Sacramento's best: Troon Golf's Yocha Dehe Golf Club at Cache Creek resort
BROOKS, Calif. -- The ride to Cache Creek resort's Yocha Dehe Golf Club transforms from boonies to beautiful in an instant. Yocha Dehe, a Brad Bell design that opened in 2008, hides deep in the rolling hills west of Sacramento on land owned by the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation.
Yocha Dehe translates to "home by the spring water" in the tribe's Patwin language. The long journey from the city or the Bay Area is rewarded with an exceptional golf experience courtesy of Troon Golf.
The clubhouse and elevated first tee sit high on a ridge overlooking the valley floor. The majestic hills act as scenic barriers, so no distractions bother golfers.
Bell, a former PGA Tour pro who has designed five golf courses in California, weaved a nice variety of holes that can be played from the forward tees by anybody, or as a monstrous 7,337 yarder from the tips, stout enough to host qualifiers for the U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur or a Monday qualifier for the PGA Tour's Frys.com Open.
There are so many strategic elements to like, starting with a 160-foot drop off the first tee. There's a drivable par 4 at no. 8, dramatic climbs to hilltop greens at no. 9 and no. 10, blind tee shots at no. 12 and no. 17 and a split fairway at no. 15. Several holes on the back nine wander through a vineyard. All four finishing holes feature water. The topper is near-perfect course conditions, including fast and furious greens.
The excellent Bahtenta Grill inside the clubhouse can fuel golfers up with good food before their round or for the ride home. Winning big at the four-diamond/four-star casino doesn't require gambling. Enjoying a round at Yocha Dehe is a sure bet.
The reviews of Golf Advisor are overwhelmingly five star. User Powerpluspainting wrote: "I've played a couple hundred courses in my 50 years, and this is, without a doubt, the nicest course I've ever played. ... First class in every aspect of the course. This truly was a hidden gem."
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