Was able to grab a deal plus $20 off coupon via teeoff.com @ $39 net pre-paid fee. Great deal for this course. Was paired with a friendly H/W couple. Golf Director held us back from our 11:10am tee ti... Continue »

Was able to grab a deal plus $20 off coupon via teeoff.com @ $39 net pre-paid fee. Great deal for this course. Was paired with a friendly H/W couple. Golf Director held us back from our 11:10am tee time to wait for a speedy foursome coming through playing in a shot-gun tournament, so eventually teed off at 11:30am. Good thing, as there was such a huge blanket of fog/marine layer, you couldn't even see beyond 100 yards.

Skies cleared up just before we teed off, and was an absolute stunner of a sunny day after that! Playing this Robert Trent Jr. designed course on a sunny day is a treat. POP ended up slow for whatever reasons ahead of us, finishing in 4hrs, 50mins.

Course overall was in the best condition I've seen it over the past 3 years. Absolutely gorgeous. Greens were certainly a highlight, as the bent-grass greens were nearly perfect looking. They were firm, fast and smooth and putted very well. Was able to implement my recent AimPoint Express green reading class techniques with good results, to pick up slope that I would otherwise not have been able to detect. Rolled very true, with no bumps along the way.

Fairways were really nice, mostly a lush green, with some lighter, thinner areas that were firm. Rough was a good, but a mix of lush, penal 2" grass and some thin/burned out areas.

Was in about 4 bunkers, and they were pretty well groomed, with soft-ish damp sand, about 1 - 1/2" layer over a medium-firm base. Pretty nice to play out of, actually. Tees were OK, but could use some leveling.

Highly recommended right now. Their website says they are aerating Oct. 22/23rd.

Was able to grab a fantastic deal on teeoff.com for $21 at noon. Arrived early, but was told by the young man in the pro shop that I'd have to wait until tee time "as it is policy on pre-paid" times. ... Continue »

Was able to grab a fantastic deal on teeoff.com for $21 at noon. Arrived early, but was told by the young man in the pro shop that I'd have to wait until tee time "as it is policy on pre-paid" times. Pretty silly, the tee was open for 15 minutes, and I later joined up with a very friendly two-some that teed off 40 minutes ahead of me, after passing through a two-some and a four-some. I understand why, but Kemper Sports (Crossings at Carlsbad, Black Gold, etc.) should do better here. Great deal on a fun, scenic course on a lovely day.

POP ended up at 4 hours - 1.5hrs front, 2.5hrs back when we caught the slo-pokes. No marshal to be seen.

Tees were very nice, green and level. Fairways were green, with a lot of undulations to deal with. The first four holes are all uphill, making an extra challenge while warming up. Rough wasn't too penal, with varying grasses and degrees of length. Had a handful of shots from rough on various holes, and wasn't an issue. Was in two bunkers, and the sand was medium weight, slightly damp.

Greens were firm but decently receptive, medium-green colour, mostly fast and smooth putting, with breaks influenced by the bay.

No cart lady, but the half-way shack at the clubhouse serves a variety of items.

Newsflash! They have invested in BRAND NEW carts, that are pretty zippy (get fast going downhill). Yamaha gas carts, WITH GPS! A different system than at Black Gold/Crossings, but it did work fine, with a little less flexibility to point/get yardage on specific targets - but, maybe I just couldn't figure it out. Yardage is listed to various hazards and front/pin/back of green, and a phone number is listed to call ahead for food at the turn. Pretty nice overall.

This is a very fun course to play, with great views throughout the round, with a few friendly golfers. Today was chilly/windy, but bright and sunny all day. Adding in the teeoff.com deal, an absolutely brilliant afternoon!

Played 1/16 as a walk-on at 1 pm. Kiana, the starter/cart attendant/chief financial analyst and only one working within a mile of the pro shop, was just great. "Thanks for coming out. . ." Made me ... Continue »

Played 1/16 as a walk-on at 1 pm. Kiana, the starter/cart attendant/chief financial analyst and only one working within a mile of the pro shop, was just great. "Thanks for coming out. . ." Made me feel welcome. She checked with the twosome on the tee and told me I could go out in front of them if I liked. Wanted to get in a quick round, so thanked them and hit away. It's a links-style course, no trees in play, but quite a bit of up and down on the front 9. This one does run through a housing development, but even I had a hard time hitting any of them. Wide open fairways with a real nice mix of challenging and opportunity holes. Tee boxes were good, well covered but not lush. Fairways were tight and green. They had some rain a couple days before and there were some lingering damp areas. Sand in the traps was nice, though the traps could have used some raking. Greens were very much links style, a ways from pristine, but fair, with some tricky breaks. Complexes were well cared for with nice collars and aprons. There are beautiful views from most holes and you get to leave your cart and walk on 16 and 17, which was very enjoyable.

