November 15th, 2008 — Burlingame, CA, Dress code, William Herbert Fowler, golf courses, restaurant
Crystal Springs Golf Course is located in Burlingame, CA
Phone: (650) 342-4188
Website: http://www.playcrystalsprings.com
Course History:
This is a very historic course that was designed by William Herbert Fowler, a British course architect of great renown. It was first opened in 1924 and became an instant favorite. It has certainly withstood the test of time and is heavily played to this day. The course is known for its incredible amount of wildlife, numbering more than 61 species of birds, numerous deer and even a bobcat or two.
What You Need to Know:
You can book your tee time online or by calling the pro shop. This is a very nice facility and we recommend wearing a collared shirt and slacks. This is a soft spike facility, so please change out any metal spikes before you arrive. The pro shop here is top notch and is completely stocked with just about everything you could ever want. The Pub and Grill is beyond fantastic and overall, this is definitely one of the nicest courses in the area.
Playing Hints:
This is considered to be a true championship course so you will need to bring your best game. It's a little longer than 6600 yards and we highly recommend taking the cart option. The sixth hole is famous, or infamous, take your pick. It's a common site for weddings, due to the several hundred foot drop off between the tee and the green. You'll want to hit a very long drive off the tee if you want to do well on this hole.
The dogleg on the tenth hole is quite a challenge, but if you can hit it long, you'll do just fine. The fifteenth hole is deceptively easy, but if you give this one too much power, you'll end up surrounded by trees. Give this one a soft shot off the tee and then iron in for greater accuracy.
The eighteenth hole is your chance to even up your score. It's a long par five, but with a good drive you can easily get a birdie. Just watch out for the sloping green that can really ruin your score.
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Course Fees:
Weekdays (Monday to Thursday)
18 Holes $44
Twilight After 2:00 PM $36
Super Twilight After 4:00 PM
$26
Senior ( Age 60 +) Mon-Wed After 11:00 AM $30
Junior (Under 18) After 2:00 PM Walking only $15
Junior Super Twilight (under 18) After 4:00 PM Walking Only $10
9 Hole Early Bird (first hour 1/2 of the day) Cart included $28
Cart Fee ($15 per person) $30
Weekends (Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Holidays)
Before 2:00 PM $66
Twilight After 2:00 PM $43
Super Twilight After 4:00 PM $36
Junior (Under 18) After 2:00 PM Walking only $25
Junior Super Twilight (under 18) After 4:00 PM Walking Only $15
9 Hole Early Bird (first hour 1/2 of the day) Cart included $39
Cart Fee ($15 per person) $30
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October 30th, 2008 — Beaumont, CA, Dress code, golf courses
Oak Valley Golf Course is located in: Beaumont, CA
Phone: (951) 769-7200
Website: http://www.oakvalleygolf.com/pages.asp?pid=33
Course History:
This gorgeous golf course is home to several PGA events every year and it is easy to see why. It literally looks as though it was painted into the surroundings and you simply cannot find a more beautiful course in this area. If you're planning a trip to the Beaumont area, this is a course that you simply must play.
With just the right mix of terrain, this course is very challenging but always fun to play. It's easy to see why it achieved instant fame with locals and players from around the world.
What You Need to Know:
This is a very traditional course and they do have a dress code. Collared shirts are required, and appropriate pants or shorts are allowed. They do not allow denim in any form on the course and we do recommend soft spikes for this facility. You can register your tee time online or by calling the number listed above. They do carry soft spikes at the pro shop if you do not have them already.
Speaking of the pro shop, it is simply fantastic. We've seen a lot in our days, but this was one of the best stocked shops in the area. Very friendly service as well and a great place to buy gifts for the golfers on your list. The clubhouse was incomparable and worth the trip just for the food.
Playing Tips:
Since this is a challenging course, you'll need to bring your best game. There are not a lot of water hazards, only two, so you won't have to worry about that. However, the elevation changes are a whole other matter. Our favorite hole was the seventh hole. It looks easy, but it's anything but. You'll have a straight shot to the green from the tee, but in the middle, you'll be dealing with a lot of undulation. Try for a really strong tee shot and just keep aiming straight ahead.
