Northern California - FALL 2006 - Club Crawl
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John Pearson
By John Pearson
Published on 10/19/2006
Must Play
Wow, day-in and day-out, issue-in and issue-out we continually provide you with information about Northern California’s best golf and this issue is no different. Another group of just plain ole’ fantastic courses. Again, Northern California provides golf at the highest level for our enjoyment. In this issue’s Club Crawl, we’ll be sharing with you another group of courses you simply NEED to play!
Eagle Ridge Golf Club
2951 Club Drive, Gilroy, CA 95020
Golf Shop 408 846-4531
Public, 18
Nestled in the oak covered west foothills of Gilroy, Eagle Ridge offers a satisfying golf challenge from six sets of tees on every hole. The architectural collaboration of international architectural superstars David Dale and Ron Fearm of GolfPlan, Inc. and Northern California’s own golf legend, Johnny Miller created a spectacular Par 72 Championship layout to enjoy. Playing 7005 from the Black tees and with a Rating of 74.0 and Slope of 138, it can be tough and grueling, but at the same time beautiful and fair. Take the first hole for example, a short Par 4 of 331 from the Blue tees. A straightforward tee shot of 225 or less will keep you out of the fairway bunker on the right hand side and only about 105 yards out from the green. From there two bunkers guard the front left and left side of the green. The second hole plays 134 from the White tees. It’s a Par 3 with a huge bunker compound all around the front of the green, so this is one of those holes where it’s O.K. to miss it long (better than short). Hole number three is a Par 4 with a small creek running across the front of the green. Another huge bunker guards the right side of the fairway and runs almost the entire length of the fairway. Further right has trees and junk, so again, play a straight accurate shot from the tee – not to exceed 253 from the Blues, not necessarily the driver and it will leave you with about 112 to the center of the green. We’ve arrived at the number one handicap hole on the course, the 4th. Playing 576 from the tips, this hole can be brutal. First off, there’s a huge oak tree in the fairway you stare right at from the tee box! Best shot is right side of the fairway to navigate the safest route towards the green. So, if your drive wasn’t 300 yards on this one, just play that 180 club to a safe place on down the fairway. Now you should have a decent lie with a look at your Green in Regulation. Next stop – the green for a two putt Par!
Five is a tough hole. It plays long from any of the 6 tees. From the Whites its 394. There’s a creek that runs along the right side of the fairway. During the rainy season it’s active and wet, but can be dry in the summer. You’ve got this tee shot that necessarily needs to be long and straight to give yourself a look at an approach on to the green. That approach shot must carry the creek that at this point has become a large pond that runs along the left border of the green, making it that much tougher. Enjoy the hole!
Eight is a nice Par 4, slight dogleg right but this must be the absolute thinnest and narrowest green on the course. Careful on your approach. Nine has another forced carry approach and is a long Par 4. Eight and Nine both feel like signature holes because of the beauty of the surroundings as you go into and out of a canyon with a creek running through it. I like the 11th hole, as it plays to my fade (and my eyes) a bit better than some holes and the dogleg is less than it appears.
Twelve is a fun hole at 438 from the Tips, 433 from the Blues, and 416 from the Whites. Water is on the left on both the tee shot and your approach – a treacherous hole that bends leftward. The fourteenth hole is a long Par 5. Did we say long Par 5 yet . . . ? This beast measures 600 yards from the Tips! Don’t try to overcook your drive here, as it can only get you in trouble. Keep your senses and try to make par here as this is the number two handicap hole on the course. Fifteen through eighteen are a great set of finishing holes. Fifteen is a short Par 4 playing 308 from the Blue tees and has a very tricky look from the tee. An elevated tee shot has you landing in front of a seasonal creek.
Your second shot must be of pin-point accuracy, as the short, wide green can cause you to miss easily. Think about your shot before you pull the trigger here. Sixteen is a very picturesque Par 3 of 148 from the Blues. It can play into the wind and it’s better to be long here than short, so take enough club. Seventeen is a Par 5, dogleg left. The bunkers on the right side of the fairway should be out of play, so use these to aim at from the tee box. Don’t try to bite off too much with your shot from the fairway, as anything short of the green could have you playing your third shot from a bunker in front of the green. Eighteen is a Par 4 playing 372 from the White tees, dogleg right. Wide open tee shot, then aim carefully and grab enough club, as you’ll need to carry the creek and miss the trees to end up on this green. Stop into the Clubhouse to cool off after your round and I’m sure you’ll be asking yourself when you can come back and play again!
Catta Verdera
1111 Catta Verdera, Lincoln, CA 95648
Golf Shop 916 645-7200
Semi-Private 18 (Public Play Accepted – call for details)
We all know what a hybrid club can do for our game. Take a long iron out of your bag and reduce your risk by playing a club that can help you score better. Now, what if you could play a hybrid golf course? Well, exactly – come out right away to what will soon become a Private course and play a round while you still can!
