I have played many rounds at the Legends course over the last 10 years and Diablo Grande ranks as one of the top 36 hole facilities in Northern California with the Legends being my favorite course. I most recently played here on 07/01/12 from the blue tees 73.1/133/6680.The Legends course was supposed to be the private course at the club and is designed by Jack Nicklaus and Gene Sarazen. The course features many things about Northern California golf that I enjoy. The setting is peaceful without any disturbances or homes and the course does not come back to the clubhouse until #18 so it really feels like a journey through the rolling hills. The course has a good mix of semi blind shots, risk reward holes, and challenges. Right away on holes #2 and #3 someone is forced to pick a line off the tee. An aggressive line over the bunkers on #2 will allow an option to go for the par 5 green in two and an aggressive line on #3 allows for a short iron approach. While no holes stand out as extremely difficult to me they all require hitting solid shots (especially controlling the distance on the approaches) to put together a decent score which the course can allow. There are minor elevation changes (no more than a club) which keep it interesting especially with a little wind. One of the things I love here is that it is so far back in the canyons that the wind doesn’t get up too much. The 16th, a 175 yard par 3, is my favorite hole on the course and one of my favorite par 3’s anywhere. The hole is downhill a club and is all carry to a shallow green with two different levels. The bailout is right or long but then the miss needs a precise chip. The 18th, a slight double dog leg, is a strong finishing hole. If I had to criticize the layout I would say that I do not like a couple of the par 5s. Hole #5 requires a lay up off the tee and I have never been able to attack the green in two even at its short length. A good tee shot leaves 235+ yards off a down hill slope to a shallow green fronted by a hazard. Hole #15 is an easy drive but requires laying back more than I like (125+ yards) to avoid the water if not going for it in two. Thankfully the greens do not have the patented Jack Nicklaus humps, but there are still many different levels. While the greens are not the fastest that I putt on, they roll true. The course is always maintained well and Troon has done a good job since taking it over. The bad news is that this place is difficult to get to as it is not close to the Bay Area or Sacramento and is 15 minutes from the interstate. If within an hour drive I would recommend playing here as it has a good value with afternoon times in the $30 to $40 range.
Course Pictures (click any picture to scroll through the gallery):
