Stopped here while driving from OC to Oregon to play in Bend next week. I had planned to play Yocha de He but the course was closed for an event, so I looked for an unusual venue near our route. This ... Continue »

Stopped here while driving from OC to Oregon to play in Bend next week. I had planned to play Yocha de He but the course was closed for an event, so I looked for an unusual venue near our route. This course and several other formerly-private venues in the Graeagle area had been the subject of an email offer from SCGA last Spring. Course is very out-of-the-way, 2.5 hr out of Sacramento in the Sierra foothills (although apparently only an hour from Reno). I booked through the course website for the October (end of season) rate of $65. The course is very scenic, built across a foothill slope and across ravines and creeks, through huge evergreens and along/across meadows and wetlands. The course will close after tomorrow, 10/19, so we got it at the very end of the season. Greens had been punched about 16 days ago and were still very rough and slow. I knew about the punching but condition was still disappointing. Several fairways had just been aerated and about half the grass was clear and the other covered with the aeration pellets. Greens are large, some with a lot of slope. Overall there's a lot of elevation change across the course, although most holes are not crazy. Several creeks and creekbeds crisscross the course and must be factored in on shots. Fairway lies were generally very good. Rough could be penal, with lots of trees and pine needles, and many areas covered by think bushy monkey grass that just swallows balls. Multiple plays are needed to better appreciate which side of the fairway to hit, runouts of fairways and green slopes, etc. Par 3s are generally fairly long and challenging, played to wide shallow greens guarded by bunkers. Uphill holes are not as long but of course play longer, and many greens are perched/plateau types with severe false fronts. Grass range with balls provided. Nice snack bar at the turn. Friendly staff at check-in provided a yardage card with key distances. One quibble with the design - hole 17 is a slightly downhill long par 4 with a creekbed along the entire left. Another creek crosses the fairway about 190 yards from the center of the green, forcing a layup off the tee and a long second into a green with a large mound front right and falling away into the creek to the left. The majority of golfers are forced to hit hybrids or long irons for their second, and try to make par with their wedge/putter. Too much 2nd shot for almost any but the best players. Far from anything, but worth a play if you are passing through the area.