Golf Course Review: 5 Bay Area Golf Delights

Indian Valley is a delightful off-the-guide-book track that’s going to deliver a memorable round for a good price.

If you feel like taking a little drive up into Marin County and maybe playing golf with the local Chief of Police, Indian Valley Golf Club could be the place for you!

Originally built in 1958, Indian Valley is an established track that’s always a pleasure to play, although like the Presidio track it can be a little squishy during the California rainy season. Play can also get a little slow, so prepare to draw on your patience.

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But there’s plenty to look at if pace of play slows because the scenery is quite spectacular and in addition to the usual deer and rabbits and squirrels and hawks, you may get a glimpse at a mountain lion!

Be prepared for soft, slow greens even in mid-summer. But also prepare for fluffy sand.  I’ve tested any number of the Indian Valley bunkers and always found them worthy. Even short hitters like me can hit the par-3 greens without difficulty and there are six par-4s that are less than 300 yards from tee to green from the red tees, so it’s a friendly course for golfers who aren’t especially long off the tee.

The tee boxes for the 14th hole are at the peak of a canyon, very elevated.  Carts wind up the back of the canyon through the forest but walkers take the funicular.  How many golf courses have you played that actually have a funicular?

The par-5 16th has two greens, one that’s off the cliff and down the fairway (the trick is to stay in the wildly sloping fairway) and easily a par hole if you hit the ball straight; and the other is elevated and doglegged off to the right and has some crazy undulations. I like to play the dogleg option, but I struggle with a masochistic streak.

Plan ahead and you can play Indian Valley for under $50 and take advantage of senior and junior discounts.

Next: Play the MontereyPeninsula: Poppy Hills