Golf Nomad

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Check Out My New Site!

If you found this Tumblr page, please know that I have a new and much-improved site. Go check out bogeysacrossamerica.com instead.

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New Site Under Development

Hi everyone. Please bear with me as I develop my new website. It’s long past time to get away from Tumblr and onto a better WordPress platform. The site may be down sporadically over the next few weeks as I attempt to transfer as much of the content from this old site to the new one. Eventually, the URL will point to the new site once it is ready enough to share. That site will still take a long, long time to get all the links redone, but it will be worth the effort. This one will eventually just be archived with a Tumblr extension. 

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2017 - A Year in Review

2017 turned out to be a much more productive year than I expected when it came to golf. I didn’t quite reach my usual standard of 100 or more new courses played, but I got pretty close with a late holiday push. I ended up with 96 new courses played in 2017 and might have squeezed in a couple more had I not gotten hurt in what turned out to be the final round of the year in Oregon. 

Either way, I didn’t think I would end up getting that many new courses in, but things worked out pretty well throughout the year. 

As expected, I did not play as regularly as in years past. I really didn’t play that many rounds at local Southern California courses. If not for the Greenskeeper.org GK Review Guru, GK Plays and GK Cup match play programs, I probably wouldn’t have played much casual golf at all outside of my out-of-town road trips.

It’s ironic that my local play slowed down because I moved out to the golf-loaded Coachella Valley in March. I expected to take advantage of more summer deals, but really didn’t jump on many opportunities. It turns out that when you live in in this area, voluntarily going outside in the summer doesn’t seem as appealing!

I was able to check a respectable number of Southern California private clubs off my list in 2017. Bighorn (Mountains), Toscana, Eldorado, Ironwood, Rancho La Quinta and O’Donnell were some of the highlights in the desert thanks to the SCGA and some other connections I made. Other great local “gets” included Oakmont, Spring Valley Lake, Chevy Chase and Victoria Club.

Moving to this area did put me closer to Arizona and I was able to get out there for a couple of nice day trips to the Buckeye and Wickenburg areas. Otherwise, I was able to chip away further at my Southern Nevada public course list, as well. I now only have a handful of public tracks left to play in that region.

My holiday trip allowed me to play some new courses in Oregon and Southern Washington, though I wish I had a lot more time there—even if it rarely gets above 40 degrees in the winter months.

My biggest conquests in 2017 were definitely in Central and Northern California. A cool weekend in the Central Valley found me somehow playing four great private clubs. Multiple trips to the Bay Area and Sacramento regions were centered around rounds at awesome private courses like Cal Club, Lake Merced, Sierra View, Sequoia Woods and Silverado (technically this one is semi-private).

Although I didn’t achieve 100 new courses last year, I would say the overall quality of courses played rivals any of my best years. 

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of 2017 was the continued frustration with this website. I love writing stories and sharing pictures from my golf adventures. I never envisioned this blog to be anything that big, but it really blew up quickly. If I had known what it would become, I would have started with a much better hosting platform. Unfortunately, Tumblr just can’t handle the quantity of my content, especially when it comes to the amount of links I need. The Course Review Archive page has been a mess and I basically had to give up on those links. Even the Regional Rankings pages are acting up now. 

My biggest goal for 2018 is to build a new website on a better platform. It is going to be be a major undertaking, but it will be worth it. I’m do for an update anyway, so the increasing link problems just pushed me over the edge. Stay tuned and also bear with me because I don’t know how smoothly the transition will go!

Beyond a new site, I expect 2018 to have a similar feel as 2017. I probably still won’t be playing as often locally, except for GK rounds and any private clubs I can play. The list is getting shorter and it’ll be harder and harder to gain access at the clubs remaining on my list. I always appreciate any help or connections anyone is willing to share. Check out the “Private Club Member?” page link on the left navigation and see exactly what I have left to play in Southern California.

I expect several more fun road trips to Northern California. I just officially joined the NCGA in order to sign up for some of their member outings. They don’t have as many as the SCGA, but there will be enough to keep me busy and fill out a strong calendar for the year.

I don’t anticipate any big out-of-state trips this year. I kind of put my 50 state goal on hold. Quantity will have some importance in 2018 because I expect to reach another big personal milestone of 1,000 courses played. I’m currently sitting at 932. So, as long as I have a comparable year to 2017, that should have me in the 1K club later in the year. What course it will be is still to be decided. It will depend on the timing and some other factors.

However it shapes up, I am excited for 2018 to be another good year for the Golf Nomad. 

As I like to do at the end of every year, I have compiled my rankings for 2017. Below is the list of the Top 50 new courses I played last year, along with a separate list for the Top 15 new short courses I played. Normally, I do like to include the links to the articles featuring each course. Unfortunately, I already mentioned how frustrating the links have been on this site and it is what it is for now. Sorry.

Top 10 New Courses Played in 2017:

California Golf Club of San Francisco • South San Francisco, CA

Wickenburg Ranch Golf & Social Club • Wickenburg, AZ

Bighorn Golf Club (The Mountains) • Palm Desert, CA

Lake Merced Golf Club • Daly City, CA

Eugene Country Club • Eugene, OR

Toscana Country Club (South) • Indian Wells, CA

Silverado Resort & Spa (North) • Napa, CA

Toscana Country Club (North) • Indian Wells, CA

Oakmont Country Club • Glendale, CA

Rancho La Quinta Country Club (Jones) • La Quinta, CA

Rancho La Quinta Country Club (Pate) • La Quinta, CA

The Victory Course at Verrado Golf Club • Buckeye, AZ

Eldorado Country Club • Indian Wells, CA

The Founders Course at Verrado Golf Club • Buckeye, AZ

Watson Ranch Golf Course • Coos Bay, OR

Ironwood Country Club (South) • Palm Desert, CA

Wynn Golf Club • Las Vegas, NV

Spring Valley Lake Country Club • Victorville, CA

Eagle Vines Golf Club • American Canyon, CA

Lewis River Golf Course • Woodland, WA

Sierra View Country Club • Roseville, CA

Palm Valley Country Club (Championship) • Palm Desert, CA

Visalia Country Club • Visalia, CA

Sharp Park Golf Course • Pacifica, CA

Blue Rock Springs Golf Club (East) • Vallejo, CA

Mountain Springs Golf Club • Sonora, CA

Sequoia Woods Country Club • Arnold, CA

Oasis Golf Club (The Canyons) • Mesquite, NV

Los Caballeros Golf Club • Wickenburg, AZ

Stockdale Country Club • Bakersfield, CA

Ironwood Country Club (North) • Palm Desert, CA

Braemar Country Club • Tarzana, CA

Pine Mountain Lake Golf & Country Club • Groveland, CA

Northwood Golf Club • Monte Rio, CA

Lake Chabot Golf Course • Oakland, CA

Metropolitan Golf Links • Oakland, CA

Angel Park Golf Club (Palm) • Las Vegas, NV

Lincoln Park Golf Course • San Francisco, CA

Foxtail Golf Club (North) • Rohnert Park, CA

Wildhorse Golf Club • Davis, CA

Auburn Valley Golf Club • Auburn, CA

Morgan Creek Golf Club • Roseville, CA

Victoria Club • Riverside, CA

Sunnyside Country Club • Fresno, CA

Wildhawk Golf Club • Sacramento, CA

Highland Falls Golf Club • Las Vegas, NV

Diamond Oaks Golf Course • Roseville, CA

Mare Island Golf Club • Vallejo, CA

Foxtail Golf Club (South) • Rohnert Park, CA

O’Donnell Golf Club • Palm Springs, CA

Top 15 New Short Courses Played:

Northwood Golf Club • Monte Rio, CA

Lincoln Park Golf Course • San Francisco, CA

O’Donnell Golf Club • Palm Springs, CA

Palm Desert Greens Country Club • Palm Desert, CA

TPC Harding Park (Fleming 9) • San Francisco, CA

Wickenburg Ranch G&SC (Li’l Wick) • Wickenburg, AZ

Sun Lakes Country Club (Executive Course) • Banning, CA

Oak Tree Country Club • Tehachapi, CA

Mariners Point Golf Links & Practice Center • Foster City, CA

Sunrise Country Club • Rancho Mirage, CA

Chevy Chase Country Club • Glendale, CA

Sunset Bay Golf Course • Coos Bay, OR

Sebastopol Golf Course • Sebastopol, CA

Golden Gate Park Golf Course • San Francisco, CA

Wild Wings Golf Club • Woodland, CA

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Course Review: Eugene Country Club

Even though I encountered several pleasant surprises on my holiday trip, no round was more significant than my stop at Eugene Country Club. That’s why I saved this review for last. This course is considered one of the top courses in the country, depending on whose rankings you are looking at. Golf Digest currently has it ranked at 128 on their U.S. list.

Eugene is a private club with roots dating back to 1899, making it the second oldest club in the state behind Waverly Country Club in Portland (1896). The original golf course was actually built in 1923. It was designed by H. Chandler Egan.

The course was later renovated significantly in the 1960s by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. He essentially “flipped” the course backwards from the original layout. What is currently the 1st tee box area apparently used to be the 18th green and so on throughout almost the entire course. However, the fairways pretty much remained intact with no moving of earth. I personally found this fascinating. I don’t know Jones’ logic behind the reversed routing, but you can’t argue with the results. This is a fantastic course all the way through.

You can read more about the course’s interesting history on the Eugene Country Club website.

Knowing I would be driving through Eugene Friday on my way up to Vancouver, this was by far the most appealing course to stop and play. Of course, it is a private club and I had to make special arrangements to play as an unaccompanied guest. The staff was very accommodating and welcoming. Considering the course probably doesn’t get a ton of play during winter, that may have helped my case. 

I teed off around 10:30 by myself. A cart was offered with no path restrictions (cart paths are actually very minimal throughout the course), but I noticed every other person out there was walking. I always enjoy walking special courses when I can and I didn’t mind stretching out my legs after a long drive. Plus, it was probably about 38 degrees when I teed off and it was a good way to stay warm during the round!

I eventually caught up to some people on the back nine and actually joined a twosome for the final few holes. As I mentioned, everyone I encountered here was very nice and I never felt out of place as a solo guest. 

I was watching the weather all week beforehand and the forecast changed every single time I looked at it. That’s Oregon for you. Rain, snow and below-freezing temperatures all appeared at one point or another, but I was pleasantly surprised when the actual day came. It was quite overcast and gray. The bad news is it wasn’t as nice for pictures as some of the sunny (but still really cold) days I experienced on this trip. The good news is that there was no rain and the overcast skies helped prevent morning frost delays that could have pushed my tee time back.

Eugene Country Club is one of the Oregon Ducks’ home courses and it’s where they won their NCAA Championship in 2016 behind Eugene-born coach, Casey Martin. The course has hosted many big amateur tournaments over the years and the 2018 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship will be held there this year. It’s close to the university and just up the road from Autzen Stadium. It’s one of those neat old courses where the city was kind of built around it, but you never feel any sense of civilization around you while on the property. There are some homes bordering the outside edges, yet nothing that encroaches on the purity of the course.

