Journey to 2000 Golf Courses Played: Northern California Trip

I had no idea I would be traveling to Northern California when 2021 began, but a new job and relocation provided opportunities that were too good to pass up. I experienced three seasons in five days as I spent time in Lake Tahoe, the Monterey Peninsula and the Bay area. I saw a nice variety of courses, and played a course I should have played 16 years ago.

Clear Creek Tahoe, my favorite course on the trip

The trip began in the Lake Tahoe area with a round at the Tom Fazio designed Martis Camp Club. The course is one of Fazio's best and has great variety.

Martis Camp, Par four 9th Hole

Martis Camp Club, Par three 17th hole

The second course I played on day one was Coyote Moon Golf Club. Designed by Brad Bell, this course is located in Truckee on the Northern side of Lake Tahoe. It features many severe elevation changes like the par three below. The 13th hole is a 230 yard par three that drops so much from the tee that I hit nine iron (140 club) over the green!

Coyote Moon, Par three 13th hole

My last stop on day one was Incline Village and their championship course. The championship course was designed by Robert Trent Jones, and the Mountain course, higher in elevation, was designed by Trent Jones Jr. The course is a solid, trademark effort from Trent Jones and is enjoyable to play.

Incline Village Championship Course, Par five 5th Hole

Day two began at Edgewood Tahoe Resort where they had just completed playing the American Century Celebrity Tournament. The course was designed by George & Tom Fazio and it was a rare treat to play the course with all the stands and camera towers still up.

Edgewood Tahoe, Par five 16th Hole

After a lovely early morning round at Edgewood, I headed north along the lake to the town of Glenbrook for a round at the nine hole Glenbrook Club, reported to be the first golf course in Nevada. The course was everything I love about nine hole courses - quirky, fun, and makes you think. The first hole is a very short par five but in order to hit it in two you have to play down the far right side otherwise you are hitting a massive hook around trees to a green that is not very receptive.

Glenbrook Club, the short but strategic Par five 1st Hole

Glenbrook Club, Par five 2nd hole with Par three 3rd hole in background

The final course on day two was the highlight of the trip. Clear Creek Tahoe in Carson City was designed by the wonderful team of Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw. It makes great use of the land and features one of their strongest sets of par threes. The development struggled through bankruptcy when it first opened in the early 2000's but is now flourishing. It is great to know that this place will be around for a very long time.

Clear Creek Tahoe, Par three 2nd hole

Clear Creek Tahoe, Par three 17th Hole

I headed to the Monterey Peninsula for day three. I had not been on the Peninsula for sixteen years and it was wonderful to return. One of the best places on earth. My day began just east of the Peninsula in Carmel for a round at The Preserve Golf Club. The course is credited to Tom Fazio but was actually designed by J. Michael Poellot, with routing help from the great Sandy Tatum, which explains why I liked it so much! A dramatic piece of property with a very memorable eight mile entrance drive, the Preserve really surprised me.

The Preserve, Par four 1st Hole. A very dramatic way to begin your round!

The Preserve, Par four 3rd Hole

With some time to kill between rounds, I headed to Pebble Beach to check out the newly redesigned Peter Hay par three, now re-named The Hay. The course was renovated by Tiger Woods design team and is a great place for kids and beginners. Every hole is under 100 yards and it features a replica of the seventh green at Pebble, see below:

The Hay, Par three 2nd hole. A copy of the 7th at Pebble Beach

The main reason for this trip was up next on day three. 16 years ago I had the pleasure of playing the Shore course at Monterey Peninsula with my father. After we finished, there were several hours of daylight left, and I wanted to head out to catch the back nine of the Dunes course with its oceanside holes. I made the mistake of asking the cart kids instead of the golf shop and they talked me out of it. I finally returned after many years, and now got to experience the Dunes course newly renovated by the Jackson/Kahn design team.

Monterey Peninsula Dunes Course, Par three 10th Hole

They did a great job of bringing variety and interest to the front nine which is mainly routed through the homes. I eagled the drivable par four fifth hole. I holed out from the greenside bunker with a foursome that was letting me through watching. The course hits the dunes on the ninth hole and stays in the dunes through 16.

The signature par three 14th hole, pictured below, is across 17 mile drive and features a new tee back in the rocks.

The 14th hole is on the ocean side of the famous 17 mile drive

New back tee on the 14th Hole

There is a pull off viewing area right next to the tee so you have curious tourists watching you as you play!

Public viewing area near the 14th tee

Tourists looking down on the back tee on 14.