Fees:
MONDAY - FRIDAY
Prime Twilight 9-Hole
$65 $45 $25
Senior Replay
$50 $25
SATURDAY, SUNDAY & HOLIDAYS
Prime Twilight 9-Hole
$85 $60 $30
Replay
$30
Prime : Includes free bucket of range balls
9-Hole : 3 hours before sunset
Senior : Ages 55 and over(Monday - 'riday)
Junior : Ages 17 and younger, based on space available must be accompanied by an adult. Juniors may not operate the golf car.
DIRECTIONS TO OAK VALLEY
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From Palm Springs: Take I-10 West to Oak Valley Parkway, exit north to Golf Club Drive (1/10 mile), left to clubhouse.
From LA / Orange County: Take I-10 East to Oak Valley Parkway, exit north to Golf Club Drive (1/10 mile), left to clubhouse.
From San Diego / Temecula: Take 215 North to 60 East to I-10 West (exit Beaumont 79 to get back onto the I-10 westbound), to Oak Valley Parkway, exit north to Golf Club Drive (1/10 mile), left to clubhouse.
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October 16th, 2008 — Bend, OR, golf courses
Widgi Creek Golf Club is located in: Bend, OR
Phone: (541) 382-4449
Website: http://www.widgi.com/golf/hours.cfm
Course History:
This is a great place to stop if you will be in the Bend, OR area. We fell in love with this course and can't wait to go back. It is extremely beautiful and we have the time of our life playing the course. It has all the perfect elements that make a golf course great and it is well suited to many different types of players.
Golf Digest has named this among their Best Places to Play year after year, and it is easy to see why this course is so popular.
What You Need to Know:
You can book your tee time by calling the number listed above. This is a very friendly course and you won't have too worry about too many restrictions. The staff are very helpful, the clubhouse is idyllic and the food at the grill was out of this world. There are few courses that can combine all of these vital elements into one great experience, but Widgi Creek manages to do just that and then some.
Playing Hints:
While the course is not terribly difficult, you'll still need to bring your best game with you. Water hazards are plentiful here and the bunkers are positively cavernous. You'll want to do all that you can to avoid both. Accuracy really counts on this course and there is not a lot of room for error.
The sixth hole offers a great challenge. On the surface it looks like an easy par four, but that is anything but true. You'll be really pushing to get par on this hole, thanks to the location of the water hazard and the slope to the fairway. Stay to the right of the fairway to avoid the water and bunkers that are all along the left side of this hole. In addition, the green is raised, so you'll need to have a good chip shot to get anything close to par on this one.
View Larger Map
Fees:
Opening Special - Opening thru April 27th; November 1st to Close
18 and 9 Holes -- $30
Spring and Fall - April 28th thru May 22nd; September 29th thru October 31st
Monday - Thursday
PrimeTime (Before 12:30 pm) (18) $49 ($39) (9) $35 ($35)
Mid Day (12:30 pm to 2:29 pm) (18) $44 ($36) (9) $35 ($35)
TwiLight (2:30 pm to Close) $35 ($35)
Fri, Sat, Sun & Holidays
PrimeTime (Before 12:30 pm) (18) $60 ($48) (9) $45 ($39)
Mid Day (12:30 pm to 2:29 pm) (18) $49 ($39) (9) $39 ($39)
TwiLight (2:30 pm to Close) $39 ($39)
Juniors (17 and Under)
All Times (18) $29 (9) $25
Summer - May 23rd thru September 28th
Monday - Thursday
PrimeTime (Before 12:30 pm) (18) $69 ($55) (9) $49 ($39)
Mid Day (12:30 pm to 3:29 pm) (18) $55 ($44) (9) $44 ($39)
TwiLight (3:30 pm to Close) $39 ($39)
Fri, Sat, Sun & Holidays
PrimeTime (Before 12:30 pm) (18) $84 ($64) (9) $59 ($49)
Mid Day (12:30 pm to 3:29 pm) (18) $69 ($55) (9) $49 ($49)
TwiLight (3:30 pm to Close) $49 ($49)
Juniors (17 and Under)
All Times (18) $29 (9) $25
Cart Rentals
Power Cart
PrimeTime (18) $16 (9) $10
Mid Day (18) $16 (9) $10
TwiLight $10
Pull Cart
All Times $5
Range Tokens
1 Token (approx. 30 Balls) $3
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October 2nd, 2008 — CA, Dress code, Seaside, golf courses, restaurant
Bayonet Golf Course is located in Seaside, CA
Phone: 831-899-7271
Website: http://www.bayonetblackhorse.com
Course History:
The Bayonet golf course is one of two courses at this location. The Black Horse course integrates with this one and you can choose to play one or the other, or mix it up with nine holes on each. The new additions to the courses are only a few years old, and in fact, the Black Horse back nine were just recently completed. There is a resort onsite and this has quickly become a very popular destination.
