Played on Friday 7/5 early tee time to again try to beat the heat. A report from a friend.
Course is in good to great shape through the green. Being watered extra in the heat so damp spots to avoid ... Continue »

Played on Friday 7/5 early tee time to again try to beat the heat. A report from a friend.
Course is in good to great shape through the green. Being watered extra in the heat so damp spots to avoid browned areas. All good. Greens excellent and the approaches mostly damp so hit the ball high to flag, versus run up in most cases.
Wanted to review and increase the rating as course is in great shape right now.
Arrived early and the course was open ready to go. Easy check-in and the starter was pairing up the twosomes. Ours first group out.
Had to wait for the green mowing maintenance and raking bunkers on the first hole from the fairway. And that was a theme for the whole front 9. A short delay on about every hole. I think they fit in a couple foursomes on the tee sheet before 6am to fill up an already busy Friday holiday week lineup. A $600+ addition to the daily revenue stream. Slowed pace of play a bit but appreciated being out there.
Veterans discount used to $ave a little on the rate.
Good design, in a rural location, in great shape and good service. Another recommend. Thumbs up.

Showed up to a surprise of punched and sanded greens today. No warning when booking, still charging regular rate. They offered a free round next time, but we passed and received half off today instead... Continue »

Showed up to a surprise of punched and sanded greens today. No warning when booking, still charging regular rate. They offered a free round next time, but we passed and received half off today instead. Course was in good condition minus the greens and sand traps. Good sand but just not raked or prepared at all. If the traps were prepared they could be great, but for now they are nice white packed hard pan sand. Last few times I’ve been the management just doesn’t seem to care at all about customer service. I’m not rushing back even though the course itself can be great when routine maintenance is done.

Played Wed 8:13, 10:10 tee time, 4:15 rd. Course a bit beat up compared to the last time I played here. Most noticeable was the greens. Quite a few unrepaired ball marks, which led to bumpy greens.... Continue »

Played Wed 8:13, 10:10 tee time, 4:15 rd. Course a bit beat up compared to the last time I played here. Most noticeable was the greens. Quite a few unrepaired ball marks, which led to bumpy greens. Almost every putt I had to smooth out 3 or 4 spots of poorly repaired marks. Greens slow, fast 9, slow 10. Fairways mostly nice, though there were spots on every fairways that were unmowed. Tee boxes inconsistent. It's a wonderful layout, and I had fun. But it seems the summer heat and lack of staff are taking a toll on the course. There are bottled water stations on every other hole, so that was nice in the heat. If people would treat this like the gem it could be, the greens would be so much better. I'll make the drive again, but I'll be more selective of when and how much I pay.

Last time I was here they were shutting down for new ownership to take over. Now up and running again and you can tell a difference in a mostly good way. First, the clubhouse is gone. There literally ... Continue »

Last time I was here they were shutting down for new ownership to take over. Now up and running again and you can tell a difference in a mostly good way. First, the clubhouse is gone. There literally is no building anymore. You walk up to an exterior alcove with a computer kiosk and pay, very bare bones but it works. Don’t come here expecting food and drink either- your choice is a bag of chips, bottle of water, or a soda. Go play golf instead, this isn’t a place to snack. Also, bare bones carts, no gps anymore. On to the course review: the first thing you’ll notice if you’ve been before is that all the bunkers are now actually bunkers, with sand! Apparently expensive sand at that, from the same place that supplies sand for Pebble Beach. I was only in the sand once, but it was excellent. Fluffy, light, crisp is how I’d describe it. The bright white sand also makes the course and fairways look so much better. Fairways were wet, but not overly soggy, just enough to limit that nice summer roll. Lush, nicely manicured, all good. Greens looked great, felt a little spongy, and rolled slow. If they could firm them up they will be fantastic. Because they were way too slow for a course of this caliber I have to deduct some points. Maybe they were trying to protect them from the heat, but the greens were the slowest I’ve played in the entire Central Valley this year so far. No ball marks, just nice looking slow greens. Overall, the course is much improved with new ownership. Hopefully he (the single guy running the whole thing?) can keep up the business and continue to improve on the work done so far, the course layout and condition are both excellent. Just remember to bring everything you need to survive the heat without any food or beverage service and you’ll love this place.

