Northern California Coast Course Recommendations?

[DaveGoodrich]

We are on a road trip, heading south from OR on the 101. Anybody have any course recommendations for the 101 corridor between OR and San Francisco?  Would be playing as a single, most likely a late afternoon round. 

[PJ Blake]

For sure Northwood on hwy 116 a bit west of 101/ Santa Rosa in Monte Rio. Only 9 holes but, from what I hear, a spectacular McKenzie course through the giant redwoods. Hoping to make the drive up there soon. Played in Santa Rosa a while back and didn't even know the place was there. (I was too focused on landing the rare Pliny the Younger @Russian River Brewery while I was up there 🤣🍻.)

 

You may have seen the Skratch YouTube piece on this course, but just in case you haven't:

 

 

 

[Yrrdead]

I played sea ranch a few years back when camping in Gualala. The ocean side 9 is pretty great.  It's just so out of the way its rare I get to recommend it. 

[jjr]

Northwood is a must play ( big MacKenzie fan here) Sea Ranch is a fun track worth playing. Little River Inn in Little River CA is fun with a few glasses of wine too.

[James the Hogan Fan]

My experience is primarily with Sonoma/Marin County Courses:

 

Northwood is pretty cool, but it's only 9 holes and pretty short. Don't get me wrong it's majestic with a capital M, but in some ways feels like a majestic pitch n putt. 

 

Bodega Bay is fine, however I believe it to be overpriced, and the majority of holes are hemmed in by housing. It's scenic, there's some awesome elevation change, but I spent most of the round worrying about whose panoramic window I was going to have to pay for.

 

 

Sea Ranch is awesome, it's a great place to play 36 because of a cheap replay rate and it's more often than not empty... because it's in the middle of nowhere. I played 36 in 6½ hours there last year. Haven't gone back because I can't find the time, but I want to!

 

 

The Santa Rosa golf courses are all average muni-style courses (Bennett, Windsor, Valley of the Moon. Foxtail North is a fun, if unremarkable house lined course. Foxtail South is skippable. 

 

Be aware that Windsor and Rooster Run, should you desire to play there will not book a single as a matter of policy. They'll let you on, but only if you show up at the course if/when there happens to be a gap.

 

Peacock Gap has an issue with getting water. It's a cool course but last year they couldn't irrigate fairways; it was basically concrete.

 

Now I do want to throw out one of the wall option, but I've never played there and the google streetview isn't too promising, but there is in fact a golf course in Shelter Cove California in the middle of nowhere. The absolute middle of nowhere. It surrounds a runway on this tiny chunck of land on the "lost coast" of the state. I only point it out because not many know there's even a course there, much less played it... 

 

[Mullenboy]

Listen to James - he is right on re all of this.

 

 

[jjr]

I have to disagree with James & Mullen, Northwood may be 9 holes but it is a very good 9 holes (pitch and putt by MacKenzie, come on bro!!) worth playing twice.

 

9 hole #30 ranked in the world: https://golf.com/travel/50-best-9-hole-courses-2020/

 

Bennett Valley is better then Bodega Bay, seriously windows, trees on Bennett and Northwood, are you not a tree fan only Hogan:)?

Edited July 22, 2022 by jjr

[Mullenboy]

And I'll disagree with JJR... my opinion is Northwood is among the most overrated courses I have ever seen.  Yep it has a lot of very tall trees.  Whoopdee do.  It's so claustrophobically tight it's very little fun to play.  I'd say it's a fine place for a hike; not so much to play golf.

 

But again to each his own....

[jjr]

To each his own is a correct statement.

 

Sometimes golf course enjoyment comes down to ability, if you can play you enjoy difficult courses if you can't you don't.

 

 

 

[DaveGoodrich]

Thanks for all the input.  I was able to play Sea Ranch and also played Salmon Run, down in Brookings.   I enjoyed them both very much.  Both were late afternoon windy rounds with the courses mostly empty.  The wife and dog joined me on the back 9 of Salmon Run.    Wish the timing had worked out to try Northwood, but I'll get back up there again. 

 

Now I'm back in the 105* SoCal heat😱, but still looking forward to playing this weekend. 

[James the Hogan Fan]

How was Sea Ranch conditions-wise? When I played there last October the greens were probably a 9/10 but there were some water issues for fairways, which had browned in places. I will make the drive up soon if it's in good shape. Did you get any pics?

 

To me the 2 nines play very differently, with the stretch 11-16 being very tough. The front seemed more friendly, both mentally and on the scorecard. 

[Mullenboy]

On 7/21/2022 at 10:34 PM, jjr said:

To each his own is a correct statement.

 

Sometimes golf course enjoyment comes down to ability, if you can play you enjoy difficult courses if you can't you don't.

 

 

 

Perhaps you're right but... I also wouldn't call Northwood all that difficult.  Just hit an iron off every tee..... which for most people is very little fun.

[James the Hogan Fan]

 

18 hours ago, Mullenboy said:

Perhaps you're right but... I also wouldn't call Northwood all that difficult.  Just hit an iron off every tee..... which for most people is very little fun.

 

When I played Northwood I simply brought out Persimmon + 1972 Hogan irons. Made the round much more interesting because I can't make persimmon go straight. They only have 2 par 4s longer than 300 if I recall, and the par 5's are 470/530. 

 

It's a good course for iron practice though, and if you're spraying it you are in for a long 90 minutes. 

 

 

[doc52]

Yocha Dehe is fun.