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Richmond Country Club
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
4 reviews for Richmond Country Club
This place is a golfer's golf club. Pretty much no other amenities except a bar and restaurant.
They used to host a pro tournament here back in the 30's, to give you a sense of the quality of the course. It is mostly bermuda grass, which is unusual for California, and takes some getting used to -- especially for chipping around the greens.
Most of the holes are lined with mature eucalyptus trees, which help sometimes keep your ball in play, and other times put you in jail. They also double to provide shelter from afternoon winds that come up from the bay, as the course is built just off the bay shore in Richmond.
I was lucky enough to have a couple of friends as members here, and given that I mostly am able to avoid embarrassing myself as someone's guest, I was invited back many times over the years before they moved on. So, I've probably played this course 20 times in all.
I really grew to love the course, as it is very demanding and largely unforgiving. The greens can be especially demanding, and if your short-game is off, you're in for a lot of double and triple bogeys no matter how well you're striping it.
A great walking course, the members here enjoy fast play (as do I), which results in sub-4 hour rounds regularly. A huge plus. Finally, they have those really kick ass pull carts (the tripod ones) which makes for a pleasant walk (spoiled of course).
For newbies, be prepared to post a score 4-6 shots above your average score, based on the importance of local knowledge and tricky greens.
I had a birthday party here last June for around 150 of my friends. The grounds were beautiful, the food was great and the price was absolutely affordable.
But what struck me most about my experience with RCC was the event coordinator, Wendy. She was so professional, kind and hardworking. She did whatever she could to make my day special and everything turned out beautifully.
After discovering that I am worth only $125 to the men of yelp, I did what any girl would do: chaperone a high school dance held at the RCC's clubhouse.
A few things:
1. Should you order the prime rib, know that it comes out well-done. I like my meat 100% dead, so I was fine. People who like their cows still mooing were disappointed.
2. There are apparently enough wealthy white people in West Contra Costa to sustain a country club. Phew! The prayers of the 40 people this applies to have been answered! (Seriously though, the only non-whites present were my students.)
3a. Big surprise: white kids don't dance to Webbie and Flo Rida. Bust out the Cha Cha Slide, though, and you can bet they'll be on the floor.
3b. Rap music today SUCKS. Though at least the kiddies know how to spell independent now. I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T do you know what that means? Uhh, we'll tackle that one in community college.
4. Priceless gem from an older teacher observing kids dancing: "If those two get any closer, they're gonna have a hell of a souvenir come January."
5. There is a men-only drinking lounge. In 2008. In California. If I have to put on a male get-up in the vein of "Just One of the Guys" to get a vodka tonic, heads are gonna roll.
6. No air-conditioning, so should you go to a wedding reception here, pack a personal fan.
7. According to the general consensus of my school's security guards (we have four) and police officers (we have two), Jason Kidd crashed an airplane on the golf course about 15 years ago. So the place has that going for it...which is nice.
Don't be fooled by this East Bay gem. At 6200 yards (from the white tees), with a handful of bunkers, and just one water hole, aggressive players will be licking their chops. But, tricky greens, and afternoon winds, make this a test for ANY golfer.
The vibe is laid back and friendly; and, we finished our round quickly (less than 4 hrs). Unfortunately, it's a private club; so, unless you know a member, you're missing out on a unique golfing experience.
