Nakoma Resort

The Nakoma Resort is probably known as a golf resort but it can also serve as a hub for a lot of other activities that take advantage of the incredible natural surroundings. The Nakoma Resort offers an Adventure Concierge service which helps facilitate getting you out into the mountains and doing the activities and sports that you are into.
While at Nakoma, I was part of a large family vacation that included grandparents on down to toddlers so free time was tight. My brother in law and I were hoping to get a Mountain Bike ride in on short notice but didn’t have the time or ability to pull everything together. This is where Frank the Adventure concierge came in. Frank is the real deal and a super nice guy. Frank is dialed in and connected to all the area bike shops and rides and was able to get us 2 high end Santa Cruz rental bikes from Yuba outfitters in Downieville and deliver them to us at the Nakoma lodge which would have not been possible for us on our limited schedule. Frank was able to provide us with local trail knowledge and maps that got us on the Mills Peak Lookout trail which was one of the best rides of my life. (If you are looking for a really hard workout, then ride the trail up and back down, if you just want the downhill fun, shuttle to the top!) After the ride, Frank picked up our bikes and returned them all the way to the shop in Downieville. Great service, truly helpful. If you are looking to do some adventure sports while at the Nakoma lodge, look up Frank the Adventure Concierge!

Beautiful lodge and excellent staff! Clean, modern rooms in a beautiful building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright overlooking a golf course surrounded by mountains and the forest. Incredible views from the restaurant on-​site and a very reasonably priced menu.

The off-​season at Nakoma is even amazing! My husband and I needed to get away for a couple nights in order to sleep (we have an 8^th month old). We found a Groupon and came based on all the good reviews. Now I want to add one of my own.
First the lodge (more like a hotel): Beautiful! We were welcomed with chocolate sea salt caramels. Yum! The rooms are on the larger side and nicely decorated. We loved the walk-​in shower with multiple settings and good water pressure. No laundry bag but everything else was wonderful.
Next the spa: It was very nice. Indoor pool and spa. Gym. Sauna and steam room. Loved the locker room. The swimsuit water extractor was a awesome touch. I wish our gym had one. The only down side to the spa is that you have to walk through the dining area and down stairs to get there. I wish it had it’s own entrance. Also a robe would have been nice so I could go back to our room in my bathing suit to shower and change. The club house is in a separate facility than the lodge.
Lastly the restaurant/​club house: Wow! Beautiful architecture. Amazing food. Seriously. We’re tired of going to Tahoe and paying too much for subpar food. Each course made us more excited for the next. There was a live guitarist tonight and the music was the icing on an already perfect cake.
Nakoma is a hidden gem. Secluded. Beautiful. Inviting. Next time we’ll have to come back to golf:).

The new lodge at Nakoma was a huge disappointment for us. we have stayed in the Villas in Nakoma and LOVED our time there. The lodge however leaves a lot to be desired. It’s new and looks very nice, however the beds are so uncomfortable we barely slept for two nights. The pillows are hard as rocks and the insulation must be paper thin because we could hear everything going on in other rooms. There is also a vent that flapped above our bathroom (like on the roof) and it woke me up frequently through the night. Overall we are very disappointed– as people who travel often and put up with various hotel rooms– we are not usually very picky. If we ever come back to Nakoma we will be in the Villas not ever in the lodge again.

Just stayed at the new Lodge for a business trip and it was beautiful, with modern amenities, and pretty surroundings. The food at the clubhouse was delicious and the Frank Lloyd Wright architecture was stunning. I will definitely be back!

Beautiful, warm and welcoming are the first words that come to mind. The dining room with the center fire place sets a perfect stage for wonderful meal.
We recently held an offsite strategic planning meeting and our team was thrilled to escape in to nature, disconnect from work, and yet still be able enjoy great fabulous food and nice amenities.

Highly recommended. Middle of nowhere but a great place to just relax and read a book.

Wonderful and charming! Frank Lloyd Wright design. Beautiful dining room. Nicely equipped golf shop. Lovely greens and BEAUTIFUL scenery! New hotel… modern and great service.

This place was fantastic! The golf course was awesome. The slope of the green is tough. Never played on these type of greens. But playing this course the second time I would save a few strokes. I would play this course again for sure. The club house with the Pro Shop, Restaurant, and Out door seating was beautiful. First Class!

