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Ponderosa Golf Course – Truckee, CA

  • January 9, 2020
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Ponderosa Golf Course, Truckee, CA

On this land we put our brand, Cartwright is the name, fortune smiled, the day we filed the Ponderosa claim.
Here in the West, we’re livin’ the best, Bonanza
If anyone fights any of us, he’s go a fight with me
Bonanza.

(Please sing along)

Hoss and Joe and Adam know every rock and pine, no one golfs, fights, or eats, like those boys of mine.
Here we stand in the middle of a grand Bonanza.
With a 
ball and a club and a bag full of hope, we drove off the first tee
We got hold of 
that first drive, Bonanza.

Today, Ponderosa Golf Course featured a foursome of Ben, the father (played by Scott); Adam, the serious and level-headed brother (Dave); Hoss, the lovable, strong bull of a brother (Ed); and Candy, the ranch foreman (Bernie). Little Joe (Woody) was in Virginia City probably getting into trouble. Let’s now take you on a journey around our ranch and introduce you to this new-fangled game of golf.

Hole #1 is a straight par 4 to open the round. It should be a good scoring hole, that is, if you hit it straight. Trees line both sides of the fairway and if you find yourself far enough to the right, you will find O.B. and possibly one dadgum angry neighbor. Keep it straight or get ready to hightail it out of there. Hoss was happy he had one of those new horseless buggies! At Hole #2, Hoss was licking his chops at the short, drivable, 292 yard par 4. Trees on both sides of the fairway may continue to play havoc with tee shots. Since the green slopes from back to front, it’s prudent to leave your shot on the front side. Of course, if you are too short, there is a very large bunker to the front, left of the green.

Hole #2 – short par 4 of 292 yards. Tree trouble down both sides.

When Adam was designing this course, he thought that after watching his Pa swing a club, we needed a par 3 at Hole #3. This is a short hole of 135 yards but he forgot to tell me it was all uphill. Candy’s little place is off to the right and now I know why he never has to buy any of these little white balls. When I finally made it to the top of the hill, I gave Adam a piece of my mind. The green was not in very good shape and I sent him out there after the round to correct the situation.

Candy had a few very helpful suggestions at Hole #4. The hole is a straight, 350 yard par 4, but who hits the ball straight? When Adam designed this hole, he made the fairway slope from left to right. And to the right, lining the fairway, is out-of-bounds. So, Candy says, “aim left and let the slope feather your ball to the center of the fairway”. For all those golfers who follow in our footsteps, he placed a sign by the tee box that states, “aim left”.  He took his own advice and placed a beautiful shot down the left side. Nobody tells Ben Cartwright what to do and I took my own route. I ended up down the right side in one of those dadgum fairway sand things. Maybe I’ll keep a smart feller like Candy around. In summation, there is O.B. right; O.B. beyond the green: and the fairway slopes left to right.

Hole #5- tee it high and let it fly!

I told Hoss to “tee it high and let it fly” at Hole #5. Hoss gets a little wild off the tee, so Adam designed this hole for him. It’s a par 4 with a dogleg to the left. With no O.B., he can let it rip here. I always like to spend a little time here viewing the mountains and admiring the vastness of our Ponderosa. The par 3 sixth hole is straight-forward and 163 yards long. There is out-of-bounds left, but it shouldn’t come into play. However, the two large bunkers that flank the front of the green are very much in play.

I like Hole #7 because it makes my boys ponder how to play this hole. The par 4, dogleg left has plenty of room to miss to the right, but the trees to the left will make you think twice if you try to cut too much of the dogleg. Any guesses how everyone played this hole? Adam and I played it safe to the right (as expected). Hoss (like a bull in a china shop) and Candy went for the shortcut. Young-uns, can’t teach them anything! As you pass the dogleg, way in the distance at the far end of the ranch, you’ll see our new addition – Northstar Ski Area.

It’s been a hoot watching Hoss strap on them boards and barrel down the hill. Of course you all know how Little Joe skis – straight and fast. Adam and me? Well, we sit in the lodge and look for the women-folk. I need to get Adam married and find wife number four for myself! Getting back to golf, this is a fun hole. It looks benign from the tee box, but there are a few obstacles along the way that make it the number two handicap hole.

Hole #8 – Now is your chance for birdie!

