Janice Ferguson
Janice Ferguson is a regular contributor to http://GolfBrief.com. She also writes for The Apparel Wire.
Saddle Creek Resort a reason to saddle up
- By Janice Ferguson
- Published 11/12/2007
- Lifestyle
- Unrated
COPPEROPOLIS, Calif. -- Where can you find quiet and solitude, but not
be isolated? Get away from the hustle and bustle, but not be in the
boonies? Enjoy luxury golf resort amenities and gated-community living,
but be without pretentiousness?
Drive about two hours east of the San Francisco Bay area to the Sierra Nevada foothills and stumble onto a gem called Saddle Creek Resort in Copperopolis, Calif. This old gold rush country of the late 1800s has transformed into what is now referred to as golf rush country.
Copper was mined here to make Civil War ammunition, and images of the Wild West remain evident in historic wood-planked structures. An oasis has claimed stake in a renewed frontier. Saddle Creek Resort is a modern-day reason to exclaim eureka!
The Golf
Designed by Carter Morrish and Tad Buchanan, the par-72 Saddle Creek course is consistently ranked one of the top 10 public access courses in California, and among the top 100 best residential golf courses in America by Golfweek.
Prepare yourself for an ultimate golf experience. Ask the starter for playing tips and you’ll get a straightforward answer -- what you see is what you get, and that’s spot-on. The course is a perfect marriage of architecture to landscape -- gently rolling hills dotted with oak trees and water sources, no blind shots and no parallel holes.
Golf at Saddle Creek is an exciting test of your short game on undulating greens, and the variety of fairway designs with their strategic bunker placements challenge your creative shot-making abilities.
Thanks to relatively moderate daytime temperatures, Saddle Creek is a year-round golf destination. In the winter months, you can golf one day, and head to the ski slopes at Bear Mountain or Dodge Ridge the next -- in warm weather take advantage of nearby Lake Tulloch water activities after your golf round.
The Lodging
Stay in one of the 17 cozy bungalows that feature all the comforts of home, and include one or two bedrooms and baths, fully-stocked kitchens, fireplace, flat-screen TV, Bvlgari bath products, and patios overlooking the golf course.
The Copper Grill in the Lodge is a short stroll from the bungalows and the warm, upscale rustic restaurant overlooks the ninth green. Hearty portions of classic dishes made with fresh, local ingredients are exquisitely prepared for breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week. Extensive wine lists feature many of the area’s growers and are beautifully displayed in the Lodge’s new wine cellar.
Schedule a world-class massage after exercising in the Sports Club’s fitness center, swimming pool or on the tennis courts. Lighted bocce ball courts provide additional family fun.
Admire nature’s scenic views of the foothills on bike or foot along the 7 miles of Quail Trail that meander around the property. Resort guests can also capture the beauty of the Sierra Foothills by booking a trail ride on horseback with the Copper Valley Trail Co.
The Wine
A short drive east to the town of Murphys is an idyllic way to spend an afternoon tasting wine, shopping and visiting art galleries and historic museums. Main Street has converted its old west ambiance into a quaint, upscale tourist attraction.
Local vintners are turning grapes into gold, evidenced by the 17 tasting rooms and wineries that have sprouted in and around town. Claiming to have “less attitude” than other California wine regions, the wine makers will boast about the good fortune of having exceptional soil for grape growing.
Depending on elevation, the content is either decomposed granite from erosion or finely-crushed volcanic rock left by centuries old eruptions. Both result in exceptional drainage and few nutrients, making the vines send their roots deep into the soil to hunt for food and water.
This root structure, combined with intense summer sunshine, produces rich and robust Zinfandels and Syrahs. Italian and Rhone varietals and blends from the region have achieved acclaim in Europe and Asia, as well as the U.S.
Have dinner in Murphys or stop at Alchemy Market and Wine Bar to pick up some
take-out deli items, cheeses and bread to go with your wine purchase. Then head back to Saddle Creek and toast the sunset from your bungalow patio.
The Lifestyle
If all the attractions at Saddle Creek make you want to settle in for more than a weekend, the gated, 900-acre Castle & Cooke community offers home sites in a variety of architectural styles and prices.
Copperopolis Town Square, scheduled for completion in late 2008, will provide residents and visitors a selection of shops, boutiques, restaurants, specialty market, art galleries, event and performance center, and residential lofts.
Ideally situated directly off Hwy. 4 -- and a convenient distance from the resort -- the new town square promises to offer an old fashion, friendly feel in a modern retail setting.
The property stretching south to Lake Tulloch has development plans for a new marina, expanded 9 or 18 holes of golf, and additional home sites.
Golf carts instead of covered wagons, irons that launch golf balls, not brand cattle, and cushioned cleats in place of spurs -- sounds like a much more civilized way to tame the Wild West.
