NorCal Getaways

[Matt_Cohn]

So I'm sitting here after elbow surgery (which went okay and hopefully will get me back on the course in a couple of months) daydreaming about a little golf getaway in March or April. Which NorCal spot offers the best moderately priced experience for a 2 or 3 day golf binge?

Cache Creek/Yocha De He
Sevillano
Stevinson Ranch
Somewhere else?

Let's say within 2.5 hours of SF. Just someplace to eat, play, eat, play, eat, sleep, repeat. 

[David_Tepper]

Matt -

Hope the surgery went well and you are on the mend!

You might want to think about heading up the coast to Sea Ranch, just below the Sonoma-Mendicino county line. It is a very low-key spot with an interesting golf course. There is a grass driving range with a nice little short-game practice area. Range balls are inexpensive.

If you went up there mid-week at that time of year, you would have the place to yourself. Give me a call for more info.

DT   

[Jed Peters]

Jed's house.

[Evan_Green]

Matt-

I'd say Stevinson Ranch, plus Diablo Grande which is only 30 mins or so away and has 36 holes including a very good Nicklaus course

[Jeff Doerr]

Matt,

Sevillano sounds like the place to me. Cheap lodging and probably pretty good food at the casino. A new course that you could really get to know in a couple day binge. And the weather will probably be decent. At least it won't be the 100+ you'd find there in the summer.

Cheers, Jeff

[Kevin_Reilly]

Matt, years ago I went with a group of buddies up to Lake Shastina, which had 36 holes and was cheap.  To be honest I can't remember much about the courses, but one was supposed to have a links feel, and the other was a standard course.  Just a suggestion for further investigation.  Diablo Grande could work if you stay in a motel in Patterson.  Not sure what's going on with those courses now.

[Patrick Kiser]

Hey Matt,

Hope you recover quickly.

I'd say Stevinson with the stay and play or ... Monterey.  You know the drill there.

Maybe Tahoe / Truckee Area.

[Kalen Braley]

Tahoe or  Truckee in March could be sketchy, doubt you could play.....July would be better.

Monterey is awesome, but major $$$$

[Matt_Cohn]

Tahoe or  Truckee in March could be sketchy, doubt you could play.....July would be better.

Monterey is awesome, but major $$$$

If you know about 30 kids in San Francisco who need SAT prep this spring, I might consider Monterey.   

Who was the GCA'er who checked out Cache Creek last spring. Was it Joel?

[Mike Benham]

Stevinson Ranch

Can't beat the entertainment at Stevinson Ranch, Cowboy Poetry is 2nd and 4th Thursdays each month ...

[Matt_Cohn]

That is appealing, Mike!

Where does Saddle Creek fit in with the other resorts mentioned above?

[Jason Topp]

Tom H recommended San Juan Oaks as a budget friendly alternative and I really thought it was a fun course in great condition at a reasonable price.  Might be a decent weekend destination.

[Matt_Cohn]

SJO is good, no on-site accommodation though right?

[Kyle Henderson]

I think Tim Leahy was the GCAer singing Cache Creek's praises. I say you should stay in Pismo, play Monarch Dunes Old and Challenge (12-hole par 3) courses. Maybe Cypress Ridge as well (haven't played that one). Very reeaonable weekday rates and ezlinks.com specials. It may take 3 to 3.5 hours to get there.

[Jed Peters]

That is appealing, Mike!

Where does Saddle Creek fit in with the other resorts mentioned above?

Above everythign else but stevinson.

But still below Morgan Creek, Winchester, and DarkHorse

[JSPayne]

Matt.....I think a few minor specifics need to be checked first, in order to make the recommendation easier because everything you've heard so far are VERY viable options as they are all great courses. So:

1) What do you mean by moderately priced specifically? Under $50, $50-$100, $100+ or as one other earlier post attempted....4 rounds totalling no more than $200? And are you looking at weekend or weekday, as that will affect price ranges?

2) Are you looking for a place that offers "stay and play" or just someplace that has accomodations reasonably close by?

