How to Plan a Graeagle Golf Trip:
Complete Group Planner

Graeagle has 5 championship courses within 25 minutes of each other. That density is the whole point — you drive less, play more. But a Graeagle trip still takes some deliberate planning to get right. This guide covers every decision you'll need to make, in the order you'll need to make it.

Step 1: Decide How Many Days

This is the foundational decision. Everything else — courses, lodging, budget — flows from it.

Most groups land on 3 nights. It gives you 3–4 full rounds, time for a dinner at the Iron Door or Grizzly Grill, and you leave before the group gets too worn down to enjoy the last day.

Step 2: Pick Your Courses

You don't have to play all 5 — but you should have a plan. Here's how to think through the selection:

Recommended Course Combos by Group Type

Step 3: Choose Your Lodging

Graeagle has four solid lodging options that we work with regularly. The right choice depends almost entirely on your group size and budget.

For groups of 8+: The townhomes at Plumas Pines are usually the smartest call. Full kitchens mean you're not eating every meal out (big cost savings), multi-bedroom units keep the group together, and you're literally on a golf course.

For a special occasion: The Inn at Nakoma is the experience. Sleeping in a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building 50 yards from The Dragon first tee is not replicable anywhere else in the world.

Step 4: Book Tee Times (Or Let Us Do It)

Here's the practical reality of booking tee times for a group across 5 different courses: it's annoying. Each course has its own booking system, their own policies for groups, and their own availability quirks. You'll spend 2–3 hours on calls and websites.

GolfGraeagle handles this as part of every package. We have relationships with all 5 courses, know their group minimums and advance booking windows, and can secure coordinated tee sheets across multiple courses for multi-day trips. If you're bringing 8+ players, this alone is worth reaching out to us.

Step 5: Understand What a Trip Actually Costs

People often budget either too low (forgetting the little costs) or too high (assuming Tahoe prices). Here's a realistic framework:

The biggest cost lever is lodging. A large group splitting a townhome at Plumas Pines pays dramatically less per person than a group booking individual hotel rooms at premium properties. If budget matters, optimize lodging before optimizing courses.

Step 6: Plan Meals and Evenings

Post-round is half the trip. Graeagle has better dining than most golfers expect.

• Iron Door Restaurant — A 1906 general store building in Graeagle serving steaks, prime rib, and scratch pasta. Book a reservation. The timber-beam room fills up on weekend nights.
• Grizzly Grill — In the Plumas National Forest. Local game and Sierra-sourced produce. This is the fine dining move for serious food people.
• The Brewing Lair — 15-acre craft brewery off Highway 70. Lawn games, outdoor seating, bring layers. The après-golf standard for most groups.
• Eureka Peak Brewing Co. — Inside Chalet View Lodge. IPAs and saisons, timber-frame setting. More intimate than The Brewing Lair.
• Gumba's II Go — Hand-tossed pizza and subs. The practical choice when the group just wants to eat fast and cheaply after a late round.

Step 7: The 30-Day Checklist