By trade, I'm a civil engineer with 39 years of work for government,
trying to plan, design and build infrastructure projects. There
isn't a snowballs' chance in hell of a freeway being built across
that rugged terrain in this environmental "the sky is falling, the
sky is FALLING!!!!" society we live in. At least not in our lifetimes.
end of RANT.
Brad
On Aug 20, 2007, at 9:43 PM, Alan Brooks wrote:
You haven't been down 5 lately, have you? There are now hotels and
fast food joints at just about every off ramp, including the one
that goes East to Patterson and West to Diablo Grande. Patterson
has expanded West almost all the way to 5. You're right, they are
both nice courses. My preference is the Legends course, but
they're both nice. In the winter they have a great package deal
where you get breakfast and lunch and play all day (shotgun start)
for like $100! Worth doing if you're in the area. Stevinson Ranch
is nice to, but I haven't played it in several years. It was my
understanding that Diablo Grande was built in anticipation of a
freeway between Patterson and San Jose, that hasn't happened. If
it ever does, the $$$ will flow!
Alan
At 09:23 PM 8/20/2007 -0700, you wrote:
Tom,
And fairly near Stevinson Ranch, what about Diablo Grande in
California's San Juaquin Valley?
For those who don't know where it is, but have driven from LA to San
Francisco Bay area on Interstate 5....... remember the god awful
nothingness for a couple hundred miles driving along the west side of
the San Juaquin Valley? Hardly see any farmhouses or anything.
About 30 miles south of where the route turns due west to head to
the Bay Area, you're right up against the foothills. Barren
foothills. There's a freeway offramp to a road that goes due west
into the hills. It snakes up a little valley, back and forth, and 8
miles later it dead ends into an open valley, maybe 1 X 2 miles in
size and there sit two wonderful 18 hole courses. One jointly
designed by Nicklaus and Sarazen. It just sat there, for 7 or 8
years, begging for players. I played both courses there one day in a
cart in 5 hours and never saw another player. Like having your own,
personal golf course. They finally got their water rights hassles
worked out and are now three years into building homes and a 200+
room luxury hotel. They are about 30 miles to Modesto, which might be
the closest gas station and place to buy a quart of milk. Amazing!
The owner, Don Panoz made a ton of $ in pharmaceuticals, owns Chateau
Elan course and hotel in Atlanta, Sebring Racetrack (Panoz Racing)
and the new Kingsbarn Course at St. Andrews Scotland.
Brad
On Aug 18, 2007, at 10:22 PM, TOM FLANAGAN wrote:
Well, it isn't actually in the middle of nowhere . . .
it's in the San Joaquin Valley which can seem at times
like nowhere. I know, I live in the Valley.
The reason for the temp buildings . . . trailers, is
that the developer hasn't come up with sufficient $$$
to get going on the housing development. There are a
couple other courses in the Valley in the same
predicament. One success is Copper River, which has
exploded with homes and commercial businesses in
Northern Fresno.
Stevensin is indeed a great course though.
TFlan
--- Brad Smith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Ed,
That is a great course and you aren't kidding about
the middle of
nowhere. It is in the middle of farmland in the
center of
California's San Juaquin Valley between Interstate 5
and Rte 99.
About 30 miles from Modesto. It is so far from
population centers,
that they've built a small "trailer park" of modular
buildings that
have a small bedroom, sofabed, kitchenette, etc.
Probably about 15
of these. After the kitchen in the restaurant
grille closes, I think
the closest food might be Modesto, 30 miles from
there.
But a great golf course.
Brad
On Aug 15, 2007, at 6:48 PM, Ed Reeder wrote:
I just got through playing a course whose greens
routinely stimp at
13!
The course is in the middle of no where and a real
treat. Stevinson
Ranch Golf Club
http://www.stevinsonranch.com/index.html