We stayed here while playing the Lost Sierra Hoedown. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful and the Villa was AMAZING! They pay attention to every detail! The beds are wonderful (even the sleeper sofa) and the layout is perfect. We enjoyed the jacuzzi while looking at the stars and had coffee on the beautiful deck in the morning before we left… So relaxing! Everything about this place was wonderful and we will definitely be returning!

The Dragon is probably one of the most enjoyable courses I have ever played. There are a variety of tee boxes available for all skill levels. The greens and fairways were in immaculate condition. We stopped for lunch after our round at the Lodge and received excellent service from the staff. I highly recommenced their bloody mary. If you have the time try spending the night at their new hotel adjacent to the golf course. The hotel is brand new and the staff are wonderful. To get a full experience I recommend you make a weekend of it. I cant wait to come back next season!

The Lodge at Nakoma is a sight. Having been to this area before and knowing there just isn’t much around, I thought I would give this new lodge a try. I have friends in the area and have been coming up for years and instead of imposing on them each time, I always find a place to stay. I have tried a lot of the places around (not that there is much to choose from), but never have I found a place like this one. The lodge is brand new, the rooms are very large, the views are very beautiful, and the staff is amazing. For what you pay and what you get, I will now only ever stay here. Not to mention that the golf, food and spa are terrific add-​ons. I will be a longtime guest at this place for sure.

We came here for a wedding earlier this month. The ambiance was perfect, the food and the atmosphere were grade A

I could not have been any happier with our stay at Nakoma Resort and Spa! First, my fiancé and I are (or were until we saw this place) looking at venues for our wedding in 2017. We were invited to come and check out the place in order to see if it was the venue for us. Once we arrived, it was pretty late in the night due to the drive from Fresno; I’d say we got there around 9pm. Once we checked in and everything, we were starving and wanted to check out the restaurant since that would be our food for the wedding. However, we found out at the restaurant closed at 8:30pm, but we were told to go and check to see if they were closed. Once we arrived, we were sat immediately in the most gorgeous room where there was a four-​sided fire place! My fiancé got the pork chop while I got the shrimp angel hair pasta and all I can say was WOW! Food was superb and service was excellent! After dinner we went to the bar to grab a couple of drinks and even though they too closed at 8:30pm, she stayed open for us until 10:45pm! I have nothing but wonderful things to say about the staff, food, and environment!
But onto the villa, we stayed in a one bedroom villa and to say I was impressed is an understatement! The whole floor plan was perfect, there was so much room including a spacious bath with jets as well as a gorgeous rock shower! It was such an amazing get away, we didn’t want to leave the next day!
If you’re wanting somewhere that have a gorgeous view, spacious and beautiful rooms, excellent service and beyond delicious food, this is the place to stay! My fiancé and I are so happy that we found this place and I cannot wait to spend such a precious moment for me at Nakoma Resort!

Golf course is frustratingly difficult. Putts roll off greens, approaches won’t hold, etc. Restaurant is understaffed leading to poor service. Many better options locally.

Thanks so much for hosting an Elite Event earlier this year. We had so much fun we had to return.
We had made reservations to try out the new lodge we toured in April, but it was still two weeks from being finished. Next time we will try again. They did offer us the same fabulous studio villa we had earlier since the lodge wasn’t ready– how nice.
The Dragon IS quite the beast for a golf course. The ultimate setting in the mountains with tons of pine trees. I have never played a course that was so utterly quiet and calm. We seldom saw or heard other players or any traffic. Just one large bullfrog on #6 and the rustling of the trees as the morning breeze came thru them. Truly just like their radio ads– come enjoy and relax. It has incredible views and was very challenging. Up and down some very large hills and lined with a pine timber. Plenty of sand traps to keep you on your toes. The fairways were incredibly green and maintained considering the drought for the area. The greens– well fast doesn’t really describe them. Wait till you get to 17, it’s just a little vicious if the pin is in the back. My uphill put wasn’t quite hard enough and it was like the clown at miniature golf spitting it back down the hill at me. Sand traps are never fun, thank heavens I found only one all day, here they are kinda deep and very powdery. Swing a little harder than usual. The back nine had a couple of little canyons to tee across that was exciting. Each hole has a name which is very original to me, but was fun to read then figure out why the hole was named that way. Every sprinkler head has the yardage on them to help guide you in. I’ll let my pictures show the course.
Hospitality at the Dragon Is wonderful. Greeted immediately when we arrived, easy to check in and help with the cart. Love their electric carts– they are so quiet and smooth. Staff was already cleaning up our clubs as we finished putting on 18, how nice.
If you’re not a golfer, this area is still heaven for bikers and hikers. It amazed me at how much there is to do in this area.
Give the Dragon a try, but take your time and really ENJOY the round. Don’t be intimidated.