3) Do you think you're more interested in playing one great course multiple times to get the best feel for it, or diversify over a couple courses?

4) Is there any place in NorCal you've already been to? If so, I would lean toward pointing you toward a new area.....always good to get a well-rounded experience.

Having played NorCal golf primarily most of my life, and played almost every course mentioned by everyone above so far, with your answers to these I could probably give you a good recommendation......or several to choose from.

[Matt_Cohn]

now i have to get practical about a daydream? ok....   

Matt.....I think a few minor specifics need to be checked first, in order to make the recommendation easier because everything you've heard so far are VERY viable options as they are all great courses. So:

1) What do you mean by moderately priced specifically? Under $50, $50-$100, $100+ or as one other earlier post attempted....4 rounds totalling no more than $200? And are you looking at weekend or weekday, as that will affect price ranges?

2) Are you looking for a place that offers "stay and play" or just someplace that has accomodations reasonably close by?

3) Do you think you're more interested in playing one great course multiple times to get the best feel for it, or diversify over a couple courses?

4) Is there any place in NorCal you've already been to? If so, I would lean toward pointing you toward a new area.....always good to get a well-rounded experience.

Having played NorCal golf primarily most of my life, and played almost every course mentioned by everyone above so far, with your answers to these I could probably give you a good recommendation......or several to choose from.

in the $200 range for night and all-day golf? i guess it doesn't have to be on site. it's just a getaway. don't care about how many courses. played SJO once, not the others.

[JSPayne]

Well in that case Matt.....I hate to sound partial to courses close to home, but I really do believe that if you want a few challanging yet enjoyable rounds, with decently significant architecture as well, I think you're best bet to get the bang for the buck right now would be 3 rounds in the Sierra Nevada foothills:

Morgan Creek - not quite in the foothills, private club, but Jed Peters has been known to pull a favor fairly easily for a fellow GCAer...and I would take an offer from him any day of the week. It's a fun course, interesting design, with some wild, challanging greens.

Darkhorse - While it may be slightly lacking in conditioning depending on how the winter treated it, I still enjoy this course as one of my favorites in NorCal. The greens are usually lightening fast with, yet again, quite a bit of movement, and the scenery can't be beat.

Winchester - Another private course letting the public sneak in during tough times....I'm honestly not sure when the public can play (but I know they can!) and the rate might be a bit higher than "moderate", but if you can get on for a mere guest fee with Jed and only pay a weekday fee at Darkhorse, the little extra to play Winchester is worth it.....similar story, beautiful location, nice design and challanging golf.

Plenty of cheap hotels to stay at along I-80 or find a nice little B&B near Auburn, very close to both Darkhorse and Winchester and just a short drive from Morgan Creek.

As a close second choice, I've never played Stevinson Ranch, but nearly all on this site rave about it, and Saddlecreek and Greenhorn Creek are both decently viable options for another close round within the same day.

Hope that helps!

[Matt_Cohn]

hey jed, think you could get me on?

 

[Dan King]

Matt_Cohn writes:
If you know about 30 kids in San Francisco who need SAT prep this spring, I might consider Monterey.

How good are you at this SAT prep stuff?

I have a sister with two girls at Palo Alto High. One niece is a junior the other a sophomore. I know Palie parents are keen to see their kids get into Ivy league, Stanford or Cal. If you can get these kids into those kind of schools I'm sure the parents pay well for tutoring. Palo Alto gets you close to Stanford, Pasatiempo and the great SF courses. I wouldn't be surprised if Palie parents aren't members at courses such as Stanford, Burlingame, SFCC, Cal Club, Olympic, etc...

I know my sister and family belong to a nice swim and racket club.

Let me know, maybe we can set something up.

