Mather Golf Course

Former Air Force base course proves receptive to golfers of all abilities.

There's not quite enough room to land a C-5, but ...

Mather Golf Course near Rancho Cordova has outlived the Air Force Base of the same name for several reasons: solid conditions, more trees than tarmac, and a gentle but long test that enables you to let the big dog eat ... again and again.

The 1958 Jack Fleming design - Fleming built almost two dozen Northern California courses in the 1950s and 60s, including Napa Golf Course - is long on distance, and has surprisingly good variety for a relatively flat track.

It also has the feel of a park course, with trees lining most of the fairways and rough that can be testy. But there is plenty of room between the trees, and the almost 50-year-old greens are receptive to most approaches.

The mature greens are a major benefit, since most players will be hitting long irons at the pins. The white-tee yardage is a stout 6,436, and the red tees play to a lengthy 5,732 yards.

But fear not. The wide fairways should put a smile on your face, and some solid approaches could have you leaving at or below your target score.

One of the toughest tests comes right away. The par-4 first hole is 388 yards from the white tees, with a narrow landing area for drives between fairway bunkers left and right. Another bunker is left of the green. Be happy to start with a par.

The birdie opportunities begin at No. 2. The 522-yard par-5 will test your length right way, but the super wide fairway leaves plenty of room for error.

A short par-3 follows at No. 3, but then the real test kicks in. No. 4 is 407 yards, the first of five par-4s that are more than 400 yards from the whites. The good news is that two of those holes are par-5s for women, making Mather a par-74 from the reds.

There are a few shorter 4s mixed in, though, including No. 6, which presents another birdie chance.

End the front side with another long par-5.

No. 10 may be the hardest hole on the course, a long par-4 that doglegs left.

The only real water on the course comes at No. 11, a short par-3 where the pond ends far enough from the green to make the test more mental than physical, except when the wind whips.

The back nine is shorter but narrower, although straight shooters can get strokes back at Nos. 12-15.

End your day with the toughest stretch on the course. Mather's longest par-5 at No. 16 is followed by the longest par-4, with a long dogleg left par-4 to finish your round.

Mather has a definite upside, with good conditions, generous landing areas, solid greens and a pleasant price - $40 with a cart during the week, $43 on Fridays and $48 on weekends. You should save even more money on golf balls, since even wild hitters rarely get too far off track.

There is enough variety to keep the day interesting, and enough bunkers and rough to challenge your shot-making abilities.

There isn't much of a donwside, although it may be tough to drive almost 50 miles to play a course that doesn't blow you away.

But the chance to hit your target score is enough of a draw for many die-hards, who may want to schedule a follow-up round.

Directions - Take Interstate 80 east to Sacramento. Take Highway 50 east. Take the Mather Field Road exit south, and turn left on Mather Boulevard. Take Douglas Road east, and turn right on Eagles Next Road.