Stone Tree Golf Club

Played there for a club tournament.

I usually takes 5 to 5 1/2 hours in tournament, and our group was waiting for couple of tees to clear up front group. Marshal came to us couple of times we needed to speed up. Well, we wait some holes before him showing up. That guy pretty much ruined all other experience.

I play Stonetree quite a bit, only since one of my good friends is a Bay Club member and uses points so we can play for free. I'm not complaining at all about free Golf, especially at a course in as good a shape as this one...but if you have to PAY I would 100% go elsewhere. Coming from SF, Presidio or Harding are WAYYYY better options. From the North Bay, I would hands down go to Silverado or Chardonnay over this place. The course gets in your head but isn't overly difficult...with the exception of a 3-4 hole stretch on the back side that can just blow your whole day up. The driving range gets a lot of touting, and it's a decent range...but you HAVE to take their shuttle to get out to it. The ball machine is by the club house, as are the chipping and practice greens, and then you have to wait for their shuttle to take you to the hitting area. For some reason they won't let people take their carts out there, and actually don't even give you your cart key until like the MOMENT you tee off...which is odd to me.

If you can play here for less thn $100, or using points for you Bay Club members, than absolutely go for it. PLEASE DON"T pay the normal green fees - horrible value with SO MANY better options.

I wanted to love this course so so much.

The course plays like a $20 -$30 course. The greens have huge chunks of mud and some of the bunkers have grass growing in them.

There was no marshal on the day that I played, which was surprising given how slow the pace of play was.

The club house is very nice, but the course does nothing to match this. This course has the potential to be so great, I just wish they'd spend some of the green fees on making it better.

I wouldn't play here again for anywhere near the $150 fee.

Played here as a non Bay Club member. Had played many times before the Bay Club purchased the course about 3 years ago. The good — nice new range (though hitting off mats) with lots of distance markets built in what was a cow field beyond the second hole; staff very friendly; nice clubhouse. The not so good — for $150, this should be in great condition (it is not); the pace of play was very slow for the first 7 or 8 holes; the tee times available to non members are ;“squeeze in” times (they put you between two groups with normal 10 minute differences so you are already backed up when you start. Course itself is challenging but largely due to tricky layout, greens are very fast and difficult to read. Would definitely not play here again at that rate (Harding and Presidio cheaper and much better courses), but the property is nice and for half the price might be worth it.

I have played golf for over forty years. Thousands of rounds. Played in HS and College. I know courses, designers, and players. Still personal position so, take what it worth. Staff excellent. Very professional and top tier. Course maintenance world class. Greens perfect and razor fast. Fairways beautiful condition. Ball was plugging in on every tee shot including my irons. No rolls but course is short so not needed. Design was the worst design courses I have every played. I heard from solid single digit courses from a few close buddies in Bay Area they would never play this course again. I agree. The worst design of any course. Cart only on the path but that is ok keeps course in great condition but you have to haul across the fairways. Fit Bit 6.8 miles of walking and I hit fairways. I prefer to walk but this course was dreadful in design. The fairways on some of the par 5's coming in were around 18 paces from fairway to rough and massive trouble. Example, 16 tee off with a 5 iron and perfect center of fairway 210. Approach shot 7 Iron perfect 152 yards. I had 89 yards to center of green with a wedge and the fairway was only 10 yards wide. You cannot go long on this course or your doomed for trouble. You play it safe and your shots even when in the center of the fairway you have a shot coming in that does not reward you if your are 110 yards our or 150 yards out. The greens are beautiful but insane and I played Augusta but you can at least understand where to hit those greens. You get on the wrong side here and impossible to two putt. You can be in the center of the green and still have an impossible putt. The course was referred as Mickey Mouse. Johnny Miller did a horrible job and does not understand the difference between a US Open Champion and us weekend warriors. I play in single digits and ended up going irons off the tee because a driver was crazy and a 3 wood did not reward you. The fairways were beautiful but insanely wet so the divots were world class. I'm not a digger or scooper but play very little divot and I had some 14 inches coming in with wedges that had the ball going sideways. The course yardage is short but honestly I have played the SR Fairgrounds and enjoyed the layout more. A beautiful course for sure and great staff and people but honestly, I will never play this course again and this is the first time in my life stating that. I played with good players today and on the 12th hole they called it Mickey Mouse Golf. Hazards coming in the fairway and through the fairway on shots that for most seniors could hit but must lay up. I play long and found that I had to lay up on par four's because the layout has no harmony, rhythm, or understanding. I read about the course and sold sod to golf courses and I know drainage and layouts and this was the worst. A stated not here to complain. It is beautiful but we had two groups in front of us come off the 18th and tell us they were sorry for a 5:45 hour round and had a hard time. I told them we struggled as well. I would tell Johnny Miller that he took perfect land and destroyed it and my thoughts are far from being alone.

