Ancil Hoffman Golf Course opened in 1965 as a Sacramento County municipal course, designed by William Francis Bell, the prolific California architect best known for the South Course at Torrey Pines. Bell laid out the par-72 routing on land along the American River Parkway in Carmichael, and the course is owned and operated by the County of Sacramento as part of Ancil Hoffman Park. The park and course take their name from the longtime county supervisor who also managed world heavyweight boxing champion Max Baer.

On the course

The 18-hole layout plays roughly 7,000 yards from the back tees and offers five sets of tees to fit a range of players. The property sits inside a regional park dotted with ancient oaks, and those mature trees define the character of the round: tight, tree-lined fairways put a premium on driving accuracy, with relatively few forced carries over water. The American River borders the park on two sides, and the routing shares its grounds with the Effie Yeaw Nature Center, so deer, wild turkey, and other wildlife are common sights during a round.

Who it suits

The course has been recognized in the past by Golf Digest among its top municipal tracks in the country and hosts the annual Memorial Amateur Championship, a multi-day event that draws a competitive amateur field. Practice facilities include a grass driving range and a putting and chipping area, and the clubhouse houses the Main Event Bar & Grill.

Ancil Hoffman suits golfers who prefer a classic parkland test over a resort experience: shot-makers who can keep the ball in play off the tee will score well, while wild drivers will spend time among the oaks. Its public access, mature conditioning, and parkway setting make it one of the more established daily-fee options in the greater Sacramento area.

Architect: William Francis Bell · Opened: 1965