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From wine tasting to redwoods to quaint small towns bursting with arts, shopping and history, the North Coast of California may be the most relaxing region in the state. Here, you can explore the famous Sonoma vineyards, drive a car through a giant Redwood or experience the best of outdoor activities, including hiking, kayaking, river rafting, mountain biking and, of course, golf.
Sitting at the gateway to Napa Valley, Chardonnay Golf Club wanders through 150 acres of Chardonnay and Merlot vineyards. Native trees, vast lakes, and meandering creeks make up the beautiful landscape, which is naturally home to an abundance of wildlife.
Situated along the beautiful Sonoma County Coast, the Links at Bodega Harbour enjoys stunning views of the Pacific. The golf course is a true links-style layout with rolling fairways and undulating greens. Accents of native coastal rough are reminiscent of its Scottish links heritage. Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed the back nine in 1978, which was the original course before the front nine was added in 1987.
The 18-hole Rooster Run Golf Club in Petaluma, CA is a public golf course that opened in 1998. Designed by Fred Bliss, Rooster Run Golf Club measures 7001 yards from the longest tees and has a slope rating of 136 and a 73.
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Although Orange County might be best known as the original home of Mickey Mouse, the area anchored by Disneyland offers plenty of other entertainment options for travelers, including scores of diverse golf courses, both on the coast and inland.
Playing at Monarch Beach Golf Links will bring to mind the great traditions of Scottish links golf. The seaside course offers sweeping views of the oceanfront as well as a challenging and diverse layout. The course is on the shorter side but it is an excellent place to work on your iron game
Opened in 1929, Willowick Golf Course in Santa Ana is Orange County's oldest public golf course. It is a challenging layout that has garnered a quite a following over the years. The course features wide fairways and large greens that offer ample room. There aren’t any water hazards a few strategically placed sand traps come into play and there are also mature trees lining the fairways.
Situated within the Santa Ana Riverbed, River View Golf Course is conveniently located just minutes from Disneyland, Anaheim, and Long Beach. The course's design intertwines with the river, providing challenging hazards on several holes.
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Those who drive the famous Highway 101 up the California coast will agree there is no better ocean drive in the United States -- and perhaps the world. The beauty of the coastline is highlighted by 17-mile drive along the Monterey Peninsula, which passes through beach towns as well as one of the world's most coveted golf vacation destinations.
Pacific Grove Golf Links is perched at the tip of the Monterey Peninsula looking out over Point Pinos and the sparkling blue Pacific. The championship course has an interesting layout that combines both parkland and links holes. The golf course begins inland through densely forested areas and then makes its way towards the coast.
The 18-hole Laguna Seca Golf Ranch in Monterey, CA is a public golf course that opened in 1970. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and Robert Trent Jones, Sr. , Laguna Seca Golf Ranch measures 6174 yards from the longest tees and has a slope rating of 132 and a 72.
Carmel Valley Ranch Resort stretches from the outskirts of the coastal village of Carmel-by-the-Sea to the heart of the St. Lucia Mountains. The ideal location enjoys a warmer and less foggy climate than the coast and it being a popular area for wine growing, scenic vineyards accent the beauty of the landscape.
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Desert hotbed Palm Springs anchors the Coachella Valley, a region home to a collection of cities with a wealth of golf communities. The valley is a favorite spot for seasonal residents and retirees, especially those after sunny winters on golf courses in prime, lush and green condition. Between January and April, few spots on earth are better for desert golf!
Nestled at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains, Indian Canyons Golf Resort offers two championship courses with stunning views. The two golf courses, North and South, have completely different layouts but they are both sheltered from the wind thanks to the surrounding mountains. The South Course is the shorter of the two, making it the more player-friendly course. That is not to say it is not a challenge though.
Located in the eastern half of Coachella Valley, the Golf Club at La Quinta has a scenic desert landscape that showcases the beauty of southern California. The golf course is situated at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains, offering scenic views and a hilly terrain that provides interesting undulations in the greens.
Desert Springs Resort has a longstanding reputation as a luxury resort that offers something for everyone. There are two championship golf courses that sprawl across beautifully landscaped grounds covered with lush vegetation and sparkling lagoons, providing a scenic oasis amidst the desert surroundings.
