Windsor Golf Club opened in 1989 on the flats north of Santa Rosa, designed by Frederick C. Bliss, ASGCA, who would go on to design several other Northern California daily-fee courses including Rooster Run in Petaluma. The 18-hole parkland layout measures 6,650 yards from the back tees to a par of 72, with a course rating of 71.7 and slope of 127. Four sets of tees give the course range for most handicaps, and the property sits in the heart of Sonoma County wine country with mountain views and minimal residential intrusion along the fairways.

On the course

The routing moves through gently rolling terrain dotted with mature oaks, a year-round creek and several lakes. Greens are described as amoeba-shaped with enough internal contour to hide difficult pin positions, and the bunkering is active but not penal. The course has hosted PGA Nationwide Tour (now Korn Ferry Tour) events and, more recently, LPGA Symetra Tour stops. During its Nationwide Tour years, the par-4 2nd and par-4 7th were repeatedly ranked among the tour's ten most difficult holes, with the 2nd in particular known for an unusually tight driving corridor.

Who it suits

Outside those few demanding holes the layout plays relatively forgiving, which makes Windsor a reasonable fit for mid- and higher-handicap players, traveling golfers pairing rounds with wine tasting, and groups looking for a tournament-grade course without resort pricing. The clubhouse includes Charlie's Restaurant overlooking one of the lakes, plus a banquet facility used for weddings and events. A full-grass driving range, separate chipping area and two putting greens round out the practice facilities, and the course stays open year-round thanks to an ongoing fairway sanding program.

Architect: Fred Bliss · Opened: 1989