A short ride from Sacramento yields championship golf and a surprisingly sophisticated resort
Yocha Dehe Golf Course at Cache Creek Casino Resort
Cache Creek Casino Resort
If your idea of a perfect getaway involves a little bit of luck, a lot of luxury, and a splash of olive oil—yes, olive oil—then Cache Creek Casino Resort in Brooks, California, is calling your name. Nestled in the rolling hills of Capay Valley–45 minutes from Sacramento–this unexpected gem offers more than just slot machines and poker tables. It’s a full-on sensory escape, where you can tee off in the morning, play games of chance by afternoon, and sip estate-grown wine and olive oil before dinner. That’s three plums lined up like weary soldiers at reveille by my count. Jackpot!
Cache Creek is owned and operated by the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, thus the unusual name for its golf course (it means “home by the spring”). What started out as an unassuming bingo hall in 1985 has grown into one of Northern California’s largest casino-resort destinations, with over 2,300 slot machines, 80-plus table games and 659 four-diamond luxury hotel rooms. Oh yes, there are also 11 restaurants, two swimming pools, a full-service spa, a 1,375 seat Event Center and that truly spectacular golf course. Did I leave anything out? Whew.
One of the resort’s serene swimming pools
Cache Creek Casino Resort
The Golf Course: Where Your Game Takes Flight
Let’s talk golf first. The course at Yocha Dehe is the kind of place where you expect the well-coiffed turf to whisper, “Well done, sir,” every time you sink a putt. Designed by renowned golf architect Brad Bell, the 18-hole course offers something for both the scratch golfer and the weekend warrior. Its sweeping fairways stretch over 7,000 yards, featuring every kind of challenge you could ask for: stunning water features, strategically placed bunkers, and subtly graded greens that will have you questioning the laws of physics. Word to the wise: such laws will likely remain silent for fear of incrimination.
But it’s not just the course itself that makes Yocha Dehe stand out, it’s the setting. Imagine playing amid the majestic Capay Valley, the kind of picturesque California landscape that feels like you’ve stepped into an Instagram post without even owning a smartphone or calling yourself an influencer. Trees? Check. Rolling hills? Check. Views that make you feel like a million bucks without needing to swing a driver? Double check.
18th Hole at Yocha Dehe
Cache Creek Casino Resort
And here’s the kicker: The course is just as good for your ego as it is for your golf game. Got that little slice problem? The fairways are wide enough to let you live out your “I’m a pro golfer” fantasy, while still testing your abilities when you need it. If you want to level up, the resort offers private lessons and clinics to turn your weekend warrior into a legend (or at least a competent player).
The Hotel: Sleek, Chic, and Comfy
After an afternoon of driving the ball like a champ (or a chump, depending on your horoscope that day), it’s time to head to the hotel. This place isn’t just some hotel that happens to have golf—this is a resort designed with every detail in mind, from the sleek decor to the unparalleled comfort. Again, I was actually stunned by the elegance given the rural location–in Las Vegas you expect over the top opulence, not 45 minutes from Sacramento at a casino hotel. Silly me.
Cache Creek Suite with a splendid view.
Ryan Lodermeier
The hotel rooms? Let’s just say that they’re the kind of sanctuary you didn’t know you needed. Think polished wood finishes, calming neutral tones, and windows so big you’ll feel like you’re sleeping in a yurt in Yosemite. You won’t necessarily want to leave your room, but when you do, you’ll be walking into a world of legit culinary delights, an enviable couple of pools, and service that makes you feel like you’re one of those high-rollers from Macau or Moscow, laying low in the sticks with stacks of funny money in need of cleaning and pressing, if you get my drift.
Salt wall offers serenity and organic design.
Cache Creek Casino Resort
Oh, and did I mention the resort’s signature spa? Yeah, it’s the kind of place where you go in with a tight back from too much driving (the golf club kind, not the road-trip kind), and come out feeling like a rejuvenated version of yourself. They have your CBD massage, couples massage, O2 Oxygen facials and “ormedic lift” (no idea what that is but it does sound fairly impressive), as well as mani- and pedicures and all manner of hairdo manipulation (highlights, lowlights and full color). I stopped in for a fully clothed ego massage, if you must know. Twenty minutes of idle flattery and unearned compliments and I was good to go.
The Casino: Where lady luck will likely have her way.
Going to the bank at the casino.
Cache
So, you’ve played 18 holes, and your swing is almost as smooth as your tuxedo-wearing alter-ego at the blackjack table. Welcome to the real deal: Cache Creek’s gleaming and always busy casino. If you’re looking for a high-stakes game of poker or a place to test your luck with a roulette wheel, this is where temptation awaits. Whether you’re a seasoned card sharp or a penny-slot machine aficionado, the resort’s casino has a distinctly undepressing vibe. Unlike Vegas with its cast of reprobates and wackos, this joint is classy and clean and just a wee bit indulgent. And don’t even get me started on the cocktails—grab a bourbon neat and settle in for a round of poker with some serious competitors. Tell ’em Detroit Dave sentcha.
Dining: Where Flavor Meets Flair
Okay, so you’ve got your golf game, your cozy hotel suite and a few hours of blackjack under your belt. What’s next? Food. And, trust me, you’re in for a treat here, and I must confess to having generally low expectations from casino resorts when it comes to gustatory pleasure. From farm-to-table fresh ingredients to dishes that’ll have you scraping the plate in delight, Cache Creek serves up high-end steaks and seafood or quick on the go snacks with attention paid to detail and freshness. I had a truly extraordinary 6 ounce filet of Japanese Wagyu that was highly marbled and tender, and dare I say cuttable with a spoon? That and roasted bone marrow with chimichurri to start and I left one very happy carnivore. Also, the Jackpot Roll at enso sushi will satisfy the fussiest pescatarians, as will the Poke Bowl surrounded by edamame and kaiware sprouts. Delicious.
Seka Hills, olive mill, wine and shopping
Cache Creek Casino Resort
Lastly, and perhaps most notably, even given the impressive golf, spa, food and what have you, is the Seka Hills sip, snack and shop emporium, as architecturally splendid as it is divinely out of place at a casino resort! A full-fledged olive oil factory/press (visible through floor to ceiling windows), is flanked by a wine bar serving vintages produced on nine acres of the Yocha Dehe Reservation. Salads, sammies and charcuterie plates can be enjoyed on the outdoor patio with its boundless views of the Capay Valley, and the retail side of the operation sells all manner of olive oil and other drinkables/comestibles. Conscious environmental stewardship is always a primary concern of the boss, Jim Etters, as well as the expert chef Casey Willard. Look for special events and wine-paired suppers throughout the autumn months. A do not miss experience!
