Saddle Creek Golf Resort
By Kevin Scott

Forty-seven years of golf has provided me with many pleasant memories. Every round has been a unique experience, which has influenced my approach to life, and provided assistance through many hardships. Golf has been a saving grace as well as a life long love affair. One of the most lasting memories has been coaching Amador High School’s Varsity Golf Team. The young men I coach recently won the Mother Lode Golf Championships with an outstanding record of sixteen wins and four losses. When one of the local sports writers asked me: “Now that you have won the Mother Lode League Championship, are you going to Disneyland?’ I responded: "No sir! I’m going to Saddle Creek Golf Resort in Copperopolis!” I mentioned Saddle Creek and Disneyland in the same breath because they are two of my favorite places.

Saddle Creek Resort is located just off Highway 4 near the historic town of Copperopolis, in Calaveras County. The town became famous during the Civil War for copper mining, which helped the Union effort.

From the first to the eighteenth tee, Saddle Creek Golf Course is a pleasant, joy-filled experience, punctuated by lush fairways, elevated tee boxes and one-hundred sandy white bunkers. Crystal-clear ponds guard the well-manicured greens that require a well-tested putting stroke. The fairways are lined with native oaks and many species of wildlife make themselves comfortable in the peaceful glens that surround the property. Featuring five sets of tees, the course plays 6,828 yards. The creative design highlights panoramic views of the snow capped Sierra Nevada Mountain Range and is built into the natural contour of the land.

Carter Moorish and Tad Buchanan are the brilliant guys who designed Saddle Creek. Their imagination has brought the resort national prominence in recent years. Golf Week Magazine named the resort and residential course one of California’s top ten. That is a high altitude when you’re flying with the likes of Pebble Beach, Spy Glass and Poppy Hills. The property is an ideal setting for second homes, yet many live full time on the championship course.

If you desire a weekend get-a-way or yen for a full amenity vacation, Saddle Creek is a world-class operation, accompanied by genuine hospitality and a culinary faire unmatched in Northern California. The atmosphere is casual and the food featured in the famous Copper Grille Restaurant is delightful.

Wine tasting is married with appetizers and cheeses from the resort’s “World of Cheese Reserve.” Enjoy twenty different wine varietals served by the glass and over ninety selections in the bottle. Wine favorites such as Opus One, Jordan, and Reserves by Simi, are offered along with classics by George LaTour. Special wine tastings are offered on selected Fridays.

Excellent golf, wonderful hospitality and a culinary experience of epic proportions is a trademark of the resort. Imagine playing all the golf that is humanly possible, then dining at the Copper Grille, all within walking distance of the seventeen, one and two bedroom bungalows, lining holes one and ten. The bungalows are so comfortable and convenient you will want to stay permanently!

Other amenities include fishing, swimming, snowmobiling, tennis, bocce ball, nearby historical sites and boutique shopping. You can also shop for name brand golf clubs, clothes and accessories in the well-appointed pro shop. The pros are good and very friendly!

Mid-week packages at the resort feature unlimited golf (including fees), use of the recently updated practice facility and short game area. Lodging in the luxurious bungalows, golf cart at your door, breakfast every morning, and use of the Sports Club. The prices range from $115.00 to $160.00 per night, double occupancy, with a two-night minimum stay, depending on the time of year.

Weekend packages include unlimited golf (including fees), use of the practice facility and short game area along with lodging in the bungalows, golf cart at your door, breakfast every morning, dinner one night, and unlimited use of the Sports Club. The weekend packages range from $220.00 to $250.00 per person, double occupancy, with a two-night minimum, depending on the time of the year.

”The game of golf is a journey.” Come join us at Saddle Creek Golf Resort. You can go to Disneyland later!

Saddle Creek Golf Resort is located at 1001 Saddle Creek Drive, Copperopolis, California 95228.

For information or tee times call 1-888-852-5787 or www.saddlecreek.com. Daily tee times are reasonable and available to the public. For the bungalows call 1-800-611-7722 or 209-785-7415.