Ima let these guys finish but Corica got the best golf and breakfast combo of all time. OF ALL TIME!
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Play the north - 9 holes. The South course is fine, but it has lost some of the firm and fast conditioning over the past few years. So if I had to pick one, I’d play the 9. And then 9 at Northwood sounds awesome.
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I’ll be honest - I love them both, but in truth the North is the better course right now even though it’s 9 holes. Which also makes it easier to get out on.
But a full-ass awesome day would start with breakfast at Jim’s, 9 holes on the North course, and finish with an afternoon round at Northwood. Just be aware it’s gonna take you 1.5-2hrs to get there from Corica.
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All sorts of good advice here but I gotta say that - with the final stretch north to Bandon in mind - I would go for the Corica North/Northwood combo. Lots of places to crash in Monte Rio/Guerneville, wake up and take a dip in the river and then head over to the coast for that incredible drive up the 1 !!
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That was an awesome day @GremlinGolfer
Windsor is the best. My favorite course in the north bay (maybe the entire bay). Half of our crew drove up from the city regularly for our weekend game. @SweepingDraw can attest.
There is an added bonus that the 2nd Russian River Brewing location is like 5 minutes away if you are into getting great pints with the lads.
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I totally agree. Windsor is my favorite track that’s within an hour from me. But it’s slimmer pickings up here.
That was the other draw to the area. Luckily we get Elder on tap down here but I’ve never had Younger, need to try.
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Lovely list of suggestions but I would be remiss to not mention a few more:
Okay kinda not NorCal but since you are road tripping through Central California:
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La Purisima (Lompoc, Central Coast)- pure AF, greatest value course in America. Great strategically designed course weaving through a rolling oak tree preserve. Q school finals used to be held here.
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Sandpiper (Santa Barbara)- Drop dead gorgeous holes right on the coastline. One hole you literally tee off from the beach sand.
NorCal:
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Bayonet/Black Horse (Monterey)- epic military courses with ocean views that are usually favorites of low handicap players
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Quail Lodge (Carmel)- scenic, peaceful resort golf
My 2c on other suggestions:
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Corica is awesome and a must play.
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Harding Park is a rip off for non locals.
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Bodega is very beautiful but there are some really strange holes that are not fun to play. Also in RTJ fashion there are a ton of doglegs and it is not very linksy, so don’t have unreasonable expectations.
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Northwood is a sweet design and worth a stop!
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I actually think that the South course now is what I would consider the correct amount of firm and fast and I strongly prefer it to the North. The North course is too firm for my taste right now and I find the shaping to be a little over the top.
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I would like to also contribute poppy hills to the conversation if you want something that IMO would slot in upper mid-pack with the pinehurst area courses and would give you some variety vs bandon.
Also! Monarch Dunes just south of San Luis Obispo which I’ve played only once…I don’t understand why everyone isn’t talking about it all the time. It rules.
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Well shucks now I want to dream up my perfect San Diego to bandon road trip instead of go to sleep. Here goes in order from south to north.
- Rustic Canyon
- Olivas Links
- Soule Park
- Sandpiper (though I wish you could pay $25 and just play holes 10-13, they are top tier but the rest of the course stinks)
- Monarch Dunes
- Poppy Hills
- Pacific Grove
- Black Horse
- Pasatiempo. Honestly even with punched greens maybe the way to go.
- Northwood
- Bandon
Skip:
- La Purisima. Good tournament course not memorable
- Bayonet. Same ^
- Spyglass Hill. Expensive, atrocious fake ponds. Go play Poppy for the woods and PG for the ocean instead.
- Sea Ranch. Fun course, but not worth driving out of the way for. Feel like everyone wants this to be better than it is.
- tbh, Corica. It’s a great muni and I’m so happy we have it. I’m playing it Saturday and I’m pumped. But go play pasa and northwood instead
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Hi all.
Two questions:
- What’s the story and how is the course at the Berkeley Country Club?
- Does anyone know what membership fees are for The Berkeley Country Club?
Thanks.
Idk but their Instagram has ad targeted the bejesus out of me lol
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I played it about a year or so ago. It’s nice but hilly, and oddly spread out around some homes. I know a guy who belongs to Richmond (where I belong) who switched from there to Richmond. It’s not very walkable (though I’m sure you are allowed to walk) and I think it COULD be really good. I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t a course I would want to play four or five times a month, etc. That’s just my takeaway. No clue on the cost, though.
Like anywhere, though, if you respond to them and say you’re interested you’ll find out and can get a free round out of it, I’d guess.
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The whole place (not just the course) embodies “quirk,” though. Doesn’t belong on the skip list IMO.
Especially if the idea is crash in bodega-ish area and drive north along 1 to Bandon, this is a perfect stop-and-play-after-a-little-drive situation, then finish the drive to Bandon.
Unless the idea is just to hustle to Bandon. In which case, don’t take 1.
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Idea was that we have 1 stop on the drive to Bandon. Looking for a budget-ish option (basically not Harding/pebble/Pasa cause they are punching), don’t care about the ocean views of Pacific Grove unless that truly is the best stop, willing to go out of the way.
So not looking for the most convenient, but what is THE course you’re taking a buddy to who won’t be visiting the area again.
I recognize that’s a lot of qualifiers, but I figured I’d get a better recommendation from you all, not some golf digest type list.
PG does check all those boxes. Or Poppy Hills.
Plus killer food and things to do nearby before/after.
Long drive from PG to Bandon, though.
…this post feels like Frank wrote it.
If you’re trying to split the drive a little better, then Yocha recommended above is good budget, cheap (stay, too), fun, and on the “fast” route to Bandon.
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The views / golf at PG will immediately be outclassed by Bandon. I would mix it up and go inland. Poppy is great when it’s firm, but it’s a long haul from there. Windsor is underrated and Northwood is close by if you want to go full sicko with a combo day. Drive is awesome from there, too. Yocha is likely the best combo of good golf / convenience.
Corica North > South don’t @ me
And if you stay in Monterey area go to Hulas
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