Golf

Home 
Issue Archive
Upcoming Events
Back Issues / Reprints
Subscribe
Advertising
Contact
Careers
Washington CEO
About Fivash
Media Group

Great Places to Play a Round

See if your favorite golf course made the cut. But first, read a quick lesson on golf course conduct.

By Cynthia Bournellis

Who says you can't combine business with pleasure? And, where better to do it than on the golf course? Golf and business have a long history of going hand-in-hand. Golf opens professional doors, expands business contacts, and solidifies relationships. That's the upside.

The downside is that golf showcases people's true personalities and dispositions. On the course, each twist, turn, and obstacle uncovers one's emotions, characteristics, and values.

"It's like stripping them down naked," says Bob Fagan, a former PGA pro turned business consultant.

The traits revealed during a game of golf are the same ones undoubtedly portrayed in everyday life. For instance, if someone cheats by moving their ball from the rough onto the fairway, it's likely they will be dishonest in business. If someone is moody on the course, they may be moody during business-cycle highs and lows. On the other hand, someone may impress you with his or her ability to analyze a shot or show consideration by helping you find a lost ball.

Friend and foe

While golf can be a CEO's best friend when it comes to establishing relationships, it can also be a CEO's worst foe.

Like business, golf is a game of misses. Whether or not you cinch that deal, recruit that top VP, or line up that next round of venture capital can depend on how well you handle yourself on the course.

For instance, when you top off your ball, sail it into the sand trap, or carry it beyond the green, swearing won't impress anyone. Nor will it undo the bogey you just made. Stay on your best behavior. The same professional skills and attitudes you bring into the boardroom are the same ones you should bring onto the golf course.

Once everyone is at ease, how do you go from discussing pars and birdies and talking about kids and vacations to signing contracts? You don't. Not on the course, anyway. The course is the foundation on which to build trust and rapport. The deals that are anecdotally done on the course are actually finalized after the game, says Fagan.

Even then, he adds, it's best to wait for your business prospect to broach the subject. If this doesn't happen after the game when having drinks or dinner, then ask to schedule a meeting during business hours.

When combing business with golf, play the game for fun. Have many small successes, just like you would in business, and build upon them until they are big successes. Follow this strategy, and you'll have time to enjoy some of California's best golf courses.

From low deserts to rugged coastlines to rolling foothills to snow-capped peaks, California's diverse courses are brought together by beauty, challenge, excellent service, playability, memorability, and history.

So if you love golf, take a peek at California CEO's list of the top 25 private and public courses the Golden State has to offer. The list was based on Fagan's criteria and we verified the facts. Our apologies to those worthy courses that we may have overlooked. And we appeal to those interested in joining the list to contact the editorial staff of California CEO.

And while you're enjoying the game of golf, do a bit of business as well.

Golf Etiquette

There are rules to follow:

  1. Keep your cell phone off the course. Talking on the phone while on the course is rude. It makes people feel like they don't count. So leave it in the car or locker room.
  2. Play without delay. Keep with the pace of others in your party.
  3. Play safely. Reserve alcohol for after the game. Follow the club's rules when driving carts.
  4. Play honestly. Many an honorable golfer's reputation has become ruined in just one day. So, don't cheat. Don't move your ball from the rough onto the fairway. Call a penalty on yourself when you see it.
  5. Repair any damages you do to the course. Replace divots and smooth out ball marks.
  6. Be considerate. Offer to remove the flag from the hole during your colleague's putt, or help retrieve lost balls.

To Win or Not to Win

Like any sport, golf brings out one's competitive side.

However, competing on the course isn't advisable when you are trying to impress someone for the first time. That will only serve to relinquish any trust the other person may have in you. Just play your best.

If you win, be gracious by telling the other person how well he or she played. If you are playing in a group and others insist on competing, do it in teams. This tends to bond people together.

Often times, friendly wagers are made on the course. When it comes to placing bets, make sure everyone agrees on a modest sum. Between $2 and $5 per player per nine holes is a realistic and comfortable figure, says Bob Fagan, business consultant and former PGA pro. The goal is to have fun, not put money in your pocket. If you win, buy your party a round of drinks.

