Had a chance to play a hidden gem this weekend. River Island GC in Porterville, Ca. Course was in excellent shape with some pretty great views. If you have a chance, get out there! What are some other hidden gems in Cali?
Some well known “hidden gems” are Yocha DeHe, Northwood, Pacific Grove.
Some personally for me are Napa GC, Eagle Vines, and Hidden Valley Lake GC.
UWMN
I played Rams Hill a few weeks ago. I swear if someone randomly took me to that course without telling me where we were going, I’d think they were trying to kill me or something. Lmao. Absolutely nothing around that course but mountains and empty land. Beautiful course though and definitely worth the drive.
The bad reviews all mention service and employee friendliness. They must put all their money into course management and zero into customer service. I played there a few years ago and had no issues.
changer222
Dark Horse in Auburn.
player2
California is huge, where are you looking? Even getting to Monterey from SF is a 2.5 hour trip with traffic.
animalwhopartys
Morro bay
blindfire40
So stoked to hear River Island is back! My dad and I used to play there regularly and then it was more just “river” than anything else for an extended period of time. I knew it had been bought and was being refurbished but I haven’t had a chance to get back.
Rryon
La P (La Purisma) in Lompoc. Played it a few times in college tourneys.
Be warned – it’s real tough.
Asleep-Assistance-67
Winchester Golf Club. Tough track but beautiful views and tucked in the Sierra foothills outside Sacramento
One I’ve never really seen posted about is Greenhorn Creek in Angels Camp. Gorgeous course, and I played a few really fun rounds there on a trip for a friend’s birthday a few years ago.
scubadude2
Browns n bows is fun and has multiple courses with lots of variety.
tallslim1960
Wente in Livermore.
anticucho
San Vicente in Ramona, CA (35 miles east of La Jolla). Many San Diego golfers have never even heard of it. It’s another 15 mins east of Mt. Woodson. Decent layout and very challenging green complexes. Not as nice as something like Rams Hill but deserves more attention.
randyyqq
San Juan Oaks is great. Was recently renovated, the course is in great shape, and close proximity to Monterey of you wanted to also play a few courses on the coast. My favorite in the more immediately Monterey bay is Poppy Hills.
Full_Equipment_1958
Playing one of my faves tomorrow! Boundry Oak in Walnut Creek.
notevenbro
Peacock gap in San Rafael is sort of a relatively straight forward muni, but has some really great holes and actually a lot of variety.
Apple Mountain. Liked it way better than yocha dehe, and half the price
tittysprinkles1130
Goose Creek
Loud_Relative33
Nooo don’t post about my home track haha pace of play has been nearly 5 hours lately as is 😭 truly a wonderful design in an unexpecting area. Finally coming back around after a nasty flood ran through the course a few years back.
bballoliver
Looks like fun
McDrank
If you happen to be driving along 395 ever there’s a fun golf course in bishop called bishop country club. Not much elevation but the course is in really good condition, gorgeous Mountain Views and has some excellent fast greens.
Sea Ranch gets my vote! Love this course. Great price for ocean views.
PoseyForPresident
Definitely biased but I’m still in the honeymoon phase at Del Rio CC in Modesto. Sure feels like a hidden gem compared to most courses around the area… it’s hosting a US Open Final Qualifier in April this year, should be cool to check out
scottiedagolfmachine
Morro Bay was amazing.
Love that place!
scottiedagolfmachine
Wouldn’t say hidden gem but Callippe is my favorite.
Back 9 can be challenging and requires some thinking.
29 Comments
Some well known “hidden gems” are Yocha DeHe, Northwood, Pacific Grove.
Some personally for me are Napa GC, Eagle Vines, and Hidden Valley Lake GC.
I played Rams Hill a few weeks ago. I swear if someone randomly took me to that course without telling me where we were going, I’d think they were trying to kill me or something. Lmao. Absolutely nothing around that course but mountains and empty land. Beautiful course though and definitely worth the drive.
https://preview.redd.it/6mf6v5lvqnmg1.jpeg?width=1260&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=48bd9cf32a77d408b4ef8f7e5893622a0a6f6505
Dark Horse in Auburn, CA
The bad reviews all mention service and employee friendliness. They must put all their money into course management and zero into customer service. I played there a few years ago and had no issues.
Dark Horse in Auburn.
California is huge, where are you looking? Even getting to Monterey from SF is a 2.5 hour trip with traffic.
Morro bay
So stoked to hear River Island is back! My dad and I used to play there regularly and then it was more just “river” than anything else for an extended period of time. I knew it had been bought and was being refurbished but I haven’t had a chance to get back.
La P (La Purisma) in Lompoc. Played it a few times in college tourneys.
Be warned – it’s real tough.
Winchester Golf Club. Tough track but beautiful views and tucked in the Sierra foothills outside Sacramento
Soule Park GC in Ojai
https://preview.redd.it/gykrva8uunmg1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2b336bd1a5cc2d1fb93e6e68da56b6d7d943138d
Rancho Solano and Paradise Valley
River Island is great and I’ve heard such good things about its shape after the flooding shut it down a few years ago.
Ridge Creek in Dinuba is another great option nearby!
https://preview.redd.it/ap1hp7qzwnmg1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7677c9fbc892c414101362a38afcde081a66f173
One I’ve never really seen posted about is Greenhorn Creek in Angels Camp. Gorgeous course, and I played a few really fun rounds there on a trip for a friend’s birthday a few years ago.
Browns n bows is fun and has multiple courses with lots of variety.
Wente in Livermore.
San Vicente in Ramona, CA (35 miles east of La Jolla). Many San Diego golfers have never even heard of it. It’s another 15 mins east of Mt. Woodson. Decent layout and very challenging green complexes. Not as nice as something like Rams Hill but deserves more attention.
San Juan Oaks is great. Was recently renovated, the course is in great shape, and close proximity to Monterey of you wanted to also play a few courses on the coast. My favorite in the more immediately Monterey bay is Poppy Hills.
Playing one of my faves tomorrow! Boundry Oak in Walnut Creek.
Peacock gap in San Rafael is sort of a relatively straight forward muni, but has some really great holes and actually a lot of variety.
https://preview.redd.it/o4s4dk5v4omg1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e2c80a16ebd97dd61e1f32ea128eeb432fcf091a
Rancho San Marcos
Apple Mountain. Liked it way better than yocha dehe, and half the price
Goose Creek
Nooo don’t post about my home track haha pace of play has been nearly 5 hours lately as is 😭 truly a wonderful design in an unexpecting area. Finally coming back around after a nasty flood ran through the course a few years back.
Looks like fun
If you happen to be driving along 395 ever there’s a fun golf course in bishop called bishop country club. Not much elevation but the course is in really good condition, gorgeous Mountain Views and has some excellent fast greens.
https://preview.redd.it/cmdaa4xqcomg1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=62bb94eda772faad0f004a22a6f54526c90cfc6f
Sea Ranch gets my vote! Love this course. Great price for ocean views.
Definitely biased but I’m still in the honeymoon phase at Del Rio CC in Modesto. Sure feels like a hidden gem compared to most courses around the area… it’s hosting a US Open Final Qualifier in April this year, should be cool to check out
Morro Bay was amazing.
Love that place!
Wouldn’t say hidden gem but Callippe is my favorite.
Back 9 can be challenging and requires some thinking.