COPPEROPOLIS, Calif. -- Saddle Creek Resort – the gated, 900-acre Castle & Cooke community in the scenic California Foothills – will host the 2006 Northern California Open Championship September 24-27 on its award-winning Carter Morrish designed golf course.
One of the most storied and prestigious tournaments in the state, the Northern California Open has been contested since 1920 and boasts a roster of past champions that includes Tony Lema and Peter Jacobsen. Last year’s winner, Robert Hamilton of Carmichael, California, posted a final three-day score of 68-69-67—204.
Longtime Saddle Creek PGA Head Professional and accomplished sectional player Chris Bitticks expects the course – coming off a major bunker enhancement project and expansion of the practice facility -- to be up to the challenge.
“Saddle Creek forces players to think their way around the course, but at nearly 6,900 yards presents enough muscle that it’s not overpowered by long hitters,” Bitticks says. “The routing provides a number of options off the tee and places an emphasis on approach shots to tiered greens. The new-look bunkers provide additional definition from tee to green and a more consistent surface to hit from.”
The event is open to all golf professionals, and amateur golfers with a 3.4 USGA index and below. For more information, visit the Northern California PGA website, www.ncpga.com, email info@ncpga.com or call 707.449.4742. For more information about Saddle Creek Resort, call 800-611-7722 or visit www.saddlecreek.com .
About Saddle Creek
Designed by Carter Morrish and opened in 1996, the Saddle Creek Golf Club is framed by the Sierra Mountains and challenges players of all levels with five sets of tees, 100 crystal white sand bunkers and handful of shimmering lakes. To create an atmosphere of tranquility and isolation, Morrish devised a routing in which no two holes run parallel to each other. Saddle Creek’s thoughtful design and sublime conditioning have led to numerous national accolades, such as being rated one of the top four semi-private courses in Northern California by Golf Today and as one of the best golfing experiences in the Western United States by Fairways and Greens magazine.
Saddle Creek Resort’s diverse and award-winning real estate blends resort and residential atmospheres. Custom homesites start at $300,000 and residential opportunities range (home and lot) from the $600s to more than $1 million. Boasting views of small lakes and oak-covered hills, these picturesque homes serve as countryside retreats and make for the ideal escape for residents in the Bay Area, San Jose and Sacramento -- all between 1.5 and two hours away.
Each neighborhood at Saddle Creek is carefully planned to complement and augment the golf course. Architectural design guidelines ensure each home is unique and blends with the overall residential theme. New real estate releases for 2006 include: Quail Creek, estate and custom homesites with beautiful views of the nearby hillsides and valleys (from the low $300s) ; Luxury Custom Homes, offered by Castle & Cooke and Vista Homes with elevations available upon request (from the mid $1,000,000s); and Copper Glen - The Foothill Collection of Country Homes, featuring six plans and 19 elevations (from$675 to $790) with club membership incentives for early buyers .
Residents and guests of Saddle Creek can also enjoy the beauty of the Quail trail with miles of hiking trails and mountain biking and nearby skiing, snowmobiling, and the nearby Lake Tulloch. Also of interest are the sports club, featuring a 3,000-square-foot facility offering yoga and aerobic classes, a large pool, kids’ wading pool and a Jacuzzi spa. The Lodge at Saddle Creek features a fully-stocked bar and an extensive wine list, stunning vistas and the nationally-recognized culinary operation at the acclaimed Copper Grille.
Castle & Cooke, in their goals of enhancing the overall communities where they have ongoing developments and operating facilities, are adding to the Saddle Creek Resort experience. Currently in development, Copperopolis Town Square will bring an exciting new dimension to Copperopolis with its traditional town square, specialty shops, boutique art galleries, restaurants and many other businesses and that complements a retail focused mixed use town that sets alongside a beautiful creek and lake.
Saddle Creek Resort, as well as Coyote Creek Golf Club outside of San Jose, is owned and operated by Castle & Cooke, Inc. that, along with its affiliated companies, has operations in over 24 states. The company’s diversified businesses include the development and ownership of real estate, leasing of transportation equipment, manufacture of brick and ownership of public warehouses. The company’s real estate developments include master planned communities such as Mililani Town on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, Lake Sherwood in Thousand Oaks, California, and Seven Oaks in Bakersfield, California. The company also owns two of the world’s highest-rated resorts on the 98% owned island of Lana’i in Hawaii.
CONTACT:
Shane Sharp
Buffalo Communications
803.547.2118
ssharp@billycaspergolf.com