California's Top 25 Private and Public Courses

Aviara Golf Club: Four Seasons Resort
7447 Batiquitos Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92009
Phone: 760-603-6900
www.fourseasons.com

Type: Resort Course
Architect: Arnold Palmer
Year Opened: 1991

Summed Up: Afternoon sea breezes add extra challenge to an already difficult layout.

Course: Offers a glimpse of the Pacific Ocean. There are five to six signature holes, which provide for a challenging game. The greens are very large and undulating.

Note: The Par 3 Challenge is televised here every Thanksgiving and includes three players from each of the PGA, LPGA, and Senior Tours, as well as three selected celebrities. Every hole is turned into a par-3.

Green Fees: $175 Monday-Thursday. $195 Friday-Sunday and holidays. Carts included.

Tee Times: Hotel guests may make reservations up to 30 days in advance. Public play reservations may be made up to six days in advance.

Dress code: Appropriate golf attire is required. Nonmetal spikes are not allowed.

Score Card:
Yardage: 6054
Par: 72
Rating: 68.9
Slope: 121


Bel-Air Country Club
10768 Bellagio Road
Los Angeles, CA 90077
Phone: 310-440-2423

Type: Private
Architect: George C. Thomas
Year Opened: 1926

Summed Up: This much revised, but sporty and enjoyable, course has one of golf's most unusual routings.

Course: Hilly course has narrow fairways and lots of trees. It's well bunkered with small greens, and places a premium on accuracy. The 10th hole is a par-3, 200-yard nerve-wracker known as the "Swinging Bridge." You park your car on one side of a canyon, walk back to the tee, and hope your drive clears the canyon. Watch out for critics: The tee is next to the club grill, where there is always a gallery of watchers.

Note: Bel-Air was the site of the 1976 U.S. Amateur Championship and is the home course for the UCLA Bruins golf team.

Play Policy: Reciprocal play is accepted on a limited basis and must be approved by the club's golf professional or manager; otherwise, members and guests only. Guests must be accompanied by a member.

Green Fees: Guest green fees are $100 on weekends and $75 on weekdays. Carts are $26 for 18 holes.

Dress Code: Appropriate golf attire and nonmetal spikes are required.

Score Card:
Yardage: 6210
Par: 70
Rating: 70.5
Slope: 127


CordeValle Golf Club
One CordeValle Drive
San Martin, CA 95046
Phone: 408-695-4500
www.cordevalle.com

Type: Private
Architect: Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Year Opened: 1999

Summed Up: Nothing fancy. What you see is what you get.

Course: Rolling hills, native oak trees, wide fairways, ample bailout areas, and subtle greens. But if you cut a corner or miss the fairway in the wrong spot, you'll find yourself in a fairway bunker, or in a creek, or in the thick grass. Don't let the subtle greens fool you. Leave the ball in the wrong spot and you'll have to work for a 2-putt.

Note: Each hole features four to seven tee boxes, affording players multiple approach angles for varying degrees of difficulty.

Play Policy: Members and guests only.

Dress code: Appropriate golf attire and nonmetal spikes are required.

Score Card:
Yardage: 6703
Par: 72
Rating: 72.7
Slope: 136


Cypress Point Club
3150 17-Mile Drive
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Phone: 831-624-2223

Type: Private
Architect: Allister Mackenzie
Year Opened: 1928

Summed Up: Exclusive membership.

Course: Considered golf nirvana and is one of the most beautiful courses in the world. Flanked by sand and sea, Cypress Point makes the most of its natural resources. The greens are fast and undulating. It features oceanside, forest, and meadow holes. The famous par-3 16th hole requires a scenic and spectacular 200-yard carry over the ocean.

Note: This course was used for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am from 1947 to 1990.

Play Policy: Members and guests only.

Dress code: Appropriate golf attire is required.

Score Card:
Yardage: 6632
Par: 72
Rating: 71.3
Slope: 132


Half Moon Bay Golf Links: Ocean Course
2 Miramonte Point Road
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Phone: 650-726-4438
www.halfmoonbaygolf.com

Type: Resort Course
Architect: Arthur Hills
Year Opened: 1997

Summed Up: long and demanding, requires accuracy and skillful shot making.

Course: Offers views from every hole, and three finishing holes sit directly on the Pacific Ocean. The 18th hole is a par-5 along the cliff's edge. The tee shot plays uphill. The second shot plays down a fairway bordered by bunkers, native grasses, hollows, and mounds. The big, long green is on a high promontory close to the ocean cliff.

