Chuck Corica Golf Complex, Earl Fry Course- San Ramon

Whenever I’m looking to get some confidence, I head to the Earl Fry North Course at the Chuck Corica Golf Complex in Alameda. Why? It’s easy.

Now, I know that it’s bad karma to refer to any golf course as “easy” because they’re all hard if you don’t hit the ball well. That said, this course is the most forgiving that I’ve played in the Bay Area.

First of all, it’s very short. From the back tees it plays only 6,141 yards. From the middles it’s 5,826. The par 5s are reachable even for average golfers, and No. 17 is par 4 that plays just 281 yards from the tips. (Can you even call them “tips” at this course?).

Second, there’s not too much ball-swallowing trouble out here. There is some water, but it doesn’t usually come into play unless you hit a really awful shot. There are trees, but they’re not so tightly packed that you can’t punch a shot through to get back on the fairway.

Finally, the greens are slow. For the most part, you hit your putts firmly and straight at the hole. Nothing too tough to read.

Want some proof that this course is easy: Back when I was struggling to break 90, I did it for the first time out here. I shot an 86. After that, about six of my next 10 sub-90 rounds were at this course. The last time I played here I felt like I was hitting the ball awfully and still walked away with an even 90.

Whether you see the ease of the course as a positive or a negative (and for me it depends on how much my confidence needs a boost when I show up), there is one other significant negative to the place: Play is painfully slow. It’s an old-guy course. Weekdays the course is filled with seniors. I love the old dudes-like I said before, I hope to be one of those guys someday-but they play slowly. A five-hour round out here is standard. Old guys like this course because it’s short, it’s cheap and it’s easy to walk (no hills anywhere)

The adjacent Jack Clark South Course is a little longer and tougher, but it’s extremely dull. You walk away barely remembering any of the holes. I think several of the holes on the North Course are kinda fun.

My favorite is No. 5, a 330-yard par 4. You need to carry your tee shot over a pond. If you get out the big stick and try to put it close to the green, you have to watch out for another hidden pond just to the left of the green.

The toughest hole is No. 8, a 412-yard par 4 into the wind. It’s a fairly sharp dogleg left, so you need a draw if you want to have an approach to the green of less than 180 yards or so. And there’s a risk of driving through the fairway if you go right, or even straight.

Get through the front and you’ll be sailing on the back. It’s the easier half of this easy course. It’ll send you home feeling great about your game.

And there’s nothing wrong with that.

By Jeff Fletcher
Editor, sfbaygolf.com

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