The old Bayonet course dates back to 1954 and was the brainchild of General McClure. The course is actually built on the old site of Fort Ord.
What You Need to Know:
This is a very traditional golf course, so we recommend proper golfing attire and soft spikes. You can register your tee time by calling the number listed above, and we highly recommend giving enough of a lag time to ensure getting the time you want. These are very busy and popular courses.
Once you play a round, you'll see why - it is hard to find a round of golf this challenging anywhere else in California. In fact, it has even some of the most famous courses beat, even to some degree, Pebble Beach. They recently added a new online registration system for tee times as well, and they frequently run special offers. We highly recommend checking them out before you book your time.
The grill is worth the trip alone and we have not seen a club house this nice in a very long time. It's all about comfort and relaxation, and after a round on this course, you're going to need it! The pro shop was terrific, and you can browse through most of their products right online. We can't say enough nice things about this amazing course and would recommend it to anyone.
Playing Hints:
You will definitely want to bring your best game to play here. The sand traps are cavernous and the water hazards are treacherous. The eighth hole is a real killer, measuring in at just over 600 yards. Save your strength, since you'll be headed for the ninth hole for a total of more than 1000 yards for both.
Overall, our best advice is to hit long and hard, and don't neglect your short game. It's almost impossible to get a par here, unless you are a very seasoned pro, but it sure is a lot of fun trying.
View Larger Map
Green Fees:
Monday - Friday Bayonet (1-9) / Black Horse (10-18) Course Combo
7am - 1pm $100
1pm - 3pm $82
3pm - Close $62
Seniors Age 60+
( Play before 10am. Mon-Fri. Not valid on Holidays) $73*
Junior- 17 yrs. & under $35
Weekends & Holidays Bayonet (1-9) / Black Horse (10-18) Course Combo
7am - 12pm $138*
12pm - 1pm $120
1pm - 3pm $92
3pm - Close $72
Juniors- 17 yrs & under $35**
*Cart Fee Included
**Accompanied by full paying adult before 1pm
Golf Cart Rates
Daily Rental $36.00, After 3pm $26.00
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September 23rd, 2008 — CA, Lake Tahoe, Lessons Available, Robert Muir Graves
The Northstar at Tahoe Golf Course is located near Lake Tahoe, CA
Phone: 530.562.3290
Website: http://www.northstarattahoe.com/info/summer/golf.asp
Course History:
This resort course has something for the whole family, including tennis, horseback riding and many other activities. The staff here are incredibly friendly and the course has built up a reputation of being one of the nicest in the area. Designed by the famous Robert Muir Graves, this beautiful course is incredibly challenging but still fun. It is definitely one of the nicest and most professional courses in California and the surrounding areas.
What You Need to Know:
You can reserve your tee time by calling the number listed above or by using their online system. The course frequently runs specials, so we highly recommend visiting their website before you book. Lessons are available from the on site pros and the pro shop is very well stocked.
We recommend wearing traditional golf attire, although the course doesn't state that there is a dress code. If you have any questions we recommend contacting the pro shop. Since it is a resort course, you'll probably want to err on the side of caution and dress conservatively.
Playing Hints:
As we mentioned earlier, this is a challenging course, and you'll need to bring your best game. The main issue are the water hazards which affect pretty much every hole. You'll be dealing with a creek throughout the entire course, and there are also some sizable lakes that make several holes a lot more interesting.
While most of the holes are straightforward, there are a few with a slight dog leg. You'll need to focus more on avoiding the water and going for a long, straight drive. The bunkers aren't terribly bad but there are enough of them to make it challenging.
The greens for the second and third hole are cut off by the creek, so you'll want to make sure that you land your drive in a spot where it will be easy to get across with one shot. The same creek also affects the fifteenth and eleventh holes, so you'll be pretty familiar with the creek before the end of your game.
