Sometimes The Good Deal Is Right Under Your Nose

By Eric Tracy
erictracy@earthlink.net

Sometimes what you’re looking for is right next-door…or in this case for many of you, down the road a piece, but well worth the road trip. However, let me ask you a question first. Are you tired of trying to get on city courses whose tee-time reservation system gives your dialing finger a blister trying to get through for a decent tee-time? Then when you finally get to play the ill-kept pasture, your round of golf turns into an over-crowded 6-hour nightmare! Then I suggest, “Go east, young man” for a very affordable treat at Sierra Lakes in Fontana.

WARMING UP:

At the base of the San Bernardino Mountains in the Inland Empire, surrounded by what’ll soon be 2,000 new single-family homes, Ted Robinson Sr., the legendary golf architect, has carved out another 18-hole beauty you’d otherwise probably miss unless you were looking for it. No, you can’t see Sierra Lakes from the 15 Freeway as you head to Vegas. Maybe, if you were lost and searching for directions to the nearby California Speedway you’d stumble across it. But seek and ye shall find a $15 million golf facility with a 20,000-foot clubhouse managed by the Donovan Brothers, lovers of golf and good marketers of the game. And at $45, cart-included during the week, Sierra Lakes is a bargain. Sure it’s a few dollars more than a city course, but for the few extra bucks you get peace of mind, available tee-times and a wonderfully manicured course that just got a 4.9 out of 5 rating from Golf Magazine. So let’s play a few holes.

MY FAVORITE HOLES:

• No. 6, 195 yard par 3 (15 handicap): The signature hole of the Ted Robinson layout has his “typically Ted” water and rocky stream to contend with, but if you’re smacking ‘em off the black tees, there’s a sandpit you don’t even need to think about getting into below your feet because it’s darn near impossible to get out. Note: If you do dribble off the tee, pretend you can’t find the ball and take a hit from the drop area. Don’t feel like you’re a wussy if you sneak up to the white tee box (161 yards) and take that trap out all together, ‘cause there’s enough to contend with that doesn’t show up in that pretty picture they’ll show you in the player’s yard-guide book. Just clear the water, land it somewhere away from the three traps near the green, and you’ll survive. By the way, think this one out and execute because this is the hole you’ll see off to your right when you drive away from the course; so don’t make it a lasting haunting memory.
• No. 7, 395-yard par 4 (3 handicap): Do you have the Titleists to get over that water on the left? It’ll cut 100 yards off the hole. That’s the challenge. (caption: That’s the water I’m talking about on the right looking from the green, clear that and you’ll flying with the birdies on a very tough hole)
• No. 8, 569-yard par 5 (5 handicap): They call No. 5 “The Monster,’’ and it’s the toughest on the card, but this is the longest hole on the course (called “Never Ending”), which just happens to be guarded by bunkers, desert wasteland and a deceptively nasty disposition.
• No. 13, 162-yard par 3 (18 handicap): The “Hidden Wasteland” hole has a sandpit the size of a lake between the tee box and green that you don’t see unless you somehow get into it. The good news is at least you can chip out instead of getting soaked.
• No. 15, 511-yard par 5 (12 handicap): Even though it’s a dogleg left, take a second to drive up on that hill on the right side of the fairway halfway down and you’ll get a view of almost the entire Sierra Lakes layout (you can also get there from the 14th fairway that runs parallel). You’ll also notice the green you’re aiming at is about the size of a king-sized blanket. Being the smallest on the course you better be hitting a wedge in because nothing else will likely hold.
• No. 17, 181-yard par 3 (16 handicap): The “Jungle Palms” hole will look pretty slick once it’s dozen palm trees mature.. Of course then the lovely scenery will make you forget about the five pot bunkers surrounding the green and the rolling rough that feeds into them gobbling up anything hit short.

SMALL NOTE:

I like the use of yellow balls on the driving range. This makes it far easier to find your tee shots off the 9th and 18th if you happen to slice toward the netting. That is of course applies as long as you're using a white dimpled sphere.

DID YOU KNOW:

Sierra Lakes is one of the few courses in the country that uses the "sand lakes water system." Not that you'd otherwise care, but it's what prevents excess water waste from getting on the course and directs it to designated areas of sand-covered rocks where it percolates into the ground. It's why there's no standing rain water to attract the 'skeeters, so appreciate that fact. Funny thing is, it drains so well, that the No. 4 hole called "Twin Lakes" is often just one body of water since the pond closest to the tee box drains so fast.

GET TO KNOW:

Wayne Brooks, the "Outside Service Manager," is the guy who'll start you off, and no one knows more about what's going on there. Buy him a cold one before you leave.

LEARNING THE GAME “NATURALLY”: Did you ever hear of Moe Norman. Considered one of the best pure strikers of the ball, this Canadian PGA Pro is the guy who created Natural Golf. Well, they’re teachin’ Natural golf now at Sierra Lakes. Conventional golf is also taught, but they have embraced this somewhat controversial system. 100,000 golfers swear by Natural Golf style sworn. However, it’s also sworn at by a number of stiff upper lip PGA types who don’t care for the baseball bat grip and less moving parts of the Natural Golf swing. They truth is, the Natural Golf swing is a lot easier to learn for new golfers. You’ve probably seen something about it on Infomercials For more information, check out the website: http://www.naturalgolf.com.

GOOD GRUB:

Sierra Lakes does some serious food. Their banquet facilities are superb which is why they host so many fund-raising and corporate golf events. Word around town is that they have an awesome Sunday brunch (10-to-2, adults $16.95, kids $11.95), which includes the omelets, carving stations and waffle grills.

SUMMING IT UP:

The course's marketing motto is "Enjoy Palm Springs golf in half the drive and half the price,'' and that's really the attitude you should have coming here. The cost is definitely what's most attractive; even though what you save in green fees you may have to pay gas. This is the perfect mid-range fee that steps you up from the local muni and for a few dollars more gives you plush, lush, well-kept fairways and greens created by one of the best golf designers in the country, a computer tracking course system on the carts and an up-scale feeling clubhouse and pro shop. The young course is very playable with few trees, fair landing areas and water only on a few holes on the back 9. And they want you to finish in 4 ½ hours. Plus Sierra Lakes is only 30 minutes to the ski slopes that aren't being attacked from the other freeways. "I think going against the flow here works for us," says head pro/manager Rick Danruther. Works for me, too.

Eric Tracy

KFWB RADIO