Hole #8 is one of them there scoring holes. At this par 4, I usually shoot birdies, but Hop-Sing wanted me to shoot deer today for supper. I was carefully studying the deer tracks in the left and right bunkers trying to decide which way they went. No birdie or deer at this hole today. I followed the deer tracks to Hole #9. Adam saved the longest hole for the last. I wish I had taken a rental pack mule to carry my clubs. I just didn’t want to pay that nickel for one of them dadgum stubborn animals. Adam knows I have a bad slice and all those trees down the right side were a rite intimidating. Blast that Adam, my tee shot landed right at the base of one of those trees. So my advice – play to the left! However, even if you find the fairway as you wander down this par 5, there are two large trees in the middle that you’ll need to find a way to squeeze through them. Yessirie, this is the number one handicap hole.

Rating – Birdie:  Just so everyone understands, this is a work of fiction. The Cartwrights were not a real family and Ponderosa Golf Club was not built by Adam (or Dave) and owned by the Cartwright family. However, Ponderosa Golf Course is real and part of the Truckee Donner Recreation and Park District. Just like many of the courses in the area, there are trees in abundance that will keep getting in your way if you don’t hit a straight ball. Most of the long holes are straight with the exceptions being numbers seven and nine. The fairways were in excellent shape but the greens, on this day, were very rough. Not much in the way of amenities but if you want a quick round that will offer some challenge, stop by before you explore the rest of the area.

After our round, we visited the charming downtown area in Truckee before heading out to Donner Memorial State Park and Museum. The museum opened in 2015 and features artifacts and stories of the emigrant experience – including that of the Donner Party, the Land of the Washoe, Chinese construction of the railroad and early motoring over Donner Pass.

What a fun day. We were able to golf with the Cartwrights and dine with the Donner Party!
P.S. Hoss’s real name is Ed Donner, so we made sure he was always well fed!

10040 Reynold Way, Truckee, CA 96161;  530-587-3501;  www.ponderosagolfcoursetruckee.com

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Pelican Lakes Golf Club (Falls Course), Windsor, CO our 2015 Course of the Year. It was good to get back to my old home area in #northerncolorado to play this fantastic golf facility in such a beautiful part of the country. I called this area home from 1974-1986 and most of my in-laws still live in Fort Collins. If you are in the area, stop by to play all 27 holes! ... See MoreSee Less

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Always fun to come back to our 2015 9-hole Course of the Year. An outstanding 27-hole facility in Northern Colorado. Good times were had in "Fort Fun" from...
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El Monte GC in Ogden, UT. We found this hidden gem in 2019 during our pre-COVID 19 golf travels. If you have time, please visit and subscribe to my YouTube channel as you follow my journey around the USA. Remember, there is Always Time for 9! ... See MoreSee Less

El Monte Golf Course - Ogden, UT

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We found this hidden gem in the Salt Lake City area on a 2019 trip. Excellent course; fantastic views; historic clubhouse; and awesome staff.
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Congratulations to American Classic Golf Club in Lewes, DE, our 2020 9-hole Course of the Year.

Our travel was limited during 2020, so we combined past years courses played for our criteria. Our focus this year and in the past is to #golfthefairwayslesstraveled. Small businesses have struggled this year so how did these small town, family-owned courses continue to build their business?

Besides being a fun course, American Classic added...
* fling golf
* golf boards
* yoga
* Christmas donation drive for veterans
* three hole rounds for kids (starting at the par 3 island green)
* many fun events during the year

Their Instagram bio states..."This isn't your typical golf course. Nine holes, loud clothes, and golf carts decked out in American flags - welcome to American Classic Golf Club".

The entire team has done an outstanding job in making this a fun destination for many people in this area. Being an "old" Jersey Shore kid, a perfect day is playing 9 in the morning and hitting the beach in the afternoon!

alwaystimefor9.com/american-classic-golf-club-lewes-de/
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Ace Courses by RatingsAmerican Classic Golf Club – Lewes, DEJuly 4, 2017One comment908 views4 minute read9317587 Par 4, 324 yards – through trees over water #1 handicap Total 0 Shares 0 0 Total 0 Shares Tweet 0 Share 0 Pin it 0 Hole #3 – Par 4, 285 yards (white). Couple of very penal bunkers. ...
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alwaystimefor9Scott Springfield@alwaystimefor9·
22 Nov

As we continue the countdown to our 2020 COY, let's visit last years - Old Brockway GC, Kings Beach, CA - 2019 Course of the Year https://youtu.be/_E9rvNo1CI4 via @YouTube #shopsmall #supportsmallbusiness #laketahoe #play9golf #golfthefairwayslesstravelled

alwaystimefor9Scott Springfield@alwaystimefor9·
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Always Time for 9/USGA PLAY9 DAY - September 2020 https://youtu.be/e-HrFhOyVEk via @YouTube @AgateBeachGolf The fires are still burning and the air quality is hazardous in the #PNW. Stay safe and #supportsmallbusiness during these times. #play9 #USGA

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