The 10 Best Golf Courses Near Sacramento (2026 Guide)

The best public golf courses near Sacramento are Yocha Dehe in Brooks, DarkHorse in Auburn and the Alister MacKenzie Course at Haggin Oaks. All three take public tee times. For value, the city-run MacKenzie Course sits a few miles from downtown, and Sacramento County's Ancil Hoffman is a strong second.

The list at a glance

| # | Course | Location | Distance | Access | Best for | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1 | Yocha Dehe Golf Club | Brooks | about 45 mi | Public (daily fee) | The region's top-ranked public round | | 2 | DarkHorse Golf Club | Auburn | about 45 mi | Public | Fun, varied foothill golf | | 3 | Haggin Oaks (Alister MacKenzie) | Sacramento | about 5 mi | Municipal | Classic design close to downtown | | 4 | Morgan Creek Golf Club | Roseville | about 20 mi | Public (daily fee) | Heathland-style design | | 5 | Whitney Oaks Golf Club | Rocklin | about 25 mi | Semi-private (daily fee) | Accurate players | | 6 | The Ridge Golf Course | Auburn | about 40 mi | Public | Tiered greens and foothill views | | 7 | Ancil Hoffman Golf Course | Carmichael | about 10 mi | Municipal | Value round along the American River | | 8 | The Golf Club at Copper Valley | Copperopolis | about 85 mi | Public | A Sierra foothills day trip | | 9 | Teal Bend Golf Club | Sacramento | about 10 mi | Public | Quick round by the river | | 10 | Cherry Island Golf Course | Elverta | about 15 mi | Municipal | Everyday county golf |

Distances are approximate driving miles from downtown Sacramento, rounded to the nearest five.

How we chose

Every course on this list takes public tee times, confirmed on its own website in October 2026. We ranked them by course quality, design pedigree and published recognition from Golf Digest and Golfweek. We also mixed premium rounds with municipal and county options. Private clubs are listed separately at the end.

1. Yocha Dehe Golf Club

Location: Brooks, CA · Access: Public (daily fee) · Holes: 18 · Designer: Brad Bell (2008) · From downtown: about 45 miles

Yocha Dehe is the daily-fee course at Cache Creek Casino Resort. Golfweek's Best placed it among California's top six public-access courses in both 2024 and 2025.

The round opens from an elevated first tee, and water comes into play on the closing holes. It suits golfers who want the strongest public test in the region.

Around the greens: On a championship-length course you will face longer chips than usual, so pick a landing spot first and then choose the club that gets the ball there.

2. DarkHorse Golf Club

Location: Auburn, CA · Access: Public · Holes: 18 · Designer: Keith Foster · From downtown: about 45 miles

Keith Foster routed DarkHorse across a former 1,100-acre cattle ranch in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Golf Digest included it in its January 2025 guide to the best courses you can play in California. Its panelists scored it highest for fun and layout variety. It measures 7,005 yards at full length.

It suits confident ball-strikers who want a full day in the foothills.

Around the greens: Foothill courses often leave uphill and downhill chips; land downhill chips shorter and uphill chips longer (see our slope chipping guide).

3. Haggin Oaks Golf Complex: Alister MacKenzie Course

Location: Sacramento, CA · Access: Municipal · Holes: 18 · Designer: Alister MacKenzie (1932) · From downtown: about 5 miles

The MacKenzie Course opened in October 1932 as the Sacramento Municipal Golf Course, designed by the architect behind Augusta National and Cypress Point. It hosted the Sacramento Open in the 1930s and the 1963 National Public Links Championship. A 2001 city project rebuilt the 9th and 18th greens to follow MacKenzie's original design.

Today it plays 7,030 yards from the back tees, with bentgrass fairways and tees. The complex also has the 1957 Arcade Creek course. It is the best pick for history, value and a short drive from downtown.

Around the greens: Small greens mean more missed greens, so a dependable bump-and-run to a chosen landing spot saves pars here.

4. Morgan Creek Golf Club

Location: Roseville, CA · Access: Public (daily fee) · Holes: 18 · Designer: Kyle Phillips · From downtown: about 20 miles

Kyle Phillips spent 16 years with Robert Trent Jones II before designing Morgan Creek. The club describes its style as heathland-inspired.

Expect large, rippled greens. The club posts daily-fee pricing on its online tee sheet. It suits golfers who like classic architecture and thinking their way around.

Around the greens: On large, rippled greens the landing spot matters as much as the club; pick one that feeds the ball along the ripples.

5. Whitney Oaks Golf Club

Location: Rocklin, CA · Access: Semi-private (daily-fee rates posted) · Holes: 18 (par 71) · Designer: Johnny Miller, design consultant (1997) · From downtown: about 25 miles

Whitney Oaks plays 6,793 yards from the back tees, with a 73.7 rating and 132 slope. History is on the course too, including a mausoleum near the 11th and a site known as Joe's Fort.

The club sells annual memberships but also posts daily green-fee rates and takes online tee times. The course was updated after a 2005 ownership change. It suits accurate players.

Around the greens: With a 132 slope rating, missed greens can leave awkward chips, so take your medicine and land the ball on the green rather than forcing a perfect shot.

6. The Ridge Golf Course

Location: Auburn, CA · Access: Public · Holes: 18 (par 71) · Designer: Robert Trent Jones Jr. · From downtown: about 40 miles

Robert Trent Jones Jr. laid The Ridge across 170 acres in Placer County, with about 100 feet of elevation change. Tees run from 5,331 to 6,749 yards.