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Nobody does weather better than San Diego, which makes the area a perfect location for many great outdoor activities such as shopping, hiking, surfing, sailing sunbathing and playing golf.
Pala Mesa Golf Resort is situated between Temecula wine country and the beautiful countryside of San Diego's North County. The course was carefully carved from the surrounding hillsides, providing rolling fairways and undulating greens throughout the layout.
Situated just outside of downtown San Diego, Sycuan Resort offers two 18-hole championship courses as well as Pine Glen, an 18-hole, par-3 course. It may not have the same championship status as the other golf courses but its beautiful landscape is anything but run-of-the-mill.
Mt. Woodson Golf Club is one of San Diego County's most popular courses for a number of reasons, one being the spectacular setting. Nestled in the Ramona Valley, the course is sprawls across a dramatic landscape of towering oak trees, enormous granite boulders, and sparkling blue lakes.
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Composed of the Ontario, Riverside and San Bernardino areas, the Inland Empire is the fifth largest urban area in the state of California and quickly becoming one of the most diverse. Although it holds onto to its agricultural roots, which includes the Temecula Wine Region, the area is growing in terms of cultural arts, sports and recreation, including golf.
The Golf Club at Rancho California has had a tumultuous history since opening in 1970 including two different names and owners, but it has endured to become one of southern California's finest competitive venues today. The course sprawls across hilly terrain that provides elevated tees, rolling fairways, interesting elevation changes, and not to mention scenic views.
The Links at Summerly borders Lake Elsinore, southern California's largest natural lake. The Ortega Mountains and the Cleveland Natural Forest are also the golf course's neighbors. Although it feels nicely secluded, the Links are conveniently just minutes from Temecula.
Tucked away along the southern fringe of the secluded Hemet Valley, Diamond Valley Golf Club is located slightly off the beaten path but the beautiful scenery and great championship golf make the drive worth it.
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Northern California's High Sierra makes for some of the world's most spectacular natural mountain wonders. It's home to Yosemite National Park, home to mighty waterfalls and marvelous glacial rock formations. To the north, sparkling Lake Tahoe sits at an elevation of over 6,000 feet and provides one of the West's great winter and summer escapes, home to skiing in the winter, and boating, mountain climbing and plenty of golf in the warmer months.
Located at the base of a ski resort, Northstar at Tahoe Golf Course possesses two completely different nines. Robert Muir Graves, the designer, fully utilized the rugged Tahoe landscape, creating a course that partly plays across grassy meadows before moving on to more mountainous terrain.
Nestled in the rolling hills of Gold Country, Apple Mountain Resort has a dramatic landscape that provides plenty of elevation changes, making it a nearly impossible course to walk. Some of the drops from tee to green are unbelievable, offering unrivaled views of the surrounding mountains. Nearly every hole enjoys a stunning backdrop.
The 18-hole Tahoe Donner Golf Course in Truckee, CA is a semi private golf course that opened in 1975. Designed by Joseph B. Williams, Tahoe Donner Golf Course measures 6931 yards from the longest tees and has a slope rating of 132 and a 73.
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San Francisco is a favorite destination for travelers all over the world, thanks to a strong mix of cultures, unique attractions and mild weather year round. It's easy to stay busy on a San Francisco vacation, from riding cable cars throughout the city to exploring one of the many unique neighborhoods, each with its own appeal.
Sitting at the gateway to Napa Valley, Chardonnay Golf Club wanders through 150 acres of Chardonnay and Merlot vineyards. Native trees, vast lakes, and meandering creeks make up the beautiful landscape, which is naturally home to an abundance of wildlife.
Located less than an hour east of San Francisco, the Course at Wente Vineyards sprawls across the lush, rolling hills of Livermore Valley. Greg Norman carefully crafted the golf course, creating one of northern California's most challenging layouts. The course incorporates three different landscapes: woodlands, grassy meadows, and mature vineyards.
Paradise Valley Golf Course was voted the top course in Solano County and it is considered one of the best values in the North Bay area. Mature oaks line the fairways and meandering creeks wander across the course, coming into play on nine holes.
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For travelers and outdoor enthusiasts looking to escape the crowds, there's no better area than the Shasta Cascade region of northern California. Located in the shadows of Mount Shasta and the Cascade Mountains, this eight-county area, which makes up one-fifth of the state of California, is much the way it was centuries ago, albeit with a few more towns and a few peaceful golf courses sprinkled into the mix.
