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LIVERMORE, Calif. - It took courage and foresight for the Northern California Golf Association to blow up its 27-hole Poppy Ridge Golf Course and start from scratch.
It took creativity and ingenuity from architect Jay Blasi to retool the original Rees Jones routing from 1996 to unlock the land's full potential.
The result? A bold and beautiful new Poppy Ridge that will quickly shoot up the rankings of the Bay Area's best public courses. That the $20-million project was under budget and delivered on time in less than 13 months speaks to the synergy behind the scenes.
Fifteen different architects were interviewed, but Blasi won the NGCA and course leadership over with his commitment to playability, walkability and affordability. Poppy Ridge will charge $105 Monday through Thursday and $125 on weekends for the general public. Carts will cost $25 extra to encourage walking. NCGA members are offered an incredible value, paying $70 during the week and $105 on weekends ($25 extra for carts). Considering that a large portion of NCGA members live within 60 miles of the course, Poppy Ridge will be a popular drive-in destination. It officially reopens May 31.
"We've tried to introduce more variety into the golf course," Blasi said. "The way the golf course unfolds, you're going to be constantly moving directions. The holes move in different directions. They go up and down, left and right. The variety and lengths of the holes, the size of the greens, the shots that you're hitting into greens, where the trouble is - all that will be varied throughout your round."
Introducing the new Poppy Ridge
Perhaps even more important than cost, playing the new 7,010-yard layout is just darn fun. Blasi took out all the 1990s-era mounding to open up incredible vistas of the golden hillsides and surrounding vineyards. He removed multiple ponds and expanded fairways to the width of four-lane highways. Even in the fierce winds that might kick up in the afternoon, it's really hard to lose a ball at Poppy Ridge.
Golfers who played the property's original three-nine configuration will only recognize a few holes in similar playing corridors. Blasi used land from all three nines for the new championship 18. The new Ridge nine, a par 34 with no par 5s that stretches to 2,781 yards, will serve as an extra loop for more casual rounds, costing $25-$35 plus cart fees.
Poppy Ridge's championship routing of five par 3s and five par 5s gives players endless scoring opportunities. So does the 120-plus yards of tee boxes on every hole. "You could hit it 320 yards or 120 yards and there's a place for you," Blasi said.
There are virtually no forced carries until you step back to the 6,562-yard blues. Water only intrudes twice, on the downhill 339-yard ninth and the 507-yard 18th hole.
Elevation changes are a big part of the course's defenses. Holes that climb the hillsides - the 4th, 10th, 12th and 15th - all play super tough. A few blind shots, including the drive over a ridge on no. 1 and an approach that tumbles downhill to the 12th green, add character.
What I personally love most is the restraint Blasi showed on the greens. Too many modern designers shape wild and crazy putting surfaces to try and impress players. It's the wrong approach for many golfers.
"Because the site was big and bold, the greens are very subtle," Blasi said. "What's going on around the greens is just as important. I encourage you to study and look around the greens. There are usually some helping contours in one spot, and contours that don't help in another spot. Figure out what's going to help you and take advantage."
From a walking golfer's perspective, Poppy Ridge will serve as a unique test case. Blasi said the new routing will save golfers 2,000 yards and 450 feet of elevation change in steps compared to the original course. However, it's not likely many golfers will walk from May through September, when the East Bay hills are scorching under hot temperatures. The rest of the year could prove more manageable, although it looks like a visually intimidating stroll. I can't wait to tackle it with my electric trolley.
With regard to hosting NCGA Championships, the course can stretch to 7,345 yards as a par 70. The finishing kick - a short par 4 at no. 16, a stunning wedge-shot par 3 at no. 17 and a risk-reward par 5 at no. 18 - will certainly factor into who wins.
"This finish will be really wild and could have big swings of emotion," Blasi said.
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