Haggin Oaks Golf Complex opened in 1932 as a Sacramento municipal course designed by Dr. Alister MacKenzie, the architect best known for Augusta National, Cypress Point, and Pasatiempo. It remains one of the few MacKenzie courses in the world open to public daily-fee play. The original 18 was built with the help of Michael "Mac" McDonagh, who then stayed on as superintendent for more than thirty years and is credited as architect of the companion Arcade Creek Course that brings the complex to 36 holes.

On the course

The Alister MacKenzie Course plays roughly 7,030 yards from the back tees on a flat, walkable routing hemmed in by three highways but shaded by mature heritage oaks. It has no fairway bunkers; defense comes from small, heavily bunkered greens, with Arcade Creek crossing five holes. The par-3 16th is the signature, a green split into three sections with a large oak guarding the right side and the creek wrapping behind. The course hosted the PGA Tour's Sacramento Open four times in the 1930s, including the 1938 event where Ben Hogan earned his first professional check for finishing third, and later staged the 1963 U.S. Amateur Public Links and 1992 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links. In 2001 the City of Sacramento funded a $6.5 million renovation in which architect Mike Asmundson rebuilt 11 of the 18 greens to better match MacKenzie's original drawings.

Who it suits

The Arcade Creek Course is shorter and more forgiving, geared toward beginners, juniors, and quick rounds, and doubles as a footgolf venue. With two 18-hole courses, a 24-hour lighted driving range, a nine-hole putting course, and a large teaching operation run by Morton Golf, Haggin Oaks suits low-handicap players curious about MacKenzie's work as well as newer golfers looking for an accessible municipal round.

Architect: Alister MacKenzie · Opened: 1932