Cinnabar Hills Golf Club opened in 1998 as San Jose's first new public course in three decades, designed by John Harbottle III, a University of Washington-trained architect who began his career under Pete Dye in 1984 before founding his own firm in 1991. Founder Lee Brandenburg developed the property in the hills above Coyote Valley, just south of Silicon Valley, and the course takes its name from the cinnabar (mercury ore) mined from these hills during the 19th century.

On the course

The facility comprises 27 holes broken into three distinct nines—Canyon, Lake, and Mountain—that combine into six different par-72 eighteen-hole routings. The Lake/Mountain combination is the longest at 6,854 yards with a course rating of 73.7 and a slope of 142. Harbottle worked to preserve the existing terrain rather than reshape it, incorporating hundreds of mature oaks into the layout and propagating seedlings from those trees to extend the tree canopy. The property sits removed from housing and road noise, with red-tailed hawks (the source of the club's logo and forward-tee name) circling the ridgelines.

Who it suits

Each nine has its own character. The Canyon nine is the tightest, asking for target golf and lay-ups off several tees, and includes a 222-yard par-3 eighth and a ninth that climbs to reveal views across the valley. The Lake nine is generally considered the toughest, opening with an uphill par 5 and bringing water into play on multiple holes. The Mountain nine offers the most elevation change. The clubhouse also houses the free Lee Brandenburg Historical Golf Museum, opened alongside the course in August 1998.

The course suits mid- to low-handicap players who enjoy strategic, terrain-driven design and don't mind hills; six tee sets accommodate a wide range of abilities. It is operated by Troon Golf.

Architect: John Harbottle III · Opened: 1998