TIMBER CREEK GOLF COURSE

The rolling foothills east of Sacramento provide dramatic elevation changes that designer Brad Bell exploited brilliantly, creating forced carries over oak-studded ravines and approach shots to greens perched on granite outcroppings. Water comes into play on seven holes, but it's the strategic bunkering and native grass areas that separate the thoughtful players from the grip-it-and-rip-it crowd. For public golf in Northern California, the conditioning rivals many private clubs, with bent grass greens that hold true even during the scorching Central Valley summers.