Okay Getaway Gang, last year our in close outing took us to Gold Country near San Andreas and Angels Camp. This year we head out to another fairly close destination also known for its historic roots during the Gold Rush era. This outing will take to the area around Auburn, California, just northeast of Sacramento (about 35 miles) off of Interstate 80 headed towards Reno/Tahoe. Auburn is a quant historic town with many preserved gold rush buildings, quant shops and beer drinking establishments. But that is not the real reason we will be headed out to that territory. Its because of two beautiful and scenic golf course located within the area. Both courses offer stunning views of nearby mountains and gorgeous foliage. Another nicety is the fact there are no homes surrounding the course or fairways distracting you from views. Both courses are highly rated and get outstanding reviews in Golf, Golfweek and Golf Digest magazines. In the most recent ratings by GolfWeek Magazine, DarkHorse Golf Club in Auburn, California is once again rated in the Top 10 in California. DarkHorse is rated 9th in a list that contains such luminary courses as Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and Torrey Pines South, site of Tiger Woods stirring US Open victory in DarkHorse is ranked ahead of such famous golf landmarks as TPC Harding Park, home of the 2009 Presidents Cup, Trump National GC and Silverado Resort. This marks the 5th straight year that DarkHorse has been recognized as an outstanding golf experience. Golf Date: Sunday April 24, 2016Monday April 25, 2016 Place: The DarkHorse Golf ClubThe Ridge Golf Club First Tee Time: 10:30 AM10:30 AM One of the finest courses built in Northern California in many years, DarkHorse lies in Auburn within the Sierra Nevada foothills, about 50 miles east of Sacramento. The course was laid out on what was once a 1,100-acre cattle ranch and features magnificent elevation changes. But there is much more than that for those who truly love golf. Holes were gently placed into the curving valleys on the site; the greens are subtly contoured; the bunkers are strategically placed and offer a variety of different shot making opportunities. Course Designer Keith Foster has crafted 18 unique holes that will leave you anxious to play the DarkHorse course again and again. Golf Digest readers give DarkHorse 4 Stars! The publishers of Golf Digest along with Golf Magazine and The Sacramento Bee also consistently rank DarkHorse as a premier facility in the Greater Sacramento area and one of the top ten public golf courses in California. Also on the outskirts of Auburn, in the heart of California's famous Gold Country, you'll find The Ridge Golf Club with a golf course designed by the incomparable Robert Trent Jones Jr. In this rugged country once traveled by miners who joined the Gold Rush, this course offers golfers a classic layout that is rich with challenges and just plain fun. Hundreds of stately blue oaks spread their ancient boughs over our fairways giving them the look of a mature course. Yet this is a modern design created by one of golfing's master architects. Our 18 holes ramble across a stunning site, filled with knolls and hillsides, rock outcroppings, sparkling creeks and those beautiful trees. The Ridge Golf Course puts you far enough above the Central Valleys heat and below the cold of the Sierra to make four-season golfing a true pleasure with a considerable assist from renowned architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Just half-hour up the foothills from Sacramento, The Ridge embodies the Jones, Jr. signature of meticulous blending with its surroundings of hills, knolls, rock outcroppings and abundant trees. Forty-eight bunkers make for some tricky negotiations along the 6,734-yard, par 71 layout, but this is not a course that will have you fleeing to the clubhouse for relief. Driving range, learning center, putting greens, pro shop, its all here. With no homes surrounding the course, there are breathtaking views abound making this golf course a must for any golfer. Here is the plan. Since we (Getaway Gang) had our out of state outing in the Spring this year, our second outing will be fairly close to the bay area and take place in the Fall. Auburn is close to the snow line, so we dont want to wait too late into the year as the temperatures can get a little chilly late in the fall. Henceforth, September should be an excellent month to golf in this are. Not too coldnot too warm. As in the past, Saturday will probably be a travel day for most attendees. Sunday (4/24/14) will be the first day of golf at the scenic DarkHorse Golf Course with our second day of golf taking place at the Ridge Golf Club on Monday (4/25/16). As what has become a Getaway Gang tradition, the Orange Ball Tourney/format will utilized on the second day of golf at The Ridge Golf Club. Finally, you have the option of driving back to the Bay Area on Monday night or utilizing Tuesday (4/26/16) as a day of leisure to return home. If you are flying in for the outing you should probably book flights into the Sacramento Airport and plan your arrival and return flights accordingly. This is not a package deal, so feel free to make your own hotel reservations and stay wherever you would like. I have included some information on a couple of hotels in the Auburn area, but if you dont mind driving about 20 miles and enjoy gambling, the Thunder Valley Resort and Casino in Lincoln might be to your liking. This year as in the past, group dinners are planned. I have selected two options, The first dinner social will be at Bootleggers on Sunday evening. The second dinner social will be Monday night at The Auburn Ale House. We still have the same options for paying! You