How cool is that . . . And, how cool is this hybrid golf course? As a former LPGA Tour stop, this course provides all the thrills you are looking for as well as being playable for the “every-golfer” like you and me. Just ten years old and designed by Richard Phelps with a redesign by PGA TOUR player Brad Bell in 2003, this Par 72 championship layout is a terrific test. Continually given exceptional ratings, we echo those and share the sentiment. This course epitomizes “Northern California Golf” as a definition.
Rolling hills and natural rock outcroppings surround this perfectly placed course and tough, tough, tough – it plays to a Rating of 74.9 with a Slope of 145 from the Black tees, measuring 7,019 yards. The Orange tees come in a bit more manageable at a hint over 6,600 yards and the Purple tees play a touch over 6,000 yards. But the lessening of the yardage does nothing to level out those fairways. That’s one of the ways the difficulty here has been increased. Even if you have a good position on the course, you still could face a tough shot.
It starts out slow by showing you a large fairway from the tee box on the first hole. There’s only a bunker on the left side of the fairway to be concerned about here. Even the approach shot seems simple enough – no sand to contend with. There are a couple of trees that can hinder your shot to the green, should you end up on the right side of the fairway here though. Now, a quick word about the greens at Catta Verdera: Three words, exactly – fast and smooth. Not too much slope on the greens but significant enough to leave you scratching your head after missing a couple you thought were sure to hit the bottom of the cup. And now that you’re starting to go deep into your round here on the third hole, a Par 4 that plays slightly uphill, you start to see some of the tough contours on the fairways that make a normal shot difficult. The fourth hole is a Par 3 that plays 201 from the Tips. Picture perfect and look out for the overhang of branches from that tree just to the right and behind the green. Eight is a dogleg left Par 5 of 568 from the Golds/Blues. If you can bend your drive slightly to the left out of the tee box, you’ll set yourself up nicely from the fairway here.
Don’t fall short of the green to the left, as bunkers are on guard.
Ten can send you down your risk/reward thought path, as it’s a short Par 4 of 330 from the Purple tees (Whites). It turns to the right and has two ponds directly to your right from the elevated tee and a creek that runs just in front of the elevated green and to the right on the edge of the fairway. Oh, and speaking of fairway. It’s size is considerably shrunk-down by the overhangs of leaf-laden branches on both the right and left side of the fairway. So, the thought is, play it with a hybrid or fairway club, not a driver from the tee. The fourteenth hole takes you down towards some huge boulders and along a hillside. The fifteenth hole is a Par 5 of 578 from the Tips, playing as the number 6 handicap hole on the course. The drive is best played to roll out and finish as a long shot with cut-spin or a slight fade, then and only then will you have a look at this Par 5’s green. Seventeen is the signature Par 3 of 218 from the Tips. A green that’s fronted by water and plays to a slight decline in elevation. Eighteen is a fun finisher, as the tee shot is critical here. A nice, long draw could take you around the corner on this dogleg left and down the hill a bit, and anything other than that could get hung up on top of the hill. The approach on to this green plays with a significant decline so club-down appropriately. (It’s always nice to see a green protected from the creek in front of it by a four or five foot tall mortared rock wall. That way, if you’re short coming into this hole, you’re ball might just hit it and fly 40 feet or so away! Good luck.) Just kidding, I’m sure you’ll hit all your fairways and greens here and have a terrific time!
Diablo Grande
9521 Morton Davis Drive, Patterson, CA 95363
Golf Shop 209 892-4653
Resort/Public, 36 holes
It’s not as far as you might think. In fact it is well worth the drive to Patterson just to play both of these fantastic courses (which are only about ten years old). The Ranch Course, designed by Denis Griffiths, plays a little tougher than the Legends West Course designed by Jack Nicklaus and Gene Sarazen. We’ll tell you right here, up front: Go out to your car, load up the clubs, stop for three buddies and get to Diablo Grande! Outside of 17 Mile Drive, I don’t know if we have another spot with 36 holes of such compelling golf here in Northern Calfornia! These are two courses that standing alone, each of them would gain critical acclaim, but together, this is a one-two punch of big-time golf. We here at G-Mag LOVE these two courses!
The Ranch Course takes you through nature with gently rolling hills and long natural grasses, while winding its way out and back in. Its subtleties and nuances are like that of the fine wine produced from the vineyards here on-site. We even chose The Ranch’s Ninth Hole as our Cover photo for this issue! The Legends Course takes you on this raw, unspoiled journey past a windmill (in the middle of a fairway!) and back in time, as if you were walking in the footsteps of California’s Native Americans. It’s rustic, western feel permeates the course as you’ll see here.
It’s forced carries will have you hoping for your “A” Game!
