Heading out to California on Sunday and would like to try one of these while in town for a couple of days. I am staying in Cupertino and will be up and down the Bay for meetings. Considering either a very early morning tee time (I am on East Coast time) or twilight so it won't conflict with my meetings. Any suggestions comments...and oh yeah...deals at these courses?

Thanks,
GIBBER

Cinnabar Hills is more locationally convenient for your business trip and offers some good early morning prices on the now corporate run GolfNow.com.

I think you can find Golfnow tee times at San Juan Oaks and Eagle Ridge...a bit more out of your way.

HMB's two course are crowded when there are deals offered but you can try to get something through vipgolfclub.com

Weather is very good right now.

Play The Ranch, San Jose. I was there two weeks back and it is in great shape, beautiful layout of holes.

cinnabar hills is nice. i just played there on saturday. check out golfnow.com for last minute deals. there's also coyote creek and the ranch which are both in SJ i think.

half moon bay has two courses. one is the ocean course and has nice views. don't pay full price. sign up on their e-club mailing list to find some better rates. it may be be a hike for you to get there depending on where you are staying. from san jose you can get to monterey in about an hour and you can get some real good rates down there are spanish or spyglass which might be close in price as HMB.

thanks -

I was about to book Cinnebar but they are aerating the greens on Tuesday and I am trying to play Wed morning...another colleague that was just out there recommended The Ranch. Their online tee time was $40.

oh no...not the ranch

dislike the layout

Poppy Ridge in Livermore is more golf and less target gimmickery

Is it that bad? Looks pretty nice from the pics...well maintained?? worth $40? I wouldn't mind Poppy, Half Moon, or one of the others, but I am rushing a round in and convenience is leaning me toward The Ranch... should I back away from the ledge?

The Ranch is not that bad. The knock is that you're playing defense on some holes because you don't know where to land your drives. If you play with someone with local knowledge then it's fine. $40 is a good price over here.

Without traffic, Poppy is about 45 minutes away and Half Moon Bay about 35 minutes.

Are you the local that is going to play with us? We have 2...my colleague is about an 18 and I am a 7...would be good to meet other WRX'rs in this area as I come out about 1 a month.

PM me. A little tough to play during weekdays but not impossible.

If you are not familiar with the weather here, Half Moon Bay and San Jose can be worlds apart, even though not so far away. It can be sunny 85 in San Jose and foggy and in the high 50s in Half Moon Bay. Bring layers for HMB. Personally, I'd go with Cinnabar.

The Ranch is one of the best layouts and well maintained courses in the entire SF Bay Area.
It gets some negative reviews from players who don't control their golf ball. The Ranch is unique in that does not offer many "bail out" areas either off the tee boxes or around the greens.

The Ranch is great, they are running a ton of specials right now due to the economy. I think the latest I got was

AUGUST COUPON

GOOD FOR
$38 ANYTIME MONDAY TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY
$55 ANYTIME WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY
$65 ANYTIME FRIDAY
MUST BE AT LEAST 2 PLAYERS.
OFFER NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER COUPONS OR DISCOUNT. NOT VALID ON HOLIDAYS
NO DENIM OR T SHIRTS OR COOLERS

Whoever says this place is gimmicky obviously cannot control their shots. There is a lot of target golf and if you bend em like beckham your in for a long day. If you are fairly confident which it sounds like you are, you will enjoy it. It's very well maintained.

damn...no denim shorts...I'm out - just kidding.

Thanks for some good feedback. Is there an email or link to those coupons? PM me or send me an email to stephen.gibertoni@hotmail.com if you can. Playing Presidio after I land in SFO...

Thanks,
GIBBER

Go the their website and sign up for the egolf club or especials. They will email you it right away.