As for the course layout itself, I really didn’t know much about it prior to my visit. I saw some of the NCAA coverage, but not enough to get a feel for the course. Plus, what you see on television doesn’t always translate to a firsthand experience. I learned that at Silverado Resort last year as that course really captivated me more than expected compared to what I've seen on TV coverage. 

Much of Eugene Country Club is a pretty traditional design with tree-lined fairways an minimal changes in elevation. There are some narrow angles throughout and some more wide open holes, too, so it’s a pretty fair mix. The green complexes are interesting and often much more deceptive than you think. 

To me, the highlight stretch of the course comes midway through the front nine. Holes 5-7 are kind of Eugene’s own “Amen Corner” in my opinion. These are three standout holes in a row.

The 5th is a demanding par-3 that stretches out to 192 yards from the Championship tees. I think they may have an even further back box that they can bring out for big tournaments to really make this a beast. It’s hard not draw a slight comparison between this and the famed 12th hole at Augusta National. You are hitting over a crossing water hazard and the front/side edges of the green slope down toward the water with the grass leading all the way down to the hazard. There isn’t a bunker in front like at Augusta and the green is much deeper, but the bunkers on the hill behind the green and the way things slope toward the hazard definitely felt like a northwestern cousin of one of golf’s most famous holes.

The 6th is a fun par-5 that utilizes the only real change in elevation on the course. Your tee shot is uphill and then the hole is a sweeping dogleg right, eventually leading to a downhill approach to an intimidating peninsula green complex that also falls off toward the water in every direction.

The 7th is another great par-3 over water. This one has a nice rock wall along the hazard to cap off the naturally sloping grass around the edges, so it presents a little different look and sense of challenge. I was glad to be playing the white tees (6,400 yards, 71.2/129), which made this hole only play 140 yards over the water. From the further back sets, it gets over 200 yards. I walked back there and boy was it scary looking. 

Speaking of awesome par-3s, the 12th at Eugene Country Club is no slouch either. This is another that plays pretty long from the back tees with a much more intimidating angle than from the whites. This one actually does have a little extra room between the elevated green and the water in front, but there’s still not much room for error.

Perhaps one of the most impressive things about my experience here was the conditioning of the course despite such challenging winter weather in Oregon. Kudos to the superintendent and maintenance staff for keeping this place so nice. Sure, there were some soft spots, but they were few and far between. Otherwise, this place was lush, green and nicely manicured from edge to edge. The bunkers were damp, but had excellent sand. The greens were soft, but not too soft, and they were rolling so pure at medium/fast speeds. I’m sure they can really get these surfaces humming when they have a big event going on.

I’m not sure my pictures will do Eugene Country Club justice because of the gray skies, but you can take my word that this place is super nice. Not all of the layout will jump off the page at you. Much of it is still very traditional and old school in its approach, and then there are a handful of truly stellar holes to make sure you have some “wow” factor. When you put it all together, this is just a great course that will stand the test of time. It’s easy to see why it’s regarded so highly by golf reviewers and fellow golf fanatics like me.

Some pictures from Eugene Country Club (12/23/17):

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Holiday Trip 2017, Part 3: The Coastal Oregon Trail

As my holiday trip continued, I made my way down the beautiful Oregon Coast. This is one of my favorite places on earth and I’m getting pretty close to having played all the courses along this stretch. I was able to check a few more off the list on this visit and I will feature them all in this article.

As I was driving from Vancouver to Newport the day after Christmas, I rolled into Astoria (as in “Goonies never say die!”) with enough time to play one of the area’s short courses...

Lewis & Clark Golf & RV Park • Astoria, OR • 12/16/17

Astoria itself only has two golf courses and the other one is private (Astoria Golf & Country Club). It may be accessible, but I didn’t have time for a full 18 anyway and I’ll have to look into it more next time I am around here. Then, there are a few courses in nearby Gearhart and Seaside to round out the minimal golf list in the far northwest part of the state. 

Lewis & Clark RV Park has a few attached activities. They also have a foot golf course integrated with the regular golf course. It sounds like they also have a few disc golf baskets they’ll put up during other parts of the year. Only the regular golf course was open in winter and it was completely deserted when I arrived around 2:00.

The small pro shop was closed, but there was an honor box outside with scorecards and course information available. The winter rate was $10 for nine holes. I only had a $20, though. Thankfully, the RV Park office had change and I was able to just pay for golf in there.

Lewis & Clark is a regulation 9-hole layout that features seven par-4s and only one par-5 and par-3 each. Several of the par-4s are under 300 yards, while a few are more average in length. The par-3 is 108 yards and the par-5 is a pretty standard 502.

The terrain here is very flat and wide open. In some ways it feels like a cow pasture that they just converted into a golf course at some point. There are some creeks that meander throughout to provide some sense of direction. Otherwise, it’s pretty sprawling across a big field.

Absolutely the most interesting thing about Lewis & Clark is that it is the first course I’ve ever played with astroturf greens. The tees, fairways and rough are all normal grass and, to be honest, were fairly well kept. I am not sure why they opted to go with fake turf on the greens, but I guess that gives them an excuse not to mow as often—especially during the rainy season. Each green had two different hole locations pre-cut so they can change up the hole positions a little if they want.

Not only were the greens astroturf, but they were super tiny and extremely firm. No matter what type of shot you play, I’m not sure it’s possible to hold them. The grass around them was soft and several greens had a large, thick collar of rough in place of what might normally be a fringe cut. Anything landing short would stick and stop. Anything landing on a green would bounce and I don’t think any amount of backspin would help much. They were crazy!

The only saving grace was that they were rebuilding three of the turf greens, so they had temporary real grass greens cut. You could at least get a ball to stop on them, but they were really shaggy and slow. The one thing I can say about the fake turf greens is that they were pretty nice to putt on once you finally got your ball on the surface. 

The only other exciting thing that happened here was a wildlife sighting. There’s a bigger creek along the 7th hole and I saw a critter by the tee box as I made my way over from the 6th green. However, it skittered into the water before I could get a good look. Being that I was in Oregon, my first thought was that it was a beaver. After watching it and another one swim around in the water a bit, I think they might actually have been small river otters or possibly just muskrats. I am no water rodent expert. They didn’t look like they had the flat beaver tails, though it was hard to see with the tails mostly underwater. Either way, it was fun to watch them swim around the creek for a bit.

As I mentioned, the grass throughout this course was pretty decently taken care of. It was pretty lush and green. It wasn’t too shaggy, so they must have mowed somewhat recently. However, there were definitely some big muddy and mushy spots to avoid. 

Unless you want to torture yourself on the tiny turf greens, this is not a course I would recommend. Best to leave it to the RV park guests.

Some pictures from Lewis & Clark Golf & RV Park (12/26/17):

I spent the next few days visiting my friend in Toledo, which is just inland from Newport. It rained hard the whole time there, though I really wasn’t expecting to play any golf during this leg of the trip anyway. 

On Saturday, I got back on the road and continued down the coast toward my hometown of Crescent City. This is where I normally spend Christmas because it’s where my dad lives. I just came down to stop for the night before continuing all the way home from there. Thankfully, this day was the best weather of the entire trip and it led to some great golf...

Watson Ranch Golf Course • Coos Bay, OR • 12/30/17

Having already played all the Bandon courses that are currently open, this course was highest in priority for the southern coastal region. I actually tried to play here last year, but I was frosted out that morning and had to move on. This time, I purposely showed up a bit later to avoid any frost delays. The course was open for play and I teed off by myself around 10:45. I played through a few people along the way and finished fairly quickly.

The winter price felt a bit steep at $55, and that’s with them giving me a slight discount on the solo cart rental ($15 instead of the usual $17 for a single player). I will say the guy in the pro shop was super nice and one of the more friendly course workers I’ve encountered in some time. He welcomed me, gave me a few pointers and got me set for my round. 

I’m not sure how this course eluded me all these years because I certainly should have already played it by now. Outside of the Bandon Dunes Resort, which still isn’t that old, there are only a handful of regulation 18-hole courses along the entire Oregon Coast. And as it turns out, Watson Ranch is easily one of the best in this category.

I do know the course used to be called Coos Country Club and I’m pretty sure it was private then (at least I assumed that to be the case at the time). I believe the name didn’t change until 2006. Also, up until a few years ago I thought it was just another 9-hole course. I wondered if I may have had it confused with another course in Coos Bay that was called Kentuck, which unfortunately closed before I could play it.

It turns out I had some reason to be confused. The back nine was not added until 1998 according to their website. The original 9 was constructed in 1923 by H. Chandler Egan while the second nine was designed by Bill Robinson. 

However this course came to be what it is today, they certainly live up to their own billing as the “Best Kept Secret on the Oregon Coast.” This is a really neat course that truly deserves more attention. Now I’m sad I didn’t play it sooner, but I am glad I got to experience it on such a beautiful clear winter day.

The two nines here definitely have a different vibe. The front is tighter with more trees and doglegs in play. The back opens up somewhat as you play through a marshy area early on before getting back into the hills and woods again. There are some great water hazards in play, a number of elevated greens and the changes in elevation are used well throughout the course. 

Each nine has several memorable holes. The 7th, 14th and 15th are a few that come to mind. However, it’s the collection of par-3s here that really stands out. They are all cool holes in their own ways.

The 4th is a downhill hole lined by rows of tall trees on either side. It looks really nice. The 6th is in a back corner of the property with a short iron/wedge shot directly over a water hazard to a green perched up on the other side.

The 13th is a fun uphill par-3 playing over the marsh to an elevated green. Last but certainly not least is the signature 16th hole. Though the slick cart path was sketchy, the pro shop guy insisted I head up to the back tees when I reached this hole. I would have anyway for my pictures, but I like that he made the suggestion so clearly.

This hole features a huge drop-off from tee to green as you hit over a water hazard, especially from the back blue tee boxes that are set way up on the hillside. I was playing the white tees, which were about halfway back down the hill and still quite fun. The tee set up definitely reminded me of the “Lombard Street” hole down at Salmon Run. In fact, the layout and terrain of this course made Salmon Run come to mind a lot. Bandon Crossings also has some comparisons to be made.

Unfortunately, Salmon Run has struggled a lot in recent years. That course is still special to me, though, so I am always rooting for it to do well. In some ways, Watson Ranch felt like what Salmon Run could be again with an economic recovery and maybe some renovations. Neither will or should try to compete with the world-class level resort, but they are great courses for locals that can also benefit from the out-of-town golf traffic that Bandon Dunes creates. Watson Ranch is only about a half hour north of the resort and would be a great add-on for any Bandon golf trip you are planning. 

Even though Watson has been there all along, Oregon Coast golf continues to get more and more exciting for someone like me. Salishan, Bandon Crossings, Watson Ranch, Salmon Run, Sandpines, Gearhart and Ocean Dunes (ranked in that order for me) are all worthy 18-hole courses to complement the special place they’ve created at Bandon Dunes. Now, it seems the once-secret Bally Bandon Sheep Ranch course will be developed by Gil Hanse as another course for the resort. The much-anticipated Pacific Gales also seems really close to breaking ground about a half hour south of Bandon. I still hold onto the hopes that the Crook Point (with a proposed Perry Dye design) course happens someday, too. That one was slated to be somewhere in between Brookings and Gold Beach.

