Overall: 4 (1 = poor, 5 = exceptional)
Conditions: 4
Pace of Play: 4
Layout: 4

Address:
1 Coyote Creek Drive
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
www.coyotecreekgolf.com

Coyote Creek is home to the only Jack Nicklaus designed golf courses in Silicon Valley. The Valley Course is open to the public and it's a gem. Totally remodeled in 2015, with new bunkers with white Pebble Beach sand.

The Valley course pretty flat and challenging. The white tees are rated 71.9 and carry a slope of 130. Most players should play the whites.

To score well here, you must stay in the fairway. All the tee shots are fair and straight forward. You only need to work the ball on a few holes off the tee (#2 - aim to the left bunker and play a fade, #14 draw it over the right center tree). I've played this course a few times, and if you land in the rough, it's killer. It will be tough to get a GIR from the rough. Especially penalizing is the rough around the greens. You should pat yourself on the back if you can get up and down.

I would much prefer to be in the bunkers than in the rough. The bunkers are amazing. The best in Silicon Valley. If you play muni courses a lot, you will not be use to these fluffy soft things. Be sure to use your wedge bounce and don't dig, and you will love the sound of a pure sand shot.

The greens are tough here. You need to know where to land the shots. Many times, I've hit a great shot, and I see it bounce into the rough. Try to read the greens from the distance before your approach shots. Be smart. Play it safe, and land it on a center/flat section. Not worth it chipping from the heavy rough.

All in all, it's a great place to play. Be sure to book online, as there are always discounted rates. Generally, this course isn't very busy, as it's on the outskirts of silicon valley. But, I totally believe it's worth the drive for a beautiful course and a great pace of play.