I golfed her yesterday 9-13-26. Very challenging course. Conditions were good. A lot of blind shots which some people... » More

I golfed her yesterday 9-13-26. Very challenging course. Conditions were good. A lot of blind shots which some people don't like.
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Played in the Golf Moose/Vivid event on Saturday and couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Everyone in my group t... » More

Played in the Golf Moose/Vivid event on Saturday and couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Everyone in my group throughly enjoyed themselves, from start to finish.

As is the rule, the Rams Hill staff was outstanding and the entire process was well-organized and staged. And I’ll send along a shout out to Johnny and those who assisted him in making this possible.

Golf course was in great condition; tees, fairways, and fringes provided tight lies from which to hit from. Rough wasn’t what I would call deep but it was thick and punishing; the ball had a tendency to nestle quite a bit in some instances. I drew an absolutely brutal lie up against the rear bunker on #10 but each situation presented a different challenge, dependent upon how the ball sat.

Was in a couple of bunkers…fairway on #1 and greenside on #15…and found success out of both, with 7-Wood on #1 and SW on #15. However, you could easily be stymied if your ball settled in a spot requiring a stance outside the sand in order to hit the ball.

Greens were much slower than what I typically experience here so putts had to be hit a little firmer than usual. They also seemed a bit grainier too, which turned a few ‘can’t miss’ putts into ‘how did that not go in?’. Still, these surfaces are extremely durable; they hold up exceptionally well in the heat and are virtually indestructible when it comes to ball mark damage.

Not much else to add; it was the usual Rams Hill Experience, which is why there’s never any hesitation when someone asks ‘How about we play Rams Hill next week?’. Sign me up!

Also want to mention that it was nice to chat with a number of GKers who I haven’t seen in a number of years, as well as meet a few others who I only knew via the website.

I was absolutely thrilled when Johnny announced he was partnering with Rams Hill again after a long hiatus and am looking forward to a return engagement in the not-to-distant future. From what I observed, the event was an undisputed success.
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Played on Saturday September 12th and was pleased with the progress the greens are making. I have been a long time supp... » More

Played on Saturday September 12th and was pleased with the progress the greens are making. I have been a long time supporter since the course opened and up until this years green debacle a huge fan. In any event the greens are sand free, a little long/shaggy and slow but rolling pretty true. They are also a bit firm. Considering where they were 6 weeks ago it's night and day for the better! Fairways are generally good albeit a bit thin in spots. Some improvements to sand traps with some being great and some still needing some work and new sand. Tee boxes generally good. The course recently appointed a new General Manager who has been a long time employee and a great person! Excited about her positive approach and the changes she will make to improve things. The course also contracted with an outside 3rd party for maintenance and it seems to be making a difference. The old super is gone. Looking forward to further improvements in the greens after aeration. As usual, staff is great and very professional.. If you have been staying away because of green conditions I'd suggest you give it another look.
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Played at Hidden Valley on Saturday morning in a small Men's club tournament.
I hadn't played here in ten years but I... » More

Played at Hidden Valley on Saturday morning in a small Men's club tournament.
I hadn't played here in ten years but I remember that the course was nice and challenging.

First off, the staff was friendly and helpful throughout the day.
The tee boxes were decent and mostly level with good coverage. The fairways were nice and green and gave some nice roll out with great conditions. There were very few areas that had damage or GUR. I managed to avoid the bunkers all day, so I can't comment directly, however, my playing partners did get in a few and they seemed good with a fair amount of sand. There were a few bunkers throughout the course that were being renovated which is always nice to see that improvements are being made. The rough was the perfect height to enable you to find your ball easily but deep enough to make you think a bit. There were a few areas that were really deep grass and very wet that would've been bad to be in.

I had remembered the greens being perfect and fast years ago, but that wasn't the case this time. A lot of the greens, including the practice green, were very bumpy and kind of slow. As we played on, I noticed that a lot of the greens were being invaded by the fringe grass and other different types of grasses that were causing them to roll slower on some putts and faster on others. I hope that they can get a handle on this or they will be needing to replace a lot of greens in the future. All in all, the greens held shots well and were playable, but just kind of weird I guess is the best way to describe them.

Anyway, I do still recommend playing here. The course layout is tough if you are a first timer and don't know your way around. I'll probably come out again soon so that I can learn the lay of the land a bit better. We had a great time and a fun tournament. Thanks HV for hosting us. Also, I should mention that we had lunch there as well, and the burgers were great!
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Played in group 1A of Saturday’s awesome Vivid Golf X GK outing here with mpisarski01, Dan from SCGC, and Ryan. Super fu... » More

Played in group 1A of Saturday’s awesome Vivid Golf X GK outing here with mpisarski01, Dan from SCGC, and Ryan. Super fun group! Beautiful day with a high temperature around 102 but there was a nice breeze much of the day to offset the heat somewhat. Pace was decent for an event at a little under five hours.