Played Wed 3/25. 8:50 tee time. 4 hr rd as a 2 some. Cart path only. Rained day before. Skeleton crew due to Covid. could've been off the path, and maybe didn't have the staff to scout the course ... Continue »

Played Wed 3/25. 8:50 tee time. 4 hr rd as a 2 some. Cart path only. Rained day before. Skeleton crew due to Covid. could've been off the path, and maybe didn't have the staff to scout the course and rope off soft areas. Only a handful of areas I would've kept carts on the path. Course in great shape. It's a beautiful layout. Bunkers look great. You can tell there has been a big effort to revamp this course. Streams are running throughout the course and it's beautiful. Randy, the owner, was doing most of the work. Nice guy. Excited about bringing this course back to prominence. The greens were a bit slow, and inconsistent speed to me, but rolled mostly smooth. Had a great time at a bargain of a price from golfmoose. Wish it weren't so far from me. Course is very challenging, btw.

Played early 2/23/20 under sunny skies and cool to nice temps (45-68) The course continues to improve and the dry February has only helped.
Can't say why I couldn't give the greens a ten rating. M... Continue »

Played early 2/23/20 under sunny skies and cool to nice temps (45-68) The course continues to improve and the dry February has only helped.
Can't say why I couldn't give the greens a ten rating. Maybe a bit firm for approach shots holding? But, I don't hit high balls or get a lot of spin. They putted near perfect and few ball marks. Asking after the round I discovered they don't have a roller only mowing surfaces. As good as a public course gets.
Fairways good full green coverage for 95% a few dormant areas. Tee boxes level very playable.
Rough was a bit variable. Again all good.
Bunkers plenty of pretty white sand that still need to settle a bit will only improve with time.
Course is under new ownership management as of late last year. The modular clubhouse is gone replaced with a sodded over grass area.
Doing business out of the cabana / bathroom building, which is a bit strange but gets the job done. Keurig coffee machine a few canned beverages and water available. I think they may still bring in sandwiches from subway or something. No liquor license yet.
As far as golf course it's great. Various specials should be used to maximize the value the usual course amenities still work in progress.

Played 12/15/19 first out 36 degrees with wind chill near 34. Still golf weather for us.
Surprisingly no frost delay. The greens mower had the headlights on mowing the 4th green as we approached the... Continue »

Played 12/15/19 first out 36 degrees with wind chill near 34. Still golf weather for us.
Surprisingly no frost delay. The greens mower had the headlights on mowing the 4th green as we approached the entrance.

TOPLINE IS: Darkhorse has reopened under new LOCAL ownership.
Under a "soft" reopening showing many improvements and poised to be a players course.
DH has been closed for a few months and recently reopened for public play.

They sent email this week with BOGO offer to come check it out. Took advantage of that with online reservation and wondered what we would find. Driving in entry first thing I noticed was the former pro-shop bar and grill modular building in the lower parking lot in pieces, with one piece left where it had been placed. To it's left a very nice bathroom / cabana building above the driving range which is now the check-in area (temporary). We were given a cart and paused a few minutes to ask questions. Have a coffee before heading to the tee. Sun would not come over horizon for first 4 holes so it was bundle up with layers hat mittens.
Many course improvements noticeable right away. A lot of work clearing areas of underbrush on the course edges and annual cat tails from the wet areas. Some oak trees removed, many trimmed.
Most dramatic improvement the bunkers. Pebble Beach #12 white sand installed in all bunkers. Therefore the sight lines now are the best they have been since the course opened. (2002)
Overall course played under winter conditions as I expected it would. Wet areas from winter rains the week before no fault of the course. No frost delay but the rough was frosty and stuck as ice chucks to our spikes which had to be knocked off. Once the sun got over the horizon it warmed up quickly. (50 by 10:30) Waited 10 minutes on 4th hole for fog to clear. POP was our own choosing.
Greens are real good to fine shape, fresh cut, smooth, medium consistent speed.
Rough penal and fairways cut well, but damp offering little roll out.
The bunkers are stunning visually now and the sand needs to settle. Shots settled in the bottom because the edges were breakable soft crusty frozen. Many deer tracks through them also.
Was surprised to see the beverage cart twice and offering snacks and beverages at no charge included in the greens fee.
A round played at 11am on would have been ideal this day.
Spoke to employees and management after the round and the plan is to offer what they feel most golfers want. Great course playing conditions and quality amenities. The later is a work in progress I witnessed sipping a Knee Deep Brewing Porter as they moved the last piece of building.
Driving range improvements: 5 station auto-dispensing ball machines with top quality thick mats in operation now along with natural grass practice areas.
Bottom Line: Darkhorse is back and should be given a chance to gallop.
Recommend again ;)

