GolfTravel
California Dreamin’
Northern California Offers A Diverse Golf Experience
by Scott MacLeod
From the sea to breathtaking mountain heights, few places on earth offer as much
diversity as Northern California. Whether walking in the dense fog in San Francisco,
staring at the amazing shoreline, watching the sun set along the rocky coast, or breathing
the clean air in the High Sierra Mountains, the upper part of the Golden State has
always had an attraction for me.
No offence to southern California but anyone who has visited both knows
how singular each region can be. For many reasons the flavour of
Northern California has just been more to my taste.
The natural splendour of this wide expanse has attracted residents and
visitors at a steady pace for several centuries. With such a remarkable
canvas it comes to no surprise that it lends itself well to golf and all other
manners of recreational pursuits. Add to that the friendly attitude of the
locals and you have a welcome place to spend your vacation time.
The choices you make for your Northern California itinerary will cer-
tainly influence the vacation that takes shape so rather than confining our
attention to one option I thought I would provide a small sampling of what
the entire area can offer.
Let’s start at the wondrous coastline…and, with some hesitation (not for
what lies ahead but for what we leave behind) we will head inland.
“Thunder and Lighting”
Once you get a first glance of the Pacific from the serpentine Coast
Highway it is hard not to cling to the shore like an awestruck child. It’s that
powerful.
Whether morning or night, the crashing waves beating on the craggy
shoreline cannot be ignored for long. You will find yourself unexplicably
drawn to stand for hours on a cliff top, feeling the rhythm of the waves
Sierra Star
and delighted by all that you see around you.
FLAGSTICK FOR WOMEN 49
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