can send me a check or if you have a PayPal account, you can send funds directly to my account. See the Links page (bottom right corner) on the Getaway Gang WebsiteLad Meairs (home) orPhones: (925) (home) (925) ext 330 (work) (925) (cell) If you are playing both courses, the total will be $ Either pay using PayPal or mail your check to: Lad Meairs 1254 Mokelumne Court Antioch, CA DarkHorse Golf Club DarkHorse Drive Auburn, CA Phone:(530) The Ridge Golf Club 2020 Golf Course Road Auburn, CA Phone:(530) Since its opening in 2002, DarkHorse Golf Club in Auburn, has raced to the top of the golf world with surprising speed. Award after award has been showered on this course, designed by Keith Foster, on a site that lies in the gorgeous Sierra Nevada foothills. Golf Magazine chose DarkHorse as one of its Top 100 You Can Play in America; Golf Digest honored DarkHorse as one of its Best New Affordable Public Courses. The Sacramento Bee voted the club as its No. 1 course to play in the Sacramento area within six months of opening. This is no course designed in an office thousands of miles away from its location. Foster laid out DarkHorse on the site to create a handcrafted masterpiece that lovers of the game will want to play again and again to challenge their strategic thinking, risk-taking and shot-making skills. But it's more than just the game that draws players to DarkHorse. The course blends into the natural harmony of the foothills landscape - a mixture of golden hills studded with oak trees and canyons brimming with fragrant pine trees. To keep this site at its pristine best, a minimum of earth was moved to create this 7,096-yard, par-72 course. The holes and greens were classically sculptured to fit the gently rolling terrain. DarkHorse was voted #1 in the Sierra Nevadas, by the Western Golf Alliance. In its most recent ratings by GolfWeek Magazine, DarkHorse Golf Club in Auburn, California is once again rated in the Top 10 in California. DarkHorse is rated 9th in a list that contains such luminary courses as Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and Torrey Pines South. DarkHorse is ranked ahead of such famous golf landmarks as TPC Harding Park, home of the 2009 Presidents Cup, Trump National GC and Silverado Resort. This marks the 5th straight year that DarkHorse has been recognized as an outstanding golf experience. The course blends into the natural harmony of the California foothills landscape. The holes and greens were classically sculptured to fit the gently rolling terrain of golden hills studded with oak trees and fragrant pine trees. This par 72 course has 5 sets of tees offering an enjoyable experience for golfers of all skill levels. The championship tees stretch to 7,096-yard while the shortest tees at 4978 yards offer a challenge without straining your love of golf. Place: DarkHorse Golf ClubDate: Sunday April 24, 2016 Course: Dark Horse Golf Course Tee Time: 10:30 AM (first group) Location: Auburn, CAPrice $ Website: Place: The Ridge Golf ClubDate: Monday April 25, 2016 Course: The Ridge Golf Course Tee Time: 10:30 AM (first group) Location: Auburn, CAPrice $60.00 The Ridge Golf Club has a truly an exciting layout for golf, a course in the golden foothills of California designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., known the world over for creating golf holes that take full advantage of their sites while preserving the natural beauty of the land. At The Ridge, you'll find a series of oak-studded knolls and hills with lots of rock outcroppings and splendid views. There's a 100-foot elevation change on the course. This feels like wide open country with no homes nearby. You're really going to experience the natural world of the foothills when you play a round at The Ridge. Jones used 48 bunkers on the170-acre site to enhance the demands of this rugged layout. You'll also find water on several holes of this par-71 course. But there are four sets of tees here so you can choose how many tests you want to face. "It doesn't have to be a difficult course," said Greg French, retired director of golf at The Ridge. "Every player of every skill level can have a good time playing here. You'll start your round on the longest par-4 on the course, playing at 433 yards from the back tees and 343 yards from the forward. Be sure to use an extra club length as you have an uphill approach shot to the green. One of the more attention- grabbing holes is No. 4, a par-4 that measures 408 yards from the back and 330 from the forward. You'll find a fairly generous fairway on this uphill dogleg left. "You can use your driver off the tee but you want to stay left of center in order to shorten your distance to the three-tiered green," said Shawn Kelly, Head Golf Professional of The Ridge. On No. 7, a par-4 that measures 360 from the back tees and 265 from the forward, you must hit a tee shot to a very tight uphill fairway. Your short second shot must sail up to a rolling, undulating green that is only 26 yards deep. You'll finish the front nine with a par-5, 562 yards from the back and 500 from the forward. On the back nine, No. 13 is a par-4 that measures 416 yards from the back and 361 from the forward, and is known as the most demanding and scenic hole at The Ridge. It's a long, uphill hole that requires a muscular drive. On No. 16, you'll face a straightaway par-4 (433 yards from the back and 329 from the forward) with a very tight driving area. You'll need a downhill tee shot over water to a long strip of green on No. 17, a par-3 that measures 178 yards from the back and 103 from the forward. There's water all the way down the right-hand side and a bunker on the left of the green. You'll finish up on a 427-yard dogleg left par-4 (325 from the forward