And, as you’ll see later in this post, there are some 9-holers along the coast that are also pretty enjoyable. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Sunset Bay, Forest Hills, Cedar Bend, Crestview, Olalla Valley or Agate Beach as good 9-hole regulation options to consider. There are still a handful further north I need to play, but I won’t be surprised if some of them are also decent.

Sorry, I got sidetracked there. I love talking about Oregon golf, but back to Watson Ranch. Conditions were quite good overall. There were definitely some soggy sections after a few days of heavy rain. Otherwise, things were nicely conditioned. The bunkers I was in all had different types of sand. However, they were all pretty nice to play from. The greens were excellent. They were receptive due to the dampness, though still not super soft. They were rolling quite smooth at medium/fast speeds. Downhill putts were especially challenging!

If you couldn’t tell, I really loved Watson Ranch and it’s a secret that needs to get out. 

Some pictures from Watson Ranch Golf Course (12/30/17): 

This is a picture I took last year in the frost:

This is what I was greeted with this time:

The 16th from the top tee view:

From a little further down the hill:

Not a great shot because of the sun, but I wanted to show looking back at how the tees are stacked. The back/blue tees are about 3/4 of the way up the picture on the right between the two tallest trees.

Next comes the last course I would play on this trip—or should I say slip? I was hoping to play in Northern California as I continued my way home the next day. Unfortunately, I had a bit of an accident at this next course and it ended up being my final round of 2017...

Sunset Bay Golf Course • Coos Bay, OR • 12/30/17

Though not far as the crow flies from Watson Ranch, it’s about a 20-30 minute drive along some winding back roads as you make your way to Sunset Bay. I drove over there and the course was pretty wide open despite being such a nice day. There was a threesome on the first tee and another group out on the course that I could see. 

I checked in and paid my $20 to walk nine holes. The pro shop is atop a hillside and the first tee is down at the bottom. I maybe should have taken the long way around using the cart path, but there were steps leading right down to the tee box. With just a few steps left, my soft spikes slipped on the very slick wooden steps. My right ankle bent very awkwardly underneath me and for a few minutes there I actually thought I may have broken something. I just laid there in pain for a few minutes before attempting to move. 

After limping around a bit, I was pretty sure nothing was broken, but walking nine holes with my bag on my back was surely out of the question. I hobbled back up to the pro shop and the guy was super nice. I asked if I could rent a cart and he ended up letting me have it for free. I definitely would not have made it around the course otherwise as I basically played on one foot (actually played better than I would have expected). 

I ended up playing through that threesome and getting around as quickly as I could. The drive down to Crescent City was uncomfortable because it was my driving foot. With any hopes for golf scrapped on Sunday, I ended up driving all the way home (about 14 hours to Rancho Mirage) with the bad foot. That was fun! I am happy to report that it’s feeling much better now, though it will be tender for at least a few more weeks. I have some great golf coming up soon, so I’m gonna have to wrap it up and power through it.

The injury took away from some enjoyment of Sunset Bay, but I was still impressed with the course for what it is. This is a 9-hole regulation layout with slightly different tees for front and back nine play. Both sides measure out to just over 3,000 yards on either side and it’s a standard set of five par-4s, two par-5s and two par-3s. 

The course was designed by John Zoller, who is one of the main men behind the development of Poppy Hills. The terrain here is very flat and pretty open. There are some creeks running throughout that essentially shape the holes and provide some natural hazards to avoid. Some trees come more into play in the last few holes, as well. 

The course was lush and green, and it looked fantastic in the late afternoon shadows on a pretty clear day. As expected, there were some wet spots to avoid, but overall things were pretty well maintained from tee to green. The greens were soft, spongy and slow, however, and the bunkers were washed out and/or compacted. 

Sunset Bay isn’t anything overly exciting and it doesn’t hold a candle to its crosstown neighbor. However, it is yet another better-than-average 9-hole course along the Oregon Coast. 

Some pictures from Sunset Bay Golf Course (12/30/17):

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Holiday Trip 2017, Part 2: Washington in Winter

After playing in Sacramento on Thursday, I continued up the I-5 on Friday. I actually stopped and played a very special round at Eugene Country Club that day. However, I am saving that review for last for various reasons.

Instead, we’ll skip ahead to feature the two courses I was able to play in Southern Washington while visiting my brother in Vancouver. 

As expected, winter weather was definitely a factor in the Pacific Northwest and limited how often I could play on this trip. Saturday, however, turned out to be a decent day and I was able to get out for an afternoon round...

Lewis River Golf Course • Woodland, WA • 12/23/17

There were a few options I was considering playing this day, including some courses back across the river in the Portland area and a handful on the Washington side. My brother ultimately recommended Lewis River as one of the more scenic courses nearby, so I called ahead. They were open, uncrowded and the price was reasonable enough ($30, cart included).

As I left Vancouver and headed north, the skies cleared up beautifully and ended up making for picture-perfect conditions. Now “picture-perfect” refers more to the blue skies and great afternoon lighting that illuminated the course during my round. I got so many excellent pictures on this day. 

I should note, however, that the temperatures never got above 40 degrees and it was quite windy, as well. It was brutally cold out there. Fortunately, there was hardly anyone on the course. I played through one other single and zipped around as quickly as I could. I probably spent more time taking pictures than hitting shots, but that’s nothing new.

Lewis River was designed by Ralph Stading, who is not an architect I am familiar with. In fact, this is the only course listed under him on GolfAdvisor, so that would explain why I’ve never heard of him. One part of the course might suggest he got some design inspiration from Ted Robinson, Sr. or maybe Pete Dye.

There aren’t any significant changes in elevation on this course. Much of it runs back and forth in a parkland style, with tall evergreens and other mature trees lining the fairways and shaping your shot angles. Many of the holes feature doglegs to emphasize positioning and shot shapes. 

There wasn’t anything overly exciting about the front nine except for the par-3 7th hole. This one features a slightly elevated tee hitting across a hazard to an elevated green. It is framed very nicely with the trees and natural elements around. The 1st and 6th are also nice holes on the front nine.

Ultimately, the back nine really perks up. The holes become more and more interesting as you go. More water hazards come into play and the scenery also gets more appealing. The par-3 11th offers one of few limited views of nearby Mount St. Helens behind the green. I was actually hoping to have more mountain views out here (Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood can be seen from the freeway as you drive up here from Vancouver). Some of the final few holes also play along the Lewis River.

The coolest part of this course is undoubtedly the sprawling complex that is centered around the side-by-side 16th and 17th greens. The 10th green, 13th green, 14th tee and 18th tee are also nearby, so you get many glimpses of this beautiful complex throughout the back nine. The greens are surrounded by water hazards, wood-planked walls, nice landscaping and deep bunkers. It has a great look.

The 16th is a short, dogleg right par-4. After you turn the corner, you have a downhill shot over water to the well-protected green. The 17th comes back the other way over another water hazard to a similarly styled green. Both holes look great and are fun to play. Being side-by-side and basically connected by the landscaping features only adds to the appeal.

Despite the near-freezing temperatures, the course was actually in really nice shape. It was lush and green from edge to edge, so it really lit up with the sometimes perfectly clear and sometimes partly cloudy skies overhead. There were definitely some wet/soft spots throughout, but nothing too bad. It was cart-path-only. Some of these Southern Washington courses benefit from volcanic ash in the soil from the famous St. Helens eruption. This helps improve natural drainage.

The greens were just okay because they aerated fairly recently. They were very soft and quite slow, though I could tell they are generally well-maintained. I would imagine they are already great by now since the aeration should be mostly healed already. The bunkers were interesting because they had really dark sand. It looked like it was going to be super wet and compacted. It was damp, but surprisingly soft and nicer to play from than expected. I wondered if the dark color is also related to the volcanic silt/ash of the area. 

In my eyes, Lewis River is the true definition of a “hidden gem.” It’s not a course many people outside of Southern Washington know about and that’s too bad. It really is an enjoyable course in a very beautiful setting. I would highly recommend it if you happen to be in the area.

Some pictures from Lewis River Golf Course (12/23/17):

I was hoping to maybe play Sunday, as well. However, the weather had different plans. We knew even colder temperatures and maybe some rain/ice were in the forecast, but nobody expected it to snow all day and stick! My car was covered with about three inches of ice/snow by the end of the day. That obviously killed any golf plans for Sunday or Monday, but it sure was cool to experience a white Christmas this year.

On Tuesday, I left down to work my way down the coast. I was on my way to visit one of my best friends who lives in the Newport, OR area. I knew I probably wouldn’t likely be playing any golf while I was there for a few days with a ton of rain in the forecast, so I was hoping to get some in on the drive down.

I decided to take the scenic route, which would also help me avoid Portland morning traffic. My drive actually took me further north into Washington, where I then cut back across the Columbia River and drove across to the northern coast of Oregon. Then, I drove all the way down the coast from there, which is a slow, but very neat drive.

I was actually able to play two courses along the way, but I will just feature one of them in this article...

Three Rivers Golf Course • Kelso, WA • 12/26/17

Three Rivers is one of the courses I considered playing on Saturday because it has the best reputation for good drainage during the rainy winter months of Southern Washington. After the snowstorm, though, I expected most everything throughout the area and around Portland to still be covered with ice.

I was going to take this driving route either way because I knew my best way to avoid icy conditions was to take the coast, where there are still a number of short courses I haven’t played. 

I decided to stop by Three Rivers on the way, just to take a look. I saw that they were open and there was no frost/ice on the grass. Naturally, I went ahead and played it. The pro shop guy was nice and charged me $27.50 (cart included), which was actually the twilight rate. He gave me the rate over an hour early because it would normally not start until noon. I got the sense they were happy to welcome any business this day, though it seems a fair number of people eventually showed up.

I actually jumped ahead of a threesome on the first tee and then didn’t run into anyone else after that for a very quick round. 

Three Rivers was designed by Robert Muir Graves. This was obviously a familiar architectural name to me, though this course is actually much more plain than Lewis River. It’s fairly open and forgiving with just some minor changes of elevation in play. What you see is what you get throughout much of the course. The greens are medium-sized, not overly protected and don’t have too much undulation to contend with. This is a relatively simple design.

The 9th hole is probably the most interesting on the course. It’s a mid-length par-4 that doglegs slightly left and requires a demanding approach with a creek that cuts across right in front of the green. 

Parts of the back nine play along the edge of the Cowlitz River, but the setting isn’t quite as pretty as Lewis River. Of course, it was overcast and dreary on this day, so any nice background scenery was obscured. Kelso-Longview is more of a mill/industrial kind of area. It’s funny that the name Three Rivers reminded me of the old stadium in Pittsburgh because this area does have kind of a Western Pennsylvania blue collar feel like a lot of mill/port towns you’ll find throughout Oregon and Washington. 

The Cowlitz River is one of the Three Rivers referred to in the name, along with the Columbia and I believe the Coweeman River. 

