Mather Golf Course opened in 1959 on the grounds of the former Mather Air Force Base east of Sacramento. The 18-hole layout was designed by Irish-born architect Jack Fleming, who emigrated from County Galway and built much of his career in Northern California, where his portfolio includes Harding Park's Fleming 9, Sharon Heights and Sierra View. Mather was originally constructed by the U.S. Air Force for the exclusive use of military personnel; according to Sacramento County records, the first nine holes opened in 1958 and the back nine followed in 1963. After the base closed in the early 1990s, the County of Sacramento took over the property, and the course is now managed by CourseCo and open to the public.

On the course

The par-72 layout plays roughly 6,767 yards from the back tees and sits within the 1,432-acre Mather Regional Park. The terrain is relatively flat and wide-open, with tree-lined fairways, medium-sized greens, and the firm, hard-running putting surfaces characteristic of Fleming's classic-era work. Three sets of tees give the course flexibility for a range of skill levels.

Who it suits

The stated signature hole is the 13th, a 285-yard par 4 framed by trees that is drivable from the tee but punishes a missed green. The 16th is the longest hole on the course, a 528-yard par 5 that doglegs slightly left and finishes with an uphill approach to a large sloping green. The 17th is a dogleg par 5 reachable in two for longer hitters who keep the ball right of center off the tee.

Mather suits players looking for a walkable, fairly priced daily-fee round in the Sacramento area, including beginners and higher-handicap golfers who benefit from the generous fairways, as well as stronger players who want to test driver on the drivable par 4 and the longer par 5s.

Architect: Jack Fleming · Opened: 1959