Metropolitan Golf Links

Oakland never looked so good.

And by next spring, it should be even better.

Metropolitan Golf Links is a solid track now. And since the winds that whip around the Oakland airport aren't usually horrible in November, you should be able to come away with a solid score.

But give this course a few more months to mature, and your smile should be bigger.

Metropolitan opened in April. Actually, it reopened, sort of. Johnny Miller and Fred Bliss teamed up for a giant mulligan on what used to be Lew Galbraith Golf Course.

Don't get scared if you're used to getting your teeth kicked in by Miller designs. Johnny took it (relatively) easy on the residents of Oakland.

Metro has some trouble, but as Miller courses go, this one is there for the taking.

Not many trees were moved in, and the ones that were planted will take a while to grow. Water really only comes into play on five or six holes, and Miller didn't over-bunker the course.

The result is a track that has a course rating of 69.3 and a mere 116 slope from the white tees, relatively tame figures for Northern California and extremely mild numbers for Miller.

Actually, the teeth of the course comes from its youth. Miller stayed with one of his trademarks with large, undulating greens.

The greens roll true, but they're lightning-fast. And until this course matures, they won't hold approaches.

But most holes offer a chance to land short and run shots up. Just remember, knowledge is power.

There is good variety in length of holes. And while this is a flat, open track in general terms, Miller and Bliss moved enough dirt to keep it from being boring.

Score on the front side, because the back is tougher.

But the back nine also has the most interesting holes, including the par-4 14th, arguably the best hole on the course. The slight dogleg features a second shot that must carry a ravine to one of the smaller greens on the track. A front pin placement will leave you flirting with disaster, a nice change of pace on a gentle track.

The 17th hole is another beauty, a long par-5 that features an approach over the biggest expanse of water on the course.

Watch out for the approach on 18. Bunkers that aren't visible from the fairway guard the green.

In fact, much of the course's trouble is subtle and hard to see. Hopefully by next spring, the course also will have a yardage book to go with softer greens.

Remember, this is a downtown course. You won't get breath-taking views, unless you have a thing for airports and water treatment plants. But the grass is plenty green, and the course is well maintained.

The bill - $52 during the week and $74 on the weekend - is a little steep, but there is a walking rate. And you can sometimes find great deals on the course's web site, www.playmetro.com

Directions - Take Interstate 80 west to I-880 in Oakland. Take the Hegenberger Road exit south, and turn left on Doolittle Drive. The course is on the right.