NOT FOUND: cherryh_island.jpgThe golf gang pulled double duty this month! Trust me, no one was complaining. We decided to highlight a course that is right in our own backyard, literally! This will possibly be a new look at an old friend, as Cherry Island has undergone some fantastic changes over the last few years. It is not the same old track if you haven’t played it in a while. Cherry Island is an eighteen-hole, par 72 public golf course that is nearly 6,600 yards in length from the championship tees. This modern course, with large, undulating greens and pristine surroundings, will challenge golfers of every age and ability level. The unique layout of the course is further enhanced by Dry Creek and Sierra Creek, which both wind their way through the property.
In addition to the golf course, the facilities at Cherry Island include a clubhouse with full food and beverage services. Ask for Derek in the grill; I hear he makes the best burgers at a Sacramento area golf course. Someday we might just have to have a cook-off. There is also a large and fully stocked Golf Shop where the guys are very friendly and eager to share the conditions and flow of the course and rounds. There is a practice range with both natural and artificial turf tees, practice putting and chipping greens and a practice bunker. This is one of the best practice facilities in the area. You can cover all your angles and practice plans out here.
NOT FOUND: cherry_island2.jpgThe course has a friendly atmosphere and challenging holes that are in great shape. The greens are immaculate. Our tee time went as followed and they don’t overcrowd too many players, which is key to playing a good round of golf. This is a far cry from the Cherry Island I learned how to play this game on over twelve years ago. That was the stereotypical muni course; poor upkeep, uneven and unhealthy greens and tee boxes that looked like a bad backyard. Well, that Cherry Island is dead and gone. Empire Golf has taken over the operation of the complete facility and done a marvelous job at creating an inexpensive and challenging layout that is well kept and fun to play. The greens are some of the best I have played in the area and roll the ball true. They are challenging because of the slight undulations and level changes that come into play.
The course itself forces you to look at angles of approach. While not the hardest course in the area, Cherry Island will make you think about the best ways to attack a hole. If you go straight at everything with a driver off the tee you will end up in water, severe rough and out of balls by the thirteenth hole! Cherry Island will help you learn your lengths with every club you hit. My favorite holes are number 10, which requires some length and shaping off the tee and accuracy on your approach, and number 7, a par 3 that makes you choose the best place to land for a shot at a birdie or par.
Cherry Island is a nice course; definitely a unique layout and a good value! I recommend it as a home course for those who want to have fun as well as find new ways to challenge themselves on the same course over and over. Come, play Cherry Island again for the first time.