Grabbed a 20% coupon deal on teeoff.com for a net just less than $29 w/cart on Monday. Unbelievable deal for this Robert Trent Jones, Jr. designed course. Young lady at the pro shop let me go out 1/2 ... Continue »

Grabbed a 20% coupon deal on teeoff.com for a net just less than $29 w/cart on Monday. Unbelievable deal for this Robert Trent Jones, Jr. designed course. Young lady at the pro shop let me go out 1/2 early with a friendly threesome, making for a fun and enjoyable round. POP ended up being 4hrs 15mins, waiting on no one. Very light play on the course.

Played here back in May and the main changes are that the greens are now really nice, somewhat receptive, medium-fast speed and pretty smooth. On the flip side, though I wasn't in any of the sand traps, they were fairly unkempt, and looked a bit firm and damp. Other guys in the group who had the pleasure, struggled with getting out in one stroke.

Weather.com forecasted sunny skies and 70 degrees whilst it was 100 degrees in Santa Rosa, but on the golf course yesterday, it was socked in by the marine-layer and varied between low and upper 60's, with a lower wind-chill. Typically a 1 or 2 club wind, depending on elevation of the holes. There really is a good variation of elevation on a number of holes and generally the course overall, with a few right at sea-level, and others as high as 700 feet perhaps. Be sure to bring a sweater, sweatshirt and/or jacket to deal with the changing weather conditions.

Just love the course, even in the colder weather. The fresh air is fantastic. Well worth the greens fees. Bring your GPS/rangefinder, though the free yardage card they provide is great and they do have marked sprinkler heads.

Teed it up with GK Gurus sixpez (Keith) and Iscraaatch (Ian) on Friday, 7/21. This is a sensational golf course and likely one of the most unique courses I have ever played. It’s a Par 70 … hidden gem... Continue »

Teed it up with GK Gurus sixpez (Keith) and Iscraaatch (Ian) on Friday, 7/21. This is a sensational golf course and likely one of the most unique courses I have ever played. It’s a Par 70 … hidden gem … must play. It’s tucked into the Northern California harbour coastline of Bodega Bay. A beautiful, secluded, small city/community well known as the filming location for Alfred Hitchcock’s movie The Birds. The course provides very visible ocean views on every hole with holes #16 and #17 carved into environmentally sensitive wetlands where golfers are required to park their golf carts and walk those two holes. I posted a video on Greenskeeper.org Facebook and Instagram to view that experience, its something else. The conditions of the golf course are excellent. Lush fairways and rough, smooth rolling firm greens, quality bunkers and tees. We were fortunate to catch the course on a clear day and the photos I took/posted are spectacular. They have a small practice putting green and no driving range – so it’s not a place to work on your off the course. On the course, you’ll need every aspect of your game to handle the many elevation changes, tight fairways, ocean breezes and challenging green complexes. They have a nice size clubhouse and restaurant detached from the golf proshop/snack bar that was the original golf proshop and now a gym. Ian bought me a breakfast burrito at the turn (thanks bud), that was big and delicious. The staff was very friendly and our pace of play was under 4 hours. I was so impressed with this place, I’m envisioning a GK Plays outing there. Would be a wonderful area to spend a weekend and tee it up. But don’t wait for that to happen. If you get a chance to play this course, jump on it.

Enjoyed a great round this morning with JohnnyGk and Iscraaatch. We were the first group off at 7:00 on an incredibly clear, but chilly and rather windy, morning. We enjoyed a relaxed sub-4-hour pace ... Continue »

Enjoyed a great round this morning with JohnnyGk and Iscraaatch. We were the first group off at 7:00 on an incredibly clear, but chilly and rather windy, morning. We enjoyed a relaxed sub-4-hour pace with nobody pushing from behind. Johnny and I might have spent more time taking pictures than playing! Thanks so much to the Bodega Harbour staff for having us out today and treating us so well. The conditions were very good tee to green. The tee boxes were nice. The fairways were excellent. Really like the turf here that provides some rollout, but fluffy lies to hit from. The rough was mostly good other than some bare or gopher mound areas scattered throughout. The primary rough wasn't too much trouble, but there was plenty of the deep, deep stuff around the outer edges. Some areas were recently trimmed, so you might be able to find your ball and play it. In other areas, good luck! The greens were pretty good, maybe some inconsistencies and bumps here and there, rolling at medium/quick speeds (downhill/uphill such a huge factor here). I wasn't in any bunkers, but most looked nicely maintained. This was my second time here, with the first being probably 10+ years ago. That day, it was socked in by fog. I wasn't able to enjoy the views, but I absolutely fell in love with the course and the seaside vibe (couldn't see the ocean much then, but could smell the salty air and hear the foghorn, sea lions and waves crashing on the beach). As much as I enjoyed that first experience, today was 100 times even better! The wind presented a definite challenge, but I was able to soak in the incredible views on every single hole and really see the dramatic contours of the layout. Stunning, unique, challenging, etc. etc. etc. Just a wonderful experience I'll never forget. One of California's best hidden gems and a must-play if you ask me!