Cheers,
Dan KIng

She was gonna be an actress
She was gonna be a star
She was gonna shake her ass
On the hood of White Snake's car
Her yellow SUV is now the enemy
Looks at her average life
And nothing, has been...
all right since

Bruce Springsteen, Madonna
Way before Nirvana
There was U2 and Blondie
And music still on MTV
Her two kids in high school
They tell her that she's uncool
Cuz she's still preoccupied
With 19, 19, 1985
 --Allen & Scherr

[Matt_Cohn]

Matt_Cohn writes:
If you know about 30 kids in San Francisco who need SAT prep this spring, I might consider Monterey.

How good are you at this SAT prep stuff?

I have a sister with two girls at Palo Alto High. One niece is a junior the other a sophomore. I know Palie parents are keen to see their kids get into Ivy league, Stanford or Cal. If you can get these kids into those kind of schools I'm sure the parents pay well for tutoring. Palo Alto gets you close to Stanford, Pasatiempo and the great SF courses. I wouldn't be surprised if Palie parents aren't members at courses such as Stanford, Burlingame, SFCC, Cal Club, Olympic, etc...

I know my sister and family belong to a nice swim and racket club.

Let me know, maybe we can set something up.

Cheers,
Dan KIng

She was gonna be an actress
She was gonna be a star
She was gonna shake her ass
On the hood of White Snake's car
Her yellow SUV is now the enemy
Looks at her average life
And nothing, has been...
all right since

Bruce Springsteen, Madonna
Way before Nirvana
There was U2 and Blondie
And music still on MTV
Her two kids in high school
They tell her that she's uncool
Cuz she's still preoccupied
With 19, 19, 1985
 --Allen & Scherr

lol. i'm good at it - it's my full time job. i worked with gunn and paly kids last yr but i'm doing my best to stay local (city of SF) this spring. caltrain gets to feeling longer and longer every trip!

[Bill_McBride]

There were some really good getaways in the 50s and 60s.  Both Pasatiempo and Sonoma had cottages right by the first tee, and it must have been pretty reasonable or my dad would never have taken us there for a couple of nights and three rounds of golf!

Wawona at Yosemite also had pretty cheap accommodations and that great little nine holer.

[Jed Peters]

hey jed, think you could get me on?

 

I might be able to pull some strings.

[Tim Leahy]

Darkhorse - While it may be slightly lacking in conditioning depending on how the winter treated it, I still enjoy this course as one of my favorites in NorCal. The greens are usually lightening fast with, yet again, quite a bit of movement, and the scenery can't be beat.

Winchester - Another private course letting the public sneak in during tough times....I'm honestly not sure when the public can play (but I know they can!) and the rate might be a bit higher than "moderate", but if you can get on for a mere guest fee with Jed and only pay a weekday fee at Darkhorse, the little extra to play Winchester is worth it.....similar story, beautiful location, nice design and challanging golf.

Plenty of cheap hotels to stay at along I-80 or find a nice little B&B near Auburn, very close to both Darkhorse and Winchester and just a short drive from Morgan Creek.

I would second the Auburn package and add in the Ridge a very good Jones family course that is very tough from the back tees and was home to an LPGA event for a couple of years. Also a cool but tough nine hole up there is Black Oak that you coud tack on.

I would definitely stop on the way from the bay area at Cache Creek for a round also.

And don't forget Mr. Payne's Empire Ranch in Folsom for a good test and the best finishing par 3 next to Pasatiempo's.

[JSPayne]

Tim,

I almost forgot The Ridge.....shame on me. I thoroughly enjoy that course as well. It used to hold an LPGA event. Never played Black Oaks......I can't believe I've lived near Sac nearly my whole life and there are still SO many courses I haven't played.

I second both The Ridge and Cache Creek (Yocha-de-He) based on fantastic reviews I've heard from patrons of my course.

And thanks for the plug Tim.....Matt's more than welcome and should contact me if he wants to come over this way (I can probably work an employee guest fee at the least) but Empire Ranch is a bit off the I-80 corridor courses we've been discussing. Still some good golf over here off of US-50, but I still am partial to the courses in general I've mentioned above....though I'm not afraid to claim that we here at Empire tend to have some of the best, consistant conditioning of any public course in the Sac Area.  <end of plug>