Played Tuesday 10/20/2016 @ 12:48 Guru Outing with JohnnyGK, Sixpez and Jerry64.
I arrived a little early and was greeted by friendly staff and was encouraged to warm up on the grass driving range and practice green. The tee boxes and fairways were nicely manicured with medium depth rough and is fairly flat except for 2 holes. The bunkering was recently and in my opinion brilliantly done with Scottish links type fescue lips which if you don't have a clean lie or too close will lose a shot. The course itself played pretty good considering it rained a couple of days prior, The greens were about 10 on the stimp
and were very receptive.
We had the pleasure of the director "Mike" joining us on the back 9 and he was telling us about the renovations/work that was done.. Kudos to the grounds crew staff in making this place a treat to play.

Played Sat. 9/10 10:10 70degrees 4:45 minutes as part of the Guru program.

I took this assignment as Oakmont was my old stomping grounds back in the mid 80s, there are 2 courses one regulation one executive both are fun although this is review is for the regulation(west). It is set in a retirement community, gateway to the valley of the moon fairly flat and an easy walk 6379 from the Blue tees. but 30 years ago much tougher track as there were Oak Trees in the fairway that you had to maneuver around or over. couple are still there, but I notice some are gone perhaps from the water rotting the root system.

I was greeted by the starter when I arrived and he ask me for my tee time, I told him and he said if I was with the GK group and I told him yes and he ask where was everyone else I told him I'll wait to see if any else shows and went to check in the pro shop. I walked in and handed my certificate(which I think he thought it was a Group Golfer or Moose Coupon) and to my surprise he told me that I was not in the system and the earliest he can put me out was 11:40. I told him I was there with Greenskeeper.org and I was there to do a review and if he wanted me to include this in the review. "Oh I sorry I did not know you were with the GK where is the rest of your group" I told him I'll wait a while to see if anybody shows.

Nobody showed so I teed off 2 balls from the back 9 since they were going to have a Wedding that day and the ceremony is about 100 yards from the 18th tee box next to a pond. 3 holes into the round I caught up to 2 5somes which I think were in the wedding party. They were really not a problem since they were playing fast and best ball and were trying to finish quick.

The greens putting smooth and were about 10 1/2 on the stint and were a treat to experience. The fairways on the back 9 were a little soggy, The front 9 had some bald spots and were GUR, Tee boxes were average/flat and can use a little alternating to let them heal and some of the steps leading to them had dry rot. Overall quite playable course, bunkers were nice, rough almost non existent, cart girl, seen the Marshall twice. Birdies Galore.

The best part was the ride home south on HWY 12 as this a very scenic this time of the year it is almost Grape harvest season the leaves are turning red/yellow and the wine crush is going to start, If you play start early and you can experience some wine tasting on the way home!

Played it 9/18/13@ 11:40..78 Degrees. Par 70. Course is in good condition well maintained, Greens were running about 10 on the stimp and holding shots. A little grainy but I like these type because they are easy to read. At first we thought it was going to be a slow day as a 3some of elder gents in their 80s teed off before us but we did not have to wait that much throughout and made it in 4 1/2 hours. I played it before but it was in foggy conditions and it a lot easier this time around and I think the rough was shorter this time. It starts out with a dogleg left par 5 that you have to hit over a busy street(but not in view)tight bunkered landing area but reachable in 2. There is a horse stable you play around the next few holes, The rest are kind of flat untill you get to #9 short par 4 uphill, hidden landing area. I hit a cut 5 wood in the middle and never found it, Everything tilts to a creek. The back 9 is tougher as there was more elevation and the wind started picking up. #12 has 2 trees in the middle of the fairway and depending on where the flag is is where to hit the tee shot but it is not a place to hit a slice as you will be in the creek. #13 is a nice hole that to me looks like Allister Mackenzie had some influence as there is bunkering 30 yards from the green. I also noticed some bunkers with the "Mackenzie fingers" through out the course. 18 is a nice short finishing hole with a breathtaking view from the tee box and a tough dowhill lie 2nd shot. Overall very nice course they done a nice job..Also the restuarant was recently remodeled this year. If you get a chance to play it well worth taking the day off.

Played 8/18/13 11:20 95 degrees light wind.. Smokey sky

Nice Jim Summers design (Stone Tree Novato) River Canyon with creek running thru. Oak trees all around with some that come into play off the tee shots and protecting the greens. Front nine greens were not mowed that day and were a lot slower that the back, No driving range but nice practice putting and sand bunker with a small area to hit pitch shots. The staff was very nice and the pace of play was good at 4Hrs on a Sunday. I found the back nine interesting and more demanding as the winds picked up. Good value and a must if in the area. Looks like it would be good draining in the winter time.

Played 8/16/13 @9:00 90 degrees, light breeze. Brad Bell design.. (Yocha de he,Turkey Creek, Coyote Moon) Bombers type course as some fairways are 75-100 yards wide. A lot of short holes, Not too many water hazards but bushes and overhanging trees from the tee boxes to protect the corners. Bermuda Greens and fairways but greens were punched 10 days before and were healing with the occasional bounce that knocks it off line, It was strange to see them punched this early (Aug). Course is heavily watered overnight but dried nice as the day went on. Tuff to bounce chips on since it is hard to predict what is going to happen with that type of grass. Clay/Sand in the bunkers with consistency of wet beach sand. Fun course, Very humid, would like to return when the greens are in good shape.

Played 3/23/13, the greens were over run with poa-annua and a couple had ruts that you have to putt through. The course was built in the 60s Beautiful property along the river and it is tree lined and there's a lot of short holes that you are better off teeing up with an Iron, A driver can get you into trouble should it stray and keeps rolling. The front 9 starts off easy, Flat but small greens and gets tough on 7 were it doglegs left, then a short but tight 8th and the dogleg right 9th that tilts left toward the river. The back nine is a little tougher, the greens are more undulating with tilt keep it below or you will have a slider with sudden break at the end and there is more water in play. After the round the woman at the snack bar was grumpy because we bothered while she was on a smoke break, but overall a pleasant place to play.