Rooster Run Golf Club

A gentle start, good variety, the chance to let the big dog eat ... and it's only 50 miles away.

Rooster Run Golf Club in Petaluma has great conditions, and a great offer to golfers of all abilities ... pick just how much you want the hazards to come into play.

The 5-year-old Fred Bliss track is a gem, plain and simple. It may not take your breath away, but it will leave you wanting to come back. And at $46 with a cart during the week, you can.

Rooster Run is a perfect mix of short and long holes, with some water, plenty of hazards, and just enough trees in the right places to make you think.

Most of the holes also are wide open off the tees, so bring your driver. Just watch out if you play a big (right-handed) draw ... although hazards are well-placed throughout, most of the out of bounds areas are on the left.

Your biggest decision may come before the round starts. Bogey golfers can succeed from the blue tees, which measure 6,464 yards. But the white-tee yardage (5,889) is a lot more fun, and will allow many players to hit over or around hazards.

Many women also will have a decision between white and red (5,139) yardage.

If it's your first time on the course, take the shorter route and have some fun.

Rooster Run features a gentle start, another plus. The first hole is a straight-ahead, 481-yard (from the whites) par-5 that should give you a smile right off the bat.

The second hole looks more intimidating than it is. The short par-3 has water off the tee, a big bunker left of the green and a large, grass bunker on the right. Ignore the problems, because this green, like most on the course, is plenty big enough to aim right at.

Nos. 3 and 4 are very short par-4s from any tee, and great chances to get a good score going, if you haven't already.

Highlights on the front side include the fifth hole, an elbow-dogleg-left par-4 with an environmental hazard left, a bunker right and a long but narrow green.

The sixth hole also is a treat, a short par-3 with an island green. Beware, because the hole plays one club longer than advertised.

The front side ends with a short par-5. Lay up on your second shot, because there is a ravine right in front of the green that can't be seen from where most drives land. You also must split trees on the approach.

The second nine is even better than the first, if a little harder, starting with a dogleg right par-4 with water on the right at the green.

No. 16th is another treat, a long, dogleg-left par-4 with a ravine running across the fairway. Most players will have to lay up short, then hit a long approach to the biggest green on the course.

The finishing hole is the best on the track, a long par-5 with water right off the tee and left at the green. The green is another huge one, with big undulations.

Upside at Rooster Run is huge, including great variety and solid conditions. You should hit every club in your bag, and you will deal with water, bunkers and environmental hazards.

The fairways are in great shape, and there is a first cut of rough that still allows you to advance the ball.

Greens are fast and big with lots of undulations, but few are two-tiered and most slope back-to-front, which helps hold shots and makes putts easier to read.

The $66 weekend rate is a little steep, but this track is a must-play.

Directions - Take Interstate 80 west to Highway 12 north. Take Highway 121 west to 116. Stay right on Adobe Road. Turn left onto East Washington. The course is on the right.