The course has a nice layout. I was disappointed in how much moisture there was throughout the course. Every tee shot was covered with mud or plugged. The greens were also not very true and were a little bumpy. Maybe it is just that time of year. Not worth the money for the conditions. Not worth the price in these conditions. Have played better for much less.

Best drainage of any course in the area. Greens and fairways were immaculate for mid-winter. Bit of a frost delay but pro called to let us know - nice touch. Can't say enough about how good this course is. Usually ride when I play but chose to walk and it was fine despite a couple of climbs. Good deals available on membership that includes their fitness clubs so might be signing up soon! Heard they're opening a new driving range this spring too.

Stone tree is a wonderful course in novato. It plays a bit on the tougher side, and the greens are unforgiving, but it's a beautifully, well maintained course that's always a joy to play.

I had a great day of golf at Stone Tree Golf Club. Upon arrival, my foursome was greeted at the bag drop and by the time we parked, checked in, and grabbed a drink, our cart was loaded and ready to go. The course is definitely challenging, but fair. One of the nicest (if not the nicest) conditioned golf courses North of The City and, in my opinion, worth the price! The professional staff and membership base gives the course an upscale, private club feel.

This is the best golf course in the North Bay hands down - easily in the top 5 in the Bay Area. Johnny Miller design. Tough but fair, beautiful, and in great shape. New pace of play program is cool and seems to be working. Good value. So glad to see this course available on the site again. If you haven;t played here get this track on your must play list.

This is a nice course with a good layout in good condition. It's pretty tough but very enjoyable. The pace of play is slow but I would definitely recommend it if you're an advanced player.

this is a well thought of course, plenty of change up, course elevations change----though the cart path is Not conducive to fast play or pass through--especially back nine---huge oversight

Just a downright beautiful course. Great views, wildlife and great golf. Narrow fairways, blind shots, lots of bunkers and water, not for a beginner. If you haven't played this course before play the forward tees. Have wanted to play this course for years but was too expensive. Got a great deal on Golfnow so played it. Played with 3 other singles and it turned out great. Two had played the course before and it helped out greatly. We were not pushed but one of the gentlemen that had played before was really slow. If you have ever come across 37 from Vallejo to Navato you see the course on the south side near Black Point. The fairways you see coming downhill are the ones you play uphill, very difficult. The starter gave us a lot of great info which also helped. The course was in great shape, the greens were very fast with difficult pin placements. The average golfer will use most of his clubs on this course. One thing about this course is it makes you think about every shot which is why I will play it again.

Nice golf course, good condition, cart path only is not good for the pace of play.

Beautiful course and facilities. I've been playing here quite frequently for the past 3 years or so and have always enjoyed the entire experience. There's a great staff that make you feel at home, the restaurant has great food and the whole place has a country club vibe, which is what it's about to become now that Bay Club has taken it over.

Course: The first six holes are flat and challenging enough but not overly so. Several ditches to cross- on 2, 5 and 6, woods always there for a wicked slice or hook. 6 takes you back past the clubhouse to use the bathroom, get a drink or snack etc, and then 7 starts climbing and tightening through 9. Lovely views from many holes. 8 is one of those oh wow holes where you're hitting over a huge ravine to a tricky green that needs to be read carefully. 9 is ungodly hard, at least for me. I've parred it maybe 30% of the time. Target tee shot unless you can bomb it over the pond, then a long tight fairway wood to another undulating green.

