BENNETT VALLEY GOLF COURSE (1969)

NORTH COAST REGION

Municipal - 18 hole - cost: $14 - $30

3330 Yulupa Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95405

Tel: (707) 528-3673

Designed by Ben Harmon. The fairways are driver friendly (more so on the back nine), and many of the holes run parallel to one another, but that doesn't take away from the interest or the beauty of the golf course. From San Francisco (about 55 miles north to the course): Take US 101 north to Highway 12 and go east. Stay in the right lane and immediately take the Downtown Santa Rosa exit. Pass the fairgrounds and stay to the right to get on Bennett Valley Road. Bennett Valley Road runs into the course parking lot at the Yulupa Road intersection.

BIDWELL PARK GOLF COURSE (1927)

SHASTA CASCADE REGION

Muncipal - 18 hole - cost: $14 - $29

3199 Golf Course Road, Chico, CA 95973

Tel: (530) 891-8417

Designed by unknown. Located in the the third largest city park in the United States, you will not be surprised to learn that this is a parkland-style golf course with lots of trees and some water. The fairways are wide enough to use your driver, but the course is not long, so it may not be your best option. Keep the ball in play and you will do fine. From within Chico: Off Highway 99, take the East Avenue exit and drive east. Turn left on Wildwood. Drive about two miles to Golf Course Road. This leads directly to the course. The course is entertaining, cheap, and will give up low scores.