Nevada, Lake Tahoe / Reno Area Golf Course Reviews
Schaffer's Mill Golf Course Review
Truckee, CA
73.2 rating; 141 slope |
Schaffer's Mill Overview: This private golf course is (as of June 2013) allowing limited public play and is worth playing while the golfer has the chance available. Set in the idyllic forests of the Martis Valley, this golf course is a second shot focused track. Generally, driving isn't too arduous as there always seems to be at least one area where the tee shot can miss. However, there are quite a few holes where the green complexes are devilishly guarded by water and other tough hazards. Overall, the golf course is in great shape and the best holes are mentioned below:
Schaffer's Mill Hole 3: The first par three of the day is not long, but the green is well guarded with the water hazard looming to the right and two bunkers just left of the angled green.
Schaffer's Mill Hole 4: The first long par four of the day is a dogleg left and there is a lake guarding the left side of the green, so staying on the left side of the fairway may leave a shorter approach, but the angle is worse to pin placements left of center, so staying right is the prudent play.
Schaffer's Mill Hole 5: This relatively short par four slight dogleg right has bunkers left and right from the tee to avoid. The green is slightly uphill and wide, with a fronting bunker providing the main defense.
Schaffer's Mill Hole 6: Long and straight, this par four needs a good blast off the tee as the approach to the green is difficult with the lake hugging the right side of the green.
Schaffer's Mill Hole 8: This long par five features a beautiful tee shot across a meadow with the bunkers on the right being the main thing to avoid. From there two well placed shots should place the player on the angled green. Avoiding sand traps is a good idea on this hole.
Schaffer's Mill Hole 9: The beast of Schaffer's Mill closes the front nine. At over 450 from the middle tees and close to 500 yards from the tips, two perfect shots must be played. The approach is a classic as the water wraps around the left side and back of the green. With the player likely hitting a long iron into the green, the bailout area right and short is not a bad idea. Leaving par to the up and down chance is fairly wise.
Schaffer's Mill Hole 10: The setting of the 10th tee is amazing with a cascading creek (not too much in play) in full view. The uphill tee shot is to a wide landing area and then the hole bends left to a green with a severe right to left slope and a yawning chasm of a bunker to the left side of the putting surface.
Schaffer's Mill Hole 12: The landing area is blind over the bunker and the top the hill, but it stays wide enough so that there is no hidden danger. The approach is then downhill to a green that affords great views of Truckee.
Schaffer's Mill Hole 14: This short par five is the best scoring opportunity on the back if the drive can avoid the large bunkers (covered with thick, unforgiving grasses) both left and right of the fairway. From there, the green is fairly accessible, but large swale short and right of the surface is best to be avoided.
Schaffer's Mill Hole 17: Straight and downhill, the golfer can't see the landing area from the tee. Absent a 300+ drive, however, the lake by the green is nothing to worry about off the tee. For the second shot, however, it should be front and center in the golfer's mind as something to avoid.
Schaffer's Mill Hole 18: The final hole is a long and tough one with water in play on all the shots. The drive is the most exacting of the day and the second shot must carry the creek and stay left of the lake. However, too far left will lead to tree trouble and a bad angle for the third. The entire putting surface has lake on its right side, so perfection is required to score well on the closing hole.