10 through 12 are on the flat side of the course again and quite playable, but then 13-16 start the torture. 13 is a tight par 4, not worth driving, with a tiered green that will make you curse Johnny Miller when your ball rolls and rolls and rolls back to your feet and beyond. 14 is gorgeous, par 5 down the valley and back up. 15 is almost as bad as 9 for a par 4 challenge- But, if you can tee your downhill drive about 250, you're rewarded with a roll down the hill and a makeable approach, although the green is protected by a hungry tree and grass swale. The par 5 16 starts nicely and then narrows. And narrows. And narrows. Trees and a hill on the right, the marsh of death on the left. Don't go for it without good odds. Then getting on the green can mean nothing. Misread a huge break and you're second putt is 15 feet away. That's true for several holes. GIR is literally only half the battle. Don't be doing that mental math with a par.

The par 3 17 goes over the marsh, which can get in your head but it's not that long and shouldn't incur the sweats, at least not until you've shorted it into the marsh. 18 is a blind par 4 dogleg right (please go up and check if the group ahead of you has crossed the ditch). A fade sets you up perfectly for a 7-9 iron approach to a reasonable green.

Conditions: The fairway is a carpet with hardly any blemishes. Many lies are up/down/sidehill, so unless you know how to play those, play one less club for the center of the fairway. Numerous hazard and OB stakes with many ditches, ponds, and marshes. Greens are fast fast fast and firm, and the cursed tiers and deceptive slopes. Although the bunkers are plentiful and well placed, they are reasonably fluffy and workable. It's definitely not a walking course- I've seen a handful of walkers ever- 7 green to 8 tee is long and hilly. 8 tee to green is long and hilly. 8 green to 9 tee is long and hilly- walk and the group behind you will be breathing down your neck. But hey it's a walking game and the course is what it is. A few long walks between things on the back 9 as well. Unlike many courses, the maintenance crews are quite unobtrusive- this is not a place where you're waving at guys to look or teeing off when a mower starts.

Negatives: Not enough to miss playing or joining- no starts before 730 AM makes early rounds unlikely. A few of the tee boxes are not flat, which should be fixed. Not a walking course. No range, although it's coming, and is to take over part of #12. Expect lost balls for >15 golfers, but it gets better once you get serious about course management. I'm not a fan of the slope-y greens, but that's my fault not the course.

Facilities and amenities: 1st class, and the staff genuinely are helpful and accommodating. If you want a country club feel to your course and overall experience without 5 figure annual costs, this is it. No range, but I hear that's coming. If I was still playing frequently, I'd be playing instead of writing right now.

One of the best tracks in all of the Bay Area. Highly recommend playing here before it goes fully private at the start of 2015.

I enjoy challenging courses, but I don't care for holes that are hard because they're poorly designed. Unfortunately, 14 is one of those holes. Great variety and scenery on the course, but pricey considering there are a couple of holes that you just don't enjoy playing.

First time at the course thanks to golfnow. The Jonny Miller course if fair, fun , challenging, and beautiful. The greens were professionally fast and slopped just like Silverado (Jonny Miller) I should have brought my lighter blade putter instead of my heavy dart mallet. The fairways were excellent even though we are in a drought. The club selection from the blues was fun with open fairways or forced carries depending on the wind and your ego. The warm up area is a great putting green (slopped and fast) and a 10 bay net with unlimited practice balls. The local info that you need is bring your own GPS. On certain elevated greens there are no backstops just a bunker or a cliff. At 2:30 the starter let us out a little early and we never saw a group in front or behind us all day. No impatience or pressure to disturb the zen.

This is another good Johnny Miller designed course, with some similariry as other Johnny Miller designed courses, with some hilly specifics from holes 13 to 17 which zig zag throuth the hilly area of the course, the course is chanllege with variaty of bunkers, water, canyon, trees and OBs, the only thing that greens are not as good as used to be, maybe just after aeriation.