[Joel_Stewart]

I played here yesterday and its one hell of a golf course.   The front 9 is very good and the 10 to the 15th are superb, over the top fantastic.  For some reason I had a little let down on 16 and 17 but #18 is a very good par 5 finish.

It's pretty much what I would expect from a top architect, fantastic routing, every hole is different and unusual, great bunker and green concepts.

It is a housing community but homes will only be on the first 4 holes and they will be mega mansions. 

I hope to have pictures later because the photos above are not very good.

[David Stamm]

I heard this course is going to be become a TPC facility and the plan will be for it to host a regular tour stop event.

[Mike Benham]

I heard this course is going to be become a TPC facility and the plan will be for it to host a regular tour stop event.

According to this article, it will be a Nationwide event ...


SAN FRANCISCO - The PGA TOUR announced today that it will expand its presence in the San Francisco Bay area through an agreement to manage the David McLay Kidd-designed championship golf course at Stonebrae, a private, gated country club community located in the East Bay hills. The newly renamed TPC San Francisco Bay at Stonebrae will become the host site for the Nationwide Tour's new Stonebrae Classic, scheduled for March 30 -- April 5, 2009, which will assume the Livermore Valley Wine Country Championship at Wente Vineyard's spot on the Tour schedule.

The Stonebrae Classic joins two other prestigious PGA TOUR events in the region: The Presidents Cup, scheduled to be held Oct. 5-11, 2009, at Harding Park Golf Course in San Francisco, and the Champions Tour's pinnacle Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Sonoma Golf Club in Sonoma, Calif., Oct. 30 - Nov. 2, 2008. The Schwab Cup Championship will be held at Harding Park Golf Course in 2010 and 2011.

The Santa Cruz-based Jordan & Kyra Memorial Foundation (www.jordanandkyra.org) dedicated to pediatric cancer research and family care will serve as the host tournament organization for the Stonebrae Classic. The Foundation was founded by Rob Stuart, father of Jordan Stuart, and David Pillsbury, uncle of Kyra Pillsbury -- two Bay Area children who died at a young age from brain tumors. The primary beneficiary of the tournament will be George Mark Children's House (www.georgemark.org) in San Leandro, established in 2004 to provide the best quality of care for seriously and terminally ill children and their families. The event will also benefit Koret Family House (www.familyhouseinc.org) in San Francisco, a non-profit residence for the families of children undergoing cancer treatment at UCSF Medical Center.

"We are excited to plant the PGA TOUR flag at this prestigious David McLay Kidd design, which will become the new flagship private club on the west coast for the TPC Network," said Pillsbury, PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties President. "In addition to providing private club members and Stonebrae residents with a unique PGA TOUR golf experience, TPC San Francisco Bay will bring the future stars of the PGA TOUR to the East Bay during the Stonebrae Classic, as well as serve as an outstanding platform for supporting seriously and terminally ill children throughout Northern California."

The Stonebrae Classic will feature 144 players competing in 72 holes of stroke play, with a cut after 36 holes. The tournament will be part of the 2009 Nationwide Tour, the official proving ground of the PGA TOUR, which awards TOUR cards at season's end to its 25 leading money winners. All four rounds of the Stonebrae Classic will be televised on the Golf Channel, the exclusive television home of the Nationwide Tour. With support from the Stonebrae Classic Host Committee, led by John Chen, Chairman & CEO of Sybase, the Stonebrae Classic will work in partnership with The Presidents Cup to develop tournament and sponsorship opportunities that will include TPC San Francisco Bay memberships and other exceptional benefits.

"For the past three years, the Livermore Valley Wine Country Championship at Wente Vineyards has done an outstanding job of bringing championship golf to the East Bay and we are excited that the Nationwide Tour will continue to have a presence through the Stonebrae Classic," said Nationwide Tour President Bill Calfee. "We look forward to the opportunity to work in partnership with the PGA TOUR and The Presidents Cup to generate funding and awareness for children's charities benefiting families throughout the region."