The 18-hole Mount Shasta Resort in Mount Shasta, CA is a resort golf course that opened in 1993. Designed by Jim Sommers and Sandy Tatum, Mount Shasta Resort measures 6065 yards from the longest tees and has a slope rating of 121 and a 68.
The 9-hole River Tasalmi Golf Course in Redding, CA is a semi-private golf course that opened in 1990. Designed by Bill Ralston, River Tasalmi Golf Course measures 4104 yards from the longest tees and has a slope rating of 97 and a 61.
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The Los Angeles area, which includes Hollywood and Beverly Hills, has often been called the land of make-believe and dreams, but one thing is certain: There's plenty to do and plenty of ways to do it. From the movie studios, to the beaches, to the Dodgers and Lakers, to enjoying the sunny weather on the golf courses, it does indeed seem to never rain in Southern California.
Sterling Hills Golf Club sprawls across acres of lush countryside surrounded by avocado groves and citrus orchards. The layout winds through the verdant hills between Oxnard and Ventura. The versatile layout balances areas of wide-openness with target-style golf. There is contoured mounding along the fairways and some interesting elevation changes.
Situated at the base of the Conejo Mountain, Camarillo Springs Golf Course was carefully carved from the mountain's towering rock formations but it gets its name from the scenic water features that can be found throughout. Naturally, water is the primary challenge on this course, coming into play on eleven holes.
The Sky Course is one of two championship courses at Lost Canyons Golf Club. It offers the same level of difficulty as its sister course, the Shadow, but it offers a different variety. Pete Dye and Fred Couples collaborated to design all 36 holes at the club.
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California's Central Valley stretches over 450 miles through the center of the state and parallels the Pacific Ocean. Also called the "Sacramento Valley," it encompasses such towns as Bakersfield to the south, past Sacramento and Fresno to Stockton at the northern end.
Wildhawk Golf Club is a challenging championship layout that is one of Sacramento's most popular public courses. The verdant landscape is dotted with scenic water features, including a cascading waterfall. Water is naturally a prominent presence but the unique shape and positioning of the bunkers also makes the course stand out from other public tracks.
Nestled in the rolling hills of Gold Country, Apple Mountain Resort has a dramatic landscape that provides plenty of elevation changes, making it a nearly impossible course to walk. Some of the drops from tee to green are unbelievable, offering unrivaled views of the surrounding mountains. Nearly every hole enjoys a stunning backdrop.
Perched just above the northern California fog line, Diablo Grande enjoys scenic views and sunny days throughout the year. The club is home to two of the area's finest golf courses, the Ranch and the Legends. The Ranch Course wanders through oak forests and across rolling green hills. The diverse terrain ranges from dramatic elevation changes to subtle contours. The natural water features, including the meandering creek, come into play on several holes.
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The year 1849 and the California Golf Rush are long gone, but "Gold Country" is still an attractive region of the state. Also nicknamed the "Mother Lode" region, it includes the capital city of Sacramento to the west and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, which head into Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park to the east in Mariposa County, the state's largest.
Perched just above the northern California fog line, Diablo Grande enjoys scenic views and sunny days throughout the year. The club is home to two of the area's finest golf courses, the Ranch and the Legends. The Ranch Course wanders through oak forests and across rolling green hills. The diverse terrain ranges from dramatic elevation changes to subtle contours. The natural water features, including the meandering creek, come into play on several holes.
Winchester Golf Club boasts a championship course that was a collaboration between Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Jr. The foothills of the Sierra Mountains serve as the backdrop to the course, which sits at a convenient elevation of 1,800 feet that puts it right above the fog but below the winter snows. The golf course also enjoys panoramic views of the Sacramento Valley.
Wildhawk Golf Club is a challenging championship layout that is one of Sacramento's most popular public courses. The verdant landscape is dotted with scenic water features, including a cascading waterfall. Water is naturally a prominent presence but the unique shape and positioning of the bunkers also makes the course stand out from other public tracks.
The Faldo Golf Institute at Shadow Ridge in Palm Desert is a great place to sharpen your game
Greenhorn Creek Resort in Angels Camp: Mining for birdies in California Gold Country
