Page 53 - 2015 Travel Guide to California

THE COURSE AT WENTE VINEYARDS,
right; hole #13 at Greenhorn Creek Golf
Course, below.
National) built this enticing nine-hole
course in 1928 for the exclusive Bohemian
Club. Northwood’s fairways weave their
way through a majestic redwood forest
along the Russian River in Northern Cali-
fornia’s Sonoma County. Ranked by Golf
World Magazine as the #3 Nine-hole course
in America, the challenging 2,893-yard (par
36) layout will put your shot-making skills
to the supreme test with narrow fairways
and small greens.
Greenhorn Creek Golf Course
Robert Trent Jones, Jr. re-designed one of
Northern California’s finest golf experi-
ences, taking full advantage of the
panoramic views of the Sierra Nevada
foothills. Located near historic Angels
Camp, where Mark Twain scripted his
famed Jumping Frog short story bringing
the mining camp to prominence during
California’s Gold Rush, the 6,749-yard
course meanders around ancient oaks with
18 diverse golf holes. With on-site accom-
modations, the resort is a perfect jumping
off point to scenic drives, 32 local wineries,
plus a wide variety of outdoor activities in
the heart of the Gold Country.
Yocha Dehe Golf Course
Approximately 90 minutes northeast of
San Francisco, this pristine layout at Cache
Creek Casino in the Capay Valley provides
up to 7,337 yards of championship golf for
players hoping to cash in on birdies and
jackpots. The par 72, Brad Bell design, void
of any housing and surrounded by spectac-
ular views of rolling hills and vineyards,
has hosted qualifiers for the U.S. Open, U.S.
Amateur and U.S. Mid-Am.
Coyote Moon Golf Course
Nestled in a serene setting among tow-
ering pines and enormous granite
outcroppings at 6,800 feet above sea level
in Truckee (Lake Tahoe), this upscale daily-
fee course provides generous fairways
along with dramatic elements of risk.
Without a single home to spoil the views,
the 7,177-yard Brad Bell design covers 250
acres and serves up one of the best moun-
tain golf experiences in the country.
The Course at Wente Vineyards
Wente Vineyards, America’s oldest, contin-
uously operated family-owned winery (1893)
teamed with Greg “The Shark” Norman to
create a premier destination championship
golf course in the Livermore Valley Wine
Country, 45 minutes east of San Francisco.
Playing through vineyards, rolling hills, and
natural grasslands, the 7,181-yard layout
hosted the PGA Tour’s Nationwide Tour
(now Web.com Tour), 2006-2008.
Pacific Grove Golf Links
Located along the famous 17-Mile Drive of
the Monterey Peninsula, this well-main-
tained municipal course has been dubbed
“the poor-man’s Pebble Beach.” Crafted by
the famous course’s same architect, Jack
Neville, the front nine at the 18-hole, 5,732-
yard layout is tree-lined and requires
accuracy, while the back nine, surrounding
the Point Pinos Lighthouse, is more
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