August 14th, 2008 — CA, Madera, golf courses, private course, restaurant
Riverbend Golf Club is located in Madera, CA
Phone: 559-432-3020
Website: http://www.riverbendgolf.com
Course History:
This is a private course that offers daily fee play and is a favorite among locals and travelers alike. Each year, the following events are hosted here: NCGA California State Amateur Qualifying Events, California Players Tour, Golf Channel Amatuer Tour, the Annual Outlaw Cup Championship (formerly Coombs Cup) and is the Home of the Save Mart Shootout. It is easy to see why this is such a popular destination. This is truly one of the nicest courses on the West Coast.
What You Need to Know:
You can register your tee time by calling the number listed above. Since this is a private course, traditional golf attire is necessary. No sleeveless shirts are allowed and no denim. The course does not state whether they prefer soft or metal spikes, but we recommend soft spikes just in case.
This course offers a very unique system called the ProShot Golf System. This gizmo is well worth the time it takes to get to this course. You’ll be able to use this to get exact information on the distance of your shots as well as customized tips to help you improve your game. The system is mounted on to your golf cart and can be used to determine how many yards you are from the hole, how to handle upcoming hazards and functions very much like a high tech caddy.
The onsite café offers breakfast and lunch and features a great mix of real ranch cooking. They also provide catering services and are well loved by the entire community.
Playing Hints:
Don’t let the virtual caddy fool you into think this is an easy course. It’s actually quite difficult in spots but always fun to play. You’ll need that system for many of these holes since they can be pretty tough. The first three holes may lull you into a sense of complacency, but the fourth hole will shake you up. The green is almost completely surrounded by a lake and you’ll really need to have an accurate shot to get it. We recommend a short second shot from the tee to get into a better position to land on the green.
The seventh hole features a dogleg with a lake tucked into the curve and around the green. You’ll want to stay to the right on this hole to have a clear shot to the green and to avoid the water. The 18th hole is a behemoth that can either save your score or ruin it. Work on an accurate tee shot to avoid the rough and try to stick to the middle of the fairway for the best chance at making par or a birdie.
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Fees:
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Standard Rates
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Twilight
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9-Hole*
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Monday - Thursday
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$45.00
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$35.00
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$25.00
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Friday
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$55.00
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$40.00
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$30.00
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Saturday
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$75.00
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$50.00
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$40.00
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Sundays
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$65.00
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$45.00
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$35.00
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| 9 hole rates starts at 3:30 pmAll fees include golf cart & global positioning satellite service.?You may request tee times up to 7 days in advance.??Twilight starts at 2:00 pm ??Range balls are available in three sizes:?Small bucket - $4.00?Medium bucket - $6.00?Large bucket - $8.00 |
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June 26th, 2008 — CA, George H Kelley, John Harbottle III, Stevinson, golf courses
Phone: (877) 752-9276
Website: http://www.stevinsonranch.com/information/golfrates.html
Course History:
This truly incredible course went under construction in 1995 and was opened to great fanfare one year later. It immediately hosted several championships and was soon named one of the best courses in California. Once you’ve played here, it’s easy to see why since it is truly an incomparable course.
Designed by John Harbottle III and George H. Kelley, the course takes advantage of the natural wetlands and is home to many species that are preserved here. When it comes to accolades, only two courses are rated higher, and they are both at Pebble Beach. Considering what it costs to play here, you can truly have an incredible round of golf at a very cheap rate.
What You Need to Know:
You can register your tee time using their online system or by calling the number listed above. Since this is such a popular course, it is best to register a few weeks in advance so you can lock in your time slot. The amenities don’t stop on the course - the pro shop will absolutely blow you away and the grill is heavenly. You can get a sample taste of what they have to offer by taking a peek at their online store. It’s a good idea to check their site frequently for specials.
Although they don’t specifically state that there is a dress code, it’s best to err on the side of caution and wear traditional attire. We also recommend soft spikes for this facility. This is a bit of a long course, so it is also a good idea to take advantage of a golf cart during your round.