I hadn’t played here since December 2021. In all honesty, at that time conditions had taken a noticeable step down from the exceptionally high standards Rams Hill set for itself when it reopened in 2015, and I sorta figured it would still stay nice, but not topnotch like it was all the previous times I’d played it. I’m happy to say that assumption was wrong, because even in mid September conditions were excellent yesterday. White tee boxes were great, fairways were fantastic, rough was thick, lush, and penal, despite being only maybe 2-3 inches deep, bunkers were all great. The greens were smooth, medium speed and accepting of full shots. I was very impressed. The only minor complaint I can think of is that many of the on-course lakes smelled like a sewer for some reason.

Free tacos and snow cones at the Ram Shack are a great touch, and the cookie at the end of the round was great. There could have been some sort of miscommunication, however, because a course employee at one point announced they’d be bringing water, Liquid IV packets, and frozen grapes around during the round. That didn’t happen for our foursome. Club employees were all great. All in all, a fantastic day and I hope Johnny is able to schedule another event at Rams Hill soon.
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I played here today. Took family and friends up to Russian River for hiking and picnic and I went to play golf.

... » More

I played here today. Took family and friends up to Russian River for hiking and picnic and I went to play golf.

By now everyone knows that Alister MacKenzie designed this course. I know very well his design methods having been a member in the late 70's early 80's of Pasatiempo.

I wanted to play here because for many years working in Silicon Valley I frequently played Boulder Creek GC designed by Jack Fleming (a protege of MacKenzie) also in the redwoods and at that time a wonderful 18 hole course. Sadly the back 9 was destroyed by fire but was told they will rebuild and reopen the back 9 in 2027.

I found Norhwood to be very similar to Boulder Creek in design and playing through magnificent redwoods.

It is a nice course but its alure is the redwoods cool temperatures and the solitude of the area. Not to mention the calmness one feels playing amongst these giants of such beauty.

Tees were fine. Fairways were playable. Very little rough and very few traps. Greens were playable and in good shape.

Just try to stay out of the trees LOL.

I paid $36 to walk on the weekend. More than happy to pay that to support the course for the future.

I played it once. But I can recommend it to anyone who is the area or wants to play it. By all means do it.

A great course to play with family .
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played fri 9/11, 9:40 tee time, 4:30 round. Greens slow and bumpy. I've played here 3 times in the past 2 yrs, and eve... » More

played fri 9/11, 9:40 tee time, 4:30 round. Greens slow and bumpy. I've played here 3 times in the past 2 yrs, and everytime the greens have been bad. People I play with swear it's usually good.. i've yet to see it. course otherwise in decent muni shape. I like the layout.. wish it was a little more taken care of. I'm sure I'll play again, and hope for good greens.
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played sat 9/12, 7am tee time, 4:15 as a 4 some. Course in good muni shape. greens a slow 10, a little bumpy. I guess... » More

played sat 9/12, 7am tee time, 4:15 as a 4 some. Course in good muni shape. greens a slow 10, a little bumpy. I guess they are punching anyways monday. divots everywhere, but fairways otherwise very nice. Best bunker sand I've seen in a while, public or private. Perfect thickness, firmness, and care throughout. didn't play my best today, but had a good time.
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Rode the blues today under 110 degree weather with cloud cover from time to time joined by buddies Ron, John and Matt in... » More

Rode the blues today under 110 degree weather with cloud cover from time to time joined by buddies Ron, John and Matt in 4 hrs 15 minutes. Great friendly staff here as usual. Great practice facility with pro v1s.

My third time here and the conditions were stellar today. Cant believe how lush the fairways, tees and rough were with the hot climate out here. Golfmoose event players are in for a treat.

Bermuda greens were very healthy. Putting pure and maybe a 10 on the stimp. Soft and receptive on approaches. Rated 8.5/10. Many swales and undulations on these beauties

Fairways in great shape. Lush full and a 9/10

Tees level lush and in great shape. Rated 9/10

Rough in great shape. Ball sinks down but still playable. Rated 9/10

Was in fairway bunker on 11 perfect compact sand.

