Played here 10/2 with GK member molebio (Nat) as our second stop on a quick Nor Cal visit. As with many of my trips out of San Diego, I came across this course in various lists ranking best courses in... Continue »

Played here 10/2 with GK member molebio (Nat) as our second stop on a quick Nor Cal visit. As with many of my trips out of San Diego, I came across this course in various lists ranking best courses in CA, however I came away a little disappointed. It's not that this layout isn't interesting (quite the opposite in fact), it's really more that everything else made for a very mediocre outing. The staff wasn't very friendly, the weather changed dramatically from the day before and left the course wet and sloppy, the property lacks anything aesthetically that you'd expect from a course so highly ranked (carts were bare bones and had trouble maneuvering a wet course, clubhouse offered limited everything, even the parking lot was barren and gravel). It took away from what should have been the highlight of the trip.

Tee boxes: Okay shape overall. I won't blame the course for the rainy conditions, however nothing here drains well, but thankfully most tee boxes were in good enough shape that your didn't slip while swinging away.

Fairways: Another part of the course in only okay shape. In contrast to Yocha the day before, the fairways here (especially on the front 9) were reminiscent of Eagle Crest in Escondido. If you know the course, insert laughter here. If not, that means playable here and there, some coverage but winter conditions everywhere.

Rough: Thankfully there was minimal rough on the course and the one that did exist was more ESA than anything. There was a penalty to pay for errant shots but starter said ESA was played laterally and that was good enough for me.

Sand: This sand was the volcanic type you'd have a hard time hitting out of and required careful shot shaping near greens. There was enough sand to hit out of, but not enough to flop shots very high in the air.

Greens: The best part of the course and boy some of those false fronts; eek. The shapes and undulation were a fun test of skill (the score proves it wasn't actual fun, more punishment but the good type). Conditions were good overall. They were soft but rolled fair.

ETC: As mentioned before, this place is the antithesis of a Troon facility, and they seemed sort of proud of it (the starter actually chuckled when we told him we saw Darkhorse was ranked #8 on a list of best public golf courses in CA). I get not having the means to invest in the aesthetics and wanting to have the course be the standout part of the experience, but when even that is lacking (I doubt the rain has been THAT heavy that it made the course look and play like it did today), it's sad. I came in thinking I would find CrossCreek version 2.0 but was sad to see it closer to Woods Valley. Maybe when it's in peak condition it's worth a visit, but even at under $40, I would wait and play Yocha.

9/9/18 = 9+9=18 Played 7:40 twosome following twosome and so on. Their earliest time is 7:30 to let the maintenance crew prep the course. That leaves a few early times and possible additional revenue... Continue »

9/9/18 = 9+9=18 Played 7:40 twosome following twosome and so on. Their earliest time is 7:30 to let the maintenance crew prep the course. That leaves a few early times and possible additional revenue loss but I don't manage or own just playing and saying.

Course conditions all around good. The greens had been light punched with small hole wide space tines in the last week and were a bit bumpy and slow. But if that is all the fall service schedule requires the greens should heal and be good to go in 5-7 days. The bunkers are finally playable and consistent on all holes. I was in a few hard packed machined darker sand/soil some impediments but an overall improvement from a few years of sketchy bunkers (some were GUR I think due to costs not the former excellent superintendent's efforts) I wonder if a topping of real bunker sand would make them excellent now? I don't know but machined and playable condition now.
Some tee boxes a bit shaggy and unlevel but I don't want to be over critical and the price point is not the upper elite green fee so in line with what I expect.
Overall great design and experience. A few more houses keep popping up around the perimeter, but still has the nature feel.
Woodpeckers, Hawks, mountain jays, buzzards, turkey, squirrel, deer spotted today.
Chipped in on the last two holes and took my opponent by two strokes so the lightly punched greens did not effect my last two holes. My buddy missing a 12" birdie putt on 12? Not 'cuz of the greens either. He made the par come backer!
Fun to play. Recommended.

Played 5/27/2018 just after 7am Sunday morning. New this year at DarkHorse is the first tee time of the day is at 7:40 am daily. My partner and I like to tee off first out whenever we play Sundays. B... Continue »

Played 5/27/2018 just after 7am Sunday morning. New this year at DarkHorse is the first tee time of the day is at 7:40 am daily. My partner and I like to tee off first out whenever we play Sundays. Benefits of no one can see our sometimes comical efforts and pace of play as well as being out there in the quietness of early dawn patrol. For example, the right side of the 8th hole we spot 3 deer from the tee box getting to the fairway they are bucks in velvet two going to be big racks and a spikehorn. All getting along now but wait a until fall. A real treat to observe them grazing nonchalant to us.

Back to the course conditions of play. Overall nice and green. Hit it in the fairway a big benefit. My partner was doing just that and hitting greens but 4 times three putted for bogey. Greens rolling true and in good shape overall. Tee boxes maybe a bit shaggy and or thin but not an effect on play very level.

Best thing is they have sand in the bunkers now and even if the sprinklers wet a couple better than what they have been in a long time. Don't know why it took SO long but it was quite a few months/maybe year with many as GUR.

Condition of course will hopefully continue on the upswing as summer comes and should do so, if they can pump enough water on it. The superintendent has moved on and time will tell if the new one has enough budget to keep making it better. The fescue around the bunkers is growing out long and gives the edges nice definition / look but I did get stuck under a lip of one which was awkward took two to extricate.