Note: The natural terrain of the rugged Northern California coast befits the course's traditional Scottish-links design.

Green Fees: $132.50 Monday-Thursday, and $153.70 on weekends and holidays.

Tee Times: Reservations may be booked three weeks in advance.

Dress Code: Appropriate golf attire and nonmetal spikes are required. No blue jeans, cutoffs, or tank tops.

Score Card:
Yardage: 6339
Par: 72
Rating: 69.9
Slope: 120


Lahonton Golf Club
12700 Lodgetrail Drive
Truckee, CA 96161
Phone: 530-550-2424

Type: Private
Architect: Tom Weiskopf
Year Opened: 1998

Summed Up: Combines wonderful ambiance and solid golf.

Course: Takes full advantage of its natural surroundings of mature trees, constant elevation changes, water, and mountain vistas.

Note: Caddies are available.

Play Policy: Members only. Guests must be accompanied by a member.

Green Fees: Guest fees are $100.

Dress Code: Appropriate golf attire and nonmetal spikes are required.

Score Card:
Yardage: 6753
Par: 72
Rating: 71.7
Slope: 133


The Links At Spanish Bay
2700 17-Mile Drive
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Phone: 800-654-9300
www.pebblebeach.com

Type: Resort Course
Architects: Tom Watson; Robert Trent Jones Jr.; Frank Tatum
Year Opened: 1987

Summed Up: Said to be the most authentic Scottish-links courses in America.

Course: Fast-rolling course complete with fescue-grass fairways, pot bunkers, and mounds. Here the architects want golfers to hit run-up shots, keeping the ball low. All but four holes flank the ocean; this strategy is advantageous when the wind kicks up.

Note: The plaintive strains of the bagpipe signal the end of each day's play.

Green Fees: $210 for resort guests; $210 plus a $25 cart fee for public play.

Tee Times: Resort guests may make tee times with their room reservations 18 months in advance. Outside players may make reservations 60 days in advance.

Dress Code: No cutoffs allowed; collared shirts are required.

Score Card:
Yardage: 6043
Par: 72
Rating: 71.7
Slope: 134


The Los Angeles Country Club
10101 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Phone: 310-276-6104

Type: Private
Architect: George C. Thomas
Year Opened: 1921

Summed Up: Considered one of America's best courses.

Course: There are two 18-hole courses: the North Course and the South Course. The North is the more difficult of the two. It features long, tight fairways and small greens with hilly terrain and lots of trees. The South is flatter and more open.

Note: The North has been the home of five Los Angeles Open championships.

Play Policy: Members and guests only.

Green Fees: Guest fees are $120. Carts are $25.

Dress Code: No shorts allowed on the course. Women must wear skirts. Nonmetal spikes are required.

Score Card:
Yardage: 6610
Par: 71
Rating: 72.9
Slope: 136


Lost Canyons Golf Club
3301 Lost Canyons Drive
Simi Valley, CA 93063
Phone: 805-522-4653
www.lostcanyons.com

Type: Public Day Course
Architect: Pete Dye
Year Opened: 2000

Summed Up: Majestic terrain is sure to capture the hearts of golfers.

Course: Lost Canyons is sculpted amid old oaks, meandering valleys, wild flowers, and features two distinctly different courses. The Sky Course follows the canyon ridge lines, offering spectacular panoramic views. The Shadow Course winds along the rolling canyon floor and affords breathtaking views of White Face Mountain. Both courses place a premium on accuracy and positioning. Golfers can choose from five sets of tees off which to play.

Note: Over 3,500 Hollywood westerns have been shot in the surrounding hillsides.

Green Fees: $115 Monday-Thursday, $135 Friday-Sunday.

Tee Times: General reservations may be made seven days in advance.

Dress Code: Appropriate golf attire is required, and nonmetal spikes are not allowed.

Score Card:
Yardage: 6205 (Sky), 6055 (Shadow)
Par: 72 (Sky and Shadow)
Rating: 70.3 (Sky), 70 (Shadow)
Slope: 133 (Sky), 136 (Shadow)


Monterey Peninsula Country Club: Dunes Course
3000 Club Road
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Phone: 831-373-1556

Type: Private
Architect: Seth J. Raynor
Year Opened: 1925

Summed Up: Keep the ball below the hole.

