Cinnabar Hills Golf Club
San Jose, California – 23600 McKean Rd, San Jose, CA 95141
About Cinnabar Hills Golf Club
Cinnabar Hills Golf Club opened in 1998 as San Jose's first new public course in three decades, in the hills above Coyote Valley at the city's southern edge. The name honors cinnabar, the red mercury ore mined in these hills in the 19th century. Architect John Harbottle III worked with the terrain rather than against it, preserving natural slopes and mature oaks and planting seedlings from those same trees to extend the landscape. The Lee Brandenburg Historical Golf Museum opened alongside the club in August 1998 and still occupies the clubhouse, with free admission.
On the course
The golf comes as 27 holes in three distinct nines. The Canyon nine packs 27 bunkers into 3,238 yards from the back tees, the Lake nine stretches 3,450 yards with water in play on six holes, and the Mountain nine climbs the highest ground; any two combine into a par-72 eighteen, so the course changes with each visit. Elevation movement is the constant, headlined by the plunging tee shot at the Canyon's second hole, and oak-framed corridors with forced carries reward thought before power.
Who it suits
Cinnabar's reputation rests on conditioning, and the greens draw the most consistent praise, with reviewers ranking them among the most reliable putting surfaces in Santa Clara County. Carts are included in the green fee and the hills make riding the sensible choice, while pace tends to move well by public-course standards. Golf Advisor ranked it seventeenth among California courses in its Best of 2018 list. It suits mid- and low-handicappers who enjoy strategic, terrain-driven golf.
The practice grounds include a driving range, putting green, and short-game area with teaching pros on staff, and The Grille handles post-round food and drink. Between the three-nine rotation, the museum, and the conditioning, Cinnabar Hills makes the South Bay's strongest case for repeat visits; pick it when you want a complete daily-fee experience and are happy to ride.
Architect: John Harbottle III · Opened: 1998
Course Details
- 27 Holes
- Par 72
- 6,853 Yards
- Course Rating 73.1
- Slope 133
- Practice Facilities: Driving range · Practice green · Pro shop
- Tee Time Prices: $50 – $150
- Phone: (408) 323-5200
- Address: 23600 McKean Rd, San Jose, CA 95141
Notable Facts About Cinnabar Hills Golf Club
- Opened in 1998 as San Jose's first public course in 30 years, Cinnabar Hills was designed by architect John Harbottle III.
- Named for the rich, red ore (cinnabar) mined here during the 1800s, the club offers three distinct nines: the Canyon, the Lake and the Mountain, combinable into six 18-hole routings.
- The layout occupies undulating terrain in the foothills of the Santa Cruz mountains, with views down to the Calero reservoir and across the Santa Clara valley.
Ratings
Rated 8.4/10 based on 1456 reviews.
Book Tee Times at Cinnabar Hills Golf Club
Cinnabar Hills Golf Club is a 27-hole par-72 public golf course in San Jose, California. Tee times currently range from $50 to $150. Compare live rates and book online through Golf The Bay.
More Golf Courses in San Jose
- Los Lagos Golf Course – 18 holes, par 68, 5,393 yds
- Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course – 9 holes, par 28, 1,418 yds
- San Jose Municipal Golf Course – 18 holes, par 72, 6,676 yds
More Golf Courses in South Bay
- Bay View Golf Club – Milpitas, 18 holes, par 72, 6,605 yds
- Baylands Golf Links – Palo Alto, 18 holes, par 72, 6,680 yds
- Coyote Creek Tournament Course – Morgan Hill, 18 holes, par 72, 7,027 yds
- Coyote Creek Valley Course – Morgan Hill, 18 holes, par 72, 7,066 yds
- Crystal Springs Golf Course – Burlingame, 18 holes, par 72, 6,628 yds
- Deep Cliff Golf Course – Cupertino, 18 holes, par 60, 3,305 yds
- Eagle Ridge Golf Club – Gilroy, 18 holes, par 72, 7,005 yds
- Gilroy Golf Course – Gilroy, 18 holes, par 70, 6,002 yds
- Half Moon Bay - Ocean Course – Half Moon Bay, 18 holes, par 72, 6,854 yds
- Half Moon Bay - Old Course – Half Moon Bay, 18 holes, par 72, 7,001 yds
- Los Lagos Golf Course – San Jose, 18 holes, par 68, 5,393 yds
- Pasatiempo Golf Club – Santa Cruz, 18 holes, par 70, 6,495 yds
- Poplar Creek Golf Course – San Mateo, 18 holes, par 70, 6,042 yds
- Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course – San Jose, 9 holes, par 28, 1,418 yds
- San Jose Municipal Golf Course – San Jose, 18 holes, par 72, 6,676 yds