Lake Tahoe Activities in Summer

The Championship Golf Course in Incline Village is a par 72 course of 7100 yards that flows down a gentle slope toward the lake, providing majestic views. The front nine are cut out of some thick forest with tight fairways requiring accuracy and distance. The back nine are a little more open and forgiving. You can work on your short game at the chipping green — with a bunker and putting green — or practice your long shots at the 28-stall driving range with five targets ranging from 40 to 200 yards. Visit the golf shop to see the latest in golf technology or get fitted for a custom club. Pick up a snack or drink from the beverage cart or lunch from the snack bar. For something more substantial stop in at The Grille at the Chateau for an upscale lunch or happy hour after your round of golf. If you love the views and locale, you can book the 5,200-square-foot Chateau for your next meeting, event or wedding.

Mountain Golf Course in Incline Village is set in a rolling hillside – with an elevation change of about a hundred feet – that reminds you why this town is named Incline. The Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed course winds its way through a forest of old-growth pines and cedars with a couple of creeks running through. Usually open May through October, the 18-hole, par 58 course of about 3500 yards has 14 par 3 holes and four par 4 holes. The family-friendly Mountain Golf Course is affordable and non-intimidating to the novice, hosting fun events throughout the summer such as Nine & Wine Thursdays, Thrill & Grill shotgun tournaments and Sunday Family Fun Days with shorter yardages and free golf for kids younger than 18. They’ve got a large chipping and putting practice green and a golf shop stocked with gear, apparel, souvenirs and club rentals. When you’re ready for refreshments you can grab something from the beverage cart when it passes by or check in at the Clubhouse after winning a round. Their snack bar has indoor and outdoor seating and serves lunch, beer, wine and cocktails and has a humidor stocked with cigars. In the winter, when the Mountain Golf Course is covered in snow, the sloping greens make for the perfect sledding runs.

The sprawling Tahoe Donner subdivision and its 6,000-plus homes above Truckee is many things to lots of people. For some it is their home neighborhood; for others it’s where they rent a house for a few days in winter or summer. Locals and visitors all take advantage of the Tahoe Donner Association’s 7,000 acres and equally vast amenities available to homeowners as well as to the public. The association’s clubhouses are members only, but the public can experience Tahoe Donner for free or pay-to-play at top-notch offerings such as the 18-hole golf course, the equestrian center for riding lessons, the cross-country ski center and its 100 km of groomed trails and kid-friendly snow-play area. The downhill ski center is ideal for little kids (and adults) to learn skiing and snowboarding. More than 60 miles of trails and fire roads wind through nearly 3,500 acres of open space and can be explored for free on foot, bike or snowshoes. And after all that exploring, Tahoe Donner has a variety of places to dine. The Lodge Restaurant and Pub has indoor and outdoor dining next to the golf course. Pizza on the Hill also offers other fare plus a full bar and game room for the kids. Also keep an eye open for events open to the public held at various times in the season.