Scotland is well known as the birthplace of the sport of golf, and it attracted loyal enthusiasts from its early inception. In 1457, the Scottish parliament of King James II actually banned the sport for a time as the country was preparing to defend itself against an invasion. According to Historic-UK.com, too many of the King's subjects were ignoring their military training in favor of hitting the greens. 

The ban on golf in Scotland did not last, and the sport quickly spread. Today, golf's popularity is evident across the globe–but not all golfers are equally blessed. The sun shines on Scottish golfers a mere 25% of the time, for example, and rain is "an integral part of the Scottish experience," according to the Scotsman newspaper. Not so for Tri-Valley golfers, who have access to many attractive courses throughout the region, which has an ideal climate for the sport thanks to nearly 300 days of sunshine every year.

Pleasanton Courses

Hacienda tenants, residents, and visitors have easy access to many nearby golf courses. In Pleasanton, they include Callippe Preserve Golf Course, The Club at Castlewood, The Club at Ruby Hill, and Pleasanton Golf Center. Callippe Preserve, the city's municipally owned and public golf course, offers more than an outstanding 18-hole, par 72 sporting experience. It is a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, which means it meets high standards of environmental dedication in terms of environmental planning, wildlife and habitat management, outreach and education, chemical-use reduction and safety, water conservation, and water-quality management.
 
The core 145 acres of this public course are surrounded by 280 acres of natural land preserved as permanent open space. The 3.75-mile Callippe Preserve Hiking Trail, which surrounds the golf course and some of the home sites, is great for birders, hikers, and equestrians. The trail provides beautiful views of the surrounding hills, Pleasanton Ridge, Mount Diablo, and the golf course below.

"Being certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary is a genuine honor since we are only one of sixty-eight courses in California to hold this honor," according to Eric Thompson, Callippe Preserve's General Manager. "We are very proud to be recognized not only as a great place to play a round of golf but also as a great place to get out and enjoy nature and wildlife, such as the red-tailed hawk, which can be seen here at Callippe."

The Club at Castlewood has roots going back to the historic Hacienda del Pozo de Verona estate created by George and Phoebe Hearst, a noted philanthropist. The private club offers two golf courses, the original Hill Course and the Valley Course. The Hill Course offers "astonishing views and challenging play for golfers at every skill level," according to club officials. The Valley Course "is a challenge not because of the elevation changes but because of its length, topography, and rapid greens."

The private Club at Ruby Hill boasts a 225-acre Jack Nicklaus Signature Design championship course, the only one in Northern California. According to club officials, "five sets of tees provide golfers of all skill levels with an enjoyable and challenging game.  The distinctive Nicklaus layout incorporates well-contoured bunkers, magnificent water features, natural gulley's, towering oaks, inspiring vistas, and dramatic elevation changes. The Crenshaw bentgrass greens and all-weather Bermuda grass fairways are designed especially for year-round play."  

The Pleasanton Golf Center has a nine-hole golf course, with three par-four holes, in the middle of the horse racing track at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. The course also features a warm-up range with grass tees. The Center's driving range is located at the corner of Valley Avenue and Bernal. Affordable fees, a central location, and an experienced, award-winning golf instructor draw players of all ages and abilities. 

Golfing-Related Benefits

The Tri-Valley also has a wealth of gorgeous golf courses outside of Pleasanton. The Course at Wente Vineyards in Livermore provides an 18-hole championship course in a picturesque 7,181-yard, par-72, daily-fee golf course designed by golf legend Greg Norman. It has three distinct topographies–native woodlands, mature vineyards, and rolling hills of natural grasslands–that offer "extraordinary visual panoramas," according to officials. This golf course is also a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. 

Poppy Ridge Golf Course, also in Livermore, is owned by and is the home course for the Northern California Golf Association, which was founded in 1901. Three nine-hole courses sweep through 3,000 acres of golden hillside in Livermore Valley wine country. According to officials, "The routing of Poppy Ridge is clever in that all three nines close with a lakeside green in front of the majestic hacienda-style clubhouse. While the nines finish similarly, each is unique, as there is nearly 300 feet of elevation change between them."

Canyon Lakes Golf Course & Brewery in San Ramon is the first championship 18-hole golf course and craft brewery in the nation, according to officials. It is a daily fee public course with several challenging four- and five-par holes. Other golf courses in the region include Las Positas Golf Course, in Livermore; Crow Canyon Country Club and Blackhawk Country Club, in Danville; the Dublin Ranch Golf Course, in Dublin; and the San Ramon Golf Club and The Bridges Golf Course, in San Ramon.

Regular players experience a host of health benefits from the sport. Several studies show that golfers outlive non-golfers. "While golfing, you're increasing your heart rate and blood flow, enhancing brain stimulation, improving your balance, and socializing," according to Donald M. Lloyd-Jones, M.D., Sc.M., FAHA, president of the American Heart Association. "Even if you are riding in a cart and playing a short course of only nine holes, you're still being physically active, and we know any movement is better than none."

Golf not only improves the quality of a player's life but also the quality of the region, thanks to many attractions of local venues. They often include fine dining opportunities, act as a beautiful setting for weddings and other special events, and provide opportunities to enjoy nature. As a result, playing golf is not a requirement for enjoying the Tri-Valley's many golf clubs and courses.

For more information about Callippe Preserve Golf Course, please visit www.playcallippe.com. 

For more information about The Club at Castlewood, please visit www.castlewoodcc.org. 

For more information about The Club at Ruby Hill, please visit www.rubyhill.com.

For more information about the Pleasanton Golf Center, please visit www.pleasantongolfcenter.com. 

For more information about The Course at Wente Vineyards, please visit wentevineyards.com/golf. 

For more information about Poppy Ridge Golf Course, please visit poppyridgegolf.com.

For more information about Canyon Lakes Golf Course & Brewery, please visit www.canyonlakesgolfbrew.com.

For more information about Las Positas Golf Course, please visit www.laspositasgolfcourse.com.