POPLAR CREEK GC

The front nine here weaves through eucalyptus groves and mature oaks that frame generous fairways, while the back nine opens up across rolling peninsula terrain with distant glimpses of the San Francisco Bay. What sets this San Mateo gem apart is how architect Bob Baldock used the natural creek system to create genuine risk-reward moments without the manufactured difficulty that plagues so many Bay Area tracks. The 16th hole, a downhill par-4 that doglegs around the creek, rewards bold drives with birdie chances while punishing the timid with awkward approach angles.