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The game of golf is a journey... and anyone fortunate enough to visit Saddle Creek Resort will embark on the journey of a lifetime.

Saddle Creek Resort is located just off Highway 4 near the historic town of Copperopolis in Calaveras County. The small foothill town enjoyed prosperity during the Civil War years when 19 million pounds of copper was mined and the population grew to 4,000. Now its popularity is growing once again because it has become the home of Saddle Creek Resort, The Best New Public Access Course West of the Mississippi according to Golf Digest. In March 2005, Saddle Creek Resort was named California’s #8 course in Golfweek’s 10th state by state ranking of “America’s Best Courses.”

I was fortunate enough to take the journey a few weeks ago and was absolutely blown away by the design and overall beauty of the course. This course is an exquisite masterpiece and designer Carter Morrish was the artist who painted it.

Featuring five sets of tees, the course offers challenges for every level of player. From the tips it plays 6,828 yards with a slope of 134. The yardage drops to 4,488 for the ladies and the mid-range tees vary in length. The creative design highlights distant views of the snow capped Sierra Nevada Mountain Range and was built into the natural contour of the land. Every hole is a test onto itself. The player will immediately notice the diversity of the course because no two holes are alike. You must think your way through the challenges Saddle Creek puts before you. Focus and cunning are rewarded with good shots and scores. The emerald green fairways are lush and beckon the well-struck ball. One hundred sandy white bunkers caress the course in strategic areas and the greens require a steady, well-maintained stroke. Tall oaks line the fairways as you wind your way through the rolling foothills. Mule deer can be spotted grazing in the peaceful glens that surround the course. Numerous crystal clear ponds, fed by melting snow from the mountains above, guard many of the approaches to the greens. What a fantastic journey!

The par three holes range from 145 yards to a whopping 245 yards. The course greets you with four of the most imaginative holes I have played in years. The tough 14th requires a shot of 185 yards over a small valley onto a postage stamp green guarded by bunkers. You had better choose the right club. Don't come up short, long isn't good either. I chose a five iron, didn't hit it well and came up short. A mediocre chip and two putts resulted in a bogie 4.

There are six par fours, each with a particular challenge and character. The 322 yard 5th is the most impressive in my opinion. It requires a downhill shot to a dogleg left. A large set of bunkers are well placed near the landing area. As you turn the corner a small green, guarded on both sides by three deep bunkers, beckons you. A well-struck three iron brought me to the left side of the dogleg and my sand wedge caught the bunker on the left side of the green. The recovery was well done because I managed an up and down four!

The par fives are somewhat on the short side but don't let that lull you into a false sense of security. All four holes require imagination and skill to play. My favorite is the beautiful 18th hole. It plays 473 yards from an elevated tee allowing for a panoramic view of the fairway below. It requires a well-placed drive down the middle. Hitting the fairway is important because of the two-inch rough and expansive bunkers awaiting an errant shot. I laid up on my second shot in order to take in the beautiful rolling green awaiting my approach. To tell you the truth I didn't want the round to end. My third shot settled 30 feet from the pin and two putts awarded me with a par.

Alas, my journey ended and I was forced to leave, kicking and screaming for more. Please take the trip to Saddle Creek Resort. "The game of golf is a journey...please join us."

Saddle Creek Resort is located at 1001 Saddle Creek Drive, Copperopolis, California. 95228. For information on tee times and rates call 1-888-852-5787 or www.SaddleCreek.com.