On the Rebound
New Course Construction revives in Northern California
After a few years of slow growth, golf course construction in Northern California is picking up steam. With five courses set to open in 2007, one complete renovation and four more courses with scheduled 2008 debuts, golfers in Northern California will have even more choices. Famous names and scenic sites are involved in the new designs that are sure to leave a lasting mark on the Northern California golf landscape.
Gray’s Crossing
Gray’s Crossing, located just north of I-80 in Truckee, will join other Tahoe Mountain Club courses Old Greenwood and Coyote Moon when it opens in the spring. The private Peter Jacobson-Jim Hardy design is part of a community set on 700 acres of secluded forest. The course will measure more than 7,500 yards and sits at an elevation of more than 5,500 feet. A full caddy program along with the other amenities of the Tahoe Mountain Club will be part of the experience at Gray’s Crossing. The course and community are seeking Audubon International Sustainable Community certification.
Membership will be capped at 400 and will include golf privileges at Old Greenwood and Coyote Moon and admission to Northstar-at-Tahoe’s Alpine Club among other amenities.
Stonebrae
Stonebrae in Hayward marks the Northern California debut of Bandon Dunes designer David McLay Kidd. The private club offers five sets of tees ranging from just under 5,000 to 7,295 yards. Kidd’s vivid imagination has transformed the site into a spectacular course with panoramic views of San Francisco Bay. Natural-edged bunkers, wind-twisted oak trees and plenty of native grasslands frame the course, providing a beautiful parkland setting.
The location’s exposure to the ever-changing Bay winds and views will leave a lasting impression. Golfers might never want to leave the driving range with the San Francisco skyline serving as the distant target. Five holes will be open in May with the rest of the course to follow in September.
Located near Valley Springs northeast of Stockton, Trinitas Golf Club takes full advantage of its superb natural setting weaving through olive orchards. Owner/designer Mike Nemee and his team have developed what he hopes will be “the Northern California home of tournament golf.”
Water hazards on 16 of 18 holes and stately oak trees characterize the course which will max out at more than 7,100 yards (including three par 5s on the back nine in the excess of 580 yards). Public play will be accepted at the course three days a week for a $100 green fee, with the rest of the week devoted to large-group tournament play and a private membership.
Running Horse
Jack Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus II are working on Running Horse Country Club in Fresno. The private club will host a PGA Tour Fall Finish series event when it is ready, (in either 2007 or 2008), and will feature multiple tees ranging from 5,200 to 7,300 yards. Water hazards strategically placed on most holes will force the golfer to think about the proper placement of each shot.
Though primarily the work of Jack II, the course will join other highly-regarded Northern California layouts such as Pasadera, Ruby Hill, Old Greenwood, Coyote Creek, Diablo Grande – Legends West and Mayacama in the Nicklaus Design portfolio.
Tom Doak, is completing his first work in Northern California. Along with associate Jim Urbina, the Pacific Dunes architect has renovated and redesigned Aetna Springs in Pope Valley.
Doak’s trademark minimalist approach to design is apparent throughout the nine-hole public course. With the addition of more than 300 yards, the recapturing of playing areas lost due to the evolving landscape, and a rerouting/renumbering of holes, longtime Aetna golfers will be in for a surprise.
Cache Creek
Cache Creek, a course associated with the casino of the same name in Brooks, will open for play in the fall after a limited opening in June. Located a ¼ mile from the casino on Highway 16, the Brad Bell design will carry four sets of tees ranging from 5,466 to 7,303 yards. Rolling hills and two large, man-made lakes characterize the property. The open feeling evokes a links sensibility with the first tee cut 275 feet high on a hill providing perhaps the most memorable spot on the course.
The public course’s green fee is set at $85.