The first green is situated directly next to a large lake, so you'll want to keep to the right of the fairway for the best chances of avoiding it. On the thirteenth hole however, keep to the left to avoid the lake before the green.
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Fees:
| Green Fees |
Spring?5/24 - 6/27
|
Summer*?6/28 - 9/28
|
Fall?9/29 - closing
|
| 18-Holes |
| Daily - Tee Times before 1:00 p.m. |
$50
|
$80
|
N/A
|
| Twilight - Tee Times after 1:00 p.m. |
$40
|
$60
|
N/A
|
| Fall Season Shotgun Special at 10:30 a.m. |
N/A
|
N/A
|
$50
|
| Junior (16 and under) Twilight - Must accompany adult round. |
$39
|
$39
|
$39
|
| 9-Holes |
| Early Birdie - Nine-hole play 6:30 - 8:30 a.m. |
$45
|
$45
|
$45
|
| Late Afternoon (NEW!) Nine-hole play after 4:00 p.m. |
$35
|
$45
|
$35
|
| Rates include use of shared cart.*Peak rates apply during July 4 - 6, 2008. $100 for tee times before 1:00 p.m. and $80 for twilight play. |
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August 12th, 2008 — CA, Chico, golf courses
Tuscan Ridge Golf Course is located in Chico, CA
Phone: (530) 624-7006
Website: http://www.tuscanridgeclub.com/
Course History:
Tuscan Ridge Golf Course is a beautiful course that is off the beaten path near Chico, CA. This is truly a rare course and we were very happy to find it. Since it opened, it became an instant favorite of the locals and it's easy to see why. This course offers a great challenging level of play and some of the best facilities we've seen in the area.
What You Need to Know:
Tuscan Ridge doesn't specifically state that there is a dress code, but we do recommend standard golf attire. You can register your tee time by calling the number listed above. In addition to their usual pro shop gear, which is terrific by the way, they also offer some of the best club fitting and repair services we've ever seen. This is a great place to go if your clubs are getting a bit run down and you need them fixed properly.
The clubhouse is worth the trip alone and it is extremely relaxing. This was definitely one of the nicest rounds of golf we have played in years and we simply cannot say enough nice things about this incredible course.
Playing Hints:
The designer of this course was a master of optical illusions and the "risk reward" strategy. You'll need to bring your best game here and chances are, you'll want to keep coming back to perfect your own strategy. We found that the natural terrain was very challenging and there were times that we weren't sure where the green was.
There are numerous hazards on the course that make it fun to play. One wrong move and you may find yourself in a small quarry. Accuracy is definitely key here and we highly recommend working on the art of the straight and powerful drive before you arrive. Watch out for the bunker on The Vineyard Hole. You may need a bulldozer to get out if you have the misfortune of landing in there.
Fees:
| |
| |
Weekday Rates |
Weekend Rates |
| 18 Holes |
$29.00 |
$36.00 |
| Student, Senior, Military |
$19.00 |
$26.00 |
| Twilight Rate -3pm |
$21.00 |
$24.00 |
| Super Twilight Rate -5pm |
$12.00 |
$15.00 |
| Jr. Rate (18 & under) |
$10.00 |
$14.00 |
| Replay Rate |
$11.00 |
$14.00 |
| Cart Rental |
| |
18 Holes |
| Twilight Riding Fee |
$10.00 |
| Riding Fee |
$14.00 |
| Driving Range Fees |
| |
Small |
Medium |
Large |
| Range Balls |
$4.00 |
$6.00 |
$8.00 |
How to Get There:
View Larger Map
From Bay Area (East I-80)
Approximately 2 hours drive time from Vacaville, CA
1. Drive East on I-80
2. Merge onto I-505 North
3. Merge onto I-5 North
4. Take EXIT 619 in Orland (CA-32)
5. Turn RIGHT at light and follow CA-32 to Chico
6. In Chico, take a LEFT at East Ave (first light)
7. East Ave turns to Manzanita Ave, then to Chico Canyon Road and finally to Bruce Rd.
8. Bruce Road intersects Skyway Blvd at a major intersection
at Skyway Blvd, turn LEFT
9. Tuscan Ridge Golf Course will appear on the right side of Skyway Blvd
10. Turn Right at rock sign under 4.5 miles from Bruce Road
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