Great golf course and stayed in the villas off of the 10^th hole (fairway). While the course just recently opened for the season, we ate at the restaurant and there were some kinks that needed to be worked out. Service was slow and at times, food was over cooked (eggs) and salad never arrived before our meal. Staff is young and inexperienced and doesn’t know how to open up a bottle of wine. Twice we were over charged on our bills. As stated before, course was in great shape, only wish there was water coolers on the course and ball washers, either at each hole or on the golf carts. For the money, it could be improved upon.

I have to say, I was surprised to hear from Dan Gallagher, the General Manager of Nakoma Golf Resort. He was concerned and disappointed that our stay was not what we expected, and not what he expected from his staff. He listened to my concerns and made us an offer we couldn’t refuse. My husband & I and our friends will be visiting Nakoma again, and we were assured to have a much better time this go around, and I believe it!

We recently played three days of golf at Nakoma. I have played golf all over Northern California and this course is now my favorite. The course has a reputation for being challenging, which it is, but it is extremely playable. I could play this course forever and not get tired of it. The front nine is now my favorite nine holes.
We ate in the restaurant for three days in a row and had good food and service. Breakfast burritos, huevos rancheros, steak and eggs every morning. Sandwiches at the turn, plenty of beer and drinks at the bar. Friday night in the restaraunt they had a guitar player perform that was world class. Good food, good wine, great guitar, fantastic evening.
For golf and food in a setting that is out of a movie (it’s where James Bond would play) Nakoma is exceptional.

We got back from a great visit to Nakoma a few weeks ago, but I hadn’t had time to write a review. All I can say is WOW! No actually I can say a lot more so here it goes…
First off, LOVE the Frank Lloyd Wright designed clubhouse. My dad is an architect so I grew up with an appreciation for great design. The building is one of a kind. Even if you’re not staying up at the property the building is worth taking a drive to just to walk through.
My husband and I arrived, were greeted by a friendly staff. Got our keys, dropped the bags off in a gorgeous two-​floor, one-​bedroom villa (not designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, but had the same feeling). We returned to the main bar and were greeted by a bartender from Tucson named Jesus who made us both one of the best margaritas we’ve ever had. Turns out he worked at a old mexican restaurant in Tucson (Casa Molina). After a toast and a stroll around the clubhouse we decided to eat in the «Wigwam» dining room which is spectacular. The service was good, the food was very tasty (I had the little neck clams and linguine with pancetta. My husband tried the bruschetta, caesar salad and ribeye). We left very happy and very full.
Our two nights in the villa was wonderful. Very cosy, very clean, and plenty of space for the two of us. It featured an indoor sauna (which we didn’t use), a private patio with a jacuzzi, and a nice balcony off the bedroom overlooking the «Dragon» golf course.
Speaking of the Dragon, we went out and tried out the course (he played, I drove). The course is absolutely beautiful. Not sure how big it is, but sure felt like the biggest course I’ve ever seen. I took a lot of pictures (I’ll share some here). The golf shop staff, by the way, was very nice! Had to buy some Dragon gear to show off when we got home.
We didn’t take full advantage of all the services at Nakoma. They had a full service spa (that I will be taking advantage of on our next visit) as well as indoor pool, jacuzzi, steam room, locker rooms and lounge areas.
We inquired about bringing a group up for our next visit and they told us they had two 2-​bedroom villas with full kitchens and the rest of the amenities mentioned above. We are looking forward to sharing this gem in the high sierras!
THANK YOU to the Nakoma staff for making our weekend getaway one to never forget!