For 2008
Two private courses in the North Lake Tahoe area are making headway toward 2008 debuts. Timilick Tahoe, a Johnny Miller/John Harbottle design, and Martis Camp, a Tom Fazio creation, are situated close to each other between Truckee and the northwest side of the lake. Timilick is more of a traditional country club (members will not need to own property) whereas Martis Camp, only Fazio’s second solo course in Northern California, was developed by the same company as Lahontan and members will need to be property owners. Both courses will take full advantage of the Tahoe area’s stunning terrain.
Farther south, the city of Dinuba and architect John Fought are working on Ridge Creek, a municipal course that will provide not only one of the largest driving ranges in the region, but also a brutish, 650-yard, par five 15th hole as part of the planned 7,435-yard course.
Jack Nicklaus is also developing a new signature course in Copperopolis. Tuscany Hills will be associated with a housing development by the same name.
I wanted to provide an update to your article on “For 2008″ with regards to the Timilick Club. The course construction is now complete. Having just completed the first 18 hole round yesterday, I can say the course is actually playing beautifully. I had been playing the course in my mind all summer. Some of it played liked I expected and there were some surprises. Those holes I considered as my favorite in design, actually challenged me the most, whereas, I “parred” the No. 1 handicap hole. In addition to the physical beauty of the course, its topography and its surrounding mountainscapes and the diversity and contrast from the front nine to the back nine, I found it dramatic and refreshing.
The front nine is set in meadow-like terrain, which reminds me of the old “Bonanza” television series. I pictured Ben, Hoss and Little Joe Cartwright riding through the pines and sage with great panoramic views of the Carson Range. The course was definitely challenging from the blue tees, but more so from the fairways into the greens than off the tees into the fairways. The tee shots appeared more visually intimidating than they actually were in reality, due to wide landing areas that were often not visible from the tee box (a true “members’ course” advantage). We did, however, find some of the native areas off some of the tees, but often played out of the scattered sage bushes. I can’t speak to the roll and speed of the greens, as they were not yet “cut to putt,” however, one can get a definite sense of how beautiful they will be next Spring when they are prepared for play.
The back nine, is very different. First, the #10 and #11 holes climb up to a plateau of 6,200 feet in elevation. There, you remain for the next five holes. Overall, this plateau is more defined by elevated tees, elevated greens, pocket greens and rock outcroppings. Then, the par 4 17th hole provided a dramatic drop down to a lake-protected green. The finish was a very dramatic 600-yard 18th hole, which sports a zig-zag creek that cuts back and forth in between landing areas, defines the early left side and then finally collects in a lake that protects the front right side of the green.
The back nine surroundings were more wooded with big “specimen” pines. The native areas seemed more in play but not that tight to the fairways. The topography is more varied and interesting. The mountain views are more dramatic, but more “corridor-like” at the end of fairways, or as a back drops behind the greens. Offering more drama, overall, the back nine seemed to also present more pitching and chipping situations, including a more frequent use of the sand wedge, than the front nine offered. Getting out the bunkers seemed relatively easy, due to the high-silicate sand and low profile edges, however, many of the holes presented a complex of bunkering (i.e., clustering and tiering) near the greens, versus a single bunker style.
By observation, we took note of the generous placement of the forward tees and the lack of forced carries. We contrasted that with a look back to the “tips” and remarked about the significant difference to the blue tees, not only by distance, but by the angles and the carries. The blues handed us every bit the challenge we needed.
Overall, as a rusty 18 handicapper, I felt the course had tempo even with the variety of design and it was very enjoyable. Whereas, my 9-handicap partner thought the front played harder and the back nine easier than expected. His overall reaction was “let’s do it again!”
As Membership Director, I am always concerned about how “tough” the course looks to our prospective members. I walked away extremely pleased to see the course play so well — very friendly, rather than intimidating. I now liken the Timilick course to the feeling you get when comparing the Rocky Mountains to the Sierra — the Rockies seem to nash their teeth at you, whereas, the Sierra seem to invite you in — a fitting feeling for a club that considers itself to be the Tahoe area’s “most inviting club.”
October 27th, 2007 at 2:56 pm