The marketing was sure true about the draining properties of this golf course. There were a few small patches of ice still sitting on a couple of the greens, which signified they got some snow and ice up here. However, there weren’t many signs of it anywhere else on the course. There were definitely some wet spots, but no cart restrictions. In addition to the volcanic ash, I am sure the primarily fescue-based turf also improves drainage. It’s commonly used throughout the Northwest because of all the rain. The greens were receptive and rolling smooth at medium speeds. I was not in any bunkers here, but they looked pretty wet and compacted from what I observed.

Though not the most exciting or scenic course in the region, Three Rivers is certainly a good option for a bad weather (or post bad weather) round because it drains so well. If you want to get out in the winter and tee it up at a reasonable price, you could do a lot worse than Three Rivers.

Some pictures from Three Rivers Golf Course (12/26/17):

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Holiday Trip 2017, Part 1: Starting in Sacramento

If you’ve followed this trip over the years, you’ll know I usually end up in Northern California and Southern Oregon over the holiday break because that’s where a lot of my family and friends live. 2017 was a little different as we decided to spend Christmas at my brother’s house in Vancouver, WA (just across the river from Portland). That opened up some more golf possibilities for me, though it also presented more winter weather challenges to go further north than usual. 

Ultimately, I ended up playing eight rounds scattered across an 11-day adventure through Northern California, different parts of Oregon and Southern Washington. 

The first day found me working my way north. The Sacramento area was the perfect place to stop for a round or two...

Foothill Golf Course • Citrus Heights, CA • 12/21/17

This round was not actually in my original plans. However, I had a 12:10 tee time booked over at Teal Bend and I way over-budgeted my drive time to Sacramento. I was there quite early and had plenty of time to kill.

Foothill was the closest short course option geographically and I also had a bone to pick with this place. I have stopped by the course several times during Sacramento visits the past few years and I can never seem to catch it when it is open. It seems they open late and close early. Either way, I thought I’d give it one more try. This time, they were open!

I paid my $10 to walk the 9 holes. I started on the fourth hole at the recommendation of the girl in the pro shop. That got me out ahead of the guy mowing the greens and a twosome that was on the third hole. It worked out well because I never encountered anyone else and I got around the course as quickly as I could.

Foothill is a pretty basic par-3 course. Depending on how far you can hit your wedges, it may be considered a “pitch and putt.” The holes range from 100 yards up to 155 and a few bring some slight uphill/downhill elevation changes in play to affect the perceived yardage. Otherwise, it’s a very straightforward and wide open little course that is best served as a short game practice area or beginner’s layout. 

Conditions were decent for winter. It was semi-dormant throughout, but the tee boxes weren’t too beat up and the greens were actually pretty good. They were soft and rolling well at medium speeds. The slopes come into play on the greens as some downhill putts can be more slippery than expected. 

Beyond that, there isn’t much to highlight about Foothill. It’s a very simple par-3 course that is well-suited for novice players, seniors and kids who want an affordable place to learn the finer points of the game.

Some pictures from Foothill Golf Course (12/21/17):

Next, I made my way over to my main course for the day...

Teal Bend Golf Club • Sacramento, CA • 12/21/17

I was already looking at Teal Bend as a good option in the north part of town since I still had a lot of driving to do after my round. Then, as I was searching for hot deals on GolfNow, I came across a deal I could not refuse. They had a 12:10 tee time at Teal Bend for only $12!

The course was actually pretty busy. It was a nice clear day, though it was still a bit chilly and windy. I should have savored the “cold” weather in Sacramento, though, because I was in for much colder temperatures the following days.

I was paired with another single and a friendly Ukrainian couple. We teed off right at 12:10 and kept pace with the groups ahead. The group ahead kind of slowed down on the back nine, so we pushed them all the way in. Still, we finished right at 4:00 for a good overall pace.

I’ve heard good things about Teal Bend as one of the Sacramento area’s better mid-range options. Ultimately, I really liked the layout and the setting is good, as well. There are no homes around the course. You do get some air traffic noise because the Sacramento Airport is next door and Beale AFB is not far up the road. However, the course still feels pretty isolated and peaceful.

Teal Bend was designed by Brad Bell and has some subtle architectural qualities that I enjoyed. Most holes have at least a slight dogleg one way or the other with trees and native hazards lining either side. None of the holes run parallel to one another. The greens are big and have some tricky undulation. The bunkering is also kind of interesting, especially in the fairways. Most holes have a well-placed bunker or two to impact your tee shot strategies. 

The standout holes at Teal Bend would have to be 9, 16 and 17. The 9th and 16th are nice par-3s over water. The 17th is a very interesting par-5 that doglegs hard right around a water hazard. Longer hitters will be able to cut off a big chunk of the corner by going directly over the water and some big bunkers beyond it. Shorter hitters are forced to take the long way around as a traditional three-shot hole. 

Unfortunately, winter conditions were not great here. I wasn’t surprised because I’ve encountered similar conditions at other Sacramento area courses in the winter—especially cold, dry winters like they’ve had so far in Norcal. Teal Bend was basically completely dormant from tee to green. The rough was dappled with some green patches, but otherwise it was totally brown throughout. 

The dormant colors definitely took away a lot of the natural aesthetics of this course and they also impacted your sight lines off the tee. With no major distinctions between fairways and rough (the bunkers also kind of blended in), it didn’t present well. 

Teal Bend is a course I’d like to go back and play another time when conditions are nicer. I know this is not its typical look throughout most of the year and I almost feel bad posting any pictures of it in its winter state. The first few pictures show how the overall course looked to give you an idea. Then, I tried to pick out the most flattering images, mainly shots from around the greens. The layout is solid and the setting is nice, so I know it’s better than what I saw. It’s what I encountered, though, so be warned if you play there during the off-season. 

I will say that the playability of the course was still mostly fine despite the dormant grass. It was reasonably maintained. The greens rolled smooth at medium speeds and were easily the best part of the course. However, I did feel the softness of the greens varied a lot from hole to hole. Some seemed super soft while others were quite firm.

For $12 I can’t complain much, but I would like to see this course another time to make my complete judgment. 

Some pictures from Teal Bend Golf Club (12/21/17):

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Course Review: Sun Lakes Country Club (Executive Course)

Yesterday I had the opportunity revisit Sun Lakes Country Club in Banning. I played the Championship Course here last year, so I was able to go back this time and check out the Executive Course at this private 55+ club.

I played alongside the Assistant Pro at the club and he shared a lot of great information and insight about the courses and community. Apparently, the Executive Course was originally a 9-hole layout and they eventually added nine more holed to make it a full 18.

It was designed by David Rainville and plays to a total par of 60. There are three par-4s and six par-3s on each side. Most of the holes are relatively short. The longest par-4 is 323 yards, though it does play uphill and it was directly into a very stiff wind yesterday afternoon. It played more like 423!

There are a couple of long-ish par-3s (the 178-yard 3rd is the longest, also playing dead into the wind yesterday). Most are short and some are truly “pitch and putt” length holes. Four holes on the back nine play well under 100 yards.

The wind is definitely a factor here as Banning is regularly windy and that definitely adds some teeth to this course. Even without strong winds, this is a short course that is both fun and challenging enough to entertain even the most serious golfers. The greens are small, fast and undulated. There are tight spots and there is trouble to be found on just about every hole in the form of OB, houses, water hazards and a big ravine that cuts across parts of the front nine. 

Speaking of water hazards, the Executive Course recently underwent renovations on all their water hazards. New plumbing was installed, some edges were redefined and new sod was laid down. They look fantastic. There is one hazard that is being filled in, so it is still under construction at the moment.

Despite some challenging elements, the course also offers plenty of aggressive scoring opportunities. It’s fun to go pinseeking on some of the shorter holes. I came extremely close to an ace on the 103-yard 7th!

Unfortunately, our round was cut a few holes short by a police emergency that had one of the Sun Lakes streets shut down and the final few holes closed off for play. The good news is I will be able to come back and play the full course again. I’ll look forward to another excuse to play it, especially when the wind isn’t quite so fierce.

Conditions were nice considering it’s winter and they do not overseed this course. Residents prefer to play year-round without any shut-downs for overseeding, so they keep the turf all year and take nice care of it. The tee boxes were primarily dormant, but nice to play from. The rough and collars around the greens were in excellent shape. The fairway areas showed some brown, but I always had nice lies. I was in one bunker and it had good sand.

Sun Lakes really prides itself on having some of the best green surfaces around and that’s clearly evident even on the Executive Course. They were receptive and rolling super smooth at very quick speeds. It sounds like they can get them super fast any time they want if they really want to ramp up the challenge. As they were yesterday, any downhill chip or putt was often hard to stop.

I look forward to coming out to Sun Lakes again and finishing what I started. A lot of people don’t even know these courses exist, but if you ever get invited you will have fun on either course you get to play. They do have a Charity Week every year, as well, which will allow outside guest to sign up for special tournaments and activities.

Some pictures from Sun Lakes Country Club (Executive Course) (12/12/17):

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Course Review: Chevy Chase Country Club

Last Tuesday, I spent the whole day in Glendale. You’ve already read about my special round at Oakmont Country Club. Well, there was one more private club in town that I was able to play that day: Chevy Chase Country Club.

I reached out to the club in advance and they were nice enough to invite me out for an afternoon round after I finished at Oakmont. It couldn’t have worked out better since they are so close to one another.

It wasn’t too busy out there on a Tuesday afternoon, so I got out and went around the course pretty quickly. Being that this is a 9-hole layout (technically 10 holes), it was ideal for a late afternoon visit with the days being so short this time of year. 

Like its more well-known crosstown club, Chevy Chase has plenty of history. The club was established in 1925, long before the actor existed. If you are curious like I was, he was nicknamed after the city of Chevy Chase, MD. And, that city and this part of Glendale supposedly derived their names from a Scottish folktale. 

The course at Chevy Chase was designed by William P. Bell, who was recently inducted into the SCGA Hall of Fame alongside his son William F. Bell. Not sure why it took so long since so many classic courses throughout Southern California have been crafted by the Bell family.

The layout definitely has an older feel, which usually means it will come with a few quirks. Chevy Chase is not long by modern standards, but it is a tricky design with plenty of trees in play, steep natural slopes, a few sharp doglegs and tight angles all around. The course is built in a small canyon. It is all constructed on a hillside, so everything runs down toward the clubhouse at the bottom of the hill.

Speaking of the clubhouse, they just recently opened their brand new clubhouse here. They really upgraded everything to bring the facilities into the 21st Century and to enhance their member experience.

Chevy Chase is a 9-hole par-34 layout for men (par-36 for women). There are different tees and combos set up to play for 18 holes. One of the most interesting parts of the course is the corner that houses the 6th and 15th holes. Unlike the rest of the course, these are actually two different par-3 holes that you play depending on which nine you are on. The tees and greens criss-cross one another and play very differently. The 6th is a more-uphill-than-you-think hole that maxes out at 145 yards (though it plays more like 160). Then, the 15th is a shorter and more level hole that tops out at just 105 yards. I ended up playing both simultaneously just to get the full experience of each hole.

