66 South Bay Accent FROM TOP: COURTESY OF CASTLE OAKS GOLF CLUB; COURTESY OF PRESTON CASTLE FOUNDATION CASTLE OAKS GOLF CL UB the area and an exceptional value. Golf Digest named it “Best Public Golf Course in Nor-Cal” when it first opened. It has remained a four-star place to play, according to the magazine. Ione does not have the cachet of Angels Camp, yet the town center maintains an authentic frontier feeling with its historical buildings and thriving commerce, including noteworthy B&Bs and restaurants. The golf course is about a mile from town next to the Preston Castle, an imposing brick structure that was at one time a home for juveniles and today is marked for restoration. A cursory look at Castle Oaks does not do it justice. You must get out on the course with sticks in hand and play the ancient game to appreciate what architect Brad Benz had in mind. Stately oak trees are scattered about, lending a pastoral beauty as well as situational obstacles for the golfer. This is not a flat or a boring track. In addition to the trees, numerous water hazards, including Sutter and Mule creeks, enhance both the scenery and the challenge. Most impressive about Castle Oaks is the high quality of its greens, which were healthy, slippery fast and best of all true when I played there earlier this year. I can imagine how well they roll come late spring and summer. Director of Golf Dominic Atlan nodded and smiled when I applauded the greens. He knows. He hears compliments from unsuspecting visitors on a regular basis. When asked about a signature hole, Atlan doesn’t hesitate—the 18th, he says. Although there are several memorable golf holes at Castle Oaks, the 18th finishes with a problem, or an opportunity, depending on your perspective. While miners were seeking their fortunes in gold in Angels Camp and copper in Copperopolis, they procured supplies in Ione, located in Amador County, about an hour’s drive over winding Highway 49. Ione is the home of Castle Oaks Golf Club, a 6,739-yard golf course that is, indeed, a diamond in the rough. Opened in 1994, Castle Oaks is arguably the most surprising golf discovery in CASTLE OAKS GOLF CLUB, 1000 Castle Oaks Drive, Ione, 6,739 yards, par 71 72.3/128 tips; 5,948 yards, par 72 68.6/122 white tees; 5,015 yards, par 72 69.7/113 red tees. Green fees $14– $53, carts additional. Currently no stay-andplay packages but lodging available in nearby historical Ione. Visit castleoaks.com, or call 209/870-4458. PRESTON CASTLE
South Bay Accent - Apr/May 2015
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