This article originally appeared in the October issue of NCGA Golf Magazine
By Al Barkow
It’s rare these days when an existing golf course of note is not being lengthened to defend it against the extreme long-ball hitting in today’s game. One notable exception to the “rule” is the Serrano CC in El Dorado Hills, site of a U.S. Senior Open qualifier in 2025, and next month, where the 2026 California Senior Amateur Championship will be played. It has recently gone through an extensive and rather significant renovation, but one in which the total yardage has remained the same – 7,011 yards from the tips.
Renovated by original architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr. in 2019, this beautifully situated layout 25 miles northeast of Sacramento was deemed long enough by (and for) its membership when Bruce Charlton, who was involved in the original design and construction of the course, was brought on to do the current reworking. His charge, for one, was a re-fashioning of the bunkering. It has made accuracy from the tees and approaches to the greens more demanding.
In golf architecture-speak, there is the term “nesting,” which stands for groups of three or four separate bunkers close together in fairways and around the greens. Charlton has consolidated these “collections” pretty much by half – four bunkers into two, three into one - and has reshaped and repositioned them to become more challenging; longer bunker shots are more probable, and of course more difficult to play a shot close to the hole. At the same time, the concept reduces maintenance needs, another overall factor in the renovation program.
Another important change is more nuanced; the greens have been modified, primarily at the fringes, which have been closely mown and seeded with a grass type that is tighter. Now, approach shots that do not have enough holding spin, or are a tad off center, are more liable to run well off and below the putting surfaces, leaving more intricate chipping and short pitch shots.
In all, there has been a rebalancing of the risk-reward profile that also includes a narrowing of some tee-shot landing areas.
On a further environmental note, a new irrigation system has been installed, along with a conversion to native grasses in some areas that are meant to reduce overall water consumption.
Otherwise, the practice range has been lengthened, and more hitting spots have been made available. Finally, and rather dramatically, the short-game practice area has been greatly expanded into what is being called an 18-hole social green. A very large all-purpose practice putting and chipping green with considerable undulation has been put in place. For anyone having short game problems, here is a fine place to find corrective technique.
One feature of Serrano that has definitely been retained is the formidable oak trees that stand around the course. As Charlton puts it, “the cathedral of oaks are the stars of the course,” and untouchable. This, too, counters a trend in golf course renovation in which many trees are being cut down. The Olympic Club is one such, in our neighborhood.
Which brings to mind one of golf’s most enduring charms. No matter the quality of golf one might play on any given day, it is a wonderful communion with nature; golf is not a long walk spoiled. Along with retaining its own abundance of grand trees, the periphery of the course offers a fine visual experience. For example, from high points on the rolling terrain, such as the tee for the par-4 18th hole, which is some 100 feet above the fairway, there is a view of nearby Folsom Lake, and thousands of trees of various kinds of trees and rich eyeful of the ecologically rich landscape of California’s North Central Valley.
“The holes flow naturally through the rolling hills and old oaks, so every round feels a little different depending on the wind, the pin, and the tees you play,” head pro Michelle Latini said. “The other thing that comes up constantly is conditioning. Our members take real pride in how the course looks and plays, and that's a credit to our grounds team. They appreciate that it's a course for everybody. Our better players get a real test from the back tees, and someone newer to the game can move up and still enjoy every hole. Then you walk off 18 with those views of Folsom Lake and the Sierra, and people just want to come back out the next day.”
By the way, Serrano’s par is 72, the Course Rating is 71.5, the Slope, 126. An overall fine golfing experience.
