I hadn't played this course in about 20 years but was pleasantly surprised to find the Castle Oaks course is in remarkable shape in just about all aspects (considering the drought we're going through up here in northern CA) with the lone exception being the contents of the bunkers...too much hardpan and too many rocks and pebbles that your clubs won't appreciate. A better grade of sand would be of great benefit, especially in the larger sand piles...and there are some very, very large ones. The tee boxes, fairways, rough and greens were uniformly excellent with only a few divots or ball marks. There's a lot of water and cat tails to avoid while navigating around this course, but the landing areas are usually pretty generous. It's a course that requires you to think about WHERE you want your shot to land, and then execute that shot. Pro shop staff was quick to inform our group of qualifying senior rates upon check in, which was a much appreciated gesture.

Played Bayonet on 12/7...a beautiful course, in overall very good condition, that showed me how a benign-looking course could have some pretty large teeth. For winter time conditions, Bayonet was in great condition on the tees & greens and in the bunkers...the fairways had taken some beatings by golfers who did not see fit to replace/repair their divots, but it didn't detract from the play, only the image. This is a pretty tough course, especially taking into account I hadn't played in two months and I can't remember the last time I played on a Saturday, A bit held up on the front nine by a slower 4-some, but they quit at the turn so was no longer an issue. It was VERY windy and just a bit chilly, but it was a good experience nevertheless and one I hope to repeat someday and play Black Horse as well. Friendly, courteous staff.

Mather looked a bit worn in multiple spots today...some greens and fairways on both nines, but it appears that there is some major sprinkler work in progress so hopefully, it will correct the conditions encountered today. Tees for the most part were good, as were the two bunkers I found myself in. Normally, the only contentious area is the slowness of the greens, but there were multiple spots on multiple holes and fairways that REALLY need some water.

The course condition yesterday at Eagle Vines didn't lend itself for a productive round, score-wise, but the course does have some interestingly laid-out holes coupled with a generous dose of challenge. The greens had been punched and sanded within the past few weeks, so putting was more a game of "Pachinko" than a skill exercise in putting, but they will get better with time for the upcoming spring season. Fairways were cut very close, with few exceptions, and even after a recent night of rain, still unexplainably hard. However, I can seriously vouch for the Kobe beef cheeseburger that seems to be the Thursday special...YUM! Staff was friendly, especially in the Grill. EV has a driving range, but it isn't very long so you're limited to irons only.

Course is in very good shape overall, fairways and tees being better than the greens (a bit bumpy) but they're coming back from punching so all in all, not too bad. Service by staff is excellent and the carts have a new GPS system that is extremely easy to use AND understand. Kudos to the cart lady ("Jill") for a job well done today. Would be great if some of the rocks that have wandered into the traps and bunkers could find their way home elsewhere.

The Ridge Golf Course Review
Auburn California Golf Course Reviews

You always receive great service and a challenge at Greenhorn Creek. The marshall on duty during our round ("Steve") took the time to explain the GPS system, although we knew it already, but that's his job. At the turn, he was there to ask us if we had any issues, how it was going, and if we'd like a cold towel to battle the heat! We gratefully accepted that offer and he reminded us that we could order lunch from the nearby course phone, aka the "Hot Dog Hotline". Course was in it's usual super condition, although the greens, with their different grass textures, look blotchy, but that won't affect your putting. Other things, perhaps, but not the colors. Sand quality was very good, at least in the one bunker on #4 I found myself in, the fairways were excellent, and the maintenance crew was hard at work keeping everything that way. It was relatively uncrowded today and we finished in just a bit over 4 hours - excellent. This course is a little less than a two hour drive for me, but in the nine years I've been going there, I've never had a bad experience.

