Oakmont Golf Club (East)

Overview

It is the shorter of the two Ted Robinson-designed courses at Oakmont's 36-hole facility; the longer West layout is the par-72 Valley of the Moon course. Measuring 4,293 yards from the back tees, the East course pairs nine par 3s with nine par 4s and is routed among heritage oak trees, water hazards and dozens of bunkers, with scenic views toward Annadel (Trione-Annadel) State Park. Despite its modest length, it has a reputation as one of Northern California's most demanding executive courses. The facility now operates under the name Valley of the Moon Club and remains open to public play.

Course History

The East Course opened in 1973 as the second 18 holes at Oakmont Golf Club, complementing the original West Course that had been built in 1964. Long known as Sugarloaf, it was designed to serve the surrounding Oakmont community and visiting golfers alike, offering a shorter, quicker round than its full-length sibling. For decades the 36-hole Oakmont facility has been a fixture of public golf in Sonoma County. More recently the club rebranded as the Valley of the Moon Club, with the West course carrying the Valley of the Moon name and the East retaining its Sugarloaf identity; the two 18-hole courses continue to operate together at the Oakmont Drive site and remain open to public play.

Design & Architecture

Both Oakmont courses were designed by Ted Robinson Sr. (ASGCA), the prolific California architect celebrated for his dramatic use of water features. On the East/Sugarloaf course, Robinson produced a compact executive layout of nine par 3s and nine par 4s that totals par 63. The course is defined by large greens, roughly 45 well-placed bunkers, mature heritage oaks and water hazards, all framed by the wooded hills of Annadel State Park. The par 3s are the layout's signature: many stretch to around 160 yards or longer, giving this executive course far more teeth than its overall yardage would suggest.

Playing the Course

From the White tees the course plays 4,293 yards to a par of 63 (rating 61.5, slope 101), with the forward Yellow tees at 4,067 yards. With nine one-shot holes and nine short two-shotters, iron play and short-game precision matter far more than raw distance, and the longer par 3s reward crisply struck mid- and long-irons. Water, bunkering and the ever-present oaks put a premium on accuracy off the tee and into the greens. A grass driving range plus chipping, sand and putting areas are on site, and the round moves briskly, making the East course popular with beginners, seniors and players looking to sharpen their approach play, though a good score still has to be earned.

Know Before You Go

• Open to public play; the facility now operates as the Valley of the Moon Club at 7025 Oakmont Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95409.

• This is the East / Sugarloaf course, the shorter par-63 executive layout; the par-72 Valley of the Moon (West) course is the longer 18 at the same 36-hole facility.

• Call the golf shop at (707) 539-0415 to confirm rates, hours and tee times; typical operating hours are around 6:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

• Do not be fooled by the yardage: several par 3s play 160+ yards, and the course is regarded as one of Northern California's tougher executive tracks.

• Practice facilities include a grass driving range plus chipping, sand and putting areas.

• Set in Sonoma Wine Country on the eastern edge of Santa Rosa, near Trione-Annadel State Park.