Place: TPC San Francisco Bay at Stonebrae (quite the mouthful…), Hayward, CA
General Topography/Site considerations:
The course was built on the side of a ridge overlooking the San Francisco Bay from the eastern range. Home sites will eventually border most of the front nine, while the back nine is on more severe terrain that will remain housing free for the foreseeable future.
Overall, the course has gorgeous views and some very fun holes. DMK’s team did a great job of disguising most of their earthworks. But, sadly, spectators at the annual Nationwide Tour Event (held on property each March) are in for a very difficult hike, most likely in stiff breezes under saturated clouds.
The Card: The Black Tees are rated at 75.1, Slope 138 and measure at 7188 yards in length.
According to Jim Haley’s “Highlandgolfservices.com:”
OPENED: 2003
TYPE: Private Members Club
GOLF COURSE ARCHITECT: David McLay Kidd
OWNER/DEVELOPER: YCS (Hong Kong) & Potomac Golf Development
RECOGNITION:
• Golf Digest – Best New Private Courses 2008 6th Place
• Golfweek Magazine – Best New Private Courses 2008 20th place
• Travel & Leisure Golf Magazine - Top Ten Best New Private Courses in 2007
NOTEWORTHY:
Extreme building conditions were present during construction of Stonebrae. Over 13 million cubic yards of dirt were relocated during the project's mass grading that paved the way for golf holes to be threaded through a portion of the real estate, allowing for residential construction. Other significant challenges include wetland mitigation and endangered species throughout the property, forcing the golf architect and builder to overcome numerous obstructions, both legal and physical.Translation: the site was a difficult canvass on which to produce a quality golf course.
*Note: I believe the course actually opened in 2007, not 2003 as claimed on the website. The awards cited speak to this probability.
And now some images with captions (scroll right to see more):
Enjoy!
1st hole: 396 yards, par 4
1st green complex (viewed from left/front)
2nd hole: 461 yards, par 4
3rd hole: 193 yards, par 3 (viewed from left/front)
4th hole: 479 yard, par 5
5th hole: 326 yards, par 4
5th green (viewed from left front)
6th hole: 606 yards, par 5. This shows a gap in the fairway filled with native grasses and rocks that one must consider laying-up short of with the 2nd shot of if their drive is diminutive.
Looking across the 7th green from the left
7th hole: 176 yards, par 3
8th hole: 466 yards, par 4
9th hole: 438 yards, par 4. This is the view of the intimidating second shot.
10th hole: 437 yards, par 4. A considerable portion of the fairway is hidden along the left side. The line is therefore over the left fairway bunker. Driver is probably too much club.
11th hole: 240 yards, par 3. A shot drawing from the right and landing a bit short will feed onto the green nicely (the ground slopes away from the tee short of the right/front edge of the green).
12th hole: 625 yards, par 5
The second shot offers the options of a)going for the green, b) laying up over the gap to the right c) laying-up short of the gap.
Looking back from behind the 12th green
A view of the 12th from on high.
13th hole: 160 yards, par 3
14th hole: 377 yards, par 4
View of the 14th hole from on high looking back towards the tee.
15th hole: 188 yards, par 3
A view of the 15th from on high (the hole plays from tees beyond the left edge of the frame). The 12th hole is seen in the distance.
16th hole: 557 yards, par 5
17th hole: 465 yards, par 4, This is the view of the downhill approach shot after an uphill drive.
18th hole: 598 yards, par 5. This view is from right of the desired landing area for tee shots.