Cinnabar Hills Golf Club

Designed by acclaimed architect John Harbottle III and opened in 1998, it was the first new public golf course to open in San Jose in three decades. The layout is arranged as three distinct nines - the Canyon, the Lake and the Mountain - that combine into three 18-hole pairings, offering variety, scenic vistas and a genuine championship test amid the natural terrain of Silicon Valley's southern hills.

Course History

Cinnabar Hills takes its name from the rich, red cinnabar ore - a source of mercury - that was mined in these hills during the 1800s. When it opened in 1998, it became the first public golf course built in San Jose in roughly 30 years, filling a long-standing gap in the region's public golf offerings.

Since opening, the course has become a fixture of Northern California golf, regularly cited among the top public courses in the region. Its spacious clubhouse is also home to the Brandenburg Historical Golf Museum, a notable collection of golf memorabilia unique to the western United States.

The Design & Architecture

Architect John Harbottle III routed the course to work with the land, shaping each hole to follow the natural slope of the terrain and to protect the wildlife that inhabits the property. The result is a layout of gently rolling, manicured fairways, bunkering that blends into the topography, and large greens with subtle, gentle undulation. Spread across three nines - Canyon, Lake and Mountain - the design gives each loop its own identity while sharing a cohesive, naturalistic style.

Playing the Course

Cinnabar has Canyon, Lake and Mountain nines, producing three distinct 18-hole pairings. The operator publishes a separate named-tee card for each pairing; yardage, par, rating and slope should be read from the specific card booked. The rolling foothill setting brings elevation changes and scenic views, and a full-length driving range is available.

Know Before You Go

• Public access - open to all players; book tee times in advance, especially for weekend mornings.

• Three nines (Canyon, Lake, Mountain) form three 18-hole pairings; confirm your routing when you check in.

• A driving range is on site for pre-round practice.

• Don't miss the Brandenburg Historical Golf Museum inside the clubhouse.