StoneTree Golf Club opened in 2000 on 132 acres of oak groves and rolling hills in the Black Point area of Novato, just off Highway 37 about 20 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge. The 18-hole, par-72 layout was designed by a four-person team led by Hall of Fame player Johnny Miller, with former USGA president Sandy Tatum, Jim Summers and ASGCA architect Fredrick C. Bliss. The course is managed by Troon and operated as part of the Bay Club's Marin campus.

On the course

The routing has two distinct personalities. The opening holes play relatively flat through a parkland-style corridor of trees and bushes near the wetlands edge, then the terrain breaks upward from roughly the seventh hole, with the back nine zig-zagging through hillier ground above the valley floor. Sand-capped fairways drain quickly, which keeps the course in play through Marin's wet winters, and the bentgrass greens are known for being firm and contoured. From the back tees the course measures about 6,810 yards with a rating of 72.7 and a slope of 137.

Who it suits

Distinctive holes include the par-3 8th, which asks for a tee shot across a ravine, and the par-5 14th, which begins with another ravine carry before climbing a curved, uphill fairway. Several elevated greens fall off into bunkers or steep drop-offs rather than collecting errant shots, putting a premium on distance control and approach angles. StoneTree suits players who prefer placement and course management over raw length; mid- and low-handicap golfers will find the most variety from the back tees, while multiple forward sets keep the layout manageable for higher handicaps. A 30-bay driving range, putting green and the Seventy-Seven Bar & Lounge round out the practice and clubhouse facilities.

Architect: Johnny Miller, Sandy Tatum, Jim Summers & Fred Bliss · Opened: 2000