Quick Answer
- Highest price band: Martis Camp — Tom Fazio course, private chairlift to Northstar, roughly $4M to $25M.
- Family-forward clubs: Schaffer's Mill and Old Greenwood & Gray's Crossing (Tahoe Mountain Club).
- Nevada, no state income tax: Clear Creek Tahoe and Montreux.
- Permit short-term rentals: Tahoe Donner and Northstar — the golf communities that allow STRs.
- Remember: club membership is almost always a separate purchase from the home — see the membership cost guide.
The Tahoe–Truckee corridor holds the densest concentration of luxury real estate in the Sierra — and most of it sits inside a handful of private golf, ski, and lakefront club communities. They look similar from the highway and are anything but: course pedigree, club culture, price, membership cost, and rental rules vary enormously. Here's the honest, side-by-side guide Real Estate Tahoe's agents give clients before they tour a single one.
How to choose a Tahoe golf community
- Course & club pedigree — Fazio, Weiskopf, Nicklaus, Coore & Crenshaw. Each has a different feel and waitlist.
- Vibe — ultra-private and estate-oriented (Lahontan, Martis Camp) vs social and family-forward (Schaffer's Mill, Tahoe Donner).
- Price band — from the $400Ks at Tahoe Donner to $25M estates at Martis Camp.
- Membership cost — often a separate purchase from the home. See the full Lake Tahoe golf club membership cost guide.
- Short-term rental rules — most private clubs restrict or ban it. Check the STR rules by jurisdiction.
Real Estate Tahoe's short list by buyer type: Martis Camp for legacy buyers who want the most amenities and the strongest resale brand; Lahontan for privacy and value at the estate level; Schaffer's Mill and Tahoe Mountain Club (Old Greenwood and Gray's Crossing) for families who want a real club at a lower entry; Clear Creek Tahoe or Montreux for buyers who want the Nevada tax position; and Tahoe Donner or Northstar if rental income is part of the plan, because they are the only golf communities here that allow short-term rentals.
The communities, compared
| Community | Course | Typical price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Martis Camp (CA) | Tom Fazio | $4M–$25M | Legacy, amenities, ski access |
| Lahontan (CA) | Tom Weiskopf | $2.5M–$6M | Privacy & tradition |
| Schaffer's Mill (CA) | Miller / Harbottle | $1.5M–$4M | Value luxury, families |
| Old Greenwood & Gray's Crossing — Tahoe Mountain Club (CA) | Nicklaus / Jacobsen | $1.5M–$5M | Two courses, lowest entry |
| Clear Creek Tahoe (NV) | Coore & Crenshaw | $2M–$10M | NV tax, new build |
| Montreux (NV) | Jack Nicklaus | $1.5M–$8M | Reno access, gated |
| Tahoe Donner (CA) | Public 18 | $400K–$3M | Value & rental income |
| Incline Village (NV) | Robert Trent Jones ×2 | $1M–$10M+ | Lakefront access, NV tax |
| Northstar (CA) | Resort 18 | $1M–$5M | Ski-in, rental income |
Lake Tahoe resort & private-club communities
Not every Tahoe club is built around golf. These ski, lakefront, and private-club communities round out the options — several are newer or still under development.
| Community | Setting | Typical price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homewood Mountain & Lake Club (CA) | Ski + lakefront (in development) | Under construction | Ski-and-lake private club |
| Glenbrook (NV) | Historic lakefront · 9-hole golf | ~$2.5M–$15M+ | Private East Shore lakefront |
| The Tahoe Beach Club (NV) | Lakefront condos + beach club | ~$2.2M–$6M | New-build lakefront, low upkeep |
| Tonopalo (CA) | Fractional lakefront residence club | ~$200K–$700K / share | Turnkey fractional ownership |
Reno–Tahoe luxury golf communities
Plenty of Lake Tahoe buyers also cross-shop the gated golf communities just over the hill in south and west Reno — roughly a 30-minute drive to the lake, no Nevada state income tax, and often an easier path to club access than the Tahoe clubs. They're worth a look alongside Clear Creek Tahoe, and Real Estate Tahoe's agents work them directly.
| Community | Course(s) | Typical price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montreux (NV) | Jack Nicklaus signature | $1.5M–$8M | Gated, PGA tournament pedigree |
| Somersett (NV) | Somersett G&CC (semi-private) | ~$550K–$2M+ | Master-planned, family-oriented |
| ArrowCreek (NV) | Two courses — Palmer & Zoeller/Harbottle | $1M–$5M+ | Guard-gated, two courses, view lots |
California vs Nevada — which side fits you
The state line runs through the lake, and it matters. California communities (Martis Camp, Lahontan, Schaffer's Mill, Tahoe Donner, Northstar) hold the marquee Truckee clubs. Nevada communities (Clear Creek Tahoe, Montreux, Incline Village, Glenbrook) add no state income tax — which for many buyers outweighs the membership math entirely. Real Estate Tahoe is licensed in both states (California firm CA DRE #02235314, Nevada B.1003327.LLC) and works both sides.
Buying as an investment
If rental income is part of the plan, membership cost is only half the math — the other half is whether you can rent the home at all. Most private golf communities prohibit short-term rentals; Tahoe Donner and Northstar are the golf communities that genuinely work as STRs. Full breakdown in the golf-community investment guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Lake Tahoe golf communities are best to buy a home in?
Real Estate Tahoe's short list by buyer type: Martis Camp for legacy buyers who want the most amenities and the strongest resale brand; Lahontan for privacy and value at the estate level; Schaffer's Mill and Tahoe Mountain Club (Old Greenwood and Gray's Crossing) for families who want a real club at a lower entry; Clear Creek Tahoe or Montreux for buyers who want the Nevada tax position; and Tahoe Donner or Northstar if rental income is part of the plan, because they are the only golf communities here that allow short-term rentals.
Which Lake Tahoe golf community is the most expensive?
Martis Camp has the highest price band — homes run from roughly $4M to $25M — with a Tom Fazio course and a private chairlift to Northstar. Lahontan is also estate-oriented, built around two Tom Weiskopf courses.
Are there golf communities on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe?
Yes — Clear Creek Tahoe near Carson City and Montreux near Reno are the main Nevada-side private golf communities, plus Incline Village's two public courses. Nevada has no state income tax.
Which Tahoe golf community is best for short-term rental investment?
Tahoe Donner and Northstar allow short-term rentals. Most private clubs — Martis Camp, Lahontan, Schaffer's Mill — prohibit rentals under 30 days.
Want help choosing? Email murat@realestatetahoe.com or reach out here and Real Estate Tahoe will walk you through the trade-offs for how you actually plan to use the place.