Contact Information
Saddle Creek Resort
1001 Saddle Creek Dr.
Copperopolis, Calif. 95228
Lodging: 800.611.7722
Golf: 888.852.5787
Real Estate: 888.276.4235
Web: www.saddlecreek.com
Drive about two hours east of the San Francisco Bay area to the Sierra Nevada foothills and stumble onto a gem called Saddle Creek Resort in Copperopolis, Calif. This old gold rush country of the late 1800s has transformed into what is now referred to as golf rush country.
Copper was mined here to make Civil War ammunition, and images of the Wild West remain evident in historic wood-planked structures. An oasis has claimed stake in a renewed frontier. Saddle Creek Resort is a modern-day reason to exclaim eureka!
The Golf
Designed by Carter Morrish and Tad Buchanan, the par-72 Saddle Creek course is consistently ranked one of the top 10 public access courses in California, and among the top 100 best residential golf courses in America by Golfweek.
Prepare yourself for an ultimate golf experience. Ask the starter for playing tips and you’ll get a straightforward answer -- what you see is what you get, and that’s spot-on. The course is a perfect marriage of architecture to landscape -- gently rolling hills dotted with oak trees and water sources, no blind shots and no parallel holes.
Golf at Saddle Creek is an exciting test of your short game on undulating greens, and the variety of fairway designs with their strategic bunker placements challenge your creative shot-making abilities.
Thanks to relatively moderate daytime temperatures, Saddle Creek is a year-round golf destination. In the winter months, you can golf one day, and head to the ski slopes at Bear Mountain or Dodge Ridge the next -- in warm weather take advantage of nearby Lake Tulloch water activities after your golf round.
The Lodging
Stay in one of the 17 cozy bungalows that feature all the comforts of home, and include one or two bedrooms and baths, fully-stocked kitchens, fireplace, flat-screen TV, Bvlgari bath products, and patios overlooking the golf course.
The Copper Grill in the Lodge is a short stroll from the bungalows and the warm, upscale rustic restaurant overlooks the ninth green. Hearty portions of classic dishes made with fresh, local ingredients are exquisitely prepared for breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week. Extensive wine lists feature many of the area’s growers and are beautifully displayed in the Lodge’s new wine cellar.
Schedule a world-class massage after exercising in the Sports Club’s fitness center, swimming pool or on the tennis courts. Lighted bocce ball courts provide additional family fun.
Admire nature’s scenic views of the foothills on bike or foot along the 7 miles of Quail Trail that meander around the property. Resort guests can also capture the beauty of the Sierra Foothills by booking a trail ride on horseback with the Copper Valley Trail Co.
The Wine
A short drive east to the town of Murphys is an idyllic way to spend an afternoon tasting wine, shopping and visiting art galleries and historic museums. Main Street has converted its old west ambiance into a quaint, upscale tourist attraction.
Local vintners are turning grapes into gold, evidenced by the 17 tasting rooms and wineries that have sprouted in and around town. Claiming to have “less attitude” than other California wine regions, the wine makers will boast about the good fortune of having exceptional soil for grape growing.
Depending on elevation, the content is either decomposed granite from erosion or finely-crushed volcanic rock left by centuries old eruptions. Both result in exceptional drainage and few nutrients, making the vines send their roots deep into the soil to hunt for food and water.
This root structure, combined with intense summer sunshine, produces rich and robust Zinfandels and Syrahs. Italian and Rhone varietals and blends from the region have achieved acclaim in Europe and Asia, as well as the U.S.
Have dinner in Murphys or stop at Alchemy Market and Wine Bar to pick up some
take-out deli items, cheeses and bread to go with your wine purchase. Then head back to Saddle Creek and toast the sunset from your bungalow patio.
The Lifestyle
If all the attractions at Saddle Creek make you want to settle in for more than a weekend, the gated, 900-acre Castle & Cooke community offers home sites in a variety of architectural styles and prices.
Copperopolis Town Square, scheduled for completion in late 2008, will provide residents and visitors a selection of shops, boutiques, restaurants, specialty market, art galleries, event and performance center, and residential lofts.
Ideally situated directly off Hwy. 4 -- and a convenient distance from the resort -- the new town square promises to offer an old fashion, friendly feel in a modern retail setting.
The property stretching south to Lake Tulloch has development plans for a new marina, expanded 9 or 18 holes of golf, and additional home sites.
Golf carts instead of covered wagons, irons that launch golf balls, not brand cattle, and cushioned cleats in place of spurs -- sounds like a much more civilized way to tame the Wild West.
Contact Information
Saddle Creek Resort
1001 Saddle Creek Dr.
Copperopolis, Calif. 95228
Lodging: 800.611.7722
Golf: 888.852.5787
Real Estate: 888.276.4235
Web: www.saddlecreek.com
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