Into the Great Unknown

It’s decision time…late afternoon and I’m on Tee 17 at Cypress Lakes GC. It’s a long Par 5, dogleg left, and I’m looking into a pretty stiff wind. Do I try and cut the corner over the trees? Is playing it safe a better bet? Hold up, I’m getting ahead of myself.

We’re at Cypress Lakes Golf Course at Travis AFB. This largely unknown track in central California is a great place for year-round golf. It may seem unassuming at first, but don’t underestimate it. I found there are challenges here, especially if you happen to be playing on a windy afternoon.

I chose to walk since the course is flat and scenic. It’s about 6800 yards if you play from the tips. Fortunately, there are three other sets of tees for us mere mortals. The layout can be a challenge. I found no parallel fairways, lots of interesting doglegs, some long Par 4s, and water on nine holes. Locals call the last three holes the Bermuda Triangle. Picture alternating doglegs with dangerous waters on each hole that can make a whole formation of golf balls go missing.

When you play here, bring due respect for the course and for Mother Nature. The challenges of the course are multiplied if you’re there on a day when the wind kicks up.

Hole 3 was my toughest hole. It’s a water-lined Par 3 that demands accuracy. Splash two for me and put me down for a triple bogey. Golf is like that sometimes. When I got to Hole 11, a no-frills short Par 3, I had my redemption birdie. All it takes is one pure shot to keep this high handicapper coming back for more.

So there I was, teeing up on number 17…Par 5, dogleg left, into the wind and into the waning sun. To cut the corner, I’d have to get it high enough over that tree. Try that, and the wind might just push it into the lake. So I’ll play it safe with a worm burner in the short grass and be happy with bogey. Hole 18 saw me finishing at sunset and only splashing one more Pro V.

The Cypress Lakes course gave me lots of good memories and planted many story seeds to be told afterward.

The Whole Experience
The staff at Cypress Lakes showed me excellent customer service. Everybody is friendly and helpful here. They have everything you need, a fully stocked pro shop, chipping green, and a great driving range. The Fairway bar and grill is open seven days a week. And the food? Let me tell you, the food here is awesome.

Facility Facts
•  Built in 1960 by Texas Golf Hall of Fame Member Joe Finger and Bob Putman
•  Slope 122 Rating 72.6
•  Par 72 , 6792 yards from back tees, 4 sets of tees
•  The facility was one of the first homes of PGA HOPE in California.