Let’s get onto the Ranch Course! With a Par 4 of 369 from the Blue tees, you’re eased into play here. The second hole stretches out a bit more to almost 400 yards from the Tips. It’s the third hole that starts to present problems for us folks as there’s a tree on the right hand side of the fairway, just ahead of where your drive might land. It presents a problem as it creates an obstruction to the green for your approach. And, the greens here are fast and hard, so as to be too forgiving. The first Par 5 on the front nine is about 519 from the White tees, and for the most part, pretty straightforward. The second Par 5, number nine, is a great hole. Give your tee shot a big rip, then think about that approach or fairway shot to this uphill green on a flattened out plateau.
Ten is a great downhill Par 4 with a slight dogleg to the right and water in play. Make it simple and aim for the fairway. Your approach will be shorter than you think, so go easy on yourself and hit it from the shortgrass on your approach by playing smart from the tee. Don’t try to nudge it around the corner. Next up is a long Par 3 – 203 from the Tips. Again, guarded up front by water so make it good out of the tee box.
And now, ladies and gentlemen – this next hole is not for the weak at heart. A Par 5 of 649 yards from the tips. Yes, you read that right – it’s not a typo – 649 yards! The thing that makes this hole tough is that the bulk of that yardage comes after your drive on the dogleg left! But even your drive might feel a bit confining, as the fairway runs out and you’ll have a forced carry over a creek to the next section of fairway. Then, your lay-up (and I say that as I don’t think there will be many folks who’ll hit this green in two) might be with a three wood and you still could be about a hundred yards out. Buckle-down and play for your par here – don’t get fancy or you’ll regret it. Even a bogey is a good score here. The fourteenth hole is a dogleg right where the fairway tends to tighten and move right-ward before ending and then you’ve got another forced carry to this green. I got lucky here and missed my drive right, but somehow still managed to keep it in play and then hit the green on this one - tough hole.
The last hole on the Ranch Course is a Par 4. Moderate length at 412 from the Blue tees. Plays slightly uphill and to the left. A strong drive gives you a short iron into this green. Two putt for a nice par, then drive around the back of the clubhouse to get ready for your second round: Legends West Course!
The Legends West Course at Diablo Grande actually plays with a lower Rating (74.4) than the Ranch Course (at 75.8), but the slope is higher at 147, so for the most part it still plays tougher than most courses in Northern California. With it’s yardage from the tips at 7100+ make sure your long game is dialed before stepping to the back tee boxes here. The first hole is pretty undaunting, at just 361 from the Whites. A straightforward Par 4, put four strokes on the card and get moving to number two! The second hole is a Par 5 of 525 from the Blue tees. Favor the right side of the fairway on your tee shot to let the natural bend and slope of the fairway position you for your next shot.
The fourth hole is a Par 3 of 133 from the Whites. It might as well be an island green as it’s surrounded by water on all sides except where you enter and exit the green. It is a big green though, just loaded with trouble should you miss the putting surface with bunkers and rough all over. I also like the sixth hole – a Par 4 of 400 from the Blues. Go ahead and cut the corner ever so slightly on this dogleg left to then take a short iron into this green. You’ll love the routing on the course as it takes you further and further back into the unspoiled hillsides and valleys. No traffic sounds, just nature. The seventh hole is a Par 4 of 471 from the tips. A drive to carry the water is necessary here, and it angles to the left with the distance over water increasing the closer you get towards the green. Just put one in play on this fairway, then get to your ball and aim for the green. Again, one of those holes where the risk outweighs the reward. Eleven is a long Par 5 playing 613 from the Tips, 582 from the Blues and 528 from the White tees.
Thirteen is tough because of the narrowing of the fairway in the logical landing area. Plus the big fairway bunker on the left side – another ball magnet. The fourteenth hole is a dogleg right with a big bunker at the corner. Yes, it’s there for a reason, so just hit that fade straight down the middle of the fairway, then let it turn the corner for you nice and easy. I think the eighteenth hole is my favorite here though – maybe because of the recent birdie I posted here! It’s a Par 4 of 423 from the Blue tees, dogleg right with plenty of trouble short and right of the green. I mis-hit my drive but ended up just on the right edge of the fairway. About 200 out and on the right side of the fairway, I couldn’t even see the green, let alone the flagstick. I walked over and back left to judge the angle that would be necessary to get over the small hill blocking my view to the green and took one extra club thinking that being short here would be more trouble than being long, and my lie was just off the fairway with the rough being a hint thick. So, after I cranked back, swung and watched the ball sail directly over the line I imagined, I ran out to the center of the fairway and saw my ball land pin-high and what looked to be within 10 feet! My round was capped off perfectly when I got to the green to see that in fact I was even closer than I imagined – less than 3 feet for a kick-in birdie. That shot goes in my book of all-time shots! Again, get here ASAP, as the greens, tee boxes, fairways and bunkers are in great shape and calling your name.
