Since 1970
Original 18 of 36 holes
Welcome to Walnut Creek
We hope your experience at Walnut Creek is enjoyable. Walnut Creek can be a very long, demanding course (6880yards). For your enjoyment, may we suggest 0 handicap play the Black tees, 0-10 handicap play Purple tees, 10-20 handicap play Blue tees and 20+ handicap play Silver tees. The slope rating supports that high handicap players may not enjoy playing a course that is too long for their typical shot characteristics. Markers in the fairway denote the distance from the center of the green. (Note, we now have relaxed tees at a much shorter distance, they are mostly at the start of the fairways and are marked by upright gold stakes).
Walnut Creek
Famous Pencil Tour
(finally on paper)
1. Par 4 Plays straight-away. The garden spot from the tee is right of center in the low area. Avoid a side hill lie if possible. The green is three tier, hopefully the pin is not cut on the right tier (tough to hit).
2. Par 4 This is a dogleg left, trees prevent cutting the dogleg. Not too much trouble, however this hole yields few birdies.
3. Par 5 Plays long with slight dogleg right. The secret is -- don’t miss the fairway to the right. The lake begins about 140 yards from the green, but the bank is forgiving and slopes toward the fairway.
4. Par 3 The tee is beside the rest shelter. Beware of this hole. Treacherous grass pot bunkers on the right about yea deep (three feet or so) and a large sand bunker bounce hazard on the left are only paled by the most difficult putting surface on the course. (Be happy with a bogey!) Most difficult hole for a hole in one. (Odds are 24,000 to 1) Good luck!
5. Par 4 Tee it high and let it fly. This is not a long hole but there are two small sand traps directly in front of the green so you must drop your second shot with some brakes on it. While playing number 5, look at the lake on the left between number 5 and number 9. File this information away until you play number 9. This lake doesn’t really come into play on number 5 unless you badly hook your drive, but it really does come into play on number 9.
6. Par 3 This is a good par. If you hit toward the green, you see little trouble ...don’t spray it though. The putting surface is slightly above the elevation of the tee. This is your best shot for a hole in one. (Odds are 15,000 to 1). Go for it!
7. Par 5 This is a good birdie hole. Don’t let the yardage scare you because it is downhill. There is a large sand bunker in front of the green to grab those wishing to be home in two. If you go for the green in regulation, the bunker doesn’t come into play much because it is about 20 yards out from the green.
8. Par 4 Don’t fade the ball on this hole. The trees on the right can be jail. Add about one half club to your second shot because you are shooting uphill. This is a large, easy green to hit, but try to be below the hole.
9. Par 4 This is a good finishing hole. The target area is marked with a directional flag. There is a bushy Washington Hawthorne tree at each edge of the landing area. The best strategy is to use a 4 iron or 5 wood off the tee and land at the directional flag. The lake and directional flag are about 190 yards out from the tee so don’t be long and right of the directional flag or your ball will get washed. Remember not to play too safe to the left or the deep valley and many trees will prevent a shot to the green (5 wood from the tee and 8 iron to the green is my choice). If however if you must win this hole to win the match, then a perfectly executed driver will have its rewards. (Try the driver the second time you play this hole, if you dare!)
Oh yes, the back two thirds of this green does slope to accept the shot so don’t be fooled by the slope if you putt toward the clubhouse.
10. Par 4 The tee shot has a very narrow opening if you play from the back tees. Many 3 woods are used here to prevent disasters. Andy, our 16 foot Scotsman was carved from a 100 foot white oak tree after the tree succumbed to lightning. The hole is slightly easier but ever so photographed now. This is a long hole so don’t give too much away. The green is curved around the base on the left hand side of the giant Farmington Red Oak (unfortunately was struck and killed by lightning). The green is located in what was the town of Farmington. (Platted in 1848 but vacated in 1869.) A par on this hole will give much satisfaction. (Some say that a par on this hole is like a birdie on most holes!)
11. Par 5 Get out of town! Follow Farmington’s Walnut Street to Mulberry Alley at #11 tee. Look at the yardage-- Wow--- not to worry, though; this hole is all down hill. A slight double-dogleg or can be played straight. Left center of the fairway is the best location for the tee ball. Oh yes, remember number 7 green? This one is even longer. Thirty-three passes with a riding greens mower, (I know)!
12. Par 3 Tricky! The yardage seems to be exaggerated, but most people give it a little extra from this tee. You can see the first water from the tee, but not the lagoon guarding the green. Don’t fall short of the green or the ball will disappear. Hit the green and all is well. (Hole in one chance is 17,000 to 1.)
13. Par 4 A good tee ball is necessary. There is out-of -bounds on the left and water on the right. Your second shot is to a small narrow green. Play conservative here. Many stories are told about the infamous 13 on number 13 by one of the contenders of a county amateur tournament.
14. Par 4 I play this hole the same way I play number 9-- a 5 wood from the tee. The green is driveable but a little left or a little short and then Walnut Creek gets fed again. The creek is out of bounds so a re-tee is the best option. Play it safe... a 5 wood-wedge is the most successful. Try not to be too far right; two sand traps interfere with your par intentions. Easy par---easy 6.
15. Par 5 Uphill. This hole can be reached in two, but is difficult because it is all carry. The green is small and flat. When you get to your drive position, look to your right and see number 16 green. Make note if pin is on the front half or the back half of the green. Keep this thought in mind as you make your next tee selection.
16. Par 4 A straight tee ball here is rewarding. If the pin is on the front half of the green, then a loosely placed tee ball will not detract from your second shot, but do keep it between the tree lines. However, if the pin is cut on the back of the two level green, then place your tee ball left center of the fairway to allow a shot to the pin. To get a par you do need to be on the proper half of the green.
17. Par 4 Again a good long tee ball will reward you. Last chance to use ye-ole driver. Caution-- the lake on the right is reachable and no one wants to be hitting off the slope of the dam. A shorter fairway shot is better than a long spray. A lob shot to the green over a small sand trap will often produce a par on the moderately spacious flat green.
18. Par 3 Don’t let the water bother you on this shot. This is a good hole to get close and make birdie. Don’t be right because few pars result from a miss hit to the right. (Hole in one chance 20,000 to 1.)
Thank you for visiting our course. This is not only our business----it is our life. Please tell us if we did not meet or exceed your expectations, tell a friend if you found our course to be a pleasant experience. This is our original course that opened in 1970. Randy and Sara