course that begins around 130 yards from the hole,” Burton continued. “We wanted greens equal to the best in Northern California. And we admired Carter’s bunkers.” The course travels up one canyon
to the left of the clubhouse, then back down. It continues up another dell to the right, to the clubhouse. New indigenous redwood trees were planted in place of dying pines to separate the fairways, many of which had quick doglegs, forcing ball-placement off the tee. Most of the greens sit on top of
small hillocks or mounds, with severe falloffs in one direction or the other. False fronts are everywhere, with effect. Any approach shot that lands on the front of the green will slowly roll back, then on down the fairway. These greens are very firm, with severe undulations. Intricate deception is everywhere,
never evident at first glance. From the tee, each hole frames beautifully. But the real work to navigate the hole begins with the approach shot. It must be exact, or the ball will roll far away from the intended target. The greens are like an intricate maze.
But each had a path through the maze that could be negotiated, if that path was found. Maybe a hill behind the green could be used as a backstop, or a ridge in the green could carom the ball to the hole. Hit the wrong ridge and the ball could easily roll into four-putt land. Learn these greens and find the path—that is the key to playing this
course. The maze looks overwhelming, but there is a way. That is the signature of a masterpiece. A true masterpiece hides its beauty through intricacy of de- sign, layers of deception—like an artist hides beauty in his painting. Remember that nature is complex.
A golf course with straight lines and tabletop perfect greens immediately looks artificial in a natural setting. A golf course is man’s creation, not nature’s. But the closer an architect can get to the natural complexities of landscape, the more masterful the design. The look of nature, the feel of nature, is imperative. Natural beauty is rooted in complexity. A true masterpiece integrates the unpre- dictable forces of nature into the design. We returned to the grill for lunch, and I admired the panoramic view of Silicon Valley through the windows. I had a salmon filet that may be the best I have ever tasted. The chef knew his craft. Saratoga is a true family club.
Women and children have equal access. The membership is diverse from blue collar to Silicon Valley CEOs. There is a refreshing lack of pretension as the pal- pable friendly atmosphere is unveiled in encounters with both members and staff. There is a strong commitment to Junior Golf. Saratoga Country Club’s junior Shotaro Ban was the 2009 NCGA Junior Player of the Year and is now on the Cal golf team. Saratoga’s juniors are sprinkled about on the local high school golf teams. Golfers looking to refine their games, who play this course on a regular
basis will find all of elements necessary to develop an exceptional short game. The Junior Team has had great success in competing with the larger clubs in the area largely due to the skill sets honed at the unique offerings of SCC. Three practice greens, with bunkers,
are on the property. The driving range has real grass. I noticed there was a bunker off to the left side of the range that was to practice fairway bunker shots with irons. The club also features six beautiful
tennis courts that are perched to provide panoramic views of the Santa Clara Valley and the encompassing mountain borders. Tennis courts are tennis courts until you build them in a beautiful loca- tion. These courts are special! There is a swimming pool below the clubhouse that is Junior Olympic size, a place families enjoy in the summers. The locker rooms sparkle, and a gym with all the accoutrements is available for those who want a good workout. A major attraction to members and
non-members is a full service party and event venue. The ceremony site shares the magnificent views of the valley that make all of the facilities so charming. It is a wonderful combination of ceremony site and reception facility. The initiation fee for membership is $9,400 or less, depending on category. Monthly assessments average around $480/month. More information is available at
www.saratogacc.com or by calling 408/253-0340.
Ron Salsig is a contributing writer for NCGA Golf and has won three national awards from the GWAA. 26 /
NCGA.ORG / SUMMER 2012
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