Tehama Golf Club

GolfSpy Barbajo · August 24, 2013

Was fortunate enough, through the kindness of a customer/member, to play Tehama on the Monterey Peninsula this week. The place was built in the mid-90's by Clint Eastwood himself, and currently has a membership of about 300.

Tehama sits on one of the highest peaks in the area, so you have amazing views of the mountains, valleys and the ocean all at the same time.

Clint's house sits on another hilltop, overlooking the course. My friend said if Clint's in town, he's usually at the club, and is very friendly and approachable. I was hoping to risk my dignity to get a picture of him wearing my MGS Vancouver Open hat, but sadly, he wasn't around...

The course itself is very hilly, but doesn't have much in the way of blind shots. Stray too far off the fairway, though, and you're done for. And there's sand. Lots of sand. Amazing amounts of sand. I spent much of my afternoon there...

This is a short par 3, but is severely uphill, requiring 3 extra clubs to make it. I took two...

The greens were pretty quick here -- there were several putts that didn't look like they had any chance of reaching the hole that did, and many of them went in. Very few of them were mine. This is the 7th hole...split the fairway and nailed a 5 iron to 18 feet. 3 putts later we had our bogey...

This is the 10th hole -- downhill par 4. "Whatever you do, avoid the right," my host warned. My tee shot landed in that clump of trees on the right...

And so began a triple bogey...

This was the par 4 2nd hole - a slightly uphill dogleg right, with a beautiful view of the Pacific. Split the fairway, but pushed a second shot on the hill to the right of the green. Had a brilliant up-up-and-down for a 5.

The Par 5 4th is the toughest hole on the course. My host said there's just no place to put your second shot if you put your tee shot on the right hand side of the fairway. I put my tee shot on the right hand side of the fairway.

2nd shot went into the first fairway, to the left of the trees on the left side of the photo. Punched out the third shot to in between the two traps by the green, pitched to 8 feet, sunk the par putt and walked away feeling like a golfer. It was the last time I would have that feeling that day...

The cart paths at Tehama were this cobblestone-type brick, and were set up like a go-cart track winding up and down the hills. My host had obviously driven these paths before, and enjoyed taking hairpin curves with 25 foot drops on the passenger side at maximum speed. I had to change clothes at the turn...

The par 3's at Tehama kicked my a** all day long - they were double bogeys waiting to happen. Here's a diabolical one on the back nine. "Don't be short," he said...

And #17, which put the nail in my coffin. Hit the waste bunker and the bunker behind the green...

This par 5 is also on the back 9 - great hole! It runs through a small canyon, so if you don't hit the fairway, you better hope your ball rolls down the canyon wall into the fairway. Mine didn't. Hit a provisional that split the fairway, and then hit the shot of the day, a 3 wood 230 yards uphill that landed on the green...

When we got there, we found this fellow looking for the rest of his heard...

Two putts from 35 feet saved bogey.

Tehama is one of those once in a lifetime experiences - since the only way to get on is through a member. Beautiful course - very difficult but playable. As long as you stay out of trouble, it's a very fair layout. It was also pretty clear the designer didn't move a lot of earth when the course was built. You get a ver clear idea of what the terrain is really like. And the wildlife has the run of the place - as I was leaving there were 7 or 8 deer wandering through the driving range, munching on grass. The golfers practicing simply waited until the deer had their fill and cleared out. Also say several hawks, a condor and several flocks of wild turkeys during the day.

And the views? Spectacular! Hope to be able to get there again next summer...