CordeValle • A Rosewood Resort
One CordeValle Club Drive, San Martin, CA 95046
Golf Shop 408 695-4590
Resort, 18 holes
CordeValle is one of those golf courses that if it were elsewhere you’d be lucky enough to play once in a lifetime, but being that it’s right here in Northern California, you should play here as much as possible! A Robert Trent Jones II masterpiece that’s only 7 years old, CordeValle plays with a maturity seemingly decades old. Par 72 Championship play at 7,100 plus yards and Rated 75.1 and Slope at 138, this course delivers! Located on 270 acres of a gently rolling pastoral valley, its peaks and valleys have been maximized within the layout of the course. It’s a part of a preserve with over 1,000 acres of land that rises up and down throughout its 150 feet of elevation change. “The location had so many great possibilities that it was difficult to decide which to choose,” commented Jones. “CordeValle is one of those pure ‘core golf’ experiences. It is perhaps my finest golf course creation,” he added.
The first hole starts out as a Par 4, playing 370 from the White tees. There’s an easing curve to this dogleg right fairway, so keep your ball right-center and you’ll have a short look into this green.
Hole number three is a Par 5 of 555 from the Blue tees. Typically a three shot hole for all players, this hole is the third most difficult hole on the course, based on its Handicap rating. Straight and long out of the tee box is good, but with two upcoming forced carries, you’ll need to be sure this isn’t the hole in which you absolutely crush your drive, as you only have 266 to the end of the fairway from the Whites, 290 from the Blues and 310 from the Tips. And your lay-up of about 180 to 200 yards should position you well to hit this green. Guarded by a curving creek and with a bail-out short and left on the other side of the creek, maybe its O.K. to miss left – if you miss big left. The fifth hole is the number one handicap hole, and it deserves its rating. A long Par 4 of 461 from the back tees, the best shot here is a drive to left center. Then, keep that approach towards the left as this green runs left to right with a missed shot right almost assuring additional strokes added to your score.
The sixth hole might just be the most perfect Par 5 on the planet! It doesn’t play deathly long, at 486 from the Whites, 520 from the Blues and 540 from the Black tees, but with its double-split in the fairway and creek running through closer to the green, this is the type of hole you could play for a lifetime with each shot to a completely different target than the last one. This hole allows you to really draw from your skills as a player to not just try to hit this green in two, but to score well here is a major accomplishment. Take your drive long and bend it a hint right, then smash a fairway shot from right-to-left onto this green only 230 yards or so out. No question, tough hole.
Resort courses are typically very beautiful places and CordeValle is in one of the most beautiful natural places on earth. The eighth and ninth holes are perfect examples of using the natural terrain. The eighth is a short Par 4 with water in play on the right of the hole, so use a long iron to place a mid-length shot onto this fairway. And the ninth hole, at least one of the signature holes here is a spectacular play! An elevated tee shot has you parachuting your ball onto the right side of the split fairway, then safely negotiate your approach onto this deep and narrow green. The left side of the fairway is still in play here but it creates a blocked view of the green with trees which might make it a bad place to be. The bail-out on the approach is long-left with bunkers in two spots around the right of the green.
Wow, after finishing the Front Nine, your thinking that it can’t get much better, then you get to the tenth hole to start play on the Back Nine. All of a sudden you’re overwhelmed at yet another set of exceptional holes.
As you make it to the twelfth hole, a Par 3 of 195 from the Blues, your appreciation for Robert Trent Jones, II, is either with great respect or possibly disdain, based on your score. This is a downhill Par 3 playing one to two clubs shorter than the yardage. Don’t miss here either short or long, with three bunkers strategically placed, you could have a rough time of it based on a missed tee ball here.
The fifteenth hole is a reachable Par 5 of only 415 from the White tees. A tee shot that lands to the left of the second fairway bunker will give you a remaining shot of only 180 to the green. It’s an uphill shot, so club-up and get that birdie! Sixteen is a Par 3 requiring careful examination of the current wind conditions, then appropriate club selection, as the shape of this green can play havoc on a shot based on incorrect distance from the tee. Four bunkers protect this green and its front third has a triangular shape to it, allowing for a better miss towards the center than either short or long. Seventeen allows you to rip it from the tee, with that easy fade landing your ball to the right-center of the fairway. Then, a shot of about 160 puts you on the center of the green navigating your two putts for par. A risk/reward finisher is perfect at this point in your day, the eighteenth hole is a Par 5 of 481 from the White tees, 504 from the Blues and 547 from the back tees. Natural grasses on the left hide a water hazard running all the way down the left side of the hole, opening into a pond greenside-left. If you’re not hitting crisp irons by now into your round, definitely play this hole as a three shot hole into the green. Your lay-up yardage for your second shot is right on the fairway, staying clear of the pond and is just short of the first of four bunkers to the right and near the green so place your second shot about 85 to 100 yards out. Everything slides to the left onto this green towards the water, be sure favor the right side to get your two putt par. What a great experience!