Course: Meandering and scenic, course is flanked by pine trees, ocean, and sand dunes. The undulating green is tricky and immaculate. A second course, the Shore Course, is shorter and tighter and flanks the ocean.

Note: The Dunes Course was used for the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am for 18 years and was remodeled and reopened in 1999.

Play Policy: Members and guests only. Guests must be accompanied by a member.

Green Fees: Guest fees are $60 when accompanied by a member and $185 to $215 when unaccompanied.

Dress Code: No denim is allowed, and skirts must be knee length. Women may wear knee-length shorts. Nonmetal spikes are required.

Score Card:
Yardage: 6173
Par: 72
Rating: 70.5
Slope: 127


Ocean Trails Golf Club
One Ocean Trails Drive
Palos Verde, CA 90275
Phone: 310-303-3240
www.oceantrails.com

Type: Public Day Course
Architect: Pete Dye
Year Opened: 1999

Summed Up: Has 15 holes with views of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island from every tee and green. A landslide destroyed three holes in 1999; holes 9, 12, and 18 are currently being restored and will run along the coastline when completed in October.

Course: Ocean Trails is wedged into 110 acres, making for some tight holes, especially on days when the wind blows. Scoring well is a difficult task even on calm days. The course can get extremely difficult around the greens, and there are severe hazards throughout.

Note: Ocean Trails was the site of the Michael Douglas and Friends Celebrity Golf Event in 1999 and 2000.

Green Fees: $125 Monday-Thursday. $195 Friday-Sunday and holidays. Carts included.

Tee Times: Reservations may be made seven days in advance, or 8-60 days in advance for an extra $20 per player.

Dress Code: Appropriate golf attire and nonmetal spikes are required. No Levis.

Score Card:
Yardage: 6821
Par: 72
Rating: 72.6
Slope: 146


Ojai Valley Inn & Spa
905 Country Club Drive
Ojai, CA 93023
Phone: 805-646-2420
www.oceantrails.com

Type: Resort Course
Architect: George C. Thomas
Year Designed: 1923

Summed Up: If you are not on the fairway, you're cooked.

Course: This beautiful mountainside course was built in the 1920s by George C. Thomas and was improved by Jay Morrish in 1988. Among the holes to watch for is the par-4 fourth. The drive from the back tee must clear a barranca, or deep ravine. Part of the hole is hidden by the barranca and large oak trees. The 11th hole par-4 crosses a barranca not once, but twice. The tee shot from the back tee must carry 200 yards to a safe landing area. Everything kicks toward the barranca, so you have to play down the left side.

Note: Two new holes, called the Lost Holes, were reintroduced in 1999 and resorted to their original design: hole 7, a par-3; hole 8, a par-4. These holes were removed during WWII and used by the U.S. military for training purposes.

Play Policy: Outside play is accepted.

Green Fees: $135 for nonhotel guests. $120 for resort guests; carts, range balls, and club storage are included.

Tee Times: Reservations for hotel guests may be booked 90 days in advance; otherwise seven days in advance for public play.

Dress Code: Nonmetal spikes are required.

Score Card
Yardage: 5962
Par: 70
Rating: 69.0
Slope: 120


Olympic Club
524 Post Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: 415-587-8338

Type: Private
Architect: Willy Reid and Sam Whiting (Lake Course, 1924); Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish (Cliffs Course, 1994)
Year Opened: 1924

Summed Up: The club's Lake Course is considered America's most punishing course.

Course: Watch out for avenues of trees and small treacherous greens that guard the pars. The Lake Course is long and tight, with lots of small trees and undulating greens. It is dominated by long par-4s. The Ocean Course is shorter and tighter but equally challenging. Wind and fog often come into play

Note: The Lake Course has been the site of four U.S. Opens (1955, 1966, 1987, 1998).

Play Policy: All guests must be accompanied by a member.

Dress Code: Appropriate golf attire is required.

Score Card:
Yardage: 6496
Par: 71
Rating: 72.1
Slope: 133


Pasatiempo Golf Course
20 Clubhouse Road
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Phone: 831-459-9155
www.pasatiempo.com

Type: Semiprivate
Architect: Allister Mackenzie
Year Opened: 1929

Summed Up: Possesses qualities that both enhance and confuse a player's efforts to be objective and strategic.

