California Golf Course Reviews
Bear in your mind on the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West
The Coachella Valley is full of resort-style golf courses with expansive fairways. The Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West is not one of them. Host to the former Skins Game, it remains as bold, as modern and as demanding as when it debuted in 1987.
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Mountain View Course at Desert Willow Golf Resort: Mirth and mercy amid the mountains of Palm Desert
Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert is among the most popular dual-course public facilities in southern California. While the skilled flock to the burly Firecliff Course, players aiming for a more congenial round will be well served by the Mountain View Course with its generally benign landing areas in the fairways.
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Never boring: Solving Salt Creek Golf Club in Chula Vista
The first big plus at Salt Creek Golf Club is the lack of homes -- just mountains and green grass for as far as the eye can see. The second best attribute are its greens You'll definitely want to stay below the hole if you can. Most of all, the 6,829-yard, par-72 course is interesting. No two holes look alike, and all are pretty memorable, Mike Bailey writes from Chula Vista, Calif.
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Mountain View Course at Desert Willow Golf Resort: Mirth and mercy amid the mountains of Palm Desert
Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert is among the most popular dual-course public facilities in southern California. While the skilled flock to the burly Firecliff Course, players aiming for a more congenial round will be well served by the Mountain View Course with its generally benign landing areas in the fairways.
... full article »Never boring: Solving Salt Creek Golf Club in Chula Vista
The first big plus at Salt Creek Golf Club is the lack of homes -- just mountains and green grass for as far as the eye can see. The second best attribute are its greens You'll definitely want to stay below the hole if you can. Most of all, the 6,829-yard, par-72 course is interesting. No two holes look alike, and all are pretty memorable, Mike Bailey writes from Chula Vista, Calif.
... full article »Undiscovered Lake Chabot Golf Course is an Oakland golf surprise
Lake Chabot Golf Course is an 18-hole course credited to William Lock that opened in 1923. It measures an untouched distance of 6,000 yards with a par of 72, and yet it will test your skills. Different and charmingly quirky, Lake Chabot is the undiscovered uncle of the family. Once you get to understand it, you realize its charms.
... full article »Castle Oaks Golf Club: A resplendent experience in the Gold Country
Castle Oaks Golf Club, located about 35 miles southeast of Sacramento in Ione, has two distinct nines that bring about different experiences. The natural beauty, especially on the front nine and the closing three holes, will leave a lasting impression, Ted Johnson writes.
... full article »March forward to the General Old Golf Course in Riverside
Just because the General Old Golf Course is old (initially constructed as a nine-hole, private military course that opened in the 1950s), don't assume it's a pushover. Tracking at 6,800 yards from the tips and presenting a host of sneaky doglegs, visitors are likely to re-enlist, Judd Spicer writes from Riverside.
... full article »Feel the burn at The Links at Summerly in Lake Elsinore
While there's plenty of variety among golf courses in California's Inland Empire, there's nothing quite like The Links at Summerly in Lake Elsinore. Combining links-style play, ample serenity, paspalum grass and a host of aerial scenery, The Links at Summerly is truly among the most unique layouts in the area, Judd Spicer writes.
... full article »Drink in Redhawk Golf Club amid Temecula wine country
Cut through an affluent residential community with mountain surrounds and memorable elevation changes, Redhawk Golf Club plays with a maturity that belies its 20-plus years. The 1991 Ron Fream and Mark O'Meara design, in the heart of Temecula wine country, plays more like an eye-bending shot of Jack than a subtle sip of syrah, Judd Spicer writes.
... full article »Mending with awesome value: Shandin Hills Golf Club in San Bernardino
Under new management since March of 2011, Shandin Hills Golf Club in San Bernardino is no longer running on fumes. Earnest in their desire to re-establish Shandin as an "Inland Empire tradition," the new brass has put several hundred thousand dollars into the course. Those who haven't played it for a spell should surely consider a revisit. And players in especially warm climates (such as the Coachella Valley) should investigate in the autumn months when cooler temps and great rates provide Shandin Hills extra lure.
