[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I was reading about it in the NCGA Magazine. This is the 4th oldest club in Northern California. It was designed byTom Nicholl in 1912 with a redo by Tilly in 1936 and Harbottle in 1997. I have not played there, but have played with a number of good players from there. Does anybody have a feel for this old but respected course and club?

[Stewart Naugler]

San Jose has a world class super/gm who's a good friend of mine and one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. The course was originally designed by Tom Nicoll and then remodeled by Tillinghast. I believe there was a renovation done in the mid to late 1990's. You can see Tillie's work in a few of the green complexes/green-side bunkers.

I played a quick 18 a couple of years ago and I'd say it's a solid track. I remember one of the tee boxes having world class views of San Jose.

[Tim Passalacqua]

Tiger,

It was one of our home courses in high school.  The first few holes have a little quirk.  First hole: 300 yards, elevated green, you can not drive it, very shallow (6 paces?).  Second hole: 315, straight uphill, tight driving area. The course is fun.  Small, sloping greens that used to be really fast.  It is short.  6200 yards from the tips.  It is set on some rolling terrain.  A barranca comes into play on the last two holes.  I  don't think it wil be in your top 10, but it's a nice place to play.

Tim

[Matt_Cohn]

It's a good place. As much of an "old-style" place as you could ever want. There is some quirk - in the first 10 holes there are 4 par 3's and no par 5's, then in the last 8 holes there are 3 par 5's including back-to-back at 16 and 17. Hole #2 is also one of the weirdest holes around. It's kind of squeezed in amongst hills for the first 7 holes, but then you play through a gap and it opens up and lengthens out from #8 onwards. You really don't notice the strangeness of the sequencing much though because the holes are solid individually. The greens are small and sloped, and when they're fast, they all become adventures. In the good amateur tournament that they have each June, even par is always first or second place for 3 rounds despite the course being 6,200 yards, so that gives you some idea. It's the greens. Never had so many 2 footers that have to be played outside the hole!

[Keith Doleshel]

San Jose is one of my favorite places to play in the South Bay.  It won't make any top 100 lists, but is a good, solid golf course and a great deal of fun.  Once you get past the quirky first 4 holes, it is a pretty straightforward layout.  The 4th hole is the tee box where on a clear day you have a great view of all of San Jose and most of the South Bay.  The 4th is about 450 yards, downhill tee shot to a plateau fairway, and then an approach which is probably 75 feet down hill to a tiny green.  Greens are small, fairways tree lined, traditional parkland layout, nothing overly penal.  Front nine is par 33 with 3 par 3s and the rest par 4s, back nine is par 37 with 2 par 3s and 3 par 5s.  Good finishing stretch with 16 and 17 being good par 5s, and the par 4 18th which has a blind tee shot to a elevated fairway, with the approach over the barranca Tim mentioned.  Only about 365 yards but driver can be hit through the fairway into the barranca if you aren't careful.  Recent claim to fame is that its the home course of Joseph Bramlett, who made it through Q school last year but didn't keep his tour card for 2012.  Roger Maltbie also was (still is?) a member out there.  Also hosts the Santa Clara County Championship each year.

[Kevin_Reilly]

Tiger,

It was one of our home courses in high school.  The first few holes have a little quirk.  First hole: 300 yards, elevated green, you can not drive it, very shallow (6 paces?).  Second hole: 315, straight uphill, tight driving area. The course is fun.  Small, sloping greens that used to be really fast.  It is short.  6200 yards from the tips.  It is set on some rolling terrain.  A barranca comes into play on the last two holes.  I  don't think it wil be in your top 10, but it's a nice place to play.

Tim

Tim, I played it a couple of times in the early 80's during HS matches...not sure if it was where Bellarmine played or Mitty.  I thought Bellarmine played at La Riconada, and Mitty at some horrible course that has changed its name (both former and current names escape me) so I can't remember who we played at SJCC.  I played at SI.

[Jon Spaulding]

Kevin, we all know that Bellarmine guys get to play wherever, and do whatever they want.....

I've played a fair bit at SJCC over the years. To answer the original question, it's a decent golf course in the Doak 4 range. I'm not aware of Harbottle doing any work there in the mid-90's, the course was always open, and he was busy botching Stanford and LACC at that time. If there is much Tilly there, then Tilly wasn't that good.

Above average quirk the first 7 holes, then a very weak stretch until the 16th tee. #17 I would consider a good, somewhat strategic par 5; #18 offers something in the way of risk reward as well. Nice barranca on those 2 holes. #3 is a tough par 3 when green speeds are up, #6 tee shot I always liked. #1 green sure makes for an interesting approach/tee shot. There are some fairway ripples on #15 which I always found fascinating, along with seeing the occasional deer late in the day. Very well kept poa annua greens, smallish with good tilt.

The clubhouse offers some greasy, mid-20th century architecture, but nice views and is quite simple. The pro shop is in a separate building up the hill, houses a nice little putting green and the first tee feels like it's under the awning. The upper area is a really nice setup.

I've always enjoyed my time there; the people are friendly and the club doesn't try to to be something it ain't.

[Tim Passalacqua]

For Bellarmine, we played at LaRinconada and SJCC.  Mitty's home course in the late 90's was San Jose Muni.  Maybe you are thinking of the old Riverside/Coyote Creek now. 

[Kevin_Reilly]

Google just helped me...back in the early 80's Mitty played at Tularcitos in Milpitas, which I think is now called Summitpointe.  Horrible, horrible course. 

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