Course: Here you will find canyons and natural features that might thrill the adventurous golfer so much that he or she disregards them. The first nine holes are in open rolling country. The second nine holes lie in wooded country. While risk versus reward is always present, caution should be exercised on several holes, as a missed shot will be punishing to one's score. A series of bunkers on hole 10 are a spectacular 100 feet long and six feet deep.

Note: Pasatiempo played host to the 1986 U.S. Women's Amateur.

Play Policy: Outside play is accepted.

Green Fees: $135 Monday-Thursday, and $150 Friday-Sunday and holidays. Optional carts are $40.

Tee Times: To reserve a tee time, call one week ahead. Reservations can be made 90 days in advance for a $20 per player surcharge.

Dress Code: Appropriate golf attire and nonmetal spikes are required.

Score Card:
Yardage: 6131
Par: 70
Rating: 71.2
Slope: 135


Pebble Beach Golf Links
17-Mile Drive
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Phone: 831-624-3811
www.pebblebeach.com

Type: Resort Course
Architect: Jack Neville
Year Designed: 1919

Summed Up: One of the most scenic and demanding courses in the world.

Course: Larger than life, boasting mature stands of trees, roller coaster greens, and bunkers in which you could easily hide a large sport utility vehicle. Nerves tend to run tight at the start of a round, the teeing area is raised like a stage above the omnipresent gallery of lodge guests, breakfast diners, and tee-time-awaiters. Eight holes flank the ocean, placing the entire course under the influence of fog, mist, and wind.

Note: Used regularly for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship, and the U.S. Amateur.

Play Policy: Members and guests only. Closed Mondays.

Green Fees: $150 for guests who are unaccompanied by a member, $35 with a member. Carts are $20.

Tee Times: Resorts guests may make reservations more than 24 hours in advance.

Dress Code: Appropriate golf attire and nonmetal spikes are required.

Score Card:
Yardage: 6438
Par: 72
Rating: 72
Slope: 137


Pelican Hill Golf Club: Ocean South Course
22651 Pelican Hill Road
Newport Coast, CA 92657
Phone: 949-760-0707
www.pelicanhill.com

Type: Resort Course
Architect: Tom Fazio
Year Opened: 1991

Summed Up: Spectacular views of the ocean from every hole.

Course: A good test of golf and can be difficult under stiff ocean breezes. But more often, it is player-friendly. From high above the Pacific Ocean, the Ocean South Course descends onto narrow Bermuda grass fairways lined by eucalyptus and pine trees. Challenging Pencross Bent grass greens are framed by white and native sand bunkers.

Note: This course offers players the challenges for which golf was made.

Green Fees: $175 Monday-Thursday; $250 Friday-Sunday and holidays, carts included.

Tee Times: Reservations may be made seven days in advance, and up to 60 days in advance with a $20 fee per player surcharge.

Dress Code: Appropriate golf attire and nonmetal spikes are required. No denim.

Score Card:
Yardage: 5855
Par: 70
Rating: 68.1
Slope: 119


PGA West: TPC Stadium Course
56-150 PGA Boulevard
La Quinta, CA 92253
Phone: 1-800-742-9378
www.pgawest.com

Type: Semiprivate
Architect: Pete Dye
Year Opened: 1986

Summed Up: Expensive, difficult, time-consuming in the busy season, and deathly hot during the off-season. Yet it is one of the top-10, must-play courses in the country.

Course: The TPC Stadium Course is packed with pot bunkers, sand, water, and side-hill lies. Large, undulating Bermuda grass greens with several tiers make putting a chore. Among the course highlights is a 19-foot-deep, greenside bunker that flanks the 571-yard, par-5 16th hole. The massive bunker, complete with stairs, sits 18 feet below the level of the green and is revered for its brash beauty and intriguing design.

Note: The Skins Game was played here from 1986-1991. The Bob Hope Classic was held here in 1987.

Play Policy: Outside play is accepted.

Green Fees: $125-230. Cart and range balls are included.

Tee Times: Reservations may be made seven days in advance.

Dress Code: Appropriate golf attire and nonmetal spikes are required. No blue jeans.

