Indian Valley Golf Club opened in 1958 as a Robert Nyberg design on rolling, oak-studded terrain in the hills above Stafford Lake in Novato. The 18-hole layout was substantially renovated by architect Kevin Ramsey, with the redesign debuting in 2004. The course plays to a par of 72 at roughly 6,374 yards from the back tees, with a slope of 123, and is operated as a daily-fee public facility in Marin County.

On the course

The routing makes full use of the natural Indian Valley topography, with tree-lined fairways, dogleg holes, and streams and ponds in play on multiple holes. Greens tend to run small, sloping, and quick, putting a premium on shot placement and approach angles rather than raw length. One of the course's most talked-about quirks is a funicular lift on the back nine that transports players between holes on the steepest section of the property — an unusual piece of infrastructure rarely seen on American golf courses. The back nine also includes the well-known 11th, a hole defined by a sharply pitched false front that can send short approaches tumbling down the hillside.

Who it suits

The scorecard front-loads its challenge: the opening hole is a 528-yard par 5 and the course's number one handicap, while the 4th is a short par 3 of about 120 yards. With no housing lining the fairways and views extending across the surrounding wetlands and hills, the course has a secluded, parkland feel despite its proximity to Highway 101. Indian Valley suits walkers comfortable with elevation change, mid-handicap players who value placement over distance, and Bay Area golfers looking for a moderately priced Marin County round that emphasizes terrain and shotmaking over length.

Architect: Robert Nyberg · Opened: 1958