courses and are perfectly maintained . If you want a little excitement with your golf , check out Sycuan . Not only is the golf great but there is a casino to help you pay for your trip .
LAKE TAHOE
We don ’ t always think of Lake Tahoe as a golf destination , but encircling the entire lake are some of the best mountain golf courses in the country . Starting with the south , Lake Tahoe golf course in Meyers is a great course with water features on half the holes . Stateline has my favorite on the lake : Edgewood at Tahoe . With the two finishing holes right along the lake , and the rest winding through the tall pines , it is spectacular . The site of the summer celebrity classic tournament every July is a bit of a challenge for the high handicapper , but remember , the ball travels 10 percent farther in the thin air . Further north is Incline Village . With an executive course and a championship course there is something for every skill level there . Not to mention the best Bloody Mary ’ s I ’ ve ever had ! Traveling west to Truckee will get you to Coyote Moon and Tahoe Donner . Both are fantastic mountain courses with tree-lined fairways and great elevation changes . Coyote Moon features boulders the size of cars on a few holes to challenge even the best of players .
MONTEREY
Finishing close to home we have the top golf destination in the world . If you have Pebble Beach ( photo above ) in your backyard why would you go anywhere else ? Well , the price tag at Pebble is pretty steep , but if you are a true golfer you have to have it on your bucket list . Remember that Pebble isn ’ t the only gem of the area . Spyglass and Poppy Hills are both great courses and are part of the rotation for the AT & T Pebble Beach Pro Am . Spanish Bay is also right next door and has the look of Scotland though it ’ s only 45 minutes from Gilroy . Lastly are my two favorites that are affordable . Del Monte golf course is the oldest course this side of the Mississippi River and it ’ s great for all skill levels . The same is true for Pacific Grove golf links . With the entire back nine on the Monterey Bay , it has been dubbed the poor man ’ s Pebble Beach , and green fees are around $ 50 .
For more information , hop online , choose your travel destination , and visit golf course websites in those areas . They will help you plan a trip within your budget and skill level .
Don DeLorenzo has been the PGA General Manager of Gilroy Golf Course since 1985 . He is a former winner of the Bill Stausbaugh award given by the PGA of America for excellence in education . He was named the 2014 Gilroy Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year , was born and raised in Gilroy and still lives here with Mia , his wife of 33 years .
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN MAY / JUNE 2017 gmhtoday . com
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