Windsor Golf Club

Even if you aren't keen on driving, the walk is beautiful.

Welcome to Windsor Golf Club, one in a dying breed of golf courses that actually are fun to walk. Whether you bring a pull cart or simply strap the clubs to your back, you'll save $13, and get some great exercise without killing yourself.

Even if you need to ride, the weekday fare is a reasonable $46. But the $33 walking is far more appealing for a nice gentle track.

Windsor has solid fairways, a few hills and some character. It also has a gentle 66.6 rating and a 116 slope from the white tees, which measure just 5,628 yards. The blues (6,169 yards, 69.4 rating, 122 slope) are manageable, even for bogey golfers.

The course starts with a solid, straightaway par-4. Don't freak out if you see two flags, because Nos. 1 and 17 share a deep green. Apart from the shock, it isn't a real problem, though.

Highlights of the front nine are the par-5s. No. 4 is a very short 5 with an elbow dogleg at the last 100 yards. You may be tempted to try to clear the trees and reach the green with your second shot, but don't bother. You can still birdie by playing smart golf, and a layup second shot still leaves just a safe wedge to a green guarded on the right by a big trap.

The ninth features a drive across water and a second shot across a ravine. The green is hard to see, especially early in the morning, but avoid the huge bunker on the left. Be happy with par on the hardest hole on the course.

The eighth hole is another beauty, a par-4 that doglegs around a pond.

Pick up birdies on the third hole, a very short par-4, and the fifth, a short par-3 over a hazard.

Beware of the seventh, a long par-3 up a hill. The green is hard to see, so trust your yardage and add one club for the hill, even if you'd like to add more.

The back nine is easier, but the greens are more tricky, so don't get too anxious if you scored well on the front.

No. 10 is a long par-5 with another elbow dogleg (this time left) for the last 100 yards. Play smart golf and hit a short third shot to a well-protected, two-tiered green.

No. 11 also is protected by bunkers, but the green is bigger than it looks from the tee box. Birdie is available.

The 12th is a great hole, a short par-4 uphill. Avoid the water on the left if you don't mind a longer approach, but go ahead and rip it if you want ... the carry over the water is shorter than it appears.

No. 13 is a beauty, arguably the best hole on the course. The par-3 is short, just 163 yards from the blues, but it's all carry over water. You can bail out right if you like.

Beware of the three-tiered green at No. 14 and the two-tiered one at No. 15.

No. 16 is an elbow dogleg left. It's a short hole, but don't underclub on the drive. Make sure you get to the corner, because the approach must clear a huge bunker.

Don't sweat using an iron off the 17th tee. Unless you can play a (right-handed) draw, there's no reason to use driver. And the par-5 is so short, you can get hit three irons and still putt for birdie.

Finish up with a solid par-4, which has trees left and right in the fairway and bunkers left and right at the green. Be happy with par.

The plusses here are the rare opportunity to walk a beautiful course, and the variety of holes. The elbow doglegs may make you feel like you are clubbing down, but this short course allows you to do that without penalty.

On the down side, you may get lost in a cart. No. 6 is between Nos. 15 and 16. Look at the small map on the back of the scorecard for help (the $5 yardage book will only confuse you unless you are adept at reading caddy's notes).

Windsor used to host a Nike Tour event in the mid-1990s, and David Duval holds the course record at 63. So there is a little history here, even though the Fred Bliss design is just 15 years old.

It should be solid for a long time to come, and is worth a look ... and a walk.

Directions: Take Interstate 80 west to Highway 37 west. Take Highway 101 north to Windsor. Take the Shiloh Road exit west. Turn right on Golf Course Road and left on 19th Hole Drive.