And, you’re not going to believe who holds the record for the lowest score here – it’s the LPGA’s Annika Sorenstam. She’s a friend of one of the regulars and flew in to play the course when it was new. Boy, did she ever put her stamp on it with a scalding 63! A completely top shelf experience here from top to bottom. The greens are exceptional. Rolling fast and smooth these might be the best greens you’ll ever play. Call to schedule your tee time for the next available slot on your calendar!
Eagle Ridge Golf Club
2951 Club Drive, Gilroy, CA 95020
Golf Shop 408 846-4531
Public, 18
Nestled in the oak covered west foothills of Gilroy, Eagle Ridge offers a satisfying golf challenge from six sets of tees on every hole. The architectural collaboration of international architectural superstars David Dale and Ron Fearm of GolfPlan, Inc. and Northern California’s own golf legend, Johnny Miller created a spectacular Par 72 Championship layout to enjoy. Playing 7005 from the Black tees and with a Rating of 74.0 and Slope of 138, it can be tough and grueling, but at the same time beautiful and fair. Take the first hole for example, a short Par 4 of 331 from the Blue tees. A straightforward tee shot of 225 or less will keep you out of the fairway bunker on the right hand side and only about 105 yards out from the green. From there two bunkers guard the front left and left side of the green. The second hole plays 134 from the White tees. It’s a Par 3 with a huge bunker compound all around the front of the green, so this is one of those holes where it’s O.K. to miss it long (better than short). Hole number three is a Par 4 with a small creek running across the front of the green. Another huge bunker guards the right side of the fairway and runs almost the entire length of the fairway. Further right has trees and junk, so again, play a straight accurate shot from the tee – not to exceed 253 from the Blues, not necessarily the driver and it will leave you with about 112 to the center of the green. We’ve arrived at the number one handicap hole on the course, the 4th. Playing 576 from the tips, this hole can be brutal. First off, there’s a huge oak tree in the fairway you stare right at from the tee box! Best shot is right side of the fairway to navigate the safest route towards the green. So, if your drive wasn’t 300 yards on this one, just play that 180 club to a safe place on down the fairway. Now you should have a decent lie with a look at your Green in Regulation. Next stop – the green for a two putt Par!
Five is a tough hole. It plays long from any of the 6 tees. From the Whites its 394. There’s a creek that runs along the right side of the fairway. During the rainy season it’s active and wet, but can be dry in the summer. You’ve got this tee shot that necessarily needs to be long and straight to give yourself a look at an approach on to the green. That approach shot must carry the creek that at this point has become a large pond that runs along the left border of the green, making it that much tougher. Enjoy the hole!
Eight is a nice Par 4, slight dogleg right but this must be the absolute thinnest and narrowest green on the course. Careful on your approach. Nine has another forced carry approach and is a long Par 4. Eight and Nine both feel like signature holes because of the beauty of the surroundings as you go into and out of a canyon with a creek running through it. I like the 11th hole, as it plays to my fade (and my eyes) a bit better than some holes and the dogleg is less than it appears.
Twelve is a fun hole at 438 from the Tips, 433 from the Blues, and 416 from the Whites. Water is on the left on both the tee shot and your approach – a treacherous hole that bends leftward. The fourteenth hole is a long Par 5. Did we say long Par 5 yet . . . ? This beast measures 600 yards from the Tips! Don’t try to overcook your drive here, as it can only get you in trouble. Keep your senses and try to make par here as this is the number two handicap hole on the course. Fifteen through eighteen are a great set of finishing holes. Fifteen is a short Par 4 playing 308 from the Blue tees and has a very tricky look from the tee. An elevated tee shot has you landing in front of a seasonal creek.
Your second shot must be of pin-point accuracy, as the short, wide green can cause you to miss easily. Think about your shot before you pull the trigger here. Sixteen is a very picturesque Par 3 of 148 from the Blues. It can play into the wind and it’s better to be long here than short, so take enough club. Seventeen is a Par 5, dogleg left. The bunkers on the right side of the fairway should be out of play, so use these to aim at from the tee box. Don’t try to bite off too much with your shot from the fairway, as anything short of the green could have you playing your third shot from a bunker in front of the green. Eighteen is a Par 4 playing 372 from the White tees, dogleg right. Wide open tee shot, then aim carefully and grab enough club, as you’ll need to carry the creek and miss the trees to end up on this green. Stop into the Clubhouse to cool off after your round and I’m sure you’ll be asking yourself when you can come back and play again!
Catta Verdera
1111 Catta Verdera, Lincoln, CA 95648
Golf Shop 916 645-7200
Semi-Private 18 (Public Play Accepted – call for details)
We all know what a hybrid club can do for our game. Take a long iron out of your bag and reduce your risk by playing a club that can help you score better. Now, what if you could play a hybrid golf course? Well, exactly – come out right away to what will soon become a Private course and play a round while you still can!
How cool is that . . . And, how cool is this hybrid golf course? As a former LPGA Tour stop, this course provides all the thrills you are looking for as well as being playable for the “every-golfer” like you and me. Just ten years old and designed by Richard Phelps with a redesign by PGA TOUR player Brad Bell in 2003, this Par 72 championship layout is a terrific test. Continually given exceptional ratings, we echo those and share the sentiment. This course epitomizes “Northern California Golf” as a definition.