Score Card:
Yardage: 6166
Par: 72
Rating: 69.9
Slope: 132


The Preserve Golf Club
19 Pronghorn Run
Carmel, CA 93923
www.santaluciapreserve.com

Type: Private
Architect: Tom Fazio
Year Opened: 2000

Summed Up: This Preserve is larger than Manhattan Island and resides on 20,000 private acres in the coastal foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains.

Course: The course itself is spread out over 380 acres. It is secluded and peaceful, you won't see another golfer unless he or she is standing on one of the course's many vistas. Distant, towering redwoods contribute visual comfort to the golfer while playing the 11th hole. Wildlife such as bobcats, boar, deer, and turkey live on the preserve and are often spotted on the course. When it's foggy along the coast, it's sunny on the course.

Note: The land used to be a cattle ranch. The man-made elements of the plan for the Santa Lucia Preserve comprise 2,000 of the 20,000 acres including the 300 homeland member sites, The Ranch Club facilities, and The Preserve Golf Club. The Santa Lucia Conservancy protects and manages the remaining 18,000 private acres for recreation, grazing, environmental research, and wildlife habitat for the community.

Play Policy: Members and guests only. Guests must be accompanied by a member.

Tee Times: Reservations are not accepted.

Dress Code: Appropriate golf attire and nonmetal spikes are required.

Score Card:
Yardage: 6555
Par: 72
Rating: 72.2
Slope: 137


The Quarry At La Quinta
1 Quarry Lane
La Quinta, CA 92253

Type: Private
Architect: Tom Fazio
Year Opened: 1994

Summed Up: Tough yet scenic, lies in the rugged mountainous area east of San Diego.

Course: Nestled in the foothills, this course was sodded. A 70-foot waterfall serves as a backdrop for the 10th and 17th holes. A river and stream run through the course, which has subtle mounding and small, traditional trees.

Note: The Quarry is routed through an abandon rock quarry and covers 375 acres

Play Policy: Members and guests only. Guests must be accompanied by a member.

Green Fees: $100 for guests.

Dress Code: Appropriate golf attire and nonmetal spikes are required.

Score Card:
Yardage: 6852
Par: 72
Rating: 72.5
Slope: 132


Riviera Country Club
1250 Capri Drive
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
Phone: 310-459-5395

Status: Private
Architect: George C. Thomas
Year Opened: 1926

Summed Up: Features one of the best incoming nines anywhere.

Course: Fairways are rough and planted with Kikuyu grass, so there's not much roll. The 165-yard, par-3 6th hole features a bunker in the middle of the green. If that doesn't frighten you, maybe the par-4 18th hole will; it's considered one of the toughest holes in golf.

Note: The 1948 U.S. Open was played here and won by Ben Hogan. The course became known as Hogan's Alley after Hogan won the Los Angeles Open here in 1947 and 1948. The Los Angeles Open is played here annually.

Play Policy: Very limited reciprocal play is accepted with members of other private clubs; call in advance. Guests must be accompanied by a member.

Green Fees: $90 weekdays and $120 weekends.

Dress Code: Appropriate golf attire and nonmetal spikes are required.

Score Card:
Yardage: 6505
Par: 71
Rating: 71.9
Slope: 130


Saddle Creek Golf Club
1001 Saddle Creek Drive
Copperopolis, CA 95228
Phone: 888-852-5787
www.saddlecreek.com

Type: Semiprivate
Architect: Carter Morrish
Year Opened: 1996

Summed Up: Blends together the course and the land in the heart of the Gold Country.

Course: Scenic, traditional-style course with rolling terrain, mature oak trees, ponds, and natural wetlands. Water comes into play on eight holes. The layout is well balanced, enabling golfers to use every club in their bag. Five sets of tees provide a challenging course for players of all skill levels.

Note: This course is home to the Northern California PGA.

Play Policy: Public play is accepted.

Green Fees: $55 Monday-Thursday, and $75 Friday-Sunday and holidays. Carts are $15 per person and optional, but must remain on the cart path at all times. This is strictly enforced and there are no exceptions.

Tee Times: Members receive priority for tee times. Reservations can be booked 14 days in advance without a fee, and up to 60 days in advance for a fee.

Dress Code: Appropriate golf attire and nonmetal spikes are required.

