CC
THE RIDE FROM INTERSTATE 680 TO SAN JOSE COUNTRY CLUB does not suggest pastoral serenity. It’s a distinctly blue-collar, urban neighborhood: lots of asphalt and stop lights, with few hints of a grassy, tree-lined oasis lurking around the bend. BY RON KROICHICK
T
he opening four holes at San Jose, similarly, do not foreshadow an impend- ing stroll to stir the soul. Those holes wind up and
down a steep hill, creating an altogether quirky introduc- tion to the course. Then the layout abruptly
turns picturesque and in- vigorating. Rows of sprawl- ing, majestic oak trees fl ank the fairways, mixed in with an occasional redwood or Monterey pine. The trees add personality to a club with rich history and abundant golf tradition. “I’ve played all over the
world,” said Ernie Moreno, a longtime member and the club historian. “There’s not one person I’ve brought to the club who said, ‘Why do you play here?’ ” This setting, in the foot-
hills of east San Jose, offers a scenic canvas for a club with deep roots in the region’s golf landscape. It’s the fourth- oldest golf club in Northern California and one of the NCGA’s founding members, alongside Menlo CC, the Presidio, Claremont CC and San Francisco GC. San Jose’s history springs
to life through many familiar names and accomplished players affi liated with the club in one era or another. The list spans several decades and includes a parade of high-level golfers—Jack Bariteau and Ken Venturi, Ernie and Frank Pieper, Roger Maltbie and Mark Wiebe, John Ellis and Joseph Bramlett. More than 100 current
members carry a single-digit handicap index, illustrating the quality of players San Jose attracts and breeds. Or consider the club’s place on the tournament scene: The Santa Clara County Championship has been held there for more than 80 years, an enduring tradi- tion in which a sneaky-hard, 6,225-yard layout annually torments all manner of power hitters. Even so, this strong golf
culture thrives in a social, junior-friendly atmosphere. That’s not always a smooth blend, especially when club offi cials are perfectly willing to send out groups of fi ve or six (or even more) players at a time. The guidelines are simple: Keep pace and let
WINTER 2012 /
NCGA.ORG / 29
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