We had some issues, but the manager got back to me and made things right by crediting our whole two night stay and comping a future round of golf for two.
thanks,
M

I have never in my life stayed in anything like the Villas at Nakoma (and I’ve stayed a LOT of places), they are SO beautiful with their Frank Lloyd Wright architecture and design inside and out, I could (and really really want to) stay there for a week! Plus it’s so peaceful and beautiful out there, and the course was amazing! And I’m not even a golfer, but I hung in for 7 holes at least… :-)
The dessert I had in their restaurant — I’m not even sure what it was to be honest, something creamy and French with a Nakoma symbol on it — was perhaps the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth. I can’t wait to go back!

A buddy of mine called me Friday evening and told me that he’d be coming to Reno to visit and that we should head out Sunday and golf. I checked the local courses to see if we could find something but there were no good tee times available anywhere. I looked at
and found a deal for The Dragon at Nakoma. I’ve had good luck with courses I’ve found on golfnow in the past and The Dragon was no exception.
We picked up the first tee time of the day at 7:30. We pulled into the parking lot around 7:10 hoping to get a few shots in at the driving range before our game. As soon as I parked, we were greeted by Bob (not sure what Bob does) who grabbed our bags and loaded them into the cart that they already had waiting for us. He grabbed ice and water for our cooler, which came with the cart, gave us directions around the course, gave us some tips about certain holes, and ran off to make sure that everything was free of frost and ready to play.
While Bob was checking the course conditions, we went into the club house where we were greeted by name by the pro shop employees. The kitchen wasn’t open for breakfast or drinks yet but the employees had some coffee on for themselves and offered to share it with us. Bob called into the pro shop to let them know that everything was open and we headed out to the range. Balls are provided at the range, which has natural grass. Every box was in great shape and the balls came in half-​size novelty golf bags, one example of a number of nice touches that give the course its excellent ambience. When we’d had our fill there, we headed out to the course.
The Dragon is an impressive mountain track with creeks and gullies woven creatively throughout. Long drops from tee boxes, several blind uphill shots, narrow fairways, insane bunkers, and a number of sharp doglegs made the course one of the most challenging I’ve played. There’s plenty of water on the Dragon, as well, though if you’re a decent shot or willing to lay up, it typically isn’t in play. Each hole also features five tees (we played from the #4’s. The 1’s were the easiest and could have easily accommodated novice players).
We finished our round at 11:30 which we were told was on the faster end of pace of play. Part of our deal included unlimited golf, so we had a light lunch and played another half round, jumped in the car, and headed back to Reno.
Everything at Nakoma was amazing. For the most part, I’m a municipal course kind of player, although I travel to various private courses during the winter. This was the last round of golf I’ll get to play until October, and it couldn’t have been better. I’ve played at some really nice courses and without question, the service, condition of the course, and the course itself made playing at The Dragon the best round of golf I’ve ever had (though my score was probably the worst I’ve had in six months). Not only do I plan on returning, I’m also very strongly considering renting one of the villas on the stay and play package and having my bachelor party there.
Top notch.

My wife and I recently played the Dragon with a group of friends (sixteen of us). The course easily accommodated our large range of handicaps, which went from an 11 to a 33. By playing from the appropriate tee for our ability, we all had fun playing the 18 hole course. The course was in great shape and the pro shop and the rest of the staff were friendly, efficient and helpful.
We all stayed for dinner at the Nakoma restaurant afterwards. The food was exceptional and the wait staff were friendly and professional. All of us commented that our meals were some of the best that we had ever had. We are a well-​traveled group — so that is really saying something! The chef did a truly amazing job.

This is a incredible place! I landed at Reno Airport and drove an hour to get to this golf resort. The clubhouse was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and is the most unique clubhouse I’ve ever run across.
As for the course it’s awesome. The resort was taken over last year and the the starter informed me the course was shortened and several bunkers were taken out. Every hole has spectacular views and several holes have doglegs, deep bunkers and uphill green placements which make this a challenging and fun golf experience.
I dined here before teeing off and the food was also exceptional with good service and quality. The employees at the golf shop were really friendly. I booked my tee time directly on their website and received a energy bar and several bottles of water which were included in my golf fee.
Carts here were dated with no GPS but overall a great golf experience. If your interested they offer stay and play golf rates for single or double occupancy. Here’s their website: