Teal Bend Golf Club

You may find your golfing haven right between the water and the tarmac.

Teal Bend Golf Club is easy to miss, even if you're looking for it. Maybe that's one reason why it still one of the better-kept golfing secrets in the Sacramento area.

Built on 250 acres between the Sacramento River and Sacramento International Airport, the 1997 Brad Bell design is about as peaceful as it gets near the state capital.

Teal Bend can be a monster if you so choose. The black-tee yardage is 7,061, with a 73.9 rating and a 134 slope.

But four sets of tees offer plenty of variety for all levels, and the white-tee specs (6,022 yards, 69.3 rating, 120 slope) are nice and mellow, just like the setting.

Water comes into play on only three holes - two of them par-3s - and most of the greens are guarded by just one bunker. There are some natural wetlands and environmental areas, but if you can stay in the fairway, you can have a low score to go with your peaceful day.

The opening hole is a long but open par-4. The best mistake is short and left, and should still give you a shot at an up-and-down par.

The fun starts at No. 2, a par-5 that plays just 464 yards from the whites. In fact, all of the par-5s are there for the taking, but the real challenges come at the greens.

No. 2 has a huge dip in the center, placing a premium on distance on your approach shot. "On in two and three putts" is not uncommon.

No. 8 also looks sedate, but the rolling green is wide and shallow. No. 10 is right in front of you, but usually plays into the wind.

And No. 17 is a short, downhill dogleg right around a pond, with the best-guarded green on the course.

In short, birdie or snowman is equally possible on any of the 5s.

The par-4s are beautiful and varied. No. 3 is very short, Nos. 5 & 6 medium in length and No. 7 long. There are doglegs right (Nos. 6, 7 and 18) and left (No. 14).

No. 7 may be the toughest hole on the track, a sharp dogleg right par-4 with an environmental hazard down the entire right side. Bunkers guard the left side of the fairway and green.

The front nine ends with a gentle-looking par-3 over water, but the prevailing wind pushes shots into the hazard.

The back side is tougher, starting with a long Par-5 (No. 10), a long par-4 (11) and a long par-3 (12). The 12th hole has been rebuilt and is a beauty, with pot bunkers guarding the front of the green.

It also is one of several holes that can be deceptive on the approach. The greens at Nos. 3, 5, 12 and 14 are surrounded by trees and often are hidden in the shadows. Trust your yardage (100-, 150- and 200-yard markers are in the middle of every fairway).

Birdies are available at No. 13 and the four finishing holes. Of course, three-putts can happen on those holes as well.

In fact, your score may depend on your flat stick even more than usual. There aren't two-tiered greens, per se, but most holes feature swales and rolls and some pin placements can be downright nasty.

The finish is wonderful, with a short par-3 at No. 16, a short 5 (No. 17) and a short 4 (18). You can make up ground if you stay out of trouble.

Stop at the bar and grille - you know it's a solid eatery when they stick an "e" on the end of grill - before you figure out how far you have to head east before you can get back on the freeway home.

The conditions are marvelous, the drive is not too long and the price is solid. Even better deals are available at www.clubcorpgolf.com (click on Sacramento), although most are time sensitive.

Now if they could just build an offramp from Interstate 5 leading directly to the course.

Directions: Take Interstate 80 east to I-5 north. Take Highway 99 north. Turn left on Elverta Road and left on Garden Highway.