NorCal Courses

[Vroomer99]

Hey all,

I have family coming from out of town in the spring time for a little week of golf.  Looking for some recommendations on must play courses, as well as perhaps a few hidden gems that we should look into in the Bay Area.  So far we have Poppy Hills, Pacific Grove, Bayonet, Corica Park, Wente on the list.  Just looking to see if there is anything else we should know about/consider(apart from the known BIG ones) to look into. Or perhaps any “secret” deals for foursomes.  Cost is always a relevant factor, trying to keep it reasonable, but am all ears for suggestions/tips!

Thanks!

[jvincent]

No specific recommendations, but if you aren't an NCGA member you or one of your family should get a membership.

 

The discounts for members/guests will pay for the membership many times over.

[Vroomer99]

1 hour ago, jvincent said:

No specific recommendations, but if you aren't an NCGA member you or one of your family should get a membership.

 

The discounts for members/guests will pay for the membership many times over.

I am a NCGA member yes, it really does add up with the savings from some courses. Thanks for the response!

[tocino]

Pasatiempo, Metropolitan, Presidio, Yoche de ha, Silverado, Eagle Vines, Chardonnay 

Edited November 29, 2021 by tocino

[Mullenboy]

"the Bay Area" can mean a massive number of square miles... are you starting from Chico?  Or where will you be staying?  Is there no limit to how far you'd be willing to drive?

 

Tocino just posted 7 cool courses, but they are very far apart geographically.

 

Care to narrow this down?  Or is the sky the limit?

 

Note I live in San Jose and have for 30 years.. have played everywhere.  All the recos so far are great but narrow it down a bit and maybe we can think of something else.

 

 

[tocino]

lol i looked at the OP's list and figured he was willing to travel based off of the list he first mentioned

Edited November 29, 2021 by tocino

[Mullenboy]

10 minutes ago, tocino said:

lol i looked at the OP's list and figured he was willing to travel based off of the list he first mentioned

that makes perfect sense!  That does just of course make for a LOT of travel.  And I am too lazy to try to think of anything anywhere.  🙂

 

That being said... OK... add Sea Ranch to the list.  It's not really ocean-side other than some far away views, but it is great fun at a great price.

 

Pacific Grove Muni is also good fun.  I do not think it's the "poor man's Pebble Beach" as many call it... it's not that good... but the back 9 holes are somewhat linksy and offer great views.  Visitors do tend to love it (so long as they are not expecting Pebble Beach).

 

Cordevalle is expensive and great... can be accessed... definitely worth seeing if price is thrown out of the equation.

 

There are many others.

 

 

[aloha b.]

Since you're playing Wente you might as well play Poppy Ridge too since you're an NCGA member and you'd get a discount. I would also consider Carmel Valley Ranch a fun track which also gives green fee discounts to NCGA members.

[falken19150]

Put Quail Lodge on the list……….hidden gem.

[dnong]

Cinnabar Hills in South San Jose. 27 great holes.

[Chanceman]

The ones I played were Presidio, Sharp Park, Cinnabar Hills, San Juan Oaks, Wente Vineyards, Sonoma and the 9-holer at Northwood. I would play them all again but I think Sonoma was the best and Sharp Park the scruffiest.

[Yrrdead]

I'm always one to advocate for Bayonet/Blackhorse but after last weekend and honestly moving forward I would avoid Bayonet. Greens were strangely hard in a not fun way. In addition they are throwing up houses in between holes which makes an already tight (feeling) course even tighter.  Poppy Hills though is going to start work on 2 greens, they hadn't yet as of 11/22/21 but scheduled to start which means temporary greens.

 

So cross Bayonet and Poppy Hills off your list. Blackhorse was still a blast though. Maybe Poppy Ridge instead? Get them on a golf board 🙂 .

[Mullenboy]

I live fairly nearly Cinnabar Hills... and can confirm it is definitely worth playing.  Look for golfnow specials - they do show up from time to time.  Anyway 3 nines... all similar fine quality.  Very tough walk, but good fun.

 

And I'd concur also re Bayonet.. best avoided as it is these days.

 

Quail Lodge is also very cool but also very expensive.

 

All the rest... good calls.  The bottom line around here is there really are no hidden gems... generally everything is pretty damn expensive... and tee times are hard to get.  Other than that it's a golf mecca.  🙂

[Vroomer99]

On 11/29/2021 at 9:21 AM, Mullenboy said:

"the Bay Area" can mean a massive number of square miles... are you starting from Chico?  Or where will you be staying?  Is there no limit to how far you'd be willing to drive?

 

Tocino just posted 7 cool courses, but they are very far apart geographically.

 

Care to narrow this down?  Or is the sky the limit?

 

Note I live in San Jose and have for 30 years.. have played everywhere.  All the recos so far are great but narrow it down a bit and maybe we can think of something else.

