Totally Renovated San Juan Oaks Golf Club Turns 30

This article originally appeared in the August issue of NCGA Golf Magazine

By Alex Hulanicki

Hidden in the foothills between Hollister and San Juan Bautista, the San Juan Oaks Golf Club has long been a favorite for locals and travelers from Silicon Valley and the Monterey Peninsula, but after a two-year-long total renovation and the startup of construction for a 55-and-over community, the club is back on the map.

“The location is the key for San Juan Oaks,” says General Manager Manny Freitas. “It’s kind of right in the middle. Especially for people who are traveling and want to play Poppy Hills or Pebble Beach (on the Peninsula). They can easily stop on the way down.”

Originally designed by Fred Couples and Gene Bates, the par-72, 7,107-yard course opened in 1996, and will celebrate its 30th anniversary on Sept. 30.

Improvement had been thought of at the start of the Covid pandemic shutdown, Freitas said, but owners Third Millennium Partners of San Jose in 2021 committed to bringing Bates back to oversee a “reimagination” and complete rebuild, beginning with a “kill the golf course, removing all the grasses including kikuyu,” Freitas said, adding that his brother, Mark, the superintendent who had come to SJO on the first grass grow-in and stayed, oversaw all the improvements. Mark Feitas took over the greenkeeping from inaugural superintendent Brad Langley.

Among the new golf course features:

Greens

• All 18 greens were completely rebuilt and recontoured using 007XL Bentgrass, the latest advancement in bentgrass technology with such benefits disease resistance; dense uniform putting surface with high traffic tolerance; and firmness and consistency even in warmer months. A fun fact about 007XL is that Black Desert Resort in Utah (host of PGA and LPGA events) also uses this grass.

Fairways & Rough

• Seeded with a drought-tolerant hybrid ryegrass, ideal for California conditions.
• Improved drainage across all holes.
• Re-routed the cart path on old hole 13 (now hole 4), extended the fairway, and converted the stream to ryegrass—creating a mowable, playable area.
• Reversed the nines for better pace of play.
  
  

Bunkers

• Reduced bunker count from 62 to 26 for a cleaner, more strategic design.
• Every remaining bunker was reshaped or relocated with Bates’ input.
• Only one bunker was added—right side of new hole 1 about 200 yards from the white tees.
• Rebuilt with Better Billy Bunker liner technology for improved drainage and durability.

Tee Boxes

• New tees added on redesigned 18th hole, bringing a small pond into play and stretching the championship yardage.
• Also added tees on hole 2 (formerly 11).
• Leveled and expanded teeing areas across several holes to suit all skill levels.

Driving Range & Practice Facilities

• All-grass tee line re-grassed with hybrid Bermuda for weed resistance.
• New 4,000 sq. ft. short game green near Slices Snack Bar.
• Rebuilt bunkers and short game areas.
• Completely resurfaced the 10,000 sq. ft. putting green.

“Our practice facility was already one of the best in the state—now it’s been fully upgraded,” Freitas said.

San Juan Oaks played host to U.S. Amateur Championship qualifying in June, and Freitas says the the club is in discussions with the USGA to play host for qualifying for the 2027 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach in 2027.

In addition, clubhouse changes enhance the dining and meeting facilities that have long been popular with local residents and organizations.

Clubhouse enhancements included a full interior remodel with new lighting, flooring, furniture and finished inspired by California contemporary style. Two outdoor events lawns were added— one artificial and one natural grass — and two bocce courts were installed

McCann’s Bar and Grill features casual, family-friendly dining for breakfast and lunch and drinks and Sunday Brunch. At 36 Degrees north, elevated dinner service is Thursday through Saturday, featuring seasonal California cuisine, curated wines and cocktails.

“Both restaurants have been very well received and are key to our goal of being more than just a golf destination,” Manny Freitas says.

Surrounding the golf course is the rest of the “community” currently becoming occupied and under construction. Already, San Juan Oaks’ ownership — Third Millennium Partners and builder Shea Homes Trilogy have created one of two county parks, built a fire station and fitness facilities (tennis swimming and pickleball) and retail areas. The housing, which will eventually be about 1,100 units, is about 10 percent occupied and another 10 percent per year is expected to be added over the next 10 years

“If you want warmer golf climate, we have you covered at SJO,” Freitas says, adding, “We’re back on the map.”