Destination Nevada County

By John Daulton
Amazon bestselling author of The Galactic Mage
scfi/fantasy novel series
I’ve played a lot of golf in the Grass Valley area, so I was honored
when asked to write a little about what other golfers can expect. In
short: golf in this part of the world is fantastic. The geography makes
for interesting and diverse game play. Plus, it is gorgeous. You’re
surrounded by nature, and you can get your exercise in the heart
of California’s gold rush history. There are four courses in the Grass
Valley area that I’ll hit on to get you up to speed: Alta Sierra, Lake of
the Pines, Nevada County Country Club, and Lake Wildwood.
Alta Sierra Country Club is a semi-private course that is a real treat
for you and a real jealousy maker for your Facebook and Instagram
friends. Why? Because it’s as beautiful as it is fun to play. How
beautiful? It is literally a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary,
designated by Audubon International. Gorgeous wetland and
woodlands embrace a wicked-challenging great course, all rife with
wildlife. Designed by legendary California course-wizard Bob E.
Baldock and Jim Summers, Alta Sierra is all-win. Bring your camera
phone. And bring your A-game, because this ain’t no easy flatland
muni course. You won’t get the same look twice, and those picturesque
pine trees are just waiting for you to be off the mark.
Lake of the Pines golf course is another area course to consider
that is, again, lovely and surrounded by picturesque scenery. Listed
as a public/private course, it boasts a 70.3 rating, and a variety of
challenges including nail-biter shots over water, bunkers, creeks, and
my personal favorite, canyons. How fun is that? Again, given that this
is one of the most scenic areas in all of California, you can’t go wrong
with an outing at this vista-rich course either.
Nevada County Country Club (NCCC) is another spectacular golf
outing, with tree-lined fairways guarding greens that will test your
mettle. This course dates all the way back to 1926, built on the old
Worthington family ranch by Sam Whiting, who is also credited in
full or part for the Stockton Golf and Country Club, the Lake Course
and Ocean Course at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, Harding
Park Golf Course in San Francisco, the Sonoma Golf Club, and
William Land Golf Course in Sacramento. Not only is this course
DESTINATION Nevada County 157