Spring Valley Golf Course opened in 1956, the product of an unusual origin story: founder Ray Anderson won the Irish Sweepstakes in the early 1950s and used the proceeds, alongside a group of local investors, to purchase land in the rural hills of Milpitas and carve out 18 holes. The state briefly reclaimed the parcel under eminent domain for a planned reservoir before returning it to Anderson on a long-term lease, allowing the course to finally open. Anderson was not a trained architect, and the layout reflects the hands-on character of its founding group of golf enthusiasts.

On the course

The par-70 course measures roughly 6,140 yards from the tips and sits in a small valley tucked between San Jose and Fremont, bordered by parkland and a horse ranch and well removed from traffic and housing. The routing crosses rolling terrain with tree-lined fairways and small, sloped greens, and water comes into play on multiple holes through a large lake on the property. Four sets of tees stretch the course from about 5,453 to 6,140 yards.

Who it suits

The number-one handicap hole is the 515-yard par-5 6th, a dogleg right with mature trees pinching the fairway and a realistic go-in-two opportunity for longer hitters. The 199-yard par-3 11th plays entirely over the lake, while the par-4 9th (417 yards) and par-4 18th both finish over water and exceed 400 yards from the back tees. The facility completed a multi-million-dollar clubhouse renovation between 2003 and 2005, redid greenside bunkers in 2016, and recently expanded the driving range from 22 to 29 stalls.

With modest length, narrow corridors, and demanding green complexes, Spring Valley suits mid- and higher-handicap players looking for a walkable foothill round, as well as better players who want a short course that still rewards accuracy off the tee.

Architect: Ray Anderson · Opened: 1956