Greenhorn Creek Resort Review
Angeles Camp California Golf Course Reviews

Hiddenbrooke is a very challenging course...anything designed by Arnold Palmer is. It's a good course, overall, and is in good to very good shape...with one notable exception: The T-boxes (the whites were the ones played today) leave something to be desired for a course of this caliber. Too many are not level and it's difficult to find good spots to tee up...#14 for example, slants noticeably to the rear of the box such that your rear foot is at least one or two inches below the level of your front foot. This is an elevated tee area anyway so you don't really need any additional landscape features to launch the ball. Many others are difficult to find large enough flat spots in which to tee up your ball and be able to address it on the same plane. Once these are brought up to speed, the course will play better.

Hiddenbrooke Golf Club Review
Northern California Golf Course Reviews

Was fortunate to be able to play Pasatiempo yesterday at a reduced rate of $99 (Golfnow) and this is a course you'll enjoy most when you have your best, or near best, game at your command. It's a long hitters course, even playing from the white (middle) tees. Course conditions were beyond excellent in all aspects, tee to green with a very commendable group of friendly employees. With all the history of this course, I'm in awe that it could be played in the first years of its existence with the club/ball technology of that era to the standards that it was. Greens are generally very large with many undulations and there were a couple of pin placements yesterday that would suit tournament play. Many slightly uneven lies in the fairways and the rough was something to contend with. BUT---if you get the chance to play it, especially at a substantially reduced rate (golfnow said it was a 64% savings so that extrapolates to $275 full rack rate), DO IT! Alister MacKenzie was certainly a master at his craft and this course will show you why.

Pasatiempo Golf Club Review
Santa Cruz California Golf Course Reviews

The course, by and large, is in very good condition. Some tee boxes could be rolled for flatter lies and there's a lack of sand in some bunkers and traps, but the fairways and rough are in excellent shape and the greens, recently lightly punched, are pretty good also. Service at check in was exceptionally good. It's a challenging course, but not one that will tend to overpower you unless your game totally fails you that day...reading the greens will take a few rounds to believe what happens as opposed to what you expect to happen.

Morgan Creek Golf Club Golf Course Review
Sacramento Golf Course Reviews

Played "Jack's" course yesterday, and it's definitely a trek that will cause you to plan your shots. Well thought-out excursion through the forests around Truckee and it really pays to play on the shorter grass here. The course was immaculate although I thought the greens were a bit much on the "hard" side...ball marks were more like skid marks. Had played Gray's Crossing the day before (can't seem to find a listing for it on Greenskeeper) on the NCGA "2 Course Play" special, so will put that info in here also. Fairways a bit more open at GC than OG and I guess that's a mark of Peter Jacobson. Greens were about the same as OG but otherwise, both courses were in great fall shape. Interesting sidebar is that #6 is a driveable par 4 which plays downhill and mostly downwind. The service at both was flawless with no complaints. Great practice facilities at both courses. A tip for anyone thinking of playing either/both: bring your better or best game or it may be a long day. Mountain golf, especially in the Tahoe region...undeniably worth the effort.

Hadn't played Darkhorse since '04 so decided to try it again. Customer service is excellent...the person checking us in happened to ask if any of our group were over 60 and then promptly refunded the difference between the senior rate and the standard rate. Very, Very Good! Cart service was excellent also and "Paula" ensured that our group had enough ice every time she came thru our group. This is a very challenging course with much trouble if you stray off the fairways. It's the type of course you need to play often to become familiar with it's foibles, especially putting these greens. The only aspect I can quibble with is the quality of sand in some of the traps and bunkers...rocks are not conducive for getting rave reviews after you feel the impact and see the blemishes on your wedge faces...the front bunker on #17 being a prime example. Replace the current mix with pure sand and you will really enhance the playability of this course.

Played today on a $50 "Member for a Day" special...hadn't played the course since it was known as 12 Bridges the last year the LPGA played it ('02). Course has a few differences between then and now (1 par 5 on the front side, 3 on the back) and there are some houses where it had only been wilderness before, but not distracting to the round. The course was in very good shape with fairways offering exceptional lies and the greens bouncing back from being punched so they were a bit bumpy at times, but all-in-all, well worth the fee. Customer service was very good, considering I am not a member.