Course is undergoing management change! It was definitely clear they are in transition to new management- unfortunately they look like they are struggling at the moment. Memorial Day and not too man... Continue »

Course is undergoing management change! It was definitely clear they are in transition to new management- unfortunately they look like they are struggling at the moment. Memorial Day and not too many people on the course. No range balls in the machine, and no merchandise for sale. Hopefully they will pull it together soon, but there is a long way to go.

Course: Tee boxes in decent condition, some of them heavily used. Fairways in good condition, a little soggy from recent rain, but not the course's fault. Greens were recently punched and still healing. Due to the weather and punching, they were a little furry and slow compared to previous visits. Rough was decent, not long enough to penalize or lose balls, which is good for a course that has this much of a slope challenge. Bunkers are where the lack of maintenance showed the most. No sand at all, just bare clay dirt and weeds. For 45 bucks it was good, but definitely the worst condition I've seen it since I started playing there many many years ago. I love the course and don't want to see it close, let's hope they maintain enough business to get the course back into shape.

Played mid day 4/20 as the second round of the day (The Ridge Auburn Ca the 1st). Sad to report but the contrasts of the two courses stand out more significantly than I ever recall. Pace of play wa... Continue »

Played mid day 4/20 as the second round of the day (The Ridge Auburn Ca the 1st). Sad to report but the contrasts of the two courses stand out more significantly than I ever recall. Pace of play was slow we were the second twosome following 4-somes. So expected to be slow. The course marshall met us on the 7th and said he spoke to the group holding things up but the pace didn't improve and we were joined on the back by a single. POP withstanding.
The course is in ok shape and I agree with previous reviews the layout and design is great many interesting holes and lots of nature and natural vistas. The rough a bit thick and overall conditons should improve with drier weather upcoming. They had the fairway mowers out and working Saturday. Nice tight lies for the most part.
The greens had been aerated I'd say a week or so ago. The recovery not doing well. Punched holes were sanded but filled sand settled below the surface making putting bumpy lumpy and we invoked our own automatic two putt rule based on this. (try to hole first and second a gimme from 3 feet of less) Looks like they are going to take some time to heal.
The bunkers almost everyone are horrible and unplayable most down to the base red dirt. They have some large piles of sand in some as to maybe they will attempt to improve them but it has been this way for a LONG time.
Darkhorse (est 2002) has had a bumpy history too long to get into in this review. I believe now it is owned by a Chinese entity/business person. Rumor has it that they tried to get a zoning variance to build a golf resort / teaching school facility that was not approved by the local zoning people and therefore the course condition has not been improved as a result. Like I said RUMOR. But based on the long term lack of improvement to existing facility it is feasible. For example, the clubhouse is still a modular structure showing its age and in need of TLC paint, trim boards loose. Flower beds unkempt.
No knock on the staff in the shop, 19th hole, or maintenance. Bev cart was out and making the rounds. Beers are cold, hot dog at the turn tasty.
Overall I'd say other area courses are on the upswing and comparatively DH is not.
Good greens would change my rating until they then I'm playing elsewhere.
Probably my most critical review of a course I've ascribed for GK. But you want to know...