Rolling hills and natural rock outcroppings surround this perfectly placed course and tough, tough, tough – it plays to a Rating of 74.9 with a Slope of 145 from the Black tees, measuring 7,019 yards. The Orange tees come in a bit more manageable at a hint over 6,600 yards and the Purple tees play a touch over 6,000 yards. But the lessening of the yardage does nothing to level out those fairways. That’s one of the ways the difficulty here has been increased. Even if you have a good position on the course, you still could face a tough shot.
It starts out slow by showing you a large fairway from the tee box on the first hole. There’s only a bunker on the left side of the fairway to be concerned about here. Even the approach shot seems simple enough – no sand to contend with. There are a couple of trees that can hinder your shot to the green, should you end up on the right side of the fairway here though. Now, a quick word about the greens at Catta Verdera: Three words, exactly – fast and smooth. Not too much slope on the greens but significant enough to leave you scratching your head after missing a couple you thought were sure to hit the bottom of the cup. And now that you’re starting to go deep into your round here on the third hole, a Par 4 that plays slightly uphill, you start to see some of the tough contours on the fairways that make a normal shot difficult. The fourth hole is a Par 3 that plays 201 from the Tips. Picture perfect and look out for the overhang of branches from that tree just to the right and behind the green. Eight is a dogleg left Par 5 of 568 from the Golds/Blues. If you can bend your drive slightly to the left out of the tee box, you’ll set yourself up nicely from the fairway here.
Don’t fall short of the green to the left, as bunkers are on guard.
Ten can send you down your risk/reward thought path, as it’s a short Par 4 of 330 from the Purple tees (Whites). It turns to the right and has two ponds directly to your right from the elevated tee and a creek that runs just in front of the elevated green and to the right on the edge of the fairway. Oh, and speaking of fairway. It’s size is considerably shrunk-down by the overhangs of leaf-laden branches on both the right and left side of the fairway. So, the thought is, play it with a hybrid or fairway club, not a driver from the tee. The fourteenth hole takes you down towards some huge boulders and along a hillside. The fifteenth hole is a Par 5 of 578 from the Tips, playing as the number 6 handicap hole on the course. The drive is best played to roll out and finish as a long shot with cut-spin or a slight fade, then and only then will you have a look at this Par 5’s green. Seventeen is the signature Par 3 of 218 from the Tips. A green that’s fronted by water and plays to a slight decline in elevation. Eighteen is a fun finisher, as the tee shot is critical here. A nice, long draw could take you around the corner on this dogleg left and down the hill a bit, and anything other than that could get hung up on top of the hill. The approach on to this green plays with a significant decline so club-down appropriately. (It’s always nice to see a green protected from the creek in front of it by a four or five foot tall mortared rock wall. That way, if you’re short coming into this hole, you’re ball might just hit it and fly 40 feet or so away! Good luck.) Just kidding, I’m sure you’ll hit all your fairways and greens here and have a terrific time!
Diablo Grande
9521 Morton Davis Drive, Patterson, CA 95363
Golf Shop 209 892-4653
Resort/Public, 36 holes
It’s not as far as you might think. In fact it is well worth the drive to Patterson just to play both of these fantastic courses (which are only about ten years old). The Ranch Course, designed by Denis Griffiths, plays a little tougher than the Legends West Course designed by Jack Nicklaus and Gene Sarazen. We’ll tell you right here, up front: Go out to your car, load up the clubs, stop for three buddies and get to Diablo Grande! Outside of 17 Mile Drive, I don’t know if we have another spot with 36 holes of such compelling golf here in Northern Calfornia! These are two courses that standing alone, each of them would gain critical acclaim, but together, this is a one-two punch of big-time golf. We here at G-Mag LOVE these two courses!
The Ranch Course takes you through nature with gently rolling hills and long natural grasses, while winding its way out and back in. Its subtleties and nuances are like that of the fine wine produced from the vineyards here on-site. We even chose The Ranch’s Ninth Hole as our Cover photo for this issue! The Legends Course takes you on this raw, unspoiled journey past a windmill (in the middle of a fairway!) and back in time, as if you were walking in the footsteps of California’s Native Americans. It’s rustic, western feel permeates the course as you’ll see here.
It’s forced carries will have you hoping for your “A” Game!
Let’s get onto the Ranch Course! With a Par 4 of 369 from the Blue tees, you’re eased into play here. The second hole stretches out a bit more to almost 400 yards from the Tips. It’s the third hole that starts to present problems for us folks as there’s a tree on the right hand side of the fairway, just ahead of where your drive might land. It presents a problem as it creates an obstruction to the green for your approach. And, the greens here are fast and hard, so as to be too forgiving. The first Par 5 on the front nine is about 519 from the White tees, and for the most part, pretty straightforward. The second Par 5, number nine, is a great hole. Give your tee shot a big rip, then think about that approach or fairway shot to this uphill green on a flattened out plateau.
