Recommendation for Sacramento, CA?

[Matt Schoolfield]

My close friend is performing at SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center this weekend, and we are planning on playing golf on Friday. I know very little about the area, and any advice would be welcome.

[John Kavanaugh]

Doesn’t feel like a “beer” event.

[Jordan Beasley]

Hi Matt - it's a bit of a drive depending on where you are staying, but I can recommend Yocha Dehe in Brooks.  It's a tribal land course in a beautiful secluded valley with no housing to interfere, and a first tee shot you won't soon forget. Conditions were excellent the last time I visited, a few years ago.

[Matt Schoolfield]

Thanks Jordan!

Doesn’t feel like a “beer” event.

I dunno John, I haven’t been. I will say having friends that are professional opera/symphony singers is weird. Control over the radio in the car has become a much more high stakes. 

[Michael Dugger]

I always liked the look DARKHORSE.


It's outside of Auburn, almost halfway to Tahoe. 

[Tim_Weiman]

My close friend is performing at SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center this weekend, and we are planning on playing golf on Friday. I know very little about the area, and any advice would be welcome.

Matt,


I lived in Rancho Cordova for about a year in the 1980s and used to play Ancil Hoffman, a public course Golf Digest ranked in its Top 75 public courses back then.


Not great, but it was pretty good and usually in good shape.

[Tim Leahy]

Sactown is where I live and have off and on for fifty years. I second Yoche De He at Cache Creek Casino as the best public course by far within an hours drive of downtown. Plus you can mix in a great dinner and casino games and maybe live entertainment at Cache Creek. It is an easy 45 min drive from downtown. It's really not an easy walk though if your a walker, many changes in elevation and I think cart is included in greenfee.


If you don't want that drive you could play another good public course by the same designer Brad Bell called Teal Bend located just north of downtown about 10 mins just past the airport. It has a nice grass range and is an easy walk through the marsh areas and usually not crowded and in great shape with good greens.


If your a GCA buff there is Haggin Oaks a 36 hole public facility with a MacKenzie course that was redone several times but I can't recommend the course as there is not much Mac left but it is challenging and five minutes from downtown. The best part is the snack bar has the original blue prints of the Mac layout on the wall and the history of Sacramento golf under glass on the tables. Also they have a 24 hour lighted driving range and a great huge pro shop where you can try out new clubs for free on the range with just a drivers license.
If you have private access then Del Paso CC is the place having hosted LPGA and Senior PGA tournaments and near downtown.
I would recommend using GolfNow app for the best green fees if that is a consideration and there are many good but not great public courses around Sacramento.
Whitney Oaks and Turkey Creek are really good and tough with old oaks and creeks/water hazards located in Roseville about 30 mins from downtown and there is a TopGolf in the same area.
There are many great restaurants and bars downtown along with some great diners and dives along with great sushi especially at Mikuni's.
My favorite BBQ for baby back ribs is The Tank House downtown on J St. and there is a great brew pub with German sausages & charcuterie and duck fat fries called Low Brau also downtown on L st.
PM me if you have specific questions and have fun.

[John Kavanaugh]

Thanks Jordan!

Doesn’t feel like a “beer” event.

I dunno John, I haven’t been. I will say having friends that are professional opera/symphony singers is weird. Control over the radio in the car has become a much more high stakes.

If you can change opera to beer culture golf will soon follow. After you go I would like to know how much enjoyment came from watching the decorum once found in golf.

[DFarron]

Del Paso is the play if you can get on, another brilliant Kyle Phillips re-do.


Have heard good things about Granite Bay but haven’t played there.


Green Valley about 30 minutes south of Sac is very fun.

[Tim Leahy]

Del Rio is the play if you can get on, another brilliant Kyle Phillips re-do.


Have heard good things about Granite Bay but haven’t played there.


Green Valley about 30 minutes south of Sac is very fun.

Del Paso CC is the KP renovation in Sacto. Del Rio CC is a very good course down in Modesto about an hour and a half south of Sacto.
Granite Bay is my favorite club in the area a KP and RTJ, jr design but difficult to get on.

[Garland Bayley]

I think that Texas redneck Brauer did a course near "Sacto".  Maybe that will interest you.

[Matt Schoolfield]

Really want to thank everyone for the recommendations. Some things came up, and I ended up missing the golf  , but I believe Haggin Oaks' MacKenzie course is what was finally settled upon. I was rooting for Darkhorse after researching these rec's. Cheers again for all the help!

[Jeff_Brauer]

I think that Texas redneck Brauer did a course near "Sacto".  Maybe that will interest you.

I thought about recommending my Wild Horse over in Davis but declined.  The last time I was there conditions weren't great and looking at Google Maps, it doesn't appear to have improved.  It is flat ground, and the drain channel causes a few forced carries I didn't like but couldn't change, and there are some good holes and good bunkering out there.  Some here who have played it were generally favorably impressed, but I figured more here would be interested in Haggin Oaks.  For locals looking for a less expensive round, Wild Horse is a good value.