The course at Stonebrae was developed by Stonebrae LP, part of YCS Golf Properties, known for its award-winning Dallas National Golf Club. Opened for member play in 2007, TPC San Francisco Bay's magnificent par-72, 7,200-yard layout was designed by world-renowned Scottish golf course architect David McLay Kidd of DMK Golf Design, designer of Bandon Dunes in Oregon and currently in the process of completing the new Castle Course at St. Andrews. The Scottish links-influenced layout was etched into the Walpert Ridge hillside on 1,700 pristine acres more than 1,500 feet above the Bay, and features sweeping panoramic vistas, an abundance of rolling grasslands, wind-twisted oaks, and lichen-glazed rock outcroppings, creating a stunning natural backdrop for a challenging but enjoyable test of golf.

A 32,000 square-foot Craftsman-inspired clubhouse designed by award-winning architect Mike Marsh is planned, featuring luxurious men's and women's locker rooms; sports and wellness facilities; upscale dining; and a full-service golf shop. Other world-class amenities include an expansive practice facility including five target greens with bunkers and a chipping and putting green.

The Stonebrae development features distinctive village-style neighborhoods of luxury single-family homes in a privacy-gated setting and an array of amenities including championship-caliber tennis courts, a 25-meter swimming pool, four miles of scenic hiking and biking trails, and a state-of-the-art elementary school. For more information, please visit www.stonebrae.com.

TPC San Francisco Bay is located at 222 Country Club Drive in Hayward. For membership information, please call (510) 728-7878 or visit tpc.com/sfbay.

[Patrick Kiser]

There's also a short review from Ron Salsig in the latest NCGA issue.

From the pics, I would have to agree it won't be very walkable.  That's unless you enjoy hiking during a round.

One bif though.  Boulder rocks all over the place.  I get that it's ''Stonebrae'' and that they're trying to stick to a theme.  As much as DK tried to make the stones blend into the course ... it's still looking somewhat tacky to me.  It looks like the rocks were never there to begin with.

I know .... picky, picky, picky.

Barona's like this too and I found that to be quite annoying.  Especially when tied into greens or bunkers.

   

[Tom Huckaby]

Well, in the discussions last fall, I was pretty much right in my guess at what rating would come out to be.  Here are the numbers:

Color Par Rating Slope Yardage
Black 72 75 135 7133
Silver 72 71.4 129 6493
Orange 72 69.3 122 6010

Interesting that slope is relatively reasonable though - hmmm... high course rating, reasonable slope... I've only argued for years on here that that's the definition of the ideal course.  Interesting that Stonebrae comes out this way... oh, 129 and 135 is still pretty high, but not as high as it might be....

And Patrick, as I said earlier in this thread, walking this course would be pretty insane.  Still, a group of the assistant pros did it when I was there last fall.  I had to ask them "why" and they said "why not?"  Fair enough.  Let's just say it is pretty darn hilly.

I am going to go back soon, it'll be interesting to see how it looks after more grow-in.  Joel's strong positives speak loudly to me... I liked it before...

TH

[Kalen Braley]

Well, in the discussions last fall, I was pretty much right in my guess at what rating would come out to be.  Here are the numbers:

Color Par Rating Slope Yardage
Black 72 75 135 7133
Silver 72 71.4 129 6493
Orange 72 69.3 122 6010

Interesting that slope is relatively reasonable though - hmmm... high course rating, reasonable slope... I've only argued for years on here that that's the definition of the ideal course.  Interesting that Stonebrae comes out this way... oh, 129 and 135 is still pretty high, but not as high as it might be....

And Patrick, as I said earlier in this thread, walking this course would be pretty insane.  Still, a group of the assistant pros did it when I was there last fall.  I had to ask them "why" and they said "why not?"  Fair enough.  Let's just say it is pretty darn hilly.

I am going to go back soon, it'll be interesting to see how it looks after more grow-in.  Joel's strong positives speak loudly to me... I liked it before...

TH

Tom,

How would you compare it to the front 9 at Pasa which has some pretty extreme terrain on the first 4-5 holes?

Patrick,

I'm curious to gain a little more insight into the rocks on the course.  Having been born and raised 5-6 miles from this course, I've been pretty much everywhere up in those hayward hills.  While there are the occasional rock outcroppings, for the most part its just dirt. 

