Turkey Creek

Simply beautiful.

You will probably be several holes into your round at Turkey Creek Golf Club when two facts hit you.

One, this is an absolutely wonderful track.

Two, there are no houses lining the fairways.

Turkey Creek is the gem of the late 1990s golfing blitz in the Greater Sacramento area, and arguably the finest course in the region.

But this may not strike you right away. In fact, you may already be on your way to a solid round before you realize there are no construction sounds during your backswing.

Just keep that smile on your face when you reach the teeth of the course.

Brad Bell rolled a seven with his 1999 design, a layout that mixes rolling hills, a little water and hundreds of trees.

Greens are large with undulations, but they aren't too severe and they are consistent. And even with the heavy rains, the course has drained well and is in good shape. Bunkers are few and far between, leaving most greens open at the front.

The trees are the big drawing card, and the chief hazard. But Bell gives you a few holes to get your game together first.

Bell begins with arguably the easiest hole on the course, a short, downhill par-4 that sits right in front of you with birdie written all over it. You'll almost certainly start the day with a good attitude.

Next up is a beauty of a short par-4, an elbow dogleg left with a second shot straight uphill to a large green with a false front. The variety is another plus, with plenty of ups and downs, lefts and rights.

The third hole, a medium-length par-3 over water, is another beauty. It also closes out the charitable starting stretch.

Trees come into play big-time starting on the fourth hole, a par-5 where accuracy is the key. Avoid the water off the tee by hitting 3-wood, and avoid the trees all day by playing smart golf off the tee.

Even after the gentle start, this course is there for the taking. But you have to stay in the fairway. The rough isn't too severe, but the trees will kill you if you wander off track.

The theme continues for the rest of the front side.

The 10th hole is another gem, a long par-4 with the approach over water. Don't be too scared, though. Despite appearances, you've got about 20 yards between the end of the pond and the start of the green.

The back side can be a monster, with more hills and more trees. Beware of the downhill approaches to tricky greens on Nos. 12 and 15 as well.

No. 14 is the signature hole, although other holes contend for that distinction. The short par-3 over water to a deep but narrow green offers a bail-out to the left. But chipping off the side-hill toward the hazard is almost as daunting as the tee shot.

Make up some shots on Nos. 15-17, because the finishing hole is another beautiful test.

The longest par-4 on the course from the white tees (399 yards) offers two shots over water. And remember, the aiming pole is not a 150-yard marker ... in fact, a drive to the pole will leave you a 180-yard approach over water that plays more like 210. Aim as far left of the pole as you can while still clearing the hazard with your drive.

Go ahead and schedule your next round before you head home. Turkey Creek is that good.

Of course, no track is perfect. This is a GPS course, and after heavy rains the cart-path-only rules will leave you just plain guessing on distances. There are 150- and 100-yard markers, but the rolling hills make club selection difficult.

The GPS also is old style, with distances to front, center and back of the green, and not much else. There is no yardage book, so expect some frustration.

But the negatives are minimal. This is a great track, and the $40-65 price tag is very competitive. The course also belongs to Club Corp, and solid (if time-sensitive) coupons are available at www.clubcorpgolf.com (click on Sacramento).

Enjoy the round ... and the quiet.

Directions - Take Interstate 80 east to Highway 65 north. Take Highway 193 east. The course is on the left.