Any good public golf courses in the Sac area?

[kb02]

I picked up the game a year ago and am finally at the point where I can enjoy courses rather than just hope to not lose 10 balls each round. Figure I'm going to try to do golf + kings games when I'm able to in the Sac area with some buddies (who are just picking up the game as well). Any good public courses in the area that yhall would recommend.

 

[GWD]

Not really any courses for relative beginners. Pretty much anything around town will do. Search the Internet for options. Almost all courses are flat, wide open, but not particularly well-maintained.

However, if you want quality and a challenging course try these within an hour's drive.
Yocha DeHe in Brooks (expensive but a once-in-a-lifetime experience). It also has an Indian casino for after the round. Perfectly maintained and beautiful.
Rancho Solano or Paradise Valley in Fairfied (moderate prices, well-maintained)

 

[kb02]

Not really any courses for relative beginners. Pretty much anything around town will do. Search the Internet for options. Almost all courses are flat, wide open, but not particularly well-maintained.

However, if you want quality and a challenging course try these within an hour's drive.
Yocha DeHe in Brooks (expensive but a once-in-a-lifetime experience). It also has an Indian casino for after the round. Perfectly maintained and beautiful.
Rancho Solano or Paradise Valley in Fairfied (moderate prices, well-maintained)

Yocha Dehe has been on my radar. A few of the guys that I play locally with are experienced and have mentioned that course a few times. Have played at some challenging courses over the last year, because of their invites (Spanish Bay, Stonebrae, Pebble, Poppy, Harding…).

Sac guys, however, are all beginners.

Haven’t heard of Rancho Solano or Paradise Valley. Will check them out. Thx.

 

[GWD]

Rancho Solano and Paradise Valley were my go-to courses when I played a lot of golf.

Rancho is hilly and winds through expensive housing. It has a bit more water and trees to negotiate.

Paradise Valley is flat but not without challenges. Good for walkers but still is long.

Both courses are subject to windy conditions and are easily accessible just off I-80 freeway from Sacramento.

Yocha-DeHe is out in the boonies and is a bit difficult to get to on a two-lane country road. But well worth the drive. I've played it at least 20 times and only broke 80 once. The first hole is a memory that is unforgettable (only parred it twice). Play from tees that are as far forward as your ego can handle - the course is long.

 

[kb02]

Rancho Solano and Paradise Valley were my go-to courses when I played a lot of golf.

Rancho is hilly and winds through expensive housing. It has a bit more water and trees to negotiate.

Paradise Valley is flat but not without challenges. Good for walkers but still is long.

Both courses are subject to windy conditions and are easily accessible just off I-80 freeway from Sacramento.

Yocha-DeHe is out in the boonies and is a bit difficult to get to on a two-lane country road. But well worth the drive. I've played it at least 20 times and only broke 80 once. The first hole is a memory that is unforgettable (only parred it twice). Play from tees that are as far forward as your ego can handle - the course is long.

Nice. Thanks will definitely check them out. Rancho sounds a bit like Hiddenbrooke, Stonebrae, and Poppy Ridge (no homes though). Hilly, long, and surrounded by homes. Paradise sounds a bit like my home course, Boundary Oaks. Flat, windy at times, good for frequent play.

Yocha-Dehe playing long will be fun. I have a buddy, locally, who can get hit it 300+ on each drive. He's a big dude. I'm usually 220 to 250 when it's straight. Still haven't hit below 90, but that's a gigantic improvement from a year ago when I was losing 10 balls or more per round. Lolzzz.

 

[macadocious]

Ansel Hoffman is a good course. Medium difficulty but has huge trees. Lots of wildlife.

 

[GWD]

Ansel Hoffman is a good course. Medium difficulty but has huge trees. Lots of wildlife.

Ancil is a good course to be sure. Many tournaments are played there. In fact, it gets a lot of play and, unfortunately, shows it.

The problem is that the last few time I played it the maintenance has not been the best. But that was a couple of years ago so conditions may be better now. Doubt it though with the drought restrictions.

 

[kb02]

Ancil is a good course to be sure. Many tournaments are played there. In fact, it gets a lot of play and, unfortunately, shows it.

The problem is that the last few time I played it the maintenance has not been the best. But that was a couple of years ago so conditions may be better now. Doubt it though with the drought restrictions.

I think the drought has been an issue for a lot of courses. Hiddenbrooke is a mess right now--all around. The greens on Harding, Stonebrae, and Poppy were pretty bad as well when I played there in Aug/Sept.

 

[kb02]

Played Spanish Bay today. Tough course.

 

[kb02]

Played Yocha Dehe today. Beautiful course. Tough, sticky rough.

 

[GWD]

Played Yocha Dehe today. Beautiful course. Tough, sticky rough.

Details, details, details, please!

How did you score?

 

[kb02]

Details, details, details, please!

How did you score?

Honestly, we stopped scoring about half way through. Had a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue that we finished around then—started drinking early at the range. Lolz. Had a few blow up holes. Hit Par on two holes. That’s pretty much my highlights for the day. Was fun, but a rough day play wise.

 

[GWD]

Ha, ha!! With Johnny in your group I can see not keeping score. Probably dims the recall of the holes as well.

Golf should be enjoyed and I hope you were able to do that.

 

[kb02]

Ha, ha!! With Johnny in your group I can see not keeping score. Probably dims the recall of the holes as well.

Golf should be enjoyed and I hope you were able to do that.

Definitely should be enjoyed. Was fun though hazy. A good way to start 2022.

 

[kb02]

Played Spyglass this morning. Tough, fast greens. I sucked so hard, but was fun. Tim Tebow was two groups behind us. Think he’s prepping for a ProAm. Big freaking dude.

 

[GWD]

Spyglass tore me up. Well, I tore myself up with poor play. If there was trouble, I found it. And there is plenty of trouble to find as you now know. I went par, birdie, and that was it. Barely broke 100.

The layout of seaside holes and undulating forest holes combined in one course is interesting. Lots of wildlife.

Did you run into the "all putts break to the ocean" phenomena? I had a 10-foot flat putt directly away from the ocean on a seaside hole and it went halfway...shocking. Next putt short on the lip. Three putts from 10 feet.

 

[kb02]

Spyglass tore me up. Well, I tore myself up with poor play. If there was trouble, I found it. And there is plenty of trouble to find as you now know. I went par, birdie, and that was it. Barely broke 100.

The layout of seaside holes and undulating forest holes combined in one course is interesting. Lots of wildlife.

Did you run into the "all putts break to the ocean" phenomena? I had a 10-foot flat putt directly away from the ocean on a seaside hole and it went halfway...shocking. Next putt on the lip. Three puts from 10 feet.

We didn’t experience the phenomenon, but did have the it’s like putting on hardwood floors phenomenon. Lolzzz. On the first hole, I chipped a ball about two feet, up slope from the hole. It ended up rolling to the rough about twenty feet down slope. Went from a possible par to a + 4.

I had a par and a bogey. That was it, but it was fun, which is all that matters. 17 mile drive is a spectacular area.