I knew this course had some options like this and I thought the same might have been true on the 2nd/11th holes. I was mistaken and found out the truth after the fact. The 2nd hole is listed a short par-5 (433 yards downhill from the black tees) and the 11th is listed as a par-4 at 405 yards if you play the blue tees as your back nine.

I didn’t look too closely at the scorecard before teeing off and I didn’t have a course guide or map to look at. I saw a green straight ahead of me down the hill, though there was a row of small trees cutting directly across the fairway about 100 yards in front of it. I figured that was my green, so I fired away and reached it on my second shot. I thought I had a rare putt at eagle when I got further up the fairway and noticed another more hidden green to the right across a small canyon.

I dropped a ball where I would have laid up if I knew about this second green, and I played over to it just to experience it. Once I thought about it, I figured that the left green was for the par-4 (11) and the right green was for the par-5 (2). Ultimately, I learned that the first green I hit to (on the left) is just a practice green. It is not part of the course, though it sure looks like it was at some point in time. The right green is the proper green and the only green to use for holes 2 and 11. The first time through, it is a fairly easy par-5 with a risk/reward option of hitting a completely blind second shot to the green on the other side of the canyon. The second time through (especially if you are playing the same tees as the first time around), it is a demanding par-4 that requires the blind approach shot just to get on in regulation.

Beyond these two holes, there are no other “alternate green” surprises here. That is not to say it’s easy. You will be faced with some narrow angles and uncomfortable shots. Some of the natural slopes are steep and can hurt or help you depending on the rollout you get. The 7th/16th is probably the most memorable hole that’s set furthest back in the canyon. The tee shot requires smart placement in the fairway, and then you are left with an intimidating second shot around the tight corner. A small hazard also protects the very tiny green front/right, so there is little room for error. 

Chevy Chase is probably not a course that everyone will enjoy because it has its quirks and some people may not be able to take a 9/10-hole layout as seriously as a full 18. However, it is a fun and historic design that will make you work for a good score. I’m sure glad I got to play it, and it seems like a very friendly and relaxed club that has a completely different vibe than Oakmont.

Some pictures from Chevy Chase Country Club (11/14/17):

Practice Green (not #2 or #11):

Real #2/11 Green:

The 6th Hole:

The 15th Hole:

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Course Review: Oakmont Country Club

When most people hear the name Oakmont Country Club, they immediately think of the famous major-host course in Western Pennsylvania. Some Northern Californians may even think of Oakmont Golf Club up in Santa Rosa.

However, Southern California has its own Oakmont Country Club, located in the hills of Glendale. It was established in 1922. It’s been around almost as long as most of LA County’s other classic clubs, but it doesn’t always get the attention it might deserve. You’ll certainly never hear it mentioned in the same breath as LACC, The Riviera or Bel-Air. Of course, these most famous local clubs are in rarified air.

The original course was designed by Max Behr. Brian Curley did a more recent renovation, and there was a major turf reduction that took place amidst the drought. They removed over 23 acres of grass with a pioneering charge to reduce water usage at the facility. When you look at the course now, you can easily imagine what it used to look like with wall-to-wall lush green grass coverage. At times, the desert-style waste areas feel a bit out of place and they will come into play quite often with a poor shot. However, they don’t take away too much aesthetically. It’s still a beautiful course in a great setting.

Beyond the turf reduction, you can definitely see how civilization has encroached upon the course in the past 95 years. There are some electrical towers and power lines that run through parts of the course. There is also a large cement drainage canal that cuts right through the middle of the course (just like the one at nearby Brookside). It comes into play on several holes when you need to hit right over it, so I imagine some drainage canal was there back in the day. Either way, it may look a bit ugly but it is nicely integrated to the course and it’s hard to imagine a few holes without it presenting an intimidating hazard to avoid.

The reason I got to play at Oakmont was because a friend of mine was celebrating his 1000th course played (a milestone I hope to hit myself as soon as next year). The SCGA got behind his quest and helped set up this special round at one of the few top-level local courses that he hadn’t played yet. I was lucky enough to be a part of his foursome. They treated us really well and even hosted us for lunch in the clubhouse.

We teed off a little after 8:00 ahead of a women’s member tournament. They never pushed us and we never caught up to anyone ahead, so we enjoyed our own nice pace of play.

The layout is fun and challenging. I played the white tees at 6,274 yards. The longest set here is the special John Goodman tees, that stretch out to over 7,000 yards (not named for the actor but for the golfer, who was the last amateur player to win the U.S. Open in 1933). 

The white tees were more than enough for me as it’s not the length that will challenge you at Oakmont. This is more of a target course. There are some major doglegs in play and lots of tall trees that produce very uncomfortable tee angles if you want to play any sort of curve. When you add in the cement canal and those turf-reduced waste areas, it makes things feel even tighter off the tee. If you get safely on the fairway and are decently positioned, then you might have some scoring opportunities. The greens are pretty accessible as long as you avoid some deep bunkers.

The green designs aren’t too tricked out and most slope from back to front. You definitely want to try and avoid being above the hole here. The putting surfaces are slick and it’s hard to stop anything rolling downhill. 

Perhaps the most memorable hole was the 15th, which really brings the drainage canal in play. If you are playing from the white tees or anything further back, you will hit across the ditch to the fairway that ultimately doglegs hard right. Overhanging trees, however, make it tough to play a cut shot like you might want to for the shape of the hole. If you get out to the corner, then you will hit back over the canal toward the green. This hole puts a real premium in positioning and execution on each shot. 

The conditions were excellent on all levels. It was so nice to see something so nice and green here in Southern California. The tee boxes were great. The fairways have some kind of bermuda hybrid grass (I think). It’s not as lush a green color as the rough is, but it plays nicely. You get fair rollouts and you always have a nice fluffy pad of turf underneath the ball. The rough was thick, green and tough to play from. It was hard to just find the ball sometimes. 

The bunkers were excellent and so were the greens. They were firm, yet receptive enough on well-struck approaches. Then, as I mentioned, they were rolling super smooth and lightning fast. Couldn’t ask for much better than these greens!

I haven’t actually played any of LA’s most historic and famous private clubs yet (invites are always welcome, though—hint, hint), so I don’t have much comparison for Oakmont. If this is one of the “lesser” clubs on that best of the best list, then I sure can’t wait to experience any of the others. Oakmont was a wonderful experience and I am grateful that I was able to enjoy it with some good friends. I would highly recommend it if you ever get a chance to play.

Some pictures from Oakmont Country Club (11/14/17):

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A Mad Dash to Mesquite

This weekend, a friend and I made what has become an annual trip to Southern Nevada. Normally, we just stay around Vegas for 2-3 days, but we decided to venture a bit further this year. That was partly for me, since there’s only one public course in Vegas that I have left to play and it wasn’t quite in our budget. Hint, it rhymes with Schmadow Creek.

On Saturday, we drove up to Mesquite and stayed the night there. On Sunday, we drove home after stopping in Henderson for a round at Revere Golf Club (Concord). I’ve already reviewed that course on the blog, so this post will just focus on the two Mesquite courses we played...

Oasis Golf Club (The Canyons Course) • Mesquite, NV • 11/11/17

Oasis has two courses and I hadn’t played either of them prior to this trip. To me, they’ve always seemed a bit overpriced and deals aren’t usually easy to find like they are at the other comparable mid-level Mesquite courses (considering Wolf Creek as the one and only “top-level” course in town and the rest being quality B players). 

Fortunately, my friend was looking around awhile back and found an oddly inexpensive tee time for The Canyons Course at Oasis. It was only around $40, even though most everything else in town this time of year is quite expensive. We went ahead and booked the 9:30 time at that price. When he checked later, all times around us went up to $125. Not sure why that price was so low when we booked it, but we felt like we got away with something. The pro shop guys didn’t bat an eye when we checked in and paid the balance, however, so I guess it’s wasn’t that outrageous.

We figured it would be busy there on a Saturday of a holiday weekend, but it really wasn’t. They sent us off as a twosome a little ahead of our tee time. We did catch up to other groups pretty quickly and waited on most holes, but the total pace was nice around four hours. 

We were considering asking about a replay on The Palmer Course, but we heard them announcing a shotgun start over on that course as we were finishing on the 18th of ours. So that idea went quickly out the window, but we still made the most of our time as you’ll see later.

The Canyons Course was designed by Dave Druzisky. The setting is kind of weird as it works through some really cool canyon areas while also working through a residential community and some streets. It seems a lot of holes would have a beautiful rugged canyon hillside on one side of the fairway and then houses or a street along the other. There is a lot of driving between some holes and you are often traveling along and across the streets. You definitely don’t get the “secluded” canyon setting here like you do at some of Mesquite’s other courses. The streets especially take away from the overall experience on this course. 

If you focus on just the layout, The Canyons Course offers an enjoyable design. The front nine is definitely more interesting with some good changes in elevation and fun holes like the tricky dogleg left par-4 6th. This hole plays around the corner of a rocky hillside and then water runs up the right side as you near the green. 

The back nine has a few memorable holes, but I found the front more engaging and distinctive overall. 

I will commend The Canyons Course for having a really strong collection of par-3s. All four offer something a little different. The 4th hole is probable the best of the bunch with a severely elevated tee and a nice view. The 7th is more flat as you play over a large water hazard. 

The 9th is an odd one that I think I enjoyed much more than my friend. It also features a very elevated tee. A creek crosses back and forth on the way down to the hill and the green is guarded by kind of a moat that circles almost all the way around. It is an awkward and semi-blind tee shot from the back blue tees, but I found it to be a fun and challenging hole.

Lastly, the 17th features another big drop from the tee to the green surrounded by the canyon walls.

One of the more interesting moments on the course happens on the par-4 14th. It’s a very straightforward hole, but it is actually bisected by the Nevada/Arizona state line. It seemed we were close to the border when we got to this tee box, so I looked at a satellite map on my phone. At least according to that, the state line runs almost perfectly down the center of the fairway. The hole was tucked on the left portion of the green (technically in AZ if the map is accurate). It was the first time I’ve ever had to putt across state lines and I got a real kick out of that!

The course was in solid, albeit unspectacular, condition for this time of year. It’s about what I've come to expect in Southern Nevada on all but some of the more high-end courses. The tee boxes were fine. The fairways looked better from a distance than up close as the overseed didn't completely fill in. It was kind of thin in some areas and fluffy in others, but mostly decent enough. The rough is semi-dormant bermuda. It was cut way down and easy to hit from. I was in one bunker and it was prototypical NV crunchy, coarse desert sand with some pebbles. The greens were in good shape. They were firm, yet receptive on well-struck shots, rolling smooth at medium/slow speeds. I really wish they were a bit faster, though. 

To me, The Canyons Course falls in a clear 4th place in Mesquite behind Wolf Creek, Conestoga and Falcon Ridge. The only other courses I haven’t played in town are The Palmer Course and Casablanca, so I don’t know how it will rank when I finish up my Mesquite list (hopefully next year). If we hadn’t found such a good deal, I wouldn’t have enjoyed Oasis as much. However, for the price we paid it was a good experience. Just don’t set your expectations too high for conditions in Southern Nevada’s shoulder season. The prices go way up, but you won’t get Palm Springs like post-overseed conditions unless you play some of the upper-tier courses. We could see parts of Wolf Creek from Oasis and it looked incredible. That’s one I still want to go back and play again!

