San Juan Oaks Golf Club opened in 1996 as Fred Couples' first signature golf course design in California, created in collaboration with architect Gene Bates. The 18-hole, par-72 layout stretches to 7,071 yards from the Black tees and sits in the foothills of the Gabilan Mountains, about 26 miles northeast of Monterey Bay between Hollister and the historic mission town of San Juan Bautista.

On the course

The routing splits its character cleanly between the two nines. The front nine plays across flatter, meadowland terrain with small creeks threading several holes, while the back nine climbs into grassy hills and canyons, with holes 13 through 15 working through the steepest ground before a demanding par-4 finisher. Mature valley oaks dot otherwise open corridors, and errant tee shots are punished by long native rough rather than heavy tree cover. Risk-reward par 5s on the back nine bring water into play, including a restored stream on the 11th and a pond hugging the left side of the 18th green.

Who it suits

After a two-and-a-half-year closure, the course reopened in September 2024 following a renovation overseen by original co-designer Gene Bates for developer Third Millennium Partners. The work cut the bunker count from 62 to 26, regrassed tees and fairways with perennial ryegrass, installed 007XL bentgrass greens, and added a new pump station and irrigation system. Troon Golf now manages operations, and the property anchors the new Trilogy San Juan Oaks 55+ community by Shea Homes.

The course suits players who want a championship-length test with five tee sets ranging down to 4,766 yards, modern conditioning, and a clear divide between an approachable opening stretch and a tougher, hillier inward half.

Architect: Fred Couples and Gene Bates · Opened: 1996