Yosemite Golf Guide: 3 Courses Worth Playing Near Oakhurst
Yosemite’s South Entrance corridor isn’t exactly known as a golf destination, and we’re not going to pretend it competes with Palm Springs or the Monterey Peninsula. But it does feature three uniquely playable nine-hole courses, all located within about a half hour of Oakhurst.
Each course sports a genuinely different personality. River Creek is a scenic, well-kept course in Ahwahnee. Yosemite Lakes Park is a more predictable layout in Coarsegold. And of course there is also the historic (and somewhat shaggy) Wawona Golf Course inside Yosemite National Park itself, one of only two golf courses in the entire U.S. national park system.
Here’s my candid take on all three golf options near Yosemite with some added color from recent online reviews.
River Creek Golf Course: The Scenic Challenge
River Creek, in Ahwahnee, is about 6 miles or 11 minutes from Oakhurst via Highway 49. It’s well-loved by locals and entertains a steady stream of golfers year-round. It’s nine holes, par 36, 3,152 yards from the back tees, and was (smartly) designed by John Hilborn. It’s open to the public with green fees running around $45 for nine holes, with discounts available on weekdays and during twilight hours. There’s also a small driving range on site and a nice practice putting green under some big old trees.
I love playing River Creek because the course design and flow takes full advantage of the surrounding rock outcroppings, creeks, and surrounding mountain scenery. Every hole is different and a bit unique without being tricky or contrived. Better yet, you can play a second nine holes for only a few dollars more if you have the time and inclination.
Recent reviews back up River Creek’s excellent reputation. One reviewer called it, “the most beautiful 9-hole golf course I’ve seen,” while others regularly compliment the well-conditioned fairways, elevation changes, and excellent Sierra foothill views. It’s genuinely challenging too, with most fairways tight enough to prioritize accurate drives over raw distance.
Yosemite Lakes Park: Water Hazards and a $5 Breakfast
Yosemite Lakes Park sits in Coarsegold, about 15 miles or 22 minutes south of Oakhurst via Highway 41 and Road 415. This is a nine-hole executive-style track. Par is 31 and the yardage clocks in at only 1,710 yards. Five holes play over water, which makes club selection important and keeps things somewhat challenging.
This may be your best choice for a relaxed family-friendly round if you don’t mind letting the driver stay warm in your bag. Online reviews are strong with a 4.67 rating on GolfPass. Also check out the on-site Fairway Café, which offers a $5 breakfast special Monday through Thursday and daily lunch options. Green fees run around $46 for nine holes with regular weekday and twilight discounts available.
🌲 Host Insider Tip
If you’re only playing one round on this trip, make it River Creek. It’s the most scenic, the most challenging, and the best maintained course in the area. Grab a morning tee time and you can be back at Boom Chalet for lunch on the back deck.
Wawona: Seasonal Golf Inside Yosemite
Wawona Golf Course sits entirely within the boundaries of Yosemite National Park, about 21 miles and 33 minutes from Oakhurst via Highway 41, near Mariposa Grove. It opened in 1918, decades before any other golf course existed anywhere in the Sierra Nevada, and it’s still one of only two golf courses inside a U.S. national park anywhere in the country. It’s a nine-hole, par 35, track that measures 3,050 yards. Go around twice and use the combo tees to play it as an 18-hole, par-70 if you have the time.
The historic Wawona Hotel next door closed in December 2024 after years of deferred maintenance and insufficient investment finally caught up with the operator. The golf course itself is unaffected and open normally, but the golf shop has temporarily relocated into the Wawona Store. That means tee times right now are walk-up only and there does not appear to be an online or advance booking option. Just show up!
As for conditions out on the course, be ready for just about anything. The price you pay for playing in a National Park is enduring more than your fair share of wildness here and there. Recent reviews mention rough, bumpy, and inconsistent greens and fairways that are sometimes best described as scenic meadows.
That said, most online reviews agree that playing the Wawona Golf Course is worth it for the history, the setting, and the novelty alone. Go in with that expectation and you’ll have a genuinely memorable round despite a few bad bounces. Rates run $39 on the weekend and $34 on weekday for 18 holes, $24 and $20 for nine. Cart and club rentals are also usually available. Just remember the course operates seasonally, roughly early May through late October.
Which One Should You Play?
Short on time and want the best round? River Creek. Traveling with kids or want a relaxed pace? Yosemite Lakes Park, and stick around for the Fairway Café afterward. Want a genuinely unique story to tell, golfing inside a national park, history dating to 1918? Play Wawona, especially if you’re already spending the day at Mariposa Grove or in the Valley. All three are nine-hole courses, so you don’t necessarily have to disappear for five hours to get it done.
None of these Yosemite golf options are going to show up on a “best golf in California” list, and that’s just fine. These are side trip golf opportunities where you can squeeze in a quick nine holes to get away from all the sightseeing and driving around.
For more on nearby activities, check out our Yosemite Guide for other great options near the South Entrance and beyond.
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