Some pictures from Oasis Golf Club (The Canyons Course) (11/11/17):

The Palmer Course was never part of the original plan, but a quicker-than-expected round on Canyons made it worth considering until we learned they were having an afternoon members tournament on that side. So, we went ahead with our original plan for the late afternoon round...

Coyote Willows Golf Course • Mesquite, NV • 11/11/17

Coyote Willows is the course that not many people outside of Mesquite residents know about. It’s understandable because it’s just a 9-hole course and it’s not meant to compete with the likes of Wolf Creek, Oasis or Conestoga. It really is just a locals course. 

Still, I wanted to play it and check it off my Southern Nevada list. We headed over there and it wasn’t very busy at all when we arrived. We paid $25 to play 9 holes with a cart. That’s certainly quite steep for what you get here, but I guess it’s technically a “value” in Mesquite this time of year when golf rates are really jacked up.

Coyote Willows is a par-35 regulation layout that seems like it has undergone some routing changes in recent years (and may still be in transition). New owners just took over the course in September and their website says more renovations will be forthcoming. Some online sources show a scorecard with a total par of 32 for Coyote Willows, so it would appear some big changes have already taken place. Some of the signage throughout the course (mainly the rock signs on the tee boxes) are way off in terms of yardage, so those are best ignored for now.

The terrain at Coyote Willows is very flat. The course would seem like a good one to walk this time of year, but parts of the course are very spread out and it would be a pain, especially a long walk down the street between holes 2 and 3.

Overall, this course reminded me more of what I’ve played in Yuma rather than what I’ve experienced in Mesquite. It’s a pretty basic design surrounded by a few homes and some desert scrub brush and trees along the outer edges. The holes are pretty wide open and very forgiving, and there’s not much visual definition from tee to green on most holes. 

Still, it’s a solid course and much better than I would have expected. There are some water hazards in play and the setting is pleasant with sweeping desert vistas in every direction. 

The highlight holes here are the 8th and 9th. The 8th is a short par-4 with a ton of water in play. There’s a hazard that runs up the right side and then cuts across what is essentially a peninsula green. The drawings on the scorecard are crude at best and it’s hard to see what the hole does when standing on the tee, so be careful here if it’s your first time. If you can’t fly your drives 290+, then lay up!

The 9th is a real treat as a finisher and it’s a par-3 unlike any other I can recall. A small creek zig-zags back and forth all the way from the tee to the green and the forward tee boxes are interspersed amongst the curves. Some tall reeds and tall tufts of pampas grass line the water and make it a semi-blind shot to the green. The green itself is two-tiered with a large shelf in the middle and it is protected on all sides. I wish I had a drone with me to show the aerial view of the hole because the ground-level shots from the tees don’t really do it justice. The view from behind the green with the sun setting did turn out pretty sweet, though!

Coyote Willows was in okay shape for a course of this caliber. The tee boxes were a bit beat up, but okay enough. The fairways had been overseeded, but were still quite firm and thin. Some holes were nicer than others. The rough was more of a hodge podge with mostly dormant, shaved-down rough, some dead hardpan spots and some more decent grass around the greens. I wasn't in any bunkers. The greens were in good shape, though rolling at pretty slow speeds. 

This is certainly not a destination course and it probably shouldn’t be in the plans for most people planning their Mesquite golf trips. However, it’s a good course for locals to enjoy at a lower price and it’s not a bad one to throw in if you want to get an extra nine holes in. I love that they advertise themselves as “the best 9-hole course in Mesquite.” So what if they’re the only 9-hole course in Mesquite (unless you want to count Beaver Dam across the border in Arizona)!

Some pictures from Coyote Willows Golf Course (11/11/17):

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Disappointment in the Delta

The last day of my recent Bay Area trip took me to the northeast part of the Bay Area. Perhaps it’s better known as the Sacramento Delta region, where the bay transitions into the rivers and sloughs near Stockton and Sacramento.

I had only been to this area once before, and one of those course (Roddy Ranch) has sadly closed since my visit. However, there are still a handful of other courses out there for me to experience, so I was able to check two (or was it three?) more off this list on Tuesday before heading home...

The Golf Club at Rio Vista • Rio Vista, CA • 11/7/17

My friend and I bought a voucher on Groupon that was a really good deal (2 players for $41 with no restrictions). The only trick was making sure we could play out here in the early morning. With winter approaching, Rio Vista is shifting to a daily 9:30 shotgun format during the weekdays.

Fortunately, we were able to contact the powers that be and ensure that we could go out earlier. As long as we were off the course by the time the shotgun started, we were clear to play. We teed off around 6:45 and were finished by 9:00, so it worked out perfectly for everyone. It was extremely cold in the morning, but luckily there was no frost. That might have been our only concern with trying to get an early round in.

Rio Vista is definitely out of the way, but it’s kind of in right between the North Bay, East Bay and Stockton areas. I just don’t know how much draw it has from any of those regions, though, because it’s so isolated amidst the Delta waterways. 

Rio Vista is a Trilogy community that was master planned in the 1990s during the residential golf boom. The course was designed by Ted Robinson, Sr. and that will be easy to see in the pictures below. It had a very “familiar” look and feel with lots of water hazards and other typical Robinson features. I was joking that it was Robinson residential template #5 because it felt like so many other courses I have played.

The course runs through the community and houses may come into play from time to time. Water hazards can be found on a majority of holes, except for the par-3s, which is really strange on a Robinson course. Usually, he has at least one or two tricked-up par-3s with water features. A couple of the par-3s had small natural hazards in play, but certainly not the contrived Robinson style. 

The 9th and 18th holes were more traditional Robinson signature finishers. They are both fun and challenging with those water hazards very much in play. The 19th is a dogleg left with water left and behind the green. The 18th is another dogleg left with a peninsula green. It requires a full carry over the water on your approach, and then there is water right of the green as well. I had kind of a blind second shot. I’m pretty sure I cleared the big water hazard in front, but may have caught the smaller one to the right because I never found my ball.

Though familiar in style, the layout at Rio Vista is solid. It offers enough challenge with so many water hazards and some OB along the houses, but is still pretty forgiving off the tee. The greens are large and have the undulations and shelves you would also expect on a Robinson course. There are some well-placed bunkers, as well. Just imagine parts of Tustin Ranch or any number of Coachella Valley Robinson courses picked up and transported to the Northeast Bay Area.

Where the real disappointment came was with the conditions. Rio Vista was not in very good shape from tee to green. I wouldn’t expect things to be super nice this late in the year, but you can tell this course has fallen on some tough times. It looks and feels run-down. The tee boxes were okay. The fairways were very spotty, especially on the front nine. There were a lot of big dead/muddy patches and it looked ugly. The back nine had slightly better coverage, but still had some issues. The rough was even spottier throughout the course.

The bunkers were odd. Some were fine and we even saw the guy dragging them in the morning. Then, about a third of the other bunkers were completely untouched and being reclaimed by nature (weeds, etc.). There didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason as to which bunkers were left to die while others were still being maintained. Some seemed quite integral to the hole designs, but were beyond repair. Meanwhile others that didn’t seem so integral were still being taken care of. It was strange and sad to see.

The greens were the lone bright spot in terms of conditions. They were soft and receptive, and the surfaces were well-maintained. They were rolling pretty smooth at medium speeds. It’s clear this is where they are putting the most effort right now.

Rio Vista is okay if you get a really good deal and you happen to be very close by. Otherwise, it is best avoided for awhile.

Some pictures from The Golf Club at Rio Vista (11/7/17):

After that round was complete, we headed south for our next destination in the Delta region...

Brentwood Golf Club • Brentwood, CA • 11/7/17

This course also went by The Golf Club at Brentwood name, and there is still a lot of signage around the course that displays that. However, the scorecard says Brentwood Golf Club and so does any of the more modern-looking signage, so I will stick with that as the current official name.

After a quick breakfast, we teed off around 9:30 as a twosome. We had used a GolfMoose voucher that was a decent deal. We saw steady groups going out ahead of us, so we knew it would be a slow round. We ended up joining the twosome ahead of us for part of the front nine (Creekside). Then, instead of playing what would be our normal back nine, we jumped over to the Diablo nine before coming back to the Hillside nine and finishing out. It was a lot of driving around, but it ended up saving us quite a bit of time overall as we intended to play all 27 holes anyway.

I should back up and note that Brentwood is a 27-hole facility. However, it is not necessarily a 27-hole course, at least not anymore. In fact, I’m actually having a very hard time deciding if this counts as one or two courses on my list.

If you go play there right now and sign on for a typical 18-hole round, you will play Creekside and Hillside. Diablo is basically considered a separate 9-hole course these days. Geographically, it makes sense because the Creekside nine does not come back to the clubhouse after the 9th hole. It leads right to the 1st hole of the Hillside nine, which ultimately brings you back in. The Diablo nine does a full loop that returns you back to the clubhouse.

Based on that, it’s clearly two different courses. However, the scorecard is set up like most other 27-hole courses that displays all three combination rotations. There are combo ratings/slopes for each pairing and there is no clear distinction that Diablo is a separate scorecard. All the signage on the courses and the scorecard itself refers to holes 1-9 of each course, not Hillside being holes 10-18 as they should be considered. 

It’s all a bit confusing and I had the same dilemma at Whittier Narrows several years ago. I ended up only counting that as one course and I am probably going to end up doing the same at Brentwood. Until I know the scorecards and other elements are clearly distinguished as one 18-hole course and a separate 9-hole course, I can’t count them as two in good conscious. 

Sorry for that, but these are things I think about. I hold a grudge against all 27-hole courses for various reasons, and Brentwood is one that adds an extra layer of frustration.

However you divvy up the 27 holes, it’s easy to draw comparisons between Brentwood and Rio Vista. Brentwood opened in 2000 and is another master planned residential course designed by none other than Ted Robinson, Sr. If Rio Vista is template #5, then Brentwood is #6. It also has the same familiar look and feel.

Hillside easily stood out as the most interesting of the three nines, followed by probably a tie between Diablo and Creekside. Each of those had a few memorable holes and a number of fairly forgettable designs. Hillside brings in a few slight changes in elevation and more distinctive holes than either of the other two nines.

Brentwood was in slightly better condition than Rio Vista, but it’s clear they’ve also had their own struggles here. Most of the white tee boxes were being overseeded, so they had us moved up with the reds on most holes and back with a blues just a couple times. I probably should have played blues if I had known that most holes were moved up, but oh well. I had fun playing a super short version of the course. I needed a confidence boost at the end of this trip!

The fairways were somewhat spotty, though much better than the really beat up ones over at Rio Vista. The rough was very inconsistent here. Some spots were bare hardpan, some spots were littered with gopher mounds and some sections features super deep, thick rough where you were lucky just to find your ball. In other words, it was best to stay on the fairways. The bunkers were rock hard and not good at all. 