[Tom Huckaby]

Kalen - you mean in terms of difficult walk?

Pasa is kids' stuff.

As for the boulders, from what I could tell they looked like they were there from the beginning of time.  But I might be easily fooled.  In any case they made the play on a few of the holes... I think seeing them in person, there would be little complaint.

TH

[Kalen Braley]

Kalen - you mean in terms of difficult walk?

Pasa is kids' stuff.

As for the boulders, from what I could tell they looked like they were there from the beginning of time.  But I might be easily fooled.  In any case they made the play on a few of the holes... I think seeing them in person, there would be little complaint.

TH

I guess if Pasa is a walk in the park compared to Stonebrae then yeah, sounds like a pretty darn tough walk.  But its the nationwide tour right?  These guys are flatbellies for the most part right?  I guess its the fans they may have to cart around to and fro.

[Jed Peters]

While I haven't played the course, they most likely will have shuttles between difficult green/tee locations and walks.

Take Wente, for example--they shuttled up to 1, and again up to 10. I did it like this a couple winters ago, and with the shuttles, it was a fine walk, not bad at all.

[Tom Huckaby]

Concur with Jed - given the proper shuttles it will be very doable for the players.  God help the spectators though!

 

[Mike Benham]

One bif though.  Boulder rocks all over the place.  I get that it's ''Stonebrae'' and that they're trying to stick to a theme.  As much as DK tried to make the stones blend into the course ... it's still looking somewhat tacky to me.  It looks like the rocks were never there to begin with.

I know .... picky, picky, picky.

Like those boulders on the tee box of MPCC Shore #11?   

[Jed Peters]

And I wanted to note too--that LIKE wente, they probably installed footpaths between the back tees and the fairways, and from greens to tees. I really enjoyed this aspect of Wente when I walked it, I like a nice path between greens and tees.

[Patrick Kiser]

I think the problem for me is when the boulders get too close to the line of play. 

That's why I mentioned if the rocks tie into the greens or hazards ... then that's not to my liking.  In the background as scenery (or on the tee box like MPCCs #11  ) ... then I guess it's fine.

From the pics in the latest NCGA mag, it looks like there as some boulders right next to greens and within bunkers.

Not good in my opinion.

Patrick,

I'm curious to gain a little more insight into the rocks on the course.  Having been born and raised 5-6 miles from this course, I've been pretty much everywhere up in those hayward hills.  While there are the occasional rock outcroppings, for the most part its just dirt. 

[Wayne_Freedman]

If you appreciate the concept of a round of golf being eighteen individual and memorable games, you will have a good time at this new private club, high in the hills overlooking San Francisco Bay.

Despite five sets of tees, Stonebrae is essentially a demanding golf course for good players who  can handle challenges and nuance. It would be next-to-impossible to walk. Distances between some holes feel more like commutes. I would love to know how many miles of cart paths on this course. But, in return for that compromise, Kidd found some wonderful holes from more than a thousand acres of grass, hills, valleys, canyons, and rocks. 

Kidd placed long-haired bunkers in all the right places. From the back tees, especially, he uses elevation changes, the natural landscape, forced carries, and high brush as both defenses and inspirations. Even then, he restrained himself. There is not one overt gimmick on the golf course.
 
You won't mind the homes on the first four holes, but the course comes into its own after that. Holes 10 through 12 epitomize the course...a par-4, par-3, and par-5. Of three new courses I have played in Northern California, this season, it is the best, so far.

[John Keenan]

Wayne

What are the other two courses you are comparing Stonbrae to?

John

[Wayne_Freedman]

John,

Out of discretion to the others,  I don't feel comfortable about directly answering that, but have discussed both of them in recent days.

[Joel_Stewart]

The courses Wayne are talking about can't be compared.  One is private and the others are public and the other is a resort.   The public course had a limited budget and needed major drainage work.

Stonebrae (TPC San Francisco Bay) had a huge budget, something I'm sworn to secrecy on but it was in the tens of millions.  I'll post some great photos on Thursday when I have time.

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