Golf Course Review: El Macero Country Club in El Macero, Calif.
1/18/2012 | by Lynne Cowan of AmateurGolf.com
see also: El Macero Country Club, All Course Reviews
amateurgolf.com's Lynne Cowan reviews El Macero, which plays much tougher than its flat layout
Course Layout & Design
The 18-hole course at El Macero checks in at just under 7,000 yards and is a true test of golf. Often, it’s used as a qualifier course for sectional and national events.
The tree-lined fairways boast 180 different varieties of trees, mostly oaks and redwoods. Situated in the heart of the Sacramento Valley, it is extremely flat like most courses in the area, but don't get the impression it’s a walkover.
The Baldock design features many opportunities for risk-reward shots with precisely-placed and mature scrub oak trees that force the player to maneuver around or over.
The mostly poa anna greens are slightly pushed up and are well protected by the recently renovated sand bunkers and grass bunkers.
To score well at El Macero you need to hit a fairly straight ball to avoid the nasty bermuda rough but you still need an occasional draw or fade to maneuver the many doglegs right and left. It doesn't hurt to have a high shot in your bag to precisely land on the pushed up well guarded greens. You won't score well if you run the ball up as the openings to the greens are very narrow.
Driving Range & Practice Area
The grass driving range and practice area are a short walk from the clubhouse and feature a large practice putting green, a chipping area and a practice green with a huge bunker to get a feel for the sand.
The area is canopied by several oaks trees so offers some shade on the hot summer days when you need to practice those 30-yard pitch shots.
Customer Service
For the past four years, the course has been managed by the Troon Company and has been awarded the Yolo County's Best Course for the last two years. Troon prides itself on customer service and the staff is always there to help the members and guests with their needs.
The routing of the course is fairly straight- forward with good signage and is easily walkable. There are no long walks between greens and tees. El Macero offers a fleet of ric shaw wide-wheeled push carts for it's members and guests and the well trained support staff is ready to set you up with a wet towel to clean your ball.
Signature Hole:
My favorite hole is the 420-yard, par 4 dogleg left with which I have a love-hate relationship. Guarded by a row of very large oak trees on the left, the hole is only 320 yards from the red tees, but in order to hit the fairway you must hit a high drawing driver over the last two oak trees. If you fail to bend it, the ball will go into the forest of trees on the right making a par nearly impossible. If you overdo it on the left side you’re still blocked out by mores trees on the left. That said, a well-placed tee shot leaves you with a short approach and a chance for birdie.
El Macero has a very active membership, including many who live in the El Macero subdivision, but some drive over the causeway from Sacramento and nearby communities. The club offers tennis courts and a nice swimming pool always busy with young families.
If you get a chance to play El Macero don't miss the opportunity.
The 18-hole course at El Macero checks in at just under 7,000 yards and is a true test of golf. Often, it’s used as a qualifier course for sectional and national events.
The tree-lined fairways boast 180 different varieties of trees, mostly oaks and redwoods. Situated in the heart of the Sacramento Valley, it is extremely flat like most courses in the area, but don't get the impression it’s a walkover.
The Baldock design features many opportunities for risk-reward shots with precisely-placed and mature scrub oak trees that force the player to maneuver around or over.
The mostly poa anna greens are slightly pushed up and are well protected by the recently renovated sand bunkers and grass bunkers.
To score well at El Macero you need to hit a fairly straight ball to avoid the nasty bermuda rough but you still need an occasional draw or fade to maneuver the many doglegs right and left. It doesn't hurt to have a high shot in your bag to precisely land on the pushed up well guarded greens. You won't score well if you run the ball up as the openings to the greens are very narrow.
Driving Range & Practice Area
The grass driving range and practice area are a short walk from the clubhouse and feature a large practice putting green, a chipping area and a practice green with a huge bunker to get a feel for the sand.
The area is canopied by several oaks trees so offers some shade on the hot summer days when you need to practice those 30-yard pitch shots.
Customer Service
For the past four years, the course has been managed by the Troon Company and has been awarded the Yolo County's Best Course for the last two years. Troon prides itself on customer service and the staff is always there to help the members and guests with their needs.
The routing of the course is fairly straight- forward with good signage and is easily walkable. There are no long walks between greens and tees. El Macero offers a fleet of ric shaw wide-wheeled push carts for it's members and guests and the well trained support staff is ready to set you up with a wet towel to clean your ball.
Signature Hole:
My favorite hole is the 420-yard, par 4 dogleg left with which I have a love-hate relationship. Guarded by a row of very large oak trees on the left, the hole is only 320 yards from the red tees, but in order to hit the fairway you must hit a high drawing driver over the last two oak trees. If you fail to bend it, the ball will go into the forest of trees on the right making a par nearly impossible. If you overdo it on the left side you’re still blocked out by mores trees on the left. That said, a well-placed tee shot leaves you with a short approach and a chance for birdie.
El Macero has a very active membership, including many who live in the El Macero subdivision, but some drive over the causeway from Sacramento and nearby communities. The club offers tennis courts and a nice swimming pool always busy with young families.
If you get a chance to play El Macero don't miss the opportunity.
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