Again, the greens were the highlight. They were firm, yet receptive and rolling well at medium speeds. 

Neither course played on Tuesday was all that enthralling or unique, especially if you’ve already played a lot of Robinson courses as I have over the years. They are fine enough for the right deal and you can’t expect much from the winter conditioning. If I had to pick one to recommend, it would be Brentwood by a slight margin. It had somewhat better conditions and an extra nine holes to play, though I would say Rio Vista is probably a slightly more interesting and challenging layout overall. Neither are worth that much attention.

Some pictures from Brentwood Golf Club (11/7/17):

Creekside

Hillside

Diablo

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Course Review: Lake Merced Golf Club

Monday’s round at Lake Merced Golf Club was the main reason for this most recent little trip to the Bay Area. It’s one I’ve been looking forward to for awhile. The NCGA has outings here every year and it is always their most popular event. In recent years, they’ve done two outings each year and they still sell out immediately after being posted in January.

This finally worked out as the year to get in on one of these outings. It’s kind of interesting it happened that way since I also got to play Cal Club this summer. In my mind, these two courses are part of San Francisco’s “Big Four” clubs—Big Five if you want to count the public TPC Harding Park complex.

Otherwise, the city’s Big Four would consist of the private courses at California Golf Club of San Francisco, Lake Merced Golf Club, San Francisco Golf Club and Olympic Club. Cal Club is a bit more separated geographically, whereas the rest (including Harding Park) are all really close to one another. All of these clubs have a ton of history, rich course design pedigrees and high-end reputations. It’s an honor and a pleasure to have a chance to play any of them, and I hope someday I get to experience Olympic and/or SFGC.

This day was all about Lake Merced, though. We arrived early and had plenty of time to enjoy the stunning course views and beautiful clubhouse before the shotgun start at 10:30. They had a nice continental breakfast set out and box lunches were also provided, along with NCGA hats for all the attendees.

Lake Merced has kind of a complex design history. A lot of very famous architects have had their hands in what makes up the course you see today. The club was founded back in 1922, with the original course designed by Willie Lock opening in 1923.

Alister Mackenzie came in a few years later to rework the bunkers, though any remnants of his work are hard to see on the course today. 

The course was dramatically renovated in the 1960s when the I-280 freeway was built. It runs right next to the course and essentially wiped out several of the original holes. Robert Muir Graves was brought in to reshape and reroute the course while adding in some new holes.

Agronomy problems in the 1990s forced another renovation, this time by Rees Jones. He revitalized the course with some more modern touches. Other projects have happened throughout the past 90+ years that have altered the course in various ways.

Despite all of that, Lake Merced retains a great layout that blends some old and new elements. The San Francisco setting with hilly terrain and beautiful cypress/pine trees gives you a classic and historic Bay Area feel, while you can easily tell some modern touches have been added throughout the years. However this course came to be what it is today, it looks great and plays nicely.

There aren’t too many flat lies on Lake Merced as it winds it’s way up and down the hills and round the thick rows of tall trees. There are numerous doglegs in play and most of the greens are elevated. A lot of the holes have you going up and then down, or down and then up as you work your way from tees to greens. There are no water hazards on the course, only a few OB areas along the outer edges of the property.

This will be the first year since 2013 when the LPGA will not have a tournament at Lake Merced. That’s too bad because I’d love to watch the pros play it on TV now that I have played it myself.

Lake Merced is a deceptively challenging course. The doglegs, hills and trees will make you work for a good score because positioning off the tee is so vital. It’s definitely one of those courses you’d need to play several times before feeling truly comfortable hitting certain tee and approach shots.

Conditions were great overall. They had recently verticut the fairways, so they were grooved. Still, it didn’t affect much. The fairways were kept firm and tight while the rough was super thick and sticky. Another renovation made at some point along the way was converting the greens from poa annua to bentgrass. They are designed to play fairly firm and roll at fast speeds. These greens were quick and the slopes were tough to read, so three-putts were always a concern, especially if putting downhill. The bunkers, as you might expect, were perfect.

Lake Merced is one of those timeless courses where I won’t remember many different holes specifically, but I will remember the feeling of the course as a whole. I’m not sure what you would consider the “signature” hole here, but the entire place has such a great look and every hole presents a unique challenge.

I would still rank Cal Club higher than Lake Merced. Both are similar in the respects that they are old courses that have been renovated multiple times, but there was just something more distinctive about Cal Club. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend either course if you ever have a rare opportunity to play them.

Some pictures from Lake Merced Golf Club (11/6/17):

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Golfin’ on the Dock of Bay

I recently took another 3-day trip to the Bay Area, centered around an NCGA outing at historic Lake Merced Golf Club on Monday. A friend and I drove up together on Sunday morning and we were able to squeeze in plenty of golf before and after that round Monday—despite some limited daylight thanks to the time change and NorCal courses not yet shifting their schedules to open earlier.

We only had one round on the slate for Sunday, though I ended up playing two...

San Ramon Golf Club • San Ramon, CA • 11/5/17

With Lake Merced being a somewhat expensive round, we opted for value the rest of the time. We bought a few discount vouchers and the golf was pretty inexpensive. At San Ramon, we had a voucher from GolfMoose that was a good deal. 

We had an 11:07 tee time and were paired with a single. She ended up leaving after 9 holes. Another single caught up and joined us halfway through the front nine and we played with him the rest of the way. It was a busy day here, so we just relaxed and played at a 4:30 pace behind the other groups.

San Ramon is an older course, originally built in 1946 by Clark Glasson. He’s not an architect I know much about, but it looks like he’s had a hand in a number of courses throughout Northern California. Nothing that notable, though.

You can tell parts of this course were built long before any housing was added, so there are places where the homes will come into play. Otherwise, the layout is pretty spread out on the property. The front nine goes out and back with a relatively flat landscape. Then, the back nine goes up into the hillside a bit to provide some minor changes in elevation. I’d say the back nine was definitely more interesting overall.

The two standout holes are clearly the 9th and 18th, which are good finishers that run parallel to one another. The 9th is the obvious signature hole with a large island green complex. It’s a nice par-4 with a wide open tee shot and then a delicate shot over the water.

The 18th is another demanding par-4 with a water hazard cutting across the fairway in front of the green, basically making it all carry on your second shot. Beyond these two nice holes, there isn’t anything too distinctive about San Ramon. It’s a solid muni-level course that clearly gets a ton of play.

The conditions were okay. Some tee boxes were a bit chewed up, but were mostly fine enough. The fairways were decent overall, though a tad spotty and inconsistent in places. The rough was hit or miss, but mostly cut down and not too much of a factor. The bunkers had really nice, soft sand. However, they were not that well maintained. The greens were receptive, rolling at medium/slow speeds and bumpy at times in the afternoon. The 18th green was absolutely covered by goose turds. 

San Ramon is a fine locals course and worth it if you find the right deal. Rack rates seem a bit high for what you get, especially on weekends, so I am glad we got a really nice price to make it more enjoyable.

Some pictures from San Ramon Golf Club (11/5/17):

We weren’t necessarily planning to play again Sunday, but the timing worked out well for me to squeeze in another quickie after we crossed the bay into San Mateo...

Mariners Point Golf Links and Practice Center • Foster City, CA • 11/5/17

I ended up playing this one by myself because my friend had already played it. It was a good choice because it was close to where we were staying and it is the only night-lit golf course in the Bay Area, paired with a nice practice center. It’s clearly a popular after-work stop for those not wanting to sit in traffic.

The price was a bit steep at $17 to walk nine holes, but I paid and got around the course very quickly. Only had to play through one twosome. Most of my time was spent taking pictures because it was such a beautiful clear evening and this course is in an awesome location overlooking the bay. I could see the city in the distance and the San Mateo Bridge, which is right next to the course. I couldn’t have picked a better time to play it because I had such nice sunset views to photograph. The lights were on by the time I finished, so I also got to see how well this place is lit up for nighttime play.

Though I end up playing a lot of stinkers, this is the type of short course that keeps me searching for more hidden gems. Not only does it have a cool setting and lights. The conditions were quite nice and the layout is fun. Mariners Point offers a 9-hole par-3 course designed by Bob Cupp and John Fought. The holes range from 101 yards up to 166, so you’ll get to use a variety of clubs. The greens are interesting and it’s a legit enough par-3 course that is more than just a “pitch and putt.” At the same time, the layout is relatively forgiving and very beginner friendly, which is what you want from a learning center. They really struck the right balance to make it appealing enough for experienced golfers while inviting enough to new players. To me, that’s everything a short course should be. Then, you throw the views in on top of that and you have a real winner!

I mentioned the conditions were nice. It was lush and green throughout the course. The greens were a little bumpy that late in the day, but they rolled at good speeds and were firm, yet receptive enough. The all-grass tee boxes were a bit chewed up, but it was never hard to get a tee in the ground. Those who want to play it off the deck may find things a little trickier.

This is a great short course that I wish I had near me. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone, but especially newer players and casual golfers who want a cool place to hang out, practice irons/wedges and have lots of fun.

Some pictures from Mariners Point Golf Links and Practice Center (11/5/17):

This next course I actually played on Monday morning. However, I will group it in with this post so I can let the Lake Merced review stand alone...

Emerald Hills Golf Course • Redwood City, CA • 11/6/17

I dropped my friend off at Poplar Creek as that was a course he needed to play. I had already played it, so I wanted my own new course to add to the list. Emerald Hills was the best option with limited time available in the early morning.

Emerald Hills typically doesn’t open until 7:30, but I called ahead and they told me to come out and play. They said it would be no problem to play earlier and then pay after I finished. So that’s what I did. I got out there a little after 6:30 and the place was deserted. I played and then finished right as the guy was opening the pro shop, so it worked out perfectly. I believe the price was $15 to walk 9 holes, which also felt a little steep for what you get here on a uncrowded weekday morning.

The “Hills” is well-deserved in the Emerald Hills name. This is not a flat course. In fact, it is very, very hilly. Most holes play uphill and then there are a few downhillers to balance things out. For a par-3 course, it is fun and interesting (and it’s a good workout going up and down all those hills). It’s also quite challenging with the elevation changes and very small greens that fall off in different directions.

The holes range from 100 yards up to 172, so again it’s far from your basic pitch and putt. The course’s only real claim to fame is that the 6th hole has the most registered holes-in-one of any course in Northern California. They say it has a bowl shape, but I didn’t see it. To me, it slanted more left to right, though the front right pin placement was inviting with that set-up. 

All the greens here are tiny and hard to hold. Though the 6th is one of the easiest out here, I didn’t see why it is known to give up so many aces. I sure didn’t come close!

Beyond that, Emerald Hills is what it is. It’s a fairly enjoyable par-3 course. Conditions weren’t too inspiring. The greens were pretty good. Otherwise, everything else clearly shows the effects of the drought. It’s pretty dry and bare throughout a lot of the course, with the best grass being on and around the greens.

Emerald Hills is another decent short course, though I wouldn’t recommend it nearly as highly as Mariners Point.