... full article »Buenaventura Golf Course in Ventura is a fun walk through a big park
Buenaventura Golf Course in Ventura measures just 5,826 yards from the tips, but it's no ho-hum, pitch-and-putt course. Forrest Richardson's remodeling created a parkland course that requires great precision off the tee without being too penal for missed shots, Ted Johnson writes.
... full article »On the way to San Jose: Ridgemark Golf Club's a solid play in Hollister
The semi-private Ridgemark Golf & Country Club in Hollister has two regulation courses, which are named for the mountain ranges that surround them -- the Diablo and the Gabilan. No matter where you are on either, the mountains provide a great backdrop and help maintain terrific golf weather year-round, Mike Bailey writes.
... full article »- An Inland Empire gem for the skilled: Champions Club at the Retreat in Corona
- Sterling Hills G.C. in Camarillo is a welcome sight for high-handicappers but challenges low-handicappers
- Get a taste of Pete Dye at Lost Canyons Golf Club in Simi Valley
- Designer Ted Robinson shows his skills at Robinson Ranch Golf Club in Santa Clarita
- Los Robles Greens Golf Course in Thousand Oaks: A country club look at a muni price
- Back on the prowl: Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon in Beaumont
- Full-service golf with options: Blue Rock Springs Golf Club in Vallejo
- Laid-back Cordova Golf Course in Sacramento is the perfect fit for the casual golfer
- Whitney Oaks Golf Club in Rocklin: Johnny Miller makes you pay attention
- Wildhawk Golf Club in Sacramento: Digging and shaping 18 holes of pleasure
- Pastoral and peaceful mark the experience at Teal Bend Golf Club in Sacramento
- Bing Maloney Golf Course in Sacramento does a lot by not trying to do too much
- Bartley Cavanaugh Golf Course in Sacramento: Daring to score in California's Delta
- Greenhorn Creek Resort in Angels Camp: Mining for birdies in California Gold Country
- Escena Golf Club in Palm Springs: Where classic ideals meet modern-day pleasures
- Holding on for a wild, beautiful ride at DarkHorse Golf Club in Auburn
- Challenging StoneTree Golf Club in Novato tests you and then brings you back
- Winchester Country Club in northern California: Where Eagles (and birdies) Dare
- Napa Golf Course at Kennedy Park has aged beautifully to become one of the Napa Valley's fun plays
- Desert Dunes Golf Club: Let the windmills guide you toward Palm Springs' solitude
- From sycamores to chardonnay, The Course at Wente Vineyards in Livermore provides plenty of thrills
- Massive green makes Chardonnay Golf Club a memorable Napa Valley stop
- A private setting with public access at Malibu Golf Club
- The Crossings at Carlsbad: San Diego-area golfers get another top-flight municipal golf course
- Tricky greens, panoramic views make Black Gold Golf Club in Yorba Linda a slick escape from Orange County
- Temecula Creek Inn pairs fine wine with great golf courses
- Pacific Grove Golf Links gets into the groove -- at a mellow California pace
- Bayonet and Black Horse Golf Courses in Seaside sprint to new heights
- The Links at Bodega Harbour in Bodega Bay offers a true Scottish golf experience
- Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point: Pacific Ocean panorama, white sand, slick greens
- Laguna Seca Golf Ranch in Monterey: Be sure to bring all your clubs
- Oakmont Golf Club in Santa Rosa: An easy northern California walk in the park
- Camarillo Springs Golf Course near Los Angeles: Cool rounds even when summer sizzles
- Talega Golf Club in Orange County: A beauty and a little bit of a beast
- Morgan Creek Golf Club: A heathland course in the Sacramento Valley
- SilverRock Resort in La Quinta: PGA's Humana has left, but hope lives on
- Skywest Golf Course in Hayward: Great potential but fits the market
- Fast times and greens at Royal Vista Golf Club near Los Angeles
