HOLLISTER, Calif. - During the pandemic, San Juan Oaks was the place my foursome went to find sanity.
We walked the hills - even if it's a tough climb - because we had time on our hands and golf on our minds. We justified the 45-minute drive from the Bay Area because the sub-$60 green fee felt like a bargain. It was easy to overlook fairways that were sometimes chewed up by wild boars. The greens were good and the layout fun and challenging.
For the past 2 1/2 years, we have been eagerly awaiting its return following a renovation. It was worth the wait. Even if the routing didn't change as much as we anticipated, we still loved most everything about it during our first round back in October. The pure conditions and the fantastic food in the clubhouse knocked it out of the park.
Developer Third Millennium Partners and managers Troon Golf are helping San Juan Oaks finally live up to its vast potential. The 7,071-yard course and modernized clubhouse are impressive centerpieces of the new Trilogy San Juan Oaks, the sixth 55+ community by Shea Homes in Northern California. Homes will range from 1,507 to 2,579 square feet, offering 2-4 bedrooms and 2-4 bathrooms costing $700,000 and up. A second 20,000-square-foot community clubhouse will eventually be home to a wellness and fitness center, pickleball courts, indoor pool and a variety of spaces for social engagement among neighbors.
Thankfully, San Juan Oaks retains its beautiful, natural environment. With input from Gene Bates, the lead architect who teamed with Fred Couples during its original design in 1996, San Juan Oaks now boasts fewer than half its original bunkers - 26 down from 62 - making it more enjoyable for all ages and skills. It's still plenty tough, though. The rolling hills dole out some demanding lies and shots. That scenery is oh so worth it.
"The goal of the renovation was to bring the golf course back to its original intent," General Manager Manny Freitas said. "When it was first built, it was built to be a high-end, championship course with the Fred Couples name on it. It was set up to be a private club with good conditions."
This new version has become a semi-private club with a significantly higher green fee for public play, from $125 weekdays up to $175 on weekends, and a membership component ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 a year that includes discounted tee times, access to a members-only section of the clubhouse and other perks.
“You’re going to get an experience unlike any other daily fee in northern California," Freitas added. "I would put the course conditions up there with some of the best in California."
Sifting through the changes at San Juan Oaks
The most intriguing change to the golf course was the flipping of the nines. The new front nine is the better loop. It climbs into the hills for some exhilarating downhill tee shots on the par-4 fourth and eighth. The split fairway on no. 5 was removed in anticipation of a hotel that is part of the long-range master plan.
The biggest surprise to us was that the hardest and most controversial hole remains intact. The par-5 sixth hole requires a precise 210-yard uphill tee shot to set up an awkward second shot over a ferocious barranca to a narrow diagonal fairway on the other side. Changes were made to clear trees and widen the second landing zone, but I've always thought it would be best if played as a short par 4. I might someday get my wish. Freitas said a new tee built beyond the bridge that spans the barranca could be used that way in the future.
No. 9 ends dramatically with another demanding approach over a barranca. I used to loathe this hole, but clearing the brush out of the hazard has opened up sight lines.
A halfway house with a nice menu called 'Slices' is now available at the turn. This upgrade, along with towel service after the round, are part of a more elevated commitment to service.
The back nine is very good as well, just on flatter ground. It's great for match play with two risk-reward par 5s featuring water. The 11th encounters a stream that's been restored and the 18th a pond creeping along the left side of the green.
The entire course was regrassed, including tees and fairways with perennial ryegrass, 007XL bentgrass on the greens and new drought-resistant Bermuda grass on the practice range. Installation of a new pump station and irrigation system reduces overwatering and should help maintain more consistent playing conditions. This is a dry, hot region roughly 45 minutes inland from the Monterey Peninsula, so the challenge will be maintaining green grass year round. More than seven miles of perimeter fencing have been erected to mitigate the wild boars. Now it's up to Mark Freitas, Manny's older brother, to keep the greens running pure.
"It’s an interesting relationship. We both know our roles are important for this place," Manny said.
Our lunch sitting on the patio at McCann’s flew beyond expectations with fresh salads and short rib grilled cheese sandwiches. I imagine 36 Degrees North, a signature dining experience, will be even tastier.
It's not a stretch to call San Juan Oaks a "public" version of CordeValle, a highly regarded former PGA Tour venue in San Martin that's only available to members or guests of the onsite hotel. It's got a similar vibe where hills without homes create a serene, pastoral setting.
Manny Freitas said he's already getting calls and visits from traveling golfers who have heard how well his course is playing these days. Turns out, my buddies and I are not the only ones happy San Juan Oaks is back and better than ever.