Played on 5/22 at 1:00pm with a good deal including cart on Teeoff.com, $36 plus fees. Was greeted by Brian, a friendly and very helpful young man who got me oriented to the course and practice facili... Continue »

Played on 5/22 at 1:00pm with a good deal including cart on Teeoff.com, $36 plus fees. Was greeted by Brian, a friendly and very helpful young man who got me oriented to the course and practice facilities, which include putting green, a separate sand trap and chipping area and driving range. He let me go out whenever I was ready, and went out as a single. Played through one group and then was slowed down later in the round, POP ended up being 3hrs 20mins.

Loaded clubs on an old-time gas cart in fair condition, with scorecard with hole locations indicated and a separate, detailed and full-color yardage card that was fantastic. All couses should offer this for free! Cart was a bit creaky and back-fired a handful of times, but that added to the rustic fun.

The course is a fun design, and though I don't really consider it a 'links' style course, other than perhaps holes #16, #17 nearest the bay, I loved the layout and design. Played the whites on a cool day, mostly socked-in by the marine layer and a 1-club wind.

Tees had good grass coverage, a few with divot damage and a few where it was hard to get a level stance.

Fairways were top-notch. Great undulations to deal with and sand-traps. Front side they are a bit narrow and you need to play short off #5 tee. Back side opens up a bit off the tee. Great views of the bay/harbour from any number of holes throughout. The scenery, even on a coldish day is worth the greens fee. Rough varied in coverage, typically heavier nearer the greens.

Along with the fairways, the numerous bunkers were a key feature of the course. A really nice layer of medium-weight sand that was consistent in the handful of bunkers I was in, just a little damp but soft. They were well taken care of and I really appreciated the old-style wide wooden rakes with short wood pegs. They really did a fantastic job of smoothing out my tracks in the sand!

Greens were firm, but held well. They were a little bumpy and putted medium-fast. Could probably use a verticut with a light layer of sand, as there are a number of irregularities currently. It looks like they may have punched them a few months ago.

Highly recommend this course when in the area. It is about a 40 minute drive from Santa Rosa. A good, fun design, very picturesque.

On holes #16 and #17, you have to park the cart, unload your clubs and either carry them or use one of the handcarts provided to traverse through marsh on a walking bridge to get to #16 fairway and #17. You then return to your gas cart and finish on #18 - which is another hole to probably not use your driver.

Looking forward to playing here again soon.

29 years have passed since I last played Bodega. I had fond memories of the course and was excited to return. The course was pretty much as I remembered, but somehow the course got longer! (29 year... Continue »

29 years have passed since I last played Bodega. I had fond memories of the course and was excited to return. The course was pretty much as I remembered, but somehow the course got longer! (29 years will cause that) Maybe I should not have played the tips? In any event, the course was still fun, although a few of the par 4's were too long for me to reach. Played first off at 7am, in a somewhat foggy condition with misty rain. I guess that's what August is like on the No Cal coast? Weather finally cleared on the back nine, so the closing holes were nice. Conditions were good, not great! Greens rolled well, plenty of sand in the bunkers I found. Fairways were generally good, but a few areas had issues. Staff was great! Very friendly and accommodating. I enjoyed it so much, I have marked by calendar to return in 29 years again. (I only hope I'm looking down at my divots then and not up at them!)

Wow, two perfect (and that word doesn't do the weekend justice) golf days (Fri & Sat before the Super Bowl) at The Links at Bodega Harbor in Bodega Bay. Weather and course conditions were tremendous.... Continue »

Wow, two perfect (and that word doesn't do the weekend justice) golf days (Fri & Sat before the Super Bowl) at The Links at Bodega Harbor in Bodega Bay. Weather and course conditions were tremendous. Coming off heavy rain storms in the past month or so, the fairways were terrific with a couple of mushy exceptions here and there. Bunker sand was very good and traps well placed and challenging. Green speeds were quick without being too tough and rolled true. Pace of play got a little bogged down on Saturday, which clearly brought out a great many patient local and happy visiting players. Prices were very reasonable $60 (special) w/cart (and hot dog/chip at the turn - not my thing, but worth mentioning). Don't let the yardages fool you - it's short on distance and very tricky to pull the right club or turn the ball in the right direction. Wind and elevation are your nemeses here. Like a 12th man in your face all day long. With the luxury of hopping back into my buddy's cart, I walked most of the back nine and part of the front as they were such great days. Could walk the front but a lot of severe uphill holes to the top of the course. Views were off the charts. Could see forever in both directions, making it almost a distraction - in a good way. Liked the back better than front, notably because of the completely puzzling par 5 5th hole that I played by-the-book both days (par par) but still think I should have smashed a driver off the tee as it ultimately plays very short, whatever... The back nine offers a great opportunity to pull driver with generous fairways and plays through more unique looking houses until the differently beautiful and dangerous 16th and 17th holes. There you can make bird or completely ruin your shoes. The finishing hole reverts to a downhill blind tee shot and semi blind second (depending on pin placement) but is also a great way to finish with beautiful ocean and coastal views. Can't say enough about the location, service and condition of the course considering the recent weather. Go play Bodega Harbor and bring a camera. Plenty of rental options and things to do away from the course in Bodega Bay, Bodega, Tomales, Dillon Beach etc.