Maple Lane isn’t the best course around, but that’s where its beauty lies.
LIVERMORE – It isn’t often that the philosophy of a golf course can be summarized in two sentences from its resident PGA professional, but Kevin Cullen at Maple Lane said it perfectly.
“People are not going to leave here and say, This is the best course I’ve ever played,'” said Cullen, “but they are not going to leave here and say that it (stinks), either. People tend to look at a nine-hole course with a suspect eye, but this is a regulation-length course that’s short enough where a hacker can make a par or a birdie once in a while.”
At first glance, the course looks similar to other local nine-hole tracks. It was designed in similar fashion, and by the same designer, as other local nine-hole tracks such as Prospect Hill’s front nine (now an 18-hole course) in Auburn and Apple Valley in Lewiston. The difference here comes in the terrain. Not many shots will start and end at the same elevation, which makes selecting proper clubs a necessary skill.
Also necessary is precision iron play. Some of the greens would fit in a fair number of living rooms in the area.
The overall layout is simple, and additions this year include the completion of a fountain near the seventh tee, the beginning of a new tee area on the fifth hole and a completely redesigned No. 2 to make room for a lake that will feed the irrigation system, currently being installed throughout the course.
“This isn’t a place we’ll ever get rich,” said Cullen, who owns the course and inn with his wife, Laurie. “Anything we can’t do ourselves or don’t already have is probably too expensive for us to buy. It’s just like a mom-and-pop store, which fits right into the area perfectly.”
The clubhouse is more than 150 years old and holds functions regularly. The main banquet room holds 70 guests, but that can also spill into the main bar area and onto a porch in the back.
“The best part for some people is being able to be out here at night and actually be able to see the Milky Way and all of the stars,” said Cullen.
“It’s so quiet and peaceful.”
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