As my usual review I try to compare with the other two courses in Auburn nearby. The Ridge & Auburn Valley. I'd rate it Ridge, AVGC, DH right now but I'd play any or all at a moments call. Great time to get out and play in the Sac foothills.

Played Darkhorse on a dry, cool, Saturday afternoon in January. It had rained fairly heavily the past few days, so the course was softer (and a little friendlier to scoring) than usual.

Conditions... Continue »

Played Darkhorse on a dry, cool, Saturday afternoon in January. It had rained fairly heavily the past few days, so the course was softer (and a little friendlier to scoring) than usual.

Conditions: Despite the recent rain, the course was in great shape. Fairways very green for the middle of winter Greens receptive from the precipitation but still rolled smooth and quickly.

Layout: One of the toughest tracks in Northern California. An excellent mix of shots are required on this course. You must bring your "A" game.

Customer Service: Excellent pro shop and on course staff.

Will continue to keep this in my mix of courses!

It had been 10 years since I last played Darkhorse, so was looking forward to my return visit. The course was not in particularly good condition, except for the greens which were excellent. Sand was ... Continue »

It had been 10 years since I last played Darkhorse, so was looking forward to my return visit. The course was not in particularly good condition, except for the greens which were excellent. Sand was sparse/thin in many areas.

However here is what happened: I had the first time off Monday at 7:30, and I even stopped by Sunday evening at the pro shop and confirmed I had the first time and was told that I could not go out prior to that time. So when I arrived at 6:40am, I saw lots of people with clubs on carts. Went into the pro shop and was told "they were employees" but I could go ahead if I wanted. They agreed to let me go, but there were also 3 singles already out on the course ???? WHF ! I went to #3 and started there, which would have been no problem, but there were no piins in the greens on the front side?

I really like this course, but when things like this happen, it just leaves a bad taste. Still, enjoyed the course despite all the confusion.

This is a scenic and well-designed course featuring dramatic elevation changes, ample greenside and fairway bunkers, water hazards, elevated greens, and a double dogleg hole. Many of the holes are mem... Continue »

This is a scenic and well-designed course featuring dramatic elevation changes, ample greenside and fairway bunkers, water hazards, elevated greens, and a double dogleg hole. Many of the holes are memorable. Woodpeckers and songbirds abound.

The ambience is friendly and relaxed, beginning with the helpful and courteous clubhouse staff and starter. Great practice facility. The clubhouse and proshop are pretty limited, but who cares about that!

While the course sits in an upscale housing development, there are houses on only a few holes, and they are far enough away from the fairways that it is not an issue.

I come back to this area as often as I can, specifically to play Darkhorse.

Best course I've ever played! Every hole is beautifully framed. Invites great shots. landscape and greenery top notch. Very friendly starter. Unbelievable value. Never crowded during the week in the ... Continue »

Best course I've ever played! Every hole is beautifully framed. Invites great shots. landscape and greenery top notch. Very friendly starter. Unbelievable value. Never crowded during the week in the afternoon. Wish this course was closer to home. I'd play it every day!
Greens soft. Held approach shots nicely. Very hilly to walk, but doesn't play hilly except for two holes on the back nine. Recommend the electric carts.

This course is a monster. Such a great layout, but ww is it tough. In my opinion one of the toughest in CA. Tpc at PGA west I believe has a higher slope but is a much easier course. They just recently... Continue »

This course is a monster. Such a great layout, but ww is it tough. In my opinion one of the toughest in CA. Tpc at PGA west I believe has a higher slope but is a much easier course. They just recently dropped empire golf as their management company I hope whoever takes over gets the rough and traps back in shape.

I decided to play this course because I saw it on a ranking of best public courses in California. I played it on a beautiful summer day with little wind and a fairly good pace of play (around 4.5 hour... Continue »

I decided to play this course because I saw it on a ranking of best public courses in California. I played it on a beautiful summer day with little wind and a fairly good pace of play (around 4.5 hours.
The course runs through the hill in the gold rush country between Auburn and Grass Valley. There are sometimes long distances between a green and the next tee, so the included cart is necessary. It took me a little while to adjust to the color of the greens which appear as almost turquoise to my eyes. The staff in the pro shop was helpful, but the starter insisted the my twosome needed to tee off a few minutes before our scheduled tee time. All other staff were congenial and helpful.
The course has a wide variety of holes, from short par threes to a couple of monster par 5's and one or two very long par 4's from the blue tees. The fairways were in good shape. The rough was pretty good as long as you weren't in the tall stuff. The sand traps were pretty firm, so I'd recommend playing them as though they are wet sand. The greens will likely haunt my dreams for some time to come. Some are huge, often with a pronounced ridge in the middle, which made me think of the "turtle shell" greens of Pinehurst, as least as described at the US Open (I haven't been to Pinehurst.)
(I have to admit that I spent some extra time on the greens repairing ball marks that others had carelessly left.)
It's not too difficult to figure out how to play each hole. Each hole has areas where you can safely miss, and each green seems to be constructed the same way. Of course , knowing where you can safely hit the ball and actually doing so are two entirely different things.

This course is for golfers. There's no fancy parking lot, bag drop, or restaurant suitable for wedding receptions. Just a nicely laid out course that will require your "A" game.