San Ramon Golf Club

Have fun, and warm up for the big finishes.

San Ramon Golf Club offers a gentle track with some twists and turns, and two of the best par-4s you'll see in the area to end both nines.

The 1962 course has gained some notoriety since being spiced up with more trees and better conditioning in recent years. It provides a pleasant walk, and a chance to hit your target score.

Unless physical limitations force you to ride, you'll save $14 by walking, and you'll enjoy a solid layout with a few gentle hills, a few bunkers and creeks to avoid, and greens well protected by water on Nos. 9 and 18.

It also gives you a chance to play from the blue tees. Back-tee yardage is only 6,429, with a solid 71.1 rating but a gentle 122 slope. On the flip side, some women may find the red-tee yardage (5,842) a little taxing, but the slope is still just 124.

Spend some time on the range beforehand, because this is a course where you want to hit the ground running. The first six holes provide some real birdie opportunities if you're a fast starter.

Most of the greens on the first nine are fronted by bunkers, but the holes on the front side are much shorter, so you should be popping short irons over the traps.

No. 1 is a short par-4 that doglegs right. The approach crosses a hazard to a green fronted by two bunkers, but most players will hit wedges into a sizable green.

Take some extra time putting before you start your round as well. Most of the greens have traditional back-to-front slopes, but there are subtle breaks that can be tough to read.

The reading is easy from tee to green, though. The course is relatively flat, and pretty wide open off the tees.

Birdie awaits at No. 3, a very short par-4 where a layup in front of a fairway bunker still leaves just a wedge to the green.

Get another stroke back at No. 6, a short par-5 that doglegs right around trees. Hit your drive up the left side to open up the second shot, and maybe even reach the green in two.

The biggest challenge comes at No. 9, the best hole on the course. The short par-4 has a wide landing area on the drive, but the approach to an island green is as testy as it is picturesque. The wide-but-shallow green slopes toward the water on all sides, so aim for the middle of the putting surface instead of pin-seeking.

The second nine is longer and tougher, with more trouble off the tees, including four holes with fairway bunkers.

Highlights include No. 11, a long par-4 with a visible bunker left of the green and a hidden pot bunker if you cheat too far right.

Birdie chances abound at No. 12, a short, downhill par-4, and straightaway par-5s at Nos. 13 and 15.

End your day with another big finish. The par-4 18th parallels No. 9, and the water to the left of the ninth green juts out in front of No. 18. The approach also plays longer than it looks, even though the prevailing wind is at your back.

Take a par and be happy before you stop at the 19th hole.

The biggest positive at San Ramon is simplicity. This is a course with good variety, and the solid weekday walking rate ($38) puts a smile on your face while you get more exercise. There are some challenging holes, but nothing too funky or too demanding.

This course can be wicked in the wind, but it is a target score waiting to happen when it's calm.

There are houses throughout, but most of the trees come between the course and the windows, and most fairways are wide enough to grip it and rip it.

The weekend riding rate is $58 (walkers aren't allowed until the afternoon on weekends). But it's still one of the better bargains in an East Bay filled with high-priced courses.

San Ramon may not take your breath away, except when you are trying to choose which short iron to hit into No. 9.

Don't worry. You have eight holes to warm up first.

Directions: Take Interstate 80 west to I-680 south. In San Ramon, take the Alcosta Boulevard exit east. Turn left on Fircrest Lane.