Approach to Hole 4

Greenhorn Creek Golf Resort:

There's Golf in Them Thar Hills.

Posted by: Rick Parnham

The Sierra Nevada Mountains are home to a wide variety of natural wonders, Giant Sequoias, fantastic caves, breathtaking drives and a deep rooted connection to the California Gold Rush. One of the historic mining towns that dot the western slopes of Calaveras County is Angel's Camp. Built atop mining tunnels from the days of the Mother Lode, the iconic town is home to a premier semi-private golf experience at Greenhorn Creek Resort. The town is the setting of Mark Twain's "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" and guests of the resort can sit with a bronze statue of the famous author greeting you at the entrance to the clubhouse.

Hole 5

The course was originally designed by Don Boos, but it is the work of Robert Trent Jones II that sets this course in the upper echelon of public facilities in a state filled with great ones. Set at 1500 feet of elevation along State Highway 4, one of the meandering routes between Stockton and Lake Tahoe, the course is graced with a superb climate for optimal conditioning. The lush fairways are generous in the Jones style of design and the green sites are large and varied in shape and challenge. The layout has a great blend of holes that give you room to let the driver loose and others that direct you to layup to a tight landing area making the routing at Greenhorn Creek one you won't soon forget.

Location: Angel's Camp, California

Editor's Shot Maker's Picks: Greenhorn Creek

Feature Holes Descriptions:

The course's first par 5 is a superb risk / reward, dogleg right hole. The tee shot plays out of a chute of trees atop the crest of a hill and tempts with options. The smart play is to favor the right side of the fairway making sure to be long enough to clear the end of the tree line on the right. This will give you a look at the gap between the trees and a rock wall / waste area at the end of the fairway.  Your second shot  plunges downhill headed to the green. Long hitters may have a rip for the opening with the drive, but anything the slightest off line is in jail. A clear look at the accessible green is had from the crest of the hill and tempts a big swing with a fairway wood for a chance at eagle. The par 4 fifth hole is a supreme challenge. The drive must be threaded between trees on either side of the fairway while accounting for the canting fairway pushing the ball to the right. Played too close to the right you will now be faced with a difficult shot needing to be shaped around a thicket of trees and fronting pond short of the green. Don't flirt with a front pin, hit to the middle and put to the edge to minimize the chance of a big number on the card.

Rolling Fairways

The beastly par 3 sixth is a true heroic hole. Stretching to over 210 yards from the tips the wide and shallow green juts out into a marshy wetland. A noticeable ridge divides the surface into left and right halves and a bunker behind gathers anything struck with a little too much vigor. This hole is all about the right length off the tee, so an extra club might be prudent with a mountain breeze in your face. There is always the safe bail out left for those faint of heart. The final par 4, hole  17 is both a long and  a precise a design. The drive is best played down the right to avoid the stand of trees and hill on the left and leaving a look into the enclosed green tucked behind a gulch, bunker and surrounded tightly by overhanging limbs.

If you are in the throes of planning a stay and play trip to the Sierra Mountains Greenhorn Creek Golf Resort in Angel’s Camp is the ideal staging ground to launch your adventure into the heart Gold Country.  The area is filled with a range of experiences ranging from hiking amid the giant Sequioas at Big Tree State Park to sampling the areas vintages on a tour of historic downtown Murphy's. Accommodation options include private villas and cottages or for the large group or family outing the five bedroom “caddy shack” is ideal. On-site après golf activities include access to the clubs tennis courts, two heated pools, hot tub and fitness center. Foodies will be well served with regionally grown ingredients at the upscale award winning CAMPS Restaurant and wine aficionados should be sure to visit the Cellar Room where over a 100 wines are available for sampling.

Course Stats:

Drive Times: Oakland 2 hrs, Sacremento 1.5 hrs, Lake Tahoe 2.5 hrs

Contact:

Greenhorn Creek Golf Resort
711 McCauley Ranch Road
Angel's Camp, CA

95222
877.465.3490

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