The beautiful 424-yard par 4 5h Uphill dogleg right 12th hole Stunning views from the 13th
Greenhorn Creek is about an hour-and-a-half drive from downtown Sacramento and is one of three resort courses I am to play over the next couple of days. Resort courses are very big over here and I can see why – it’s a great way to spend a weekend in one of the many fairway cottages that the resort rent out. But Greenhorn has something called the ‘Caddyshack’ that sleeps up to 12 people with its own barbeque area, living room and kitchen facilities. It’s amazing and if you are a group of golfers looking for a place to play and stay, this has to be high on your list.
You could even use the Caddyshack as your base to play several courses in the area, one of which I will be playing tomorrow only 20 minutes down the road. I’m staying in one of the guesthouses that are situated to the left of the eighth fairway. It’s a great night as the four of us retire to the cottage and sit around drinking beer and wine while the steaks are sizzling on the BBQ. The sun is starting to set and the conversation is in full flow. I’m truly at peace with the world.
The course was originally designed by Don Boos and opened for play in 1997, and Robert Trent Jones Jnr was commissioned to undertake a redesign in 2002. It sits in the Sierra foothills and you will see lots of evidence of ‘grinding rocks’ which were apparently used by the Miwuk Indians. There are also lots of reminders of the rock mines that used to be in the area. Both leave their unique mark on this beautiful little track.
This is not a grip-it-and-rip-it course. You have to plot your way around this track and put your ball in the right areas to attack the flag. Leave yourself in the right position and you can make a good score, but there are some tough green complexes. Put yourself in the wrong areas and you could be 3/4 putting on these beautiful putting surfaces that I find to run fast and true.
I enjoy all the par-3s but the course’s signature hole has to be the par-3 13th that is played from an elevated tee with some beautiful views out to the Sierras, water front-right and two big bunkers at the back of the green all making for a great golf hole.
I was going to start naming standout holes but I love the back nine. Once you get in among the trees from the 11th hole, it becomes a thinker’s course and a track I really enjoy playing. I’m sure you will too, especially if you stay at the Caddyshack. You’ll be wanting to get out and play it again and sit around cooking steak, drinking beer and looking back on what a great challenge this hidden gem is.
