SAN RAMON, Calif. - Former U.S. Open champion Johnny Miller is credited with designing The Bridges Golf Club in San Ramon, but the brunt of the work was done by Damian Pascuzzo, who teamed with Robert Muir Graves before going solo.
Because the golf course features seven forced carries over a creek that runs throughout the property, it's easy to see how the course got its name. While many of those forced carries are off the tee, there are some to the greens as well, which makes The Bridges a course not necessarily suited for beginners.
Almost always in excellent condition, The Bridges Golf Club also features large bentgrass greens, including the 18th, which is 75 yards deep. Located near the East Bay 35 miles outside of San Francisco in the Tri Valley foothills of Mount Diablo, the golf course winds up and down hills over the creeks and ravines. With plenty of strategic bunkering as well, The Bridges G.C. can be as treacherous as it is pretty.
The Bridges Golf Club - hole 5
The first par 3 at The Bridges Golf Club, the fifth, may be the most difficult at 234 yards.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf
The Bridges golf course - hole 6
The Bridges Golf Club's par-5 sixth hole can be reached in two by long hitters, but it's a tremendous three-shot hole as well with a ravine and bunkers protecting the green.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf
The Bridges Golf Club in San Ramon, California
While The Bridges Golf Club is somewhat of a target course, there are opportunities to recover around the greens.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf
The Bridges GC - hole 11
The look off the tee on the par-4 11th at The Bridges Golf Club appears more intimidating than it is.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf
The Bridges Golf Club - hole 13
The par-3 13th at The Bridges Golf Club is both long (223 yards) and treacherous with a hazard front and left of the green.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf
The Bridges Golf Club - hole 15
One of the prettiest par 3s at The Bridges Golf Club is the short but tricky 15th.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf
The Bridges golf course - hole 17
As part of strong finishing kick at The Bridges Golf Club, the par-5 17th features two carries over ravines.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf
The Bridges Golf Club - hole 18
The finishing hole on The Bridges Golf Club has a green that is some 75 yards deep.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf
The Bridges G.C. - hole 18
Bunkers and a ravine catch tee shots that are too far left on the par-4 18th at The Bridges Golf Club.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf
The Bridges Golf Club - hole 3
Players have to be careful not to cut too much off from the tee on this dogleg right par-4 third at The Bridges Golf Club in San Ramon.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf