Mayacama Golf Club

Designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 2001, the 18-hole, par-72 course threads through a 675-acre landscape of century-old live oaks, native grass meadows, streams and wetlands. Nicklaus calls it a "modern classic" built for pure, unhurried golf, and it consistently ranks among the top modern courses in the country.

Course History

Mayacama opened in 2001 as the centerpiece of a private luxury golf and residential community in the Mayacamas Mountains between Napa and Sonoma. Jack Nicklaus and his design team were drawn to a dramatic ridge-and-valley property, and their goal was to create a course that felt as though it had always been there. Complete fairway sodding paired with the site's mature oaks gave the layout an immediate sense of maturity, so that even in its early years it played like a course decades older.

The club quickly earned national recognition, appearing on Golf Digest's and Golfweek's rankings of the country's leading modern courses, and it remains one of Northern California's most exclusive golf destinations.

The Design & Architecture

Nicklaus described Mayacama as a "modern classic" designed for walking and for pure golf. The routing follows the natural finger-like valleys and ridges of the 675-acre site, with streams and wetlands separating holes and continuously undulating terrain framed by century-old live oaks and native grasses. Sand-capped greens and tournament-conditioned turf keep the course playable year-round. True to its philosophy, there are no golf carts, yardage signs or monuments anywhere on the property. The design rewards strategic thinking and precise shot-making without unfairly punishing the imperfect shot.

Playing the Course

From the championship tees Mayacama plays 6,758 yards to a par of 72, with a course rating of 73.9 and a demanding slope of 152 that reflects the challenge presented by its elevation changes, native-grass rough and water hazards. Because the course is walking-only with professional caddies, the round unfolds at a deliberate, immersive pace, and players are asked to read the ground and their caddie rather than lean on distance markers. Rolling fairways, well-guarded greens and sweeping views of the surrounding vineyards, mountains and valleys make for a memorable test that favors precision over raw power.

Know Before You Go

• This is an ultra-private club; access is generally limited to members and their accompanied guests.

• Mayacama is a walking-only course with professional caddies; there are no golf carts, yardage signs or on-course monuments.

• With a slope of 152, the course is a serious test; play the appropriate tees and expect meaningful elevation changes.

• Located in Sonoma County wine country, the club pairs golf with a Tuscan-style clubhouse, fine dining and proximity to leading wineries.