Some pictures from Emerald Hills Golf Course (11/6/17):

The 6th hole:

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There’s Golf in Them Thar Hills, Part 3

As mentioned in Part 2, I ended up playing four rounds of golf on Friday during my quick trip to California’s Gold Country on the western edge of the Sierras. After quick morning rounds at Mountain Springs and Twain Harte, I kept things rolling with another short course for round 3...

Phoenix Lake Golf Course • Sonora, CA • 10/20/17

Phoenix Lake was not too far a drive from Twain Harte on the way back toward downtown Sonora. I arrived and saw some groups out on the course, but the first tee was wide open. I paid for 9 holes with a cart ($24, I believe) and was on my way. I quickly caught up to a slower group, but they eventually let me through and I still finished relatively quickly.

Phoenix Lake is a 9-hole regulation layout with different tee boxes for front and back nine play. The front nine plays a little longer, but is still short overall at 2,625 yards total for a par of 35. There are two par-5s on the course and three par-3s.

The par-3 holes are respectable, playing at 139, 175 and 218 yards from the front nine white tees (the 218 hole plays significantly downhill). The par-4s are all relatively short with the longest one being 324 yards. The first par-5 is average at 504 yards and the second one is short at 427, though it is a little tricky with a sharp dogleg and some well-placed trees coming into play.

Phoenix Lake is a pretty decent 9-holer with a moderately interesting layout. There are some elevation changes, natural hazards and trees to keep you on your toes. Some shots are very wide open while others feel quite tight, so it’s a pretty solid design.

Conditions were just so/so as most of the tee boxes, fairways and rough areas were pretty dried out and spotty. The greens, however, were adequate. They were soft and receptive while rolling at medium speeds. A few showed some damage and areas under repair, but mostly as good as you can hope for at a small local course like this.

There isn’t too much else to say about Phoenix Lake. It’s just fine for what it is and it seems to be one of the more popular courses for locals.

Some pictures from Phoenix Lake Golf Course (10/20/17):

Before the day started, I wasn’t sure I’d get anything in beyond those first three rounds. However, things went so quickly at each course that I still had plenty of daylight to spare. I had to go way out of the way for another course to squeeze in, but it ultimately worked out well...

Pine Mountain Lake Golf & Country Club • Groveland, CA • 10/20/17

If you look at a map of the courses in this region, they don’t appear to be too spread out as the crow flies. Unfortunately, this area is not easy to get around. From Phoenix Lake, there appeared to be two ways to get to Groveland, which is just southeast of Sonora and on the way toward Yosemite. 

There was a small back road that was shorter mileage to drive, but it looked super sketchy on the map. Google told me to take the longer way around and I’m glad I did. That drive was bad enough! Groveland is way up in the mountains, so it’s a steep, winding little highway that ultimately takes you there. It took about an hour to make the 26.5-mile drive from Sonora to Groveland, but I finally made it.

The course was fairly busy, but I still had ample daylight and I felt confident I’d have no problem finishing before dark. The guy in the pro shop was super nice and got me checked in at the twilight rate of $42 with a cart. I quickly caught a group ahead and played through them. Eventually, I caught the log jam later on the front nine and didn’t have anywhere to go. Another twosome let me play through at the turn and then I ended up joining the threesome ahead on the 11th tee. The total round still only took about three hours and 20 minutes.

Being up in the mountains, Pine Mountain Lake certainly has a nice setting for golf. The holes are tree-lined and there are numerous elevation changes in play. The front nine plays a little tighter and more up/down than the back, but both offer fun layouts that will challenge and entertain you just enough. The Pine Mountain Lake resort community surrounds the course and also provides a touch of mountain charm.

The course was opened in 1969 and designed by William F. Bell. The layout doesn’t feel like it’s been renovated or manipulated in any significant ways since then, but I don’t really know. It’s not as dramatic as some mountain courses can be, yet it works nicely for what it is.

I’m not sure what you’d consider the signature hole at Pine Mountain Lake, but it’s probably the par-3 17th. This is a nice downhill hole with trees protecting the green in front on either side. It is a pretty good-looking hole and a strong par-3 to finish with before the demanding uphill dogleg right par-4 18th. 

Pine Mountain Lake is a par-70 layout with just one par-5 on each side. Otherwise, I’d say the total yardages are pretty average and the elevation changes certainly make some holes play much longer than others.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about this course was the insane amount of deer roaming around. No joke, I saw at least 100 deer on the course during my round. I counted 25 of them hanging out on just the 12th hole!

The course was in solid shape, especially for this point in the season. I don't know if they stay open year-round or not, but Groveland itself seems like it wouldn’t be easy to access in the winter if the roads are wet and/or icy. Most tee boxes were sanded pretty good as they were doing some maintenance work on them. The fairways were in good shape overall. They were a mix of brown and green colors, but had a good turf base to hit from. The rough was pretty good, as well. The bunkers were nicely kept with soft sand. The greens here were also aerated not too long ago and seemed a week or two further along than Mountain Springs. Should be back to normal soon enough. For my round, they were still a little bumpy and slow with the aeration scars showing.

I wouldn’t say Pine Mountain Lake is worth going out of the way for, and I do mean “out of the way.” No matter how close it looks on the map, it is a brutal drive from any direction. If you do happen to be in Groveland coming to or from Yosemite, though, it’s well worth a stop.

Some pictures from Pine Mountain Lake Golf & Country Club (10/20/17):

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There’s Golf in Them Thar Hills, Part 2

Day two of my quick visit to California’s Gold Country took me to four courses in a whirlwind day of golf. I will cover the first two courses in this article, since I need to do a better job of spacing out my content. Each article will feature one full-length course and one 9-hole short course.

I stayed the night in Sonora, at the Sonora Inn hotel. The whole downtown is interesting with an old west mining town feel mixed with some Spanish missionary style. The hotel is really old and it has a cool, yet creepy vibe. I didn’t experience any paranormal activity, but it definitely looks like a place that would be haunted!

I got up early the next morning and wiggled my way through some dark and winding back roads, eventually finding my first course for the day...

Mountain Springs Golf Club • Sonora, CA • 10/20/2017

You don’t hear much about golf in this region, and you especially don’t hear much about any of the courses I played on Friday. I’m not sure why because it’s such a beautiful setting and the golf courses offer plenty to draw the interest of traveling golfers like me.

It had rained overnight and thick fog was rolling through the mountains in the morning. I had already booked a 7:22 tee time, which is the earliest they had. I arrived a little before 7:00 and the place was a ghost town other than one maintenance guy starting to pull carts out front. I had just gotten my new iPhone 8 a few weeks ago and this round was my first real “dawn patrol” test with the new camera’s low-light abilities.

It definitely passed the test as I walked around and snapped some killer unfiltered pictures with the fog hugging the hilltops all around the course. It looked so beautiful. The sad thing is that by the time I finally teed off, the fog had engulfed the course and it obscured many good photo opportunities throughout the front nine. Still, the iPhone did much better in the fog than any other camera or phone I’ve owned.

A couple other golfers showed up, but decided to go play a different course instead (Phoenix Lake, which I played later in the day and will review in Part 3 of this story). Eventually, the pro shop guy showed up and got me checked in at the $47 (with cart) rate. I basically had the place to myself other than a few encounters with maintenance on the course. I finished in just over two hours, perhaps spending more time taking pictures than hitting my ball.

Mountain Springs was designed by Robert Muir Graves and it utilizes the natural mountain terrain very well. No two holes are the same and there is no such thing as a flat lie anywhere on this course. There are downhill shots and uphill shots to/from elevated greens and tee boxes. Then, there are numerous side-slanting fairways (usually in conjunction with a dogleg) that really come into play. You definitely want to pay attention to the slopes here and land your ball on the high sides.

Mountain Springs has a number of memorable holes. The flattest hole on the course is the signature par-3 17th, which plays over a water hazard. Perhaps my favorite hole was the par-4 10th. It offers an elevated tee on a severe dogleg right hole. The fairway slopes from left-to-right all the way, so if you catch the right spot you can really run it down there. With my shorter cut shot, it was more like hitting it and hoping it it didn’t funnel into the bunkers on the corner. Thankfully, I placed it in just the right spot to benefit from the slope.

Conditions were decent for this point in the season. The tee boxes were fine. The fairways were pretty patchy in places and had plenty of mushy/muddy spots, as well. I had mostly decent enough lies, though. The rough had pretty good coverage where it mattered, though there were plenty of gopher mounds and lumpy/patchy sections. The bunkers had good sand and I passed the maintenance guy dragging and hand-raking each one, so it's clear they keep them up nicely here. The greens were punched not too long ago, so they were sandy, bumpy and slow. From what I could tell, it looks like they're probably normally in nice shape and should be back to normal in a few more weeks.

Mountain Springs turned out to be one of several pleasant surprises on this trip. I love mountain golf, but this course has a much more open feel than something like Sequoia Woods. At times, I was definitely reminded of La Purisima or maybe Diablo Grande, which are both positive comparisons.

Some pictures from Mountain Springs Golf Club (10/20/17):

Next, I went on a mini short course blitz just to the northeast of Mountain Springs. I started with the furthest course away...

Twain Harte Golf Club • Twain Harte, CA • 10/20/17

I arrived around 10:00 and the place was pretty wide open. I saw a couple groups out on the course and a foursome of older gentlemen were just teeing off on the first hole. The price was $19 to walk nine holes, which I thought was extremely expensive for a course of this caliber.

I ended up playing through those older dudes on the second hole and then didn’t run into anyone else. I was done fairly quickly.

Twain Harte is a small mountain town off of Highway 108. It is named for authors, Mark Twain and Bret Harte (not to be confused with wrestler Bret “The Hitman” Hart), who both are tied to local history. I drove past Twain’s old cabin outside of Angels Camp the day before. And, if you’ve ever read the “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” by Mr. Twain, you can enjoy one of the locally inspired stories he wrote while living there. 

The golf course in Twain Harte is a simple 9-hole layout that plays to a par of 29. It features a couple of short par-4s and then a healthy mix of par-3s ranging from 140 yards up to 210 yards from the front nine blue tees. There are separate white tees meant to play as your back nine. Ladies play the red/gold combo.

This is a decent little track that offers plenty of challenge for a short course. There are a lot of trees in play and some awkward tee shots. I did notice the 8th hole is currently using a temporary green. On the card and signage, it is listed as a 180-yard par-3. However, if you had to play to the normal green, it would be an evil dogleg left from the tee (corner being lined with massive trees and a fence along the bordering street OB). That would be a nasty little hole if actually a par-3. Not sure what the future of this hole is either way.

Conditions were adequate throughout the course. It was fairly green and lush. The greens were very soft and rolling at medium speeds. There is a lot of slope in play on these small greens, so downhill putts can be tough to stop, even on a soggy morning.

If you are all the way out in Twain Harte for some inconceivable reason, the course is a fun way to kill an hour or two. I noticed they did have lights throughout the course, but I am not sure if/when they use them for nighttime play. I saw no indications of them being open past sunset, at least not this time of year.

Some pictures from Twain Harte Golf Club (10/20/17):