Playing Hints:
This can be a tough course for some players, but it is well worth the time and money you’ll be spending here. We recommend taking a few trips around to really get a feel for the course and at these prices, it’s easy to afford to do just that.
Right off the bat you’ll be dealing with a huge bunker at the first green. You’ll want to go to the right to avoid it. The second hole features a terrific water hazard and the third hole is reminiscent of a Scottish links course. You’ll be dealing with undulating fairways and greens here.
Hole 16 is called the Hawk Perch and features some pretty big water hazards. We recommend staying as close to the center of the fairway as possible and going to the left of the green to avoid the bunkers. If you go too far right on the fairway, you’ll end up in the marshes of the pond and it’s nearly impossible to get out of there.
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Course Fees:
Resort/Public (Golf, Cart, & Unlimited Practice Balls Included)
M-F / Weekends
Opening $70.00 / $50.00
Noon - Twilight $90.00 / $70.00
Twilight
$35.00 / $45.00
Players Club Cardmembers
(Golf & Warm-up Balls Day of Play)
$31.00 / $41.00
Regular Cart fee is $15.00
Player’s Club Cart fee - prior to 2:00 - $12.00
Prefered Members Cart fee - prior to 1:00 - $12.00
Twilight hours begin:
Resort/Public
3:00 PM
Players Club
2:00 PM
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June 18th, 2008 — CA, Clubhouse menu, Dress code, Patterson, golf courses
Diablo Grande Ranch Course is located in: Patterson, CA
Phone: 209-892-4653
Website: http://www.diablogrande.com/golf/ranch.html
Course History:
This is a stunning course located in the midst of a winery and resort. There are two main courses here but for this review we’re going to discuss their Ranch Course. This was designed to be a course that players of all skill levels could appreciate and it has certainly lived up to its expectations. Since it’s opening, this course has become an area favorite and is well worth the trip there. It is a bit secluded, so we included some driving directions for you below.
What You Need to Know:
This is a very popular course so we recommend booking your tee time in advance by calling the number listed above. We recommend traditional golf attire, with no denim or cutoffs. There are a few rules governing carts, and the management may require that you keep your cart on the path in specific kinds of weather. They’ll let you know if there are any restrictions for that particular day before you head out to play.
The clubhouse and pro shop are both very top notch and are extremely popular with the locals. Even if you don’t go to play you can still enjoy an incredible meal here and get some great gifts for your friends that do golf. For the money though, this is well worth the trip.
Playing Hints:
This course is home to a famous hole known as “The Mustang” It is 650 yards of sheer effort that will really test your skills. You’ll need to make this one in 5, so definitely work on your drive before you arrive. By the time you’re at the green, you’ll have a magnificent view of Mike’s Peak, and the surrounding area.
This is a course that is well balanced but we definitely do recommend a cart since the elevation can change rapidly. The bunkers and water hazards will give you plenty of ways to test your mettle and your skills.
Course Fees:
Golf Rates
All rates include:
Range Balls, Golf Cart
Member guest rate is 25% off regular rate.
Members can only bring the same guest to play 6 times within a 12 month period.
Current Season Fees
As of February 1st
Ranch Legends Both Courses
Mon - Thurs $55 $55 $100
Fri -Sun $65 Members Only n/a
Golf Lesson Rates
Lessons Taught by Head Golf Professional
MEMBERS
30 minutes $55
60 minutes $90
GUESTS
30 minutes $65
60 minutes $110
GROUP RATES
2 students for 1 hr $ 55 each
3 students for 1 hr $ 50 each
4 students + 1 hr $ 45 each
Series of 6 Lesson Rates
MEMBERS
6 - 30 minute $275
6 - 60 minute $450
GUESTS
6 - 30 minute $325
6 - 60 minute $550
How to Get There:
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Diablo Grande is located in the Diablo Foothills, six miles west of I-5, an area that combines scenic natural beauty and perfect golf weather. Sunny days, balmy nights and shirt-sleeve winters are part of the Diablo Grande Lifestyle. I-5 provides easy access to Modesto 20 miles, and the metropolitan areas of Stockton, Livermore and Pleasanton are all a 45- mile radius.
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