Ten is a great downhill Par 4 with a slight dogleg to the right and water in play. Make it simple and aim for the fairway. Your approach will be shorter than you think, so go easy on yourself and hit it from the shortgrass on your approach by playing smart from the tee. Don’t try to nudge it around the corner. Next up is a long Par 3 – 203 from the Tips. Again, guarded up front by water so make it good out of the tee box.
And now, ladies and gentlemen – this next hole is not for the weak at heart. A Par 5 of 649 yards from the tips. Yes, you read that right – it’s not a typo – 649 yards! The thing that makes this hole tough is that the bulk of that yardage comes after your drive on the dogleg left! But even your drive might feel a bit confining, as the fairway runs out and you’ll have a forced carry over a creek to the next section of fairway. Then, your lay-up (and I say that as I don’t think there will be many folks who’ll hit this green in two) might be with a three wood and you still could be about a hundred yards out. Buckle-down and play for your par here – don’t get fancy or you’ll regret it. Even a bogey is a good score here. The fourteenth hole is a dogleg right where the fairway tends to tighten and move right-ward before ending and then you’ve got another forced carry to this green. I got lucky here and missed my drive right, but somehow still managed to keep it in play and then hit the green on this one - tough hole.
The last hole on the Ranch Course is a Par 4. Moderate length at 412 from the Blue tees. Plays slightly uphill and to the left. A strong drive gives you a short iron into this green. Two putt for a nice par, then drive around the back of the clubhouse to get ready for your second round: Legends West Course!
The Legends West Course at Diablo Grande actually plays with a lower Rating (74.4) than the Ranch Course (at 75.8), but the slope is higher at 147, so for the most part it still plays tougher than most courses in Northern California. With it’s yardage from the tips at 7100+ make sure your long game is dialed before stepping to the back tee boxes here. The first hole is pretty undaunting, at just 361 from the Whites. A straightforward Par 4, put four strokes on the card and get moving to number two! The second hole is a Par 5 of 525 from the Blue tees. Favor the right side of the fairway on your tee shot to let the natural bend and slope of the fairway position you for your next shot.
The fourth hole is a Par 3 of 133 from the Whites. It might as well be an island green as it’s surrounded by water on all sides except where you enter and exit the green. It is a big green though, just loaded with trouble should you miss the putting surface with bunkers and rough all over. I also like the sixth hole – a Par 4 of 400 from the Blues. Go ahead and cut the corner ever so slightly on this dogleg left to then take a short iron into this green. You’ll love the routing on the course as it takes you further and further back into the unspoiled hillsides and valleys. No traffic sounds, just nature. The seventh hole is a Par 4 of 471 from the tips. A drive to carry the water is necessary here, and it angles to the left with the distance over water increasing the closer you get towards the green. Just put one in play on this fairway, then get to your ball and aim for the green. Again, one of those holes where the risk outweighs the reward. Eleven is a long Par 5 playing 613 from the Tips, 582 from the Blues and 528 from the White tees.
Thirteen is tough because of the narrowing of the fairway in the logical landing area. Plus the big fairway bunker on the left side – another ball magnet. The fourteenth hole is a dogleg right with a big bunker at the corner. Yes, it’s there for a reason, so just hit that fade straight down the middle of the fairway, then let it turn the corner for you nice and easy. I think the eighteenth hole is my favorite here though – maybe because of the recent birdie I posted here! It’s a Par 4 of 423 from the Blue tees, dogleg right with plenty of trouble short and right of the green. I mis-hit my drive but ended up just on the right edge of the fairway. About 200 out and on the right side of the fairway, I couldn’t even see the green, let alone the flagstick. I walked over and back left to judge the angle that would be necessary to get over the small hill blocking my view to the green and took one extra club thinking that being short here would be more trouble than being long, and my lie was just off the fairway with the rough being a hint thick. So, after I cranked back, swung and watched the ball sail directly over the line I imagined, I ran out to the center of the fairway and saw my ball land pin-high and what looked to be within 10 feet! My round was capped off perfectly when I got to the green to see that in fact I was even closer than I imagined – less than 3 feet for a kick-in birdie. That shot goes in my book of all-time shots! Again, get here ASAP, as the greens, tee boxes, fairways and bunkers are in great shape and calling your name.
