One of two private golf courses in Marin County, the Marin Country Club opened in 1958 and is one of the most respected country clubs in Northern California. The sprawling course is nestled in the Pacheco Valley of Novato, surrounded by mature trees and lakes. Lawrence Marion Hughes was the original course designer, with design changes made in 1986 by Robert Muir Graves. The 6,509-yard course has been augmented by years of careful grooming and thoughtful improvements, such as new cart paths, replacing old wooden bridges with stone structures, and the addition of a man-made lake that provides views from most of the course and is also a water hazard challenge. The par 72 course has a creek and natural barriers that virtually eliminate parallel fairways and provide beauty and challenge. This is a narrow course that requires placement shots off the tee. The 18-hole course has a championship rating of 72.7. The Marin Country Club was the site for the 1993 U.S. Open Championship and the 2004 U.S. Amateur Qualifying Championship. Both the fairways and greens are bent grass. A natural grass practice facility complete with simulated course layout, four target greens and practice bunkers support the serious golfer’s needs, along with lessons from the Club’s Class-A PGA Professional and a well-stocked pro shop. The driving range has a computerized indoor/outdoor teaching facility. The club also has a fitness Center, four tennis courts, three pools, and an elegant Clubhouse for dining, events, and banquets. For more information, visit their Web site (www.marincountryclub.com).

Considered one of the most beautiful courses in the Bay Area, the course is pristinely maintained and located in the woodlands and wetlands of the Novato hills.  Built in 1957 and designed by Robert Nyberg, it is a semi-private course open to players of all levels.  The hilly 6,350-yard layout makes this course play longer than it looks. The greens are sloping, small and fast and many of the tree-lined fairways are doglegs.  The water hazards are in the form of streams and ponds.  The signature hole is #16, a 475-yard, par five that requires an approach shot to a four-tiered green.  A unique feature is the mode of travel from the 13^th green to the 14^th tee – by elevator.  The 18-hole course has a championship rating of 69.7.  The par 72 course has greens and fairways of bent grass.

PGA professionals are on hand for lessons and for help with your equipment needs.  The Pro Shop is well-stocked and offers discounts on all major brands and is also known as the North Bay’s leader in custom club fitting.  The Pro Shop’s definition of custom clubs:  “Clubs that fit your best swing, so you don’t have to swing to fit your clubs.”  The club has a mat driving range and practice putting greens.  The 19^th Hole Bar & Grill is a great place to have a drink or meal and has outdoor patio seating with views of Stafford Lake.  For more information, visit their Web site (www.ivgc.com).

Water comes into play on twelve holes of this relatively flat 6,350-yard 18-hole course. The signature hole is the par 3, 169-yard 16^th hole, which requires a tee shot over a natural lagoon that leads into the bay. The 441-yard finishing hole is a slight dogleg to an elevated green with a creek that runs through and along the right side. Tree-lined fairways will challenge all levels of players. The par 71 layout rewards good drivers with a variety of approach shots that allow you to use all the clubs in your bag. Located in San Rafael, this semi-private course enjoys sunny weather most of the year and is an easy course to walk. Peacock was founded in 1959 and designed by William Bell and the course was redesigned by Bill Brothers in 1962. The course has a championship level of 70 and the fairways and greens are bent grass. Peacock Gap has five PGA instructors that offer a variety of instructional programs to aid golfers of all levels of skill, including private, playing, group, and video lessons. The facilities include a Pro Shop, 25-stall grass and mat driving range, two putting greens, a chipping area, and a restaurant/bar. The restaurant serves breakfast and lunch. For more information, visit their Web site (www.peacockgapgc.com).

