Mather Golf Course opened in 1959 as a recreation facility for airmen at Mather Air Force Base, on ground that had trained military pilots since 1918 and took its name from Carl Mather, a World War I test pilot. The designer was Jack Fleming, the Irish-born architect whose Northern California portfolio includes work at San Francisco's Harding Park. The course outlived the military mission: base closure was announced in 1988, the airfield reopened as a civilian airport in 1995, and Sacramento County took over the golf course, which now anchors the 1,432-acre Mather Regional Park east of the city.

On the course

Fleming's routing plays 6,767 yards at par 72 across mostly open terrain, with tree-lined but generous fairways, medium-sized greens that run firm and hard, and a mix of level and sidehill lies. The 145-yard third plays to a large green pinched by two bunkers, the short par-3 11th carries a lake, and the 528-yard 16th, the longest hole on the card, bends gently left and finishes uphill. The signature is the 13th, a 285-yard par 4 framed by trees that invites long hitters to go for the green and punishes the miss.

Who it suits

The practical appeal is straightforward: the ground is level enough to make Mather one of the easier walks in the Sacramento area, and green fees stay modest. Reviewers consistently praise the friendly staff and smooth-rolling greens, note that conditions hold up through summer even if maintenance can be inconsistent, and warn that weekends get busy with a loyal retiree crowd; catch an off-peak time and 18 holes can move in around three hours. Wild turkeys wandering the fairways are part of the deal.

The practice setup includes a 25-stall driving range with both grass and mat stations, separate putting and chipping greens, and a rentable practice hole for chipping, pitching, and bunker work. Lessons run through PGA professionals under a director of instruction, and there is a pro shop on site. Mather fits beginners, walkers, and value-minded regulars who want a relaxed, unpretentious municipal round.

Architect: Jack Fleming · Opened: 1959