CordeValle • A Rosewood Resort
One CordeValle Club Drive, San Martin, CA 95046
Golf Shop 408 695-4590
Resort, 18 holes
CordeValle is one of those golf courses that if it were elsewhere you’d be lucky enough to play once in a lifetime, but being that it’s right here in Northern California, you should play here as much as possible! A Robert Trent Jones II masterpiece that’s only 7 years old, CordeValle plays with a maturity seemingly decades old. Par 72 Championship play at 7,100 plus yards and Rated 75.1 and Slope at 138, this course delivers! Located on 270 acres of a gently rolling pastoral valley, its peaks and valleys have been maximized within the layout of the course. It’s a part of a preserve with over 1,000 acres of land that rises up and down throughout its 150 feet of elevation change. “The location had so many great possibilities that it was difficult to decide which to choose,” commented Jones. “CordeValle is one of those pure ‘core golf’ experiences. It is perhaps my finest golf course creation,” he added.
The first hole starts out as a Par 4, playing 370 from the White tees. There’s an easing curve to this dogleg right fairway, so keep your ball right-center and you’ll have a short look into this green.
Hole number three is a Par 5 of 555 from the Blue tees. Typically a three shot hole for all players, this hole is the third most difficult hole on the course, based on its Handicap rating. Straight and long out of the tee box is good, but with two upcoming forced carries, you’ll need to be sure this isn’t the hole in which you absolutely crush your drive, as you only have 266 to the end of the fairway from the Whites, 290 from the Blues and 310 from the Tips. And your lay-up of about 180 to 200 yards should position you well to hit this green. Guarded by a curving creek and with a bail-out short and left on the other side of the creek, maybe its O.K. to miss left – if you miss big left. The fifth hole is the number one handicap hole, and it deserves its rating. A long Par 4 of 461 from the back tees, the best shot here is a drive to left center. Then, keep that approach towards the left as this green runs left to right with a missed shot right almost assuring additional strokes added to your score.
The sixth hole might just be the most perfect Par 5 on the planet! It doesn’t play deathly long, at 486 from the Whites, 520 from the Blues and 540 from the Black tees, but with its double-split in the fairway and creek running through closer to the green, this is the type of hole you could play for a lifetime with each shot to a completely different target than the last one. This hole allows you to really draw from your skills as a player to not just try to hit this green in two, but to score well here is a major accomplishment. Take your drive long and bend it a hint right, then smash a fairway shot from right-to-left onto this green only 230 yards or so out. No question, tough hole.
Resort courses are typically very beautiful places and CordeValle is in one of the most beautiful natural places on earth. The eighth and ninth holes are perfect examples of using the natural terrain. The eighth is a short Par 4 with water in play on the right of the hole, so use a long iron to place a mid-length shot onto this fairway. And the ninth hole, at least one of the signature holes here is a spectacular play! An elevated tee shot has you parachuting your ball onto the right side of the split fairway, then safely negotiate your approach onto this deep and narrow green. The left side of the fairway is still in play here but it creates a blocked view of the green with trees which might make it a bad place to be. The bail-out on the approach is long-left with bunkers in two spots around the right of the green.
Wow, after finishing the Front Nine, your thinking that it can’t get much better, then you get to the tenth hole to start play on the Back Nine. All of a sudden you’re overwhelmed at yet another set of exceptional holes.
As you make it to the twelfth hole, a Par 3 of 195 from the Blues, your appreciation for Robert Trent Jones, II, is either with great respect or possibly disdain, based on your score. This is a downhill Par 3 playing one to two clubs shorter than the yardage. Don’t miss here either short or long, with three bunkers strategically placed, you could have a rough time of it based on a missed tee ball here.
The fifteenth hole is a reachable Par 5 of only 415 from the White tees. A tee shot that lands to the left of the second fairway bunker will give you a remaining shot of only 180 to the green. It’s an uphill shot, so club-up and get that birdie! Sixteen is a Par 3 requiring careful examination of the current wind conditions, then appropriate club selection, as the shape of this green can play havoc on a shot based on incorrect distance from the tee. Four bunkers protect this green and its front third has a triangular shape to it, allowing for a better miss towards the center than either short or long. Seventeen allows you to rip it from the tee, with that easy fade landing your ball to the right-center of the fairway. Then, a shot of about 160 puts you on the center of the green navigating your two putts for par. A risk/reward finisher is perfect at this point in your day, the eighteenth hole is a Par 5 of 481 from the White tees, 504 from the Blues and 547 from the back tees. Natural grasses on the left hide a water hazard running all the way down the left side of the hole, opening into a pond greenside-left. If you’re not hitting crisp irons by now into your round, definitely play this hole as a three shot hole into the green. Your lay-up yardage for your second shot is right on the fairway, staying clear of the pond and is just short of the first of four bunkers to the right and near the green so place your second shot about 85 to 100 yards out. Everything slides to the left onto this green towards the water, be sure favor the right side to get your two putt par. What a great experience!
And, you’re not going to believe who holds the record for the lowest score here – it’s the LPGA’s Annika Sorenstam. She’s a friend of one of the regulars and flew in to play the course when it was new. Boy, did she ever put her stamp on it with a scalding 63! A completely top shelf experience here from top to bottom. The greens are exceptional. Rolling fast and smooth these might be the best greens you’ll ever play. Call to schedule your tee time for the next available slot on your calendar!