Voted the most challenging course in Marin County for the last several years, this 18-hole public course also is known to have some of the best greens in the Bay Area. The 6,800-yard , par 72 course has large and undulating greens surrounded by large trees and stunning valley views. Water comes into play on thirteen holes, including several ponds (filled with salmon and coho) and Roy’s Creek. Designed in 1967 by A. Vernon McKahn and later redesigned by Robert Muir Graves in 1989. In 1991 the course received another redesign by Robin Nelson and Randy Wright. The front nine is flat and open while the hilly back nine is situated in a valley making this an easy course to walk. One of the most spectacular holes is #10, a 516-yard, par five that requires an elevated tee shot up a dogleg left fairway with woods lining the left side. San Geronimo has bent grass greens and Bermuda grass fairways. The course has a championship rating of 73.8. This course has been voted “Places to Play” by Golf Digest for the last five years. The course offers a golfing challenge in a relaxing setting. The facilities include a pro shop, putting greens, chipping area and a restaurant/bar. For more information, visit their Web site (www.sangeronimogc.com).

Perched along the spectacular coast in Bodega Bay, the Scottish links-style 6,275-yard course offers a panoramic view from every hole. There are several uphill and downhill shots and many irregular lies due to the hilly terrain of this par 70 course. The course has undulating greens, contoured fairways, and native rough. The last three holes play over a freshwater marsh, the course’s only water hazard.   Number 18, the signature hole, is a 467-yard, par 4 and has been voted the best finishing hole in Northern California. The course has received several awards: a 4-Star Golf Digest “Places to Play”; a #11 ranking by American Express’ Departures Magazine in their ranking of California’s 25 most challenging courses; and is annually rated as one of Northern California’s top ten golf courses. This semi-private, 18-hole course was built in 1977 by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., who also designed the back nine when it was added in 1987. The greens are poa annua grass and the fairways are bent grass. The course’s championship rating is 72.4. The facilities include putting greens, mat into cage driving range, pro shop, lessons, and two restaurants. The Bluewater Bistro & Bar serves lunch, dinner, brunch, and drinks with breathtaking views of the Bay. For more information, visit their Web site at (www.bodegaharborgolf.com .

Designed by experts Sandy Tatum, Jim Summers, Fred Bliss and World Golf Hall-of-Fame member Johnny Miller, this public 18-hole course opened in December of 2000. The 6,910-yard course is located in Novato, surrounded by 100-year old oak trees, meadowlands, and a variety of ecological environments. Ten holes rest in a low-lying area while the other eight holes are among the rolling terrain. The bluegrass fairways are sand-plated to ensure the finest turf conditions for year-round play and lined with more than 12,000 trees including maples, buckeyes, firs, and willows. The greens are bent grass and the cart paths have a distinctive salt finish. The par 72 course’s design has a large number of approach strategies and is accommodating for players of all skill levels, but designed to challenge tournament level players. The course’s championship rating is 72.7. At Stone Tree you’ll find attention to detail and quality. The facilities include mats into net driving range, putting greens, chipping area, a pro shop, and a clubhouse. The 21,000 foot clubhouse includes a full-service and well-stocked pro shop; the Fireside Lounge for drinks; the View Terrace or the Black Point Bar & Grill restaurants for lunch, dinner, and banquets. For more information, visit their Web site at (www.stonetreegolf.com).

You will find something for everyone here -- a rolling 9-hole golf course in addition to a mat driving range, putting greens, chipping area, golf shop, restaurant, batting cages and a miniature golf course. The well-bunkered, large greens are undulating and fast and the fairways are sparsely tree-lined and bordered by a defined cut of rough. This is an excellent course for beginning golfers or experienced ones who want to work on their short game. Designed by Fred Bliss in 1993, the 1,900- yard, par 31 executive-links course features bent grass on the greens and fairways. There are water hazards on three holes and wide, open fairways. The course has a championship rating of 62.9. McInnis is the home of Marin’s finest Golf Academy staffed by four experienced PGA professionals and hosts numerous leagues, camps, and series throughout the year for men, women, and juniors and for all levels of play.   McInnis is just off the Bay so it is often breezy. Four-star cuisine is served at The Club restaurant where one can enjoy lunch and dinner in the dining room or outdoors on the terrace. For more information, visit their Web site (www.mcinnisparkgolfcenter.com).

Seventy-eight years ago the Meadow Club of Tamalpais opened its doors to its first prospective members. Today, the words still ring true. Meadow Club of Tamalpais, as it was originally named, is a charmed course in a magical setting, and is today one of California’s finest private golf & country club. For more information, visit their Web site (www.meadowclub.com).