Pruneridge Golf Club

Overview

Located just off Highway 280 on Saratoga Avenue, it markets itself as "Silicon Valley's Premier Golf Training Facility," pairing a compact, walkable course with a covered, lighted double-deck driving range and extensive short-game practice areas.

The layout of six par 3s and three short par 4s makes it an ideal spot for beginners learning the game, juniors, and experienced players sharpening their iron play, wedge game, and course management. A full round typically takes only 90 minutes to two hours, and green fees are among the most affordable in the Bay Area.

Course History

Pruneridge Golf Club opened in 1967, taking its name from the fruit orchards that once blanketed the Santa Clara Valley before it became Silicon Valley. Built on a modest footprint as the surrounding area rapidly urbanized, the course was conceived as an accessible, quick-play executive layout rather than a full-length championship venue.

In 1978 the course was reworked by golf course architect Mark Rathert. Over the decades it has remained a neighborhood staple for Bay Area golfers and is operated today under KemperSports management, complete with a pro shop offering custom club fitting and repair, and the on-site Aces Icehouse restaurant and bar.

Design & Architecture

The original design is credited to Jack Fleming, a San Francisco-based architect who worked in the lineage of Alister MacKenzie and shaped numerous public courses across Northern California. Pruneridge reflects the practical, player-friendly ethos of municipal-style golf: mature trees, gentle contours, and greens that reward precise wedge play.

At just 1,770 yards from the back tees with a par of 30, the routing consists of six par 3s and three short par 4s. Tree-lined corridors, small target greens, and a handful of bunkers place a premium on accuracy and short-game touch over raw distance. Mark Rathert's 1978 revisions refreshed the layout while preserving its compact, walkable character.

Playing the Course

Because the course is entirely par 3s and short par 4s, nearly every approach is a scoring opportunity - and a test of your iron and wedge game. The longest par 4 stretches to just over 350 yards from the back tees, while several par 3s play well under 150 yards, making Pruneridge equally suited to a beginner's first outing and a low-handicapper's short-game tune-up.

The course is walking-friendly, with pull-carts and club rentals available, and most players complete nine holes in under two hours. Between rounds, the covered and lighted double-deck driving range, dedicated short-game area, and putting green make it a genuine one-stop practice facility - and FootGolf is offered as an added option.

Know Before You Go

• Location: 400 N Saratoga Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95050 - just off Highway 280.

• Public, walk-on friendly executive course; a full nine holes takes about 90 minutes to two hours.

• Value pricing: weekday rounds around $26, weekends/holidays around $28, with junior and senior discounts (rates effective January 2026).

• The driving range is covered, lighted, and double-decked; the range typically opens at 9:00 AM.

• On-site amenities include a pro shop with custom club fitting and repair, short-game and putting areas, and the Aces Icehouse restaurant and bar.

• Ideal for beginners, juniors, and players wanting to sharpen their short game; call (408) 248-4424 for tee times.