Very fun challenging course that does not punish you but makes you golf your ball
Defense of course is numerous fairway and greenside bunkers and undulating big greens

Highly recommended and can see why its a destination course
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I played here this morning. It took me about 1.5 H to drive from Fairfield to the course up through Napa, St Helena, Cal... » More

I played here this morning. It took me about 1.5 H to drive from Fairfield to the course up through Napa, St Helena, Calistoga.

From home to Calistoga the road was fine. But the road up to Middletown is quite nerve racking. Two lanes with a few passing lanes. Anyone ever drive Hwy 17 SJ to Santa Cruz? This one was 5 times worse. And unbelievable commuter traffic coming down hill at all speeds at you.

If I ever decide to go there again it won't be in the dark.

I had a 7 AM tee time made on their website. After arriving I noticed the young kid putting out the carts. He asked me what time my tee time was? I said 7. "Sir we don't open until 7 and first time is 7:30." OK will someone be here at 7? Yes.

Sure enough the pro shows up asks me what time do I have. 7 AM made on your website. " d%mn I told them to change those tee sheets." He checked me in gave me a cart key and off I went.

In the middle of the first fairway a truck not a cart drives up on me. "who let you out" Sarcastically I said "my Mom what about you." " we don't start until 7:30" "tell that to your pro not my problem" "We don't even have pins in the greens" "Maybe you should start earlier like most courses." He drove off.

On to the course more later. The front 9 is as flat as a pancake. Lined with houses on both sides. A nice selection of holes but nothing impressive.

Found the tees good. Fairways cleaned and playable and the traps all clean. On all the holes.

No rough at all on the front 9. That actually was nice. Lots of OB areas, water, creeks, culverts and elevation to deal with on the back. And no homes until you come down the hill and play 16, 17, 18.

I putted on the practice green waiting for them to open and was hoping the greens would be as nice? They were. Good size with undulations and in top shape. Just no pins (the back 9 did). But no big deal personally. The greens on the back 9 were equally as good. And the people who play here fix divots and it showed. Nice to see.

So on to the back. Would you believe the same maitenance guy was on the tenth tee and complained I was playing to fast. "you will be running into my guys" "then like I said start earlier not my problem I paid my money and your pro let me out. Have a nice day. And you have a nice course." He drove off.

The back 9 is 100% different from the front. Lots of trees. Elevation on many holes (especially 15). Small creeks, water and culverts on many of the 4s/5s.

Two really nice par 3's on the back and a par 4 with the B, W tees sitting about 200 to 250 yards above the fairway (pics later). Two excellent par 5's that will challenge any players skill.

#15 is very unique in that the line of site from the B or W tee would provide a long hitter thoughts to go for the green. There are trees to hit over but they really don't come into play if you drive it well. Distance is 401 B and 377 W but there are no bunkers on the hole. So its possble.

I enjoyed the round of golf here. The community is nice. But no views of the lake only the mountains and valleys. $50 rate for visitors. Only discounts are for residents of Hidden Valley Lake association.

They have a very nice putting green. Nice driving range and a beautiful new pro shop and restaurant. Good carts no GPS.

They also have an Indian casino called Twin Pines about 5 miles away in Middletown that offers a very nice stay and play package for two at $120.

I would not hestitate to recommend this course if you are in Calistoga or Clearlake and want to play golf. Or if you live within a 1/2 hour drive from it. Anything else and you should stay at at the casino and take advantage of the Stay/Play offer.

And remember 1st tee time is 7:30? LOL and I wish I had asked him what time is the first tee time in June/July :)
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Played the Legends in Temecula. First the guy is the pro shop and cart area were as nice as you will come across at any... » More

Played the Legends in Temecula. First the guy is the pro shop and cart area were as nice as you will come across at any course. That is the end, the course is almost to the point of unplayability. The once fun and different layout has fallen too far into disrepair. The carts are clean and have GPS, but that's it from tee boxes to what used to be greens you will only have one thought "Holly sh-t " what a dump.
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We frequently play this course so we drove came out here a couple days ago, Tuesday. But like I mentioned to the GK Gent... » More

We frequently play this course so we drove came out here a couple days ago, Tuesday. But like I mentioned to the GK Gents in the community threads, I haven’t been the “know Before You Go” type of guy as of late and so we found ourselves at Muroc Lake GC in the middle of their planned course aeration. Ugh…

While there is not much more to say, I just want to add that the small tines are what the course chose to employ and plenty of sand after. The course allowed us to play the front nine… we also stopped by #17 green along the way to see what had been done. Looks like a good job and we thought the healing duration might only take two weeks the way it looks together with the current weather conditions we are having. (Praying for no heatwave).

For this review post, I will be skipping the course review details.
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