 

 

Hey!  I will be picking them up at SFO, then we will stay two nights in the Monterey area, and maybe one more back up around San Jose-ish.  We are thinking Cinnabar Hills, heard that is a great track!

 

So anything around Monterey or San Jose, and probably another on our way back to Chico.

 

Thanks!

[Mullenboy]

Got it.

So.... what I'd suggest is....

Rd 1 - Near San Jose:  Cinnabar or Pasatiempo (if you can splurge - it's a truly great golf course but is very very expensive)

Rd 2 - Monterey:  any of several based on how much you are willing to spend.  PG Muni on the low end, Pebble Beach on the high end, many in between, all mentioned here.  I'd say spend on Pasatiempo and then save on PG Muni

Rd 3:  on the way to Chico:  either Corica South in Alameda or Wente Vineyards in Livermore.  Both very interesting.  Use golfnow for deals.

 

Of course there are MANY other ways to do this.  🙂

Edited November 30, 2021 by Mullenboy

[tocino]

if you're heading up toward Chico eventually, any of the Napa courses are great, Silverado being my favorite of the three as I volunteer there when they throw the Safeway Open/Fortinet Championship. Yoche is my absolute favorite though. It can actually be pretty cheap if you win your green fees back at the casino later... but you can also make it a lot more expensive if you lose lol

[Vroomer99]

On 11/29/2021 at 9:00 AM, tocino said:

Pasatiempo, Metropolitan, Presidio, Yoche de ha, Silverado, Eagle Vines, Chardonnay 

Metropolitan looks nice, toss up between it and Corica I think.  May not go up to Napa area, but will get there at some point in the future I am sure.

Thanks for the suggestions, much appreciated!

Also just played Yocha for the first time last week, what a nice spot!  Will definitely go back there again!

[Vroomer99]

On 11/29/2021 at 11:42 PM, Yrrdead said:

I'm always one to advocate for Bayonet/Blackhorse but after last weekend and honestly moving forward I would avoid Bayonet. Greens were strangely hard in a not fun way. In addition they are throwing up houses in between holes which makes an already tight (feeling) course even tighter.  Poppy Hills though is going to start work on 2 greens, they hadn't yet as of 11/22/21 but scheduled to start which means temporary greens.

 

So cross Bayonet and Poppy Hills off your list. Blackhorse was still a blast though. Maybe Poppy Ridge instead? Get them on a golf board 🙂 .

Looks like we will scrap Bayonet.

Also looks like the greens at Poppy will be done by May next year, so likely keeping that on the list.

Thank you for the suggestions!

[Vroomer99]

23 hours ago, Mullenboy said:

Got it.

So.... what I'd suggest is....

Rd 1 - Near San Jose:  Cinnabar or Pasatiempo (if you can splurge - it's a truly great golf course but is very very expensive)

Rd 2 - Monterey:  any of several based on how much you are willing to spend.  PG Muni on the low end, Pebble Beach on the high end, many in between, all mentioned here.  I'd say spend on Pasatiempo and then save on PG Muni

Rd 3:  on the way to Chico:  either Corica South in Alameda or Wente Vineyards in Livermore.  Both very interesting.  Use golfnow for deals.

 

Of course there are MANY other ways to do this.  🙂

Looking like we will try for Cinnabar, Poppy Hills, Pacific Grove, then either Wente/Corica/Metropolitan on the way back up.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

[HugoBear]

Yocha de he is amazing.

‘I hated Bayonet but liked Blackhorse a few weeks ago.

[hammergolf]

On 11/28/2021 at 7:40 PM, Vroomer99 said:

Hey all,

I have family coming from out of town in the spring time for a little week of golf.  Looking for some recommendations on must play courses, as well as perhaps a few hidden gems that we should look into in the Bay Area.  So far we have Poppy Hills, Pacific Grove, Bayonet, Corica Park, Wente on the list.  Just looking to see if there is anything else we should know about/consider(apart from the known BIG ones) to look into. Or perhaps any “secret” deals for foursomes.  Cost is always a relevant factor, trying to keep it reasonable, but am all ears for suggestions/tips!

Thanks!

Pasatiempo in Santa Cruz is the best of them all….

[HugoBear]

Pasatiempo is amazing and is bucket list level. You will pay about $375 to play it though.

[HugoBear]

Justin, it’s Brooks.

I have played almost everything in Northern California and would be happy to give my opinion on any courses.

Closer to us is Darkhorse in Auburn. Depending on condition, it is great layout, condition can vary.

Yoche is a must.

[Vroomer99]

2 hours ago, HugoBear said:

Justin, it’s Brooks.

I have played almost everything in Northern California and would be happy to give my opinion on any courses.

Closer to us is Darkhorse in Auburn. Depending on condition, it is great layout, condition can vary.

Yoche is a must.

Hey Brooks,

Love Darkhorse, will be playing that one day with them.

Got the rest pretty much locked in, seems like all the big tracks are coming back the same.  Was just wondering if there are any other "hidden gems" but really, none are hidden!

 

TY