tees). Website: Sunday Evening Dinner Social April 24, 2016 Monday Evening Dinner Social April 25, 2016 Located in the historic City Hall building, built in 1892, Bootleggers Old Town Tavern & Grill is family-owned and operated and has been a cornerstone in Historic Old Town Auburn since The ambiance is rustic, warm and inviting. The center piece of both the dining room and bar is the large, sculptured stone, wood burning fireplace. Ty Rowe, executive chef and co-owner, grew up in Auburn and graduated from the CIA in Hyde Park, NY. After traveling and cooking in Europe, he came home to open Bootleggers. His goal was to create a comfortable, relaxed gathering place where both locals and visitors can enjoy great food at a reasonable price. Ty creates an eclectic menu, anything from hamburgers to escargot, reflective of Tys style of simple fresh flavors using locally grown products. The menu is a balance of classical flavors and home style comfort food. Fresh seafood and USDA choice meats are prepared on a wood burning grill. Try one of the many decadent desserts homemade in house, like New York Cheese Cake, bread pudding, crme brulee and fruit cobblers. The extensive wine and beer list features many locally produced wines by the glass, craft and imported beers including a large selection of Belgian Ales, International Lagers, Pilsners and Stouts. Website:Dinner Menu:Auburn Ale House 289 Washington Street Auburn, CA (530) The Auburn Ale House is a great brew company located in old town Auburn. Auburn Ale House has great food and they brew all their own beers. The Auburn Alehouse produces several styles of fresh, high-quality ales and lagers ranging from a light, crisp lager or ale, designed to be an introduction or transitional beer for our novice guests, to a hoppy West Coast style Pale Ale as well as a full-bodied dark colored stout, to appease our craft-beer aficionados. All beers are brewed using traditional ingredients like malted barley, hops, fresh water and yeast as well as some specialty ingredients like wheat, maize, spices and regional fruits. Auburn Alehouse is developing a reputation as an innovative and exciting place to enjoy both traditional and unusual beers. Not to be overlooked, the Restaurant/Bistro serves up many delicious options from burgers with sweet potato fries to Jambalya or even Rib Eye steaks. A couple of fan favorites include the Cheese Loaf, which is a baked to order sourdough round, stuffed with gruyere, parmesan and Swiss cheeses with garlic, butter and chives, served with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. The other is a House-smoked pulled-pork sandwich, topped with our signature Old Town Brown BBQ sauce. Bootleggers 210 Washington St., Old Town Auburn, CA Phone: (530) Activities Old Town Auburn is the location for special events all year 'round, starting with an every-Saturday- morning Foothill Farmer's Market featuring Placer Grown fruits and vegetables. Spring and fall antique street fairs, a summertime blues festival, a fall wine festival and a Country Christmas evening which highlights the calendar. Stop by on your way or make plans to spend quality time in Old Town Auburn. It's a great place to relax and enjoy a slice of Old California's pleasures and treasures. Walking Tour of Historic Old Town AuburnThings to Do in the Auburn AreaShopping Antiques & CollectiblesSpecialty ShopsWine Tasting The Placer County Wine Trail is a series of small family-run boutique wineries each dedicated to preserving the historic winemaking legacy of the California Sierra Foothills with passion and craftsmanship.. Varietals include the highly floral Viognier to dark-berried Tempranillo and lush Barbera as just some of the samplings. Other award winning wines include smoky and spiced Syrahs, Petite Sirah and adventurous blends. Museums Gold Country Museum - The museum begins with an excursion into a replicated hard rock mine followed by a stamp mill and an assayers office. Its here that gold was processed from the raw material removed from the mines. Exhibits of a miners cabin and a mining camp saloon where a game of Faro is underway provide glimpses into the lives of miners. Bernhard Museum Complex The two-story house was constructed in 1851 and was operated as a stage stop by Bishop and Long until 1858 when it became Bishops home. this building may be the oldest wooden structure in Auburn Joss House Museum - Known as the Joss House, this structure was built after the fire of It served as a temple and house of worship for the areas Chinese population. In the 1880s, this block of Sacramento Street was known as Chinatown Hill. Old Town Auburn Firehouse - Built in Before becoming one of Auburns most famous attractions, this firehouse was home to the Auburn Volunteer Fire Dept., one of the oldest volunteer groups west of the Mississippi. Organized in 1852, this group is still fighting Auburn fires Here is a sampling of the Hotels in the Auburn area (during the month of April This data was collected off the Travelocity site. Rate is an average for the three nights (Saturday will obviously be more expensive, with Sunday and Monday being cheaper) Hotels in the Auburn area Auburn Area Quality Inn Gold Country 2 Stars $90 per night Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA, (855) Holiday Inn of Auburn 3 Stars $115 per night 120 Grass Valley Hwy, Auburn, CA, (866) Comfort Inn Central 2 Stars $85 per night 1875 Auburn Ravine Road, Auburn, CA, (855) Super 8 in Auburn 2 Stars $70 per night 140 E Hillcrest Drive, Auburn, CA, (855) Motel 6 in Auburn 2 Stars $60 per night 1819 Auburn Ravine Road, Auburn, CA, (866) DarkHorse Golf Club Darkhorse Drive Auburn, CA Phone:(530) The Ridge Golf Club 2020 Golf Course Road Auburn, CA Phone:(530)