there are multiple tee pads for 2 or 3 of the longer holes. Decent signage and walking trails on each hole. Most of the pins lie straight off of the tee pads, making them easier to spot, but distance, obstacles, and elevation changes make them tough. New tee pads are really nice, with stonework around them and seating nearby. The front half plays mostly uphill with wooded fairways and lightly guarded pins, making shot selection important and lay up pars sometimes the smart play. The back 9 wanders back down and across the mountain, with one more hole, #15, going back up for the best view of the lake you'll have all round before heading back down to the car. Some really fun elevation drops, #s 10 and 15 being standout bombers. A great hike, but dont forget your water bottle. No matter what time of day or year, you can count on this course being uncrowded, the elevation and climb making most people go elsewhere. Those with enough energy to hike up above the course for a break are rewarded with amazing views of the lake and Sierras, and some shade to relax in.

Cons:

A practice basket would be a very nice addition, but the 18th pin sits close to the first tee and parking, so some putting there before your round isnt out of the question, its usually not to busy. Manzanita bushes galore, but not as bad as before a lot of it was cleared out, making this course way more enjoyable and shots in the fairway easier to find. Lost discs still a possibility, though Only a handfull of bird runs the whole course, most holes long and wooded with narrow shot possibilities. Signage could use some updating (one hole's layout changed, but the old sign remains.) Some tee pads not obvious from previous pins, some small NEX-T signage in places, none in others. (there is a course layout on the board at hole one, a snap of it with the phone helps)

Other Thoughts:

This may be my favorite course, between the location (close to home) and the quality of the course, I love it. Back when I first played it in '09, my rating would have been quite a bit lower, but with the new tee pads and brush clearing, its a whole new course, cleaner and more fun than ever. No mandos here, massive amounts of trees making them unnecessary, most of the holes having obvious lines for the best shot, others not seeming to have a good line at all. A great looking and playing course with some difficulty make this one a must if you're nearby.
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3 3
Yogi
Experience: 3 played 2 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Best Views of Lake Tahoe 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 3, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This is the prettiest course I have ever played. There are many lake views and incredible granite outcroppings coming into play. Excellent tees, and pin placements. Tough uphill holes with a few birdie opportunities. I love the way back down, with my favorite hole being #10. Very little traffic and very clean.

Cons:

Outdated tee signs, however rumors have it that new signs are being designed.

Other Thoughts:

This course is a great destination, with casinos and hotels 15 minutes away, but still in a mountain setting. The beach is right across the road.
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12 1
swatso
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.7 years 755 played 414 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Chipmunk Metropolis 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 25, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Tee areas: 4'x8' flat rubber mat in wooden frame. Teesigns showing all possible positions, including current position, Brooms at every basket. Benches at many baskets.

Views from tee-9 - a perfect place for a much-needed rest. Ski-built bench at tee-15 isn't too shabby, either.

A few baskets are well guarded by boulders - 11C, atop a rocky outcropping, was particularly challenging.

Cons:

It was a bit mentally and physically taxing the few times you throw upwards to a basket, then walk downwards the next tee, just to throw upward again to the next basket.

Other Thoughts:

Course is set upon a moderately steep slope, where you will find: many mid-sized pines, with branches primarily towards the top; a plethora homogeneous, small bushes; a smattering of variably-sized boulders; pine cones from the aforementioned trees littering the scattered dirt paths/open space; and a seemingly infinite number of chipmunks - or maybe it was just one uber-chipmunk who managed to appear at every hole.

Roughly half the holes play directly up the slope, and nearly all these are found in the first half of the course. There's very little shot-shaping required this first half - heave the disc as far as you can up straight the slope, hope to miss a particular tree or two enroute mid/late, and keep track of your disc's last whereabouts (there is no underbrush to speak of, but with all the pines and bushes appearing so similar, you'll need to keep track of which particular tree/bush combo your disc was last seen heading for when you initiate your search.) None of these upslope are bad, it's just the nearly-continuous early steady diet of them was a bit overbearing - but you certainly see an increase your pulse rate!

