BLACKLAKE GOLF RESORT (1965)

CENTRAL COAST REGION

Public 27 hole - cost: $26 - $61

1490 Golf Course lane, Nipomo, CA 93444

Tel: (805) 343-1214

Designed by Ted Robinson, Gill & Garret. The Lake nine is user friendly with level, open fairways. Miss a fairway here and chances are you will land in another. The Canyon nine has elevation changes, houses, and more out-of-bounds. The Oaks nine, the shortest and most challenging of the three courses, features target golf. Keep your driver in your bag to score well, as out-of-bounds and environmentally sensitive areas abound. The yardage listed is for the Lake and Canyon nines. From Santa Maria (about nine miles north to the course): Head north on US 101. Take the Tefft Street exit in Nipomo. Turn left over the highway and make a right on Pomeroy. Then turn left on Willow and right to the course. This is a 27-hole facility with 18 really strong holes. The Oaks nine, although fairly new and more challenging, is my least favorite. Call ahead to see which combination is in play.

BLUE ROCK SPRINGS GOLF COURSE (1993)

NORTH COAST REGION

Municipal - 36 hole - cost: $15 - $30

655 Columbus Parkway, Vallejo, CA 94591

Tel: (707) 643-8476

Designed by Robert Muir Graves, Jack Fleming. The East Course is newer and has large, undu­lating greens. You will encounter many side-hill lies. The West Course is hilly with smallish greens and more trees than the East Course. The yardage listed is for the West Course. From San Francisco (about 30 miles northeast to the course): Travel east on I-80 and exit on Columbus Parkway. Go to the right about two miles. The course is on the right.