- The Golf Club at Terra Lago: A unique mesh of resort and rustic play in Indio
- Historic Pasatiempo Golf Club still packs a punch, just the way MacKenzie wanted it
- Big Break, big drives and big presentation: Players Course at Indian Wells Golf Resort near Palm Desert
- Tilden Park Golf Course in Berkeley is a not-so-hidden Bay Area gem
- It's always sunny at Carmel Valley Ranch: Great weather equals great golf
- Peacock Gap Golf Club: San Francisco-area play tickles your fancy
- Designed before the Model T, Presidio Golf Course in San Francisco is still a fun ride
- Marriott's Shadow Ridge Golf Club in Palm Desert is the Faldo fan's cup of tea
- Poppy Ridge Golf Course maintains a Jones tradition of excellence in NoCal
- Short irons or Dye: La Quinta Resort & Club's Dunes Course offers tough choices
- Charms and challenges make Pleasanton's Callippe Preserve a stand-out public golf experience
- San Geronimo Golf Course's beauty provides a peaceful taste of west Marin
- Old Course at Half Moon Bay Golf Links provides plenty of challenge and a stunning finish
- Enjoy a taste of wine country at Napa Valley's Eagle Vines Vineyards and Golf Club
- Desert Falls Country Club in Palm Desert: A unique and challenging Coachella Valley play
- Carlton Oaks Lodge & Country Club: San Diego tournament golf without the price tag
- Quail Lodge Golf Club in Carmel: Fun course, flawless conditioning
- Golf at Sevillano Links up in Corning: What you see is what you get
- Rustic Canyon Golf Course in Moorpark offers great conditions and value
- Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert offers colorful courses for all levels
- Whitehawk Ranch Golf Club in Clio: The High Sierra's remote golf escape
- History and nature come together at Knollwood Country Club in Granada Hills
- Playability makes for fun rounds on the Palm and Valley at Desert Springs Resort and Spa
- Fun on the slopes of Laguna Seca Golf Ranch in Monterey
- Led by the Ike course, Los Angeles area's Industry Hills Golf Club deserving of national honor
- Poppy Hills G.C. shouldn't be the Rodney Dangerfield of Pebble Beach golf
- Vallejo's Hiddenbrooke Golf Club is more than meets the eye
- Classic Club in Palm Desert: Former Bob Hope Classic stop still plenty worthy of traveling golfers
- South Course holds its own at storied La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad
- Memorable Champions Course at La Costa Resort & Spa still fit for the pros
- Nine holes with bite: Links at Terranea in Rancho Palos Verdes reinvents par-3 golf
- The Bridges Golf Club in San Ramon: Beauty and the beast rolled into the fairways
- Golf is better than good at the Challenge Course at Monarch Dunes in Nipomo
- San Francisco city escape: The New Links at Bodega Harbour in Sonoma
- Journey at Pechanga in Temecula: Tribe's golf course embraces history
- Renovated Black Horse Golf Course is the perfect Monterey-area complement to Bayonet
- Changes suit Monterey Peninsula's renovated Bayonet Golf Course
- Sonoma County's Road to Hana: Sea Ranch Golf Links a whole trip of its own
- The Eisenhower Course at Industry Hills Golf Club: First-rate golf minutes from Los Angeles
- Palm Desert Country Club golf course sheds its problem past with ultra-green redo
- Desert Willow Mountain View brings mellow good times to Palm Springs golf
- Robinson Ranch G.C. in Santa Clarita offers private-club-quality golf at daily-fee rates
- Palm Springs' Desert Princess C.C.: House hecklers, go-for-it par 4s and lakes aplenty
- Quirky Cimarron Golf Resort in Palm Springs: Hot girls, weird sand, good laughs
- Nicklaus plays nice: Tahoe's Old Greenwood golf course not the same old Jack
- Plumas Pines Golf Resort squeezes that driver in Reno/Tahoe shadow
- Reno-area's Golf Club at Whitehawk Ranch delivers
- Prehistoric golf theater: Coyote Moon Golf Course's ancient granite a Sierra blast
- Bushes of horror at Desert Dunes
- Play relaxed at Indian Canyons
- Dunes Course at PGA West