The amazing Par three 14th hole at Monterey Peninsula Dunes

My long day in the Peninsula ended with a twilight round at Bayonet Golf Club. I played the other course here, Black Horse, on my trip sixteen years ago. Bayonet sits on the old Fort Ord and the original course was designed by General Robert McClure. Gene Bates carried out significant renovations in the last ten years. The course hosts many tournaments and is very challenging.

Bayonet Golf Club, Par three 17th hole

The fourth day of the trip began at the only 11 hole golf course in the country, Gilroy Golf Course. After playing Gilroy, I have now played courses with 5,6,7,9,10,11,17,18,19,20, and 22 holes. I am hopeful to add 12 this year and there is an eight hole course in Ohio and a 21 hole course in West Virginia so I'm getting closer to a complete count from 5 to 22.

Gilroy Golf Course, Par three 8th hole

A six mile drive from Gilroy brought me to my next destination, CordeValle Golf Club. Host of the 2016 US Women's Open won by Brittany Lang, CordeValle is a Robert Trent Jones II design that makes great use of its wonderful setting. My only complaint about the course was when my caddie mind-fucked me on the ninth tee by telling me all the bad things in front of me. The hole was 430 downhill into a stiff breeze with a split fairway that had a hazard running down the middle. After hearing about all the places I didn't want to be, I promptly hooked it into the shit. Other than that little hiccup, it was a delightful course.

CordeValle, Par four 8th Hole

CordeValle, Par four 17th hole

I headed North to the San Francisco area for my afternoon rounds. First up was the historic Olympic Club. Home to the many time major host Lake course, but I was here to experience the wonderful par three Cliffs course, which sadly might no longer exist soon. The club is contemplating a master plan for the Ocean course that would see new holes where the Cliffs currently sits, and a new par three course near the clubhouse. The Cliffs sits on the only property on the ocean, and I understand why they would want to place holes here on the most dramatic property. Especially given that I was the only one playing the Cliffs the entire time I was there. Still though, it's a magnificent little course with amazing views and a constant wind that makes the experience incredibly fun.

Olympic Club, Cliffs Course, 3rd hole in foreground with 4th hole in background

The sun peaked out for about 5 minutes to allow me to get this shot of the 5th hole in the foreground and the 4th in the background.

I made a very short drive from Olympic to my final destination on day four, Lake Merced Golf Club. The course was originally designed by Willie Lock in 1923, with changes by the great Alister MacKenzie in 1929. The course is embarking on a renovation by Gil Hanse that will begin this fall. Some holes will stay, but others, like the 3rd pictured below, will disappear for new holes. The master plan looks great, and I'm sure Gil will do great work. But it's still hard to say goodbye to a cool par three like the 3rd.

Lake Merced, par three 3rd hole, soon to be NLE

The final day of my trip began at one of the smartest places on earth. Palo Alto and the Stanford University Golf Course. Stanford was designed by George Thomas and Billy Bell, the same designers of the big name courses in Southern California - Riviera, Bel-Air, and Los Angeles Country Club. The course features a very strong routing that makes its way through canyons and hollows. Not quite as demanding as their more famous designs, Stanford is still a very solid course with lots of interest.

Stanford, Par four 11th Hole

Stanford, Par three 14th Hole

I had some time between rounds so I decided to check out the par three Emerald Hills Golf Course in Redwood City. The course was built on the side of a hill and is more of a walk than I expected. I probably should have stripped my bag a little before I headed out. I enjoyed the course and the variety of shots it required, but I also had to remind myself that I was at a par three course where people learn the game. I was stuck behind a couple who practiced on one green for fifteen minutes. Then I waited behind a guy in jeans who only had one club for ten minutes, then it was a guy who repeatedly looked back at me on the tee a mere 90 yards away while he preceded to practice putting on the green for ten minutes with the next hole wide open.

Emerald Hills, 1st Hole

The next course I played requested that I not mention it on social media so I will respect their wishes.

The final round of the trip was at one of the most fun courses in the state of California, Green Hills Country Club designed by the master, Alister MacKenzie. I call him the master because he just knew how to design a course that was superior architecturally, and tons of fun at the same time. The picture below is of the opening hole. If you aren't excited for your round looking down at this tee shot, then you don't play golf! The course winds up and down some amazing property very close to the San Francisco International Airport. A lesser architect would have struggled with this property yet MacKenzie dealt with the changes in elevation perfectly, using a dramatic finishing hole to get back to the clubhouse on top of the hill.