The club names the 13th its most demanding and scenic hole. The uphill 4th finishes on a three-tiered green, and the 16th plays to a large green wrapped by water. It suits mid-handicaps who want foothill character at a manageable length.

Around the greens: Several greens have two or three tiers; land your chip on the same tier as the hole whenever you can.

7. Ancil Hoffman Golf Course

Location: Carmichael, CA · Access: Municipal (Sacramento County) · Holes: 18 (par 72) · Designer: William Bell (1965) · From downtown: about 10 miles

Ancil Hoffman opened on May 15, 1965, in a county park beside the American River. It is one of four courses run by Sacramento County Regional Parks.

The county has a master plan for course improvements, with work expected to begin in fiscal year 2026/27. Projects will be phased, the county intends to keep the course open, and temporary tees or greens may be used. It suits locals and visitors who want a classic parkland round at county rates.

Around the greens: If temporary greens are in use during the improvement work, they will roll differently, so test a few chips on the practice green first.

8. The Golf Club at Copper Valley

Location: Copperopolis, CA · Access: Public · Designer: Carter Morrish and Tad Buchanan · From downtown: about 85 miles

Copper Valley is the day trip on this list, about 85 driving miles from downtown. Golf Digest included it in its 2025 guide to the best courses you can play in California. It plays 6,828 yards with a 137 slope.

Golf Digest reviewers describe it as unwalkable, so plan on a cart.

Around the greens: A 137 slope rating signals a demanding course, so favor the safe side of each green and leave yourself a straightforward chip.

9. Teal Bend Golf Club

Location: Sacramento, CA · Access: Public · Holes: 18 · From downtown: about 10 miles

Teal Bend covers about 250 acres of wetlands along the Sacramento River. It is about 10 miles from downtown and takes online tee times.

It works well for a quick weekday round, a tournament outing or a first look at Sacramento golf.

Around the greens: Build a baseline here: ask the shop for the green speed, note where your chips land and compare on faster foothill greens.

10. Cherry Island Golf Course

Location: Elverta, CA · Access: Municipal (Sacramento County) · Holes: 18 (par 72) · From downtown: about 15 miles

Cherry Island is Sacramento County's course north of the city, managed by Empire Golf. It takes online tee times and hosts a steady calendar of community events.

It is a full-length county course for everyday golf on the north side of town.

Around the greens: Test club choice here: hit the same chip with a 7-iron, 9-iron and wedge, and note how far each one rolls.

Private clubs worth knowing

• Del Paso Country Club (Sacramento): Founded in 1916, it hosted the 2015 U.S. Senior Open. Member invitation required.
• Serrano Country Club (El Dorado Hills): A Robert Trent Jones Jr. design. Member invitation required.
• Granite Bay Golf Club (Granite Bay): Another Robert Trent Jones Jr. design. Member invitation required.
• El Macero Country Club (El Macero): A Bob E. Baldock design near Davis. Member invitation required.

Tips for playing golf near Sacramento

• Play summer rounds early. Valley afternoons get hot, so book morning tee times from June through September.
• Valley vs. foothills. Courses on the valley floor play flatter. The Auburn courses add elevation change, tiered greens and more uneven lies.
• Know the public systems. Sacramento County Regional Parks runs four courses, including Ancil Hoffman and Cherry Island. The city's Haggin Oaks complex has two 18-hole courses.
• Ride at the hilly courses. Copper Valley in particular is described by reviewers as unwalkable.
• Warm up with a plan. On an unfamiliar course, use our 15-minute pre-round routine to read the practice green before you tee off.
• Planning a wider trip? See our guide to the best golf courses in California.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best public golf course near Sacramento?

Yocha Dehe Golf Club in Brooks, about 45 miles from downtown, is the top-ranked public course in the area. Golfweek's Best placed it among California's top six public-access courses in 2024 and 2025. Brad Bell designed it, and it opened in 2008.

What is the best municipal golf course in Sacramento?

The Alister MacKenzie Course at Haggin Oaks is the pick. It opened in 1932, sits about five miles from downtown and hosted the Sacramento Open in the 1930s. Ancil Hoffman in Carmichael is a strong county alternative, and Bing Maloney, built for the city in 1962, adds 27 more holes.

Can the public play Del Paso Country Club?

No. Del Paso Country Club is private, and you need a member invitation to play. It opened in 1916 and hosted the 2015 U.S. Senior Open. For a classic public round with similar history, book the MacKenzie Course at Haggin Oaks.

When is the best time to golf near Sacramento?

Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons, with mild temperatures and good conditions. Summer brings hot afternoons, so morning tee times are best. Winter golf is possible on many days, but rain can soften courses and slow the greens.

How do I handle unfamiliar green speeds on a new course?

Ask the pro shop what the greens are rolling at on the stimpmeter, then hit a few chips on the practice green before your round. Faster greens need a shorter landing spot; slower greens need a longer one. Our green speed guide explains how to adjust.

Find your landing zone on every green

From Haggin Oaks' small, classic greens to the tiered greens of the Auburn foothills, the courses on this list play very differently around the hole. Green speed changes where every chip should land, and it changes from course to course. ELZS (Essential Landing Zone Systems) turns three inputs, your distance to the hole, your club and the green speed, into the number of paces to land the ball so it rolls out to the hole. It was built by former teaching pro Chaz H. Smith and comes as an app for iOS and Android and as a waterproof pocket chartbook. Before your next round, ask the pro shop how fast the greens are running, then look up your landing zone and chip with a plan.

Download ELZS for iPhone · Get ELZS on Android · Learn how landing zones work