Beginning with short-but-sharply-down number-9, finesse, disc selection, and shot-shaping come into play. The trees become denser, at times requiring certain windows to be hit, and with many of the holes having some type of elevation loss, accounting for fade becomes a major issue. Due to the elevation changes, distance has no meaning here - I was throwing distance drivers on 200' holes, and midranges on 300' holes, which is inverted for my nominal game.

Navigation: fairly easy with the online map, although a few "next tee" arrows at the bottom of some the baskets where the next tee wasn't readily visible would make things easier. Most visible tee/basket isn't necessarily the proper one - confirm with map.

This is a very nice course in an impressive setting, which will challenge you physically early, and mentally late - very much worth a play.
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4 2
Fntsygamr
Experience: 8.8 years 62 played 27 reviews
4.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 9, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Very nice use of terrain
New basket placements
Great tee boxes
Great signage showing where baskets are
Baskets are in great shape and hold up through the winter months
Course open in snow, sun, and rain
Plenty of parking
Brooms on the course for sweeping off the tee pads
Uphill and downhill shots; great variety of skills needed

Cons:

There is nothing really bad I can say about this course. Everything about this is a positive and I really have nothing negative to add.

Other Thoughts:

Bring water, snacks, sunscreen and a chair if you have one. There are some "benches" along the tee boxes for relaxing between hikes from hole to hole. Please pack out what you bring in to keep this one of the best looking courses in the area.
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15 1
mashnut
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.1 years 831 played 767 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Very fun 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 22, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course plays in a beautiful park with nice mature pine trees and some scattered underbrush. There are great boulders and rock piles all over the course, and several are used as obstacles or features to add some cool shots and neat visuals. There is significant elevation throughout, you have to throw a lot of tough uphill shots and get a couple fun downhills as payoff. There are several greens with rocky landings and rollaway potential adding difficulty to the short game.

Though the trees aren't all that dense, it still felt like a good variety of different shots was required here. The alternate pin placements change things up quite a bit and add some nice variety (and there appear to be some longer tourney placements added since the signs were made). The tees are plenty adequate, and the baskets are in good shape. The locals obviously put a lot of effort into this course and it shows.

Cons:

The signs didn't seem totally accurate, and there wasn't an indicator of the current pin position. There were a couple spots that could have used next tee signs with multiple paths leading away from the previous basket. The distances are mostly pretty similar, it seemed like there was room to have a little more variety and a few more cross- or downhill shots to go with the great uphill holes. Though there is some brush, it's mostly low enough that it doesn't affect your next shot too much after an errant drive.

Other Thoughts:

Beginners will find this course a tough hike, but it's reasonably approachable for newer players. More experienced players will find some really nice tests of some line shaping skills along with plenty of chances for exciting birdies. There are some really great views from a couple high points on the course, and it's a beautiful park for a walk. I definitely recommend a stop here when you're in the Tahoe area.
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2 21
Yell
Experience: 7 played 1 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Not what I expected 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 26, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Baskets

Cons:

Poor signage - never knew where the next tee was or where the basket really was as there seemed to be different options. Skipped 4 holes on accident because we didn't know where we were to go next.

Further, the last 4 holes are bunched together - easy to get hit on a busy day

Other Thoughts:

The rating is much higher than I would think after playing on a nice day
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3 7
frolfer97
Experience: 18 played 18 reviews
4.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 30, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Good signage at each hole
-Good variety of shots and obstacles to shoot around
-Amazing views of Lake Tahoe
-Very low crowds, I only saw one other person on the course while I was there

Cons:

-Although most tee pads were easy to spot, a couple were hard to find, it would be nice to have signs pointing to the next hole
-Thick brush in spots, I spent about 45 minutes looking for one of my discs

Other Thoughts:

Definitely one of my favorite courses I've played on so far.
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