Dry Creek Ranch Golf Course

Greens this nice are worth the drive alone.

Are you tired of greens big enough to put a house on? Have you had enough of reaching the putting surface in regulation, only to look at a shot with more twists, turns and slopes than you'll find at Scandia?

Then Dry Creek Ranch Golf Course in Galt is for you. The 43-year-old track has gained area renown for its park-like setting, reasonable price ... and greens that won't leave you shaking your head.

Dry Creek has good variety, and some trouble. But it also has plenty of birdie opportunities, and putts that actually make sense.

There also is some out of bounds, so bring your A game off the tee. If you do, you're in for a treat ... and probably a solid score as well.

Your test starts right off the bat, especially if you're playing from the blue tees. Blues are a big temptation, since the whites are only 6,094 in length.

Blue-tee yardage is 6,508, including a whopping 92 yards more on the first hole and a carry over the dry creek. Out of bounds is on the left, but you can hit an iron from the white tees and still have a shot at a small green.

No. 2 is short from any tee, although you may wonder where the green is. The short par-4 is an elbow dogleg left. Drive to the corner for a better look at the green.

Grip it and rip it on No. 3, a long par-5 uphill. Be happy with par here.

The rest of the front side is a good score waiting to happen, as long as you can keep it down the middle.

There are some scary-looking shots, and some huge bunkers with big lips, most notably on the short par-3 fifth. But if you are accurate (distance-wise) with your irons, you will be rewarded.

Even duffers can make birdie at No. 8, a par-5 that measures only 465 yards from the blue tees.

You may have to give the shot back on No. 9, though. There are trees right off the tee, but if you play left, there are huge trees protecting the green on the left side. The rough also is nasty, so take your lumps and head for the back side.

The back nine is much harder, begining with the long, narrow, par-5 10th. No. 11 is a deceptive, uphill par-3 guarded by three bunkers, but it has one of the biggest greens on the course.

No. 12 is a short par-5, but one that has OB left. And No. 13 is a tough par-4 with a huge tree left near the green and a huge bunker guarding the right.

Survive the first four holes and you're in for a treat. No. 14 is just plain fun, a short par-4 that doglegs left. If you can clear the trees off the tee, birdie is yours for the taking.

The finish is solid, including the 18th hole, a long par-4 where a small green is protected by the dry creek in front, a bunker behind and trees on either side.

Dry Creek has a solid upside, including an almost unbeatable $22 walking rate during the week. And you can walk this course. The riding rate is $32 during the week, and a solid $44 on weekends.

Variety also is a plus, although you may get tired of being behind trees if you can't control your driver. The par-4s measure from 286 to 428 yards, with a little bit of everything in between.

The conditions are solid, although the cart paths could use a little work. Just hang on when you hit the bumps, or better yet, just walk.

Dry Creek is a fair track, and a solid investment. You'll also forget just how close you are to Highway 99, except when you drive under it after the 10th hole.

And the greens ... did I mention the greens?

Directions - Take Interstate 80 east to Sacramento. Take Highway 99 south. Take the Central Galt (C Street) exit east over the freeway, and turn right on Crystal Way.