Score Card:
Yardage: 6049
Par: 72
Rating: 69.4
Slope: 125


San Francisco Golf Club
Junipero Serra & Brotherhood Way
San Francisco, CA 94132
Phone: 415-469-4122

Type: Private
Architect: A.W. Tillinghast
Year Opened: 1918

Summed Up: Historic course ranks as one of America's best championship layouts.

Course: Medium-length and sprawling, with fast, undulating greens and 100 bunkers. Strategically placed bunkers and pine trees make accuracy essential. The 408-yard, dogleg-right, 12th hole, and the 430-yard, dogleg-right, 17th hole are examples of Tillinghast's subtle touch.

Note: Played host to the 1974 Curtis Cup Match and has been used for U.S. Open sectional qualifying. Adjacent to the 7th tee are monuments commemorating the last dueling spot in California.

Play Policy: Reciprocal play is not accepted. Members and guests only.

Green Fees: Guest fees are $50 when accompanied by a member and $150 unaccompanied.

Dress Code: Appropriate golf attire is mandatory and enforced. No shorts are allowed on the course. Nonmetal spikes are required.

Score Card:
Yardage: 6400
Par: 71
Rating: 71.7
Slope: 131


Spyglass Hill Golf Course
Spyglass Hill Road at Stevenson and Spyglass Hill Roads
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Phone: 800-654-9300
www.pebblebeach.com

Type: Semiprivate
Architect: Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Year Designed: 1966

Summed Up: Long, demanding course is unforgiving.

Course: Spyglass almost always produces the highest scoring average. The first five holes wind through sand dunes and offer magnificent ocean views. Surrounded by Monterey pines, the undulating greens are well protected. The names given to each of the holes were derived from Robert Louis Stevenson's classic Treasure Island. You'll find Treasure Island, an island in the sand, on the first hole, Long John Silver on the 14th hole (a double dogleg par 5), and Black Dog on the 16th (an infamous par-4).

Note: Spyglass is part of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the annual site of the NCGA Amateur Championship.

Play Policy: Outside play is accepted.

Green Fees: $245 for NCGA members, $250 for nonmembers, and $250 for resort guests; carts included.

Tee Times: Resort guests may book tees times 18 months in advance; nonguests 30 days in advance.

Dress Code: Golf attire is required; no blue jeans.

Score Card:
Yardage: 6347
Par: 72
Rating: 72.8
Slope: 141


Tradition Golf Club
78505 Old Avenue 52
La Quinta, CA 92253
Phone: 760-564-1067

Type: Private
Architect: Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay
Year Opened: 1997

Summed Up: Generous fairways but punishes those who miss the greens.

Course Description: Set in the Santa Rosa Mountains, this layout is traditional yet unusual in that it has five par-5s and five par-3s. The signature hole is the 17th, a short par-4 150 feet above the green. Looking down from the tee, players see a lake that guards the left side and mountains that guard the right.

Note: An accurate drive is a must.

Play Policy: Members and guests only. Guest must play with a member.

Green Fees: Guest fees are $100. Family member fees are $50.

Dress Code: Appropriate golf attire and nonmetal spikes are mandatory.

Score Card:
Yardage: 6530
Par: 72
Rating: 70.9
Slope: 129


The Valley Club of Montecito
1901 East Valley Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
Phone: 805-969-4681

Type: Private
Architect: Allister Mackenzie
Year Opened: 1929

Summed Up: Publicity-shy course is considered among the country's very best.

Course Description: Features small greens and a natural setting. A creek runs through about half the holes, and the narrow fairways are bordered by large cypress and pine trees. The ocean is visible from many holes.

Note: There have been no modifications to the course since it opened.

Play Policy: Membersand guests only.

Green Fees: $150 for guests unaccompanied by a member, $35 with a member. Carts are $20. The course is closed on Monday.

Dress Code: Appropriate golf attire and nonmetal spikes are required.

Score Card:
Yardage: 6723
Par: 72
Rating: 72.8
Slope: 123


Courses listed alphabetically. Information provided by Bob Fagan and verified by Cynthia Bournellis. All Score Cards represent middles tees. Green fees are subject to change at time of publication.





 
Top of Page | Current Issue | Past Issues
| Back Issues / Reprints | Subscribe | Advertising | Contact
| Washington CEO | About Fivash Media Group

Website Copyright © 2001 California CEO Inc.
Content Copyright © 2001 California CEO Inc.
All Rights Reserved.

Terms and Conditions of Use