Detailed description of Cinnabar Hills Golf Club
Cinnabar Hills Golf Club is a Public, 27 hole golf facility located in San Jose, California, located in the hills overlooking the Coyote Valley, in San Jose's Silicon Valley. Cinnabar Hills has three (3) 9-hole courses: The Mountain Course, The Canyon Course, and The Lake Course. These can be combined in 3 different combinations of 18 hole championship golf.
The Cinnabar Hills Golf Courses opened for play in 1998. The courses were designed by John Harbottle.
The design work allows for varying degrees of golfing skills and alternate means of reaching the greens. Nearly every hole has a receptive side to approach the putting surface and an opposing, shorter, more demanding angle into the flagstick. The skill and confidence level of the golfer will determine his or her strategy of how best to play into the green.
The name (Cinnabar Hills) comes from the rich, red ore that was once mined in the area. The courses were carved in and around the hills, which preserved the natural character of the land. Each of these courses is named, for the most part, after its terrain simulation.
The Lake Course has six water hazards which come into play.
The Canyon Course concentrates more on sand bunkers, of which there are twenty seven.
The Mountain Course has a very hilly terrain and makes negotiating the greens difficult. No matter what combination a golfer plays, there will always be a great challenge.
$46 (cart included), played on Monday, February 2016 at 11:00 AM
Great course and great day. Greens ate me alive but still a fun day.
$201 (cart included), played on Monday, May 2014 at noon
The heavy price was for fundraiser tourney we go here annually Not sure what daily fees are Must use a cart this layout is huge Have seen bobcat blue heron and wild turkeys here You have to go down to pebble beach to get a better course in the area or a private cc
$51 (cart included), played on Saturday, May 2014 at 6am
Great staff that actually understands that golf is a service business. They take very good care of everyone, especially regular players/hawks club members.
$76 (cart included), played on Wednesday, June 2013 at 10am
Living in the Las Vegas area we can play comparable courses for 1/2 the price. I guess that it is ok price wise for California.
$41 (cart included), played on Tuesday, March 2013 at 6am
The best public course in Santa Clara County. This is my home course for a reason. Wind is not usually a factor. Great scenic course that is both fair and challenging. The 3 nine holes makes it nice. Playing 2 of the 3 each time. If you do a replay they will usually be able to send you out on the third. Greens can be fast but very true. I try to play this course at least once a week in the summer and fall seasons.
$66 (cart included), played on Friday, October 2012 at 6am
A really tough track if the wind is blowing. Lots of hills and elevation changes but is a fair course.
Guest (cart not included), played on Friday, October 2012 at noon
wonderful ownership group, great course
$46 (cart included), played on Sunday, December 2011 at 10am
Awesome golf and the staff treats you like a member. If you like fast and consistent greens, this is your place!!!!!
$21 (cart included), played on Wednesday, October 2011 at 6am
Great facilty and Staff, best pulic greens around
$101 (cart included), played on Sunday, October 2011 at 8am
Play it every month
$101 (cart included), played on Sunday, July 2011 at noon
Love the canyon course.
$101 (cart included), played on Saturday, June 2011 at 6am
The Cinnabar Hills Golf Course is very nice, but a bit pricey.
$66 (cart included), played on Saturday, February 2011 at 6am
We drive 40 miles to play Cinnebar...really enjoyable golf!
$61 (cart included), played on Thursday, October 2010 at noon
Generally pace of play is very good, better in the am than pm.
$61 (cart included), played on Tuesday, September 2010 at 8am
Beautifully maintained course in a lovely location. Great ambiance. This is a public course that would rival any private course.
$101 (cart included), played on Saturday, August 2010 at 6am
This is my home course, I love this place, always fun, best in the spring and the fall when its not so busy. Best in the bay area.
$76 (cart included), played on Saturday, July 2010 at noon
Great course, however a little pricey. Would play more on the weekends if it was lower. Great layout, view from #9 Canyon tee box is amazing!
$56 (cart included), played on Thursday, May 2010 at noon
Plays like best private courses in the area. Very well maintained. I have played 6 or 7 times. The pace is usually very good for a public course 4.5 hr. 3 nines make for a great variety of holes. Great views of valley and local mountains. GPS in carts is a real plus. Club house is golf museum. Very rural setting, no freeway noise, very bucolic setting. Front tees are great for high HCPers and back tees are a killer. You can really choose your level of difficulty. It's little pricey but really worth it. Also, they have very good food and nice outdoor setting for dinning.
$101 (cart included), played on Saturday, April 2010 at 8am
I ranked the price a Birdie, but it could just as easily be double bogey. I play this course somewhat regularly (3-4 times per year) and it's usually worth the money. But if it's just been areated, or it's been too warm, then the greens can be hard. If you are a 30 handicap, don't play here. It will chew you up. However, if you have fairly accurate drives, and can chip and putt, you are going to love this place. It's picturesque, it's quiet, and best of all, it's just awesome. Can't reccomend it enough.
$76 (cart included), played on Saturday, March 2010 at 10am
A very good golf course in terms of both layout and condition. I play it only a few times per year because it is 50 miles from home and relatively expensive, but it is always a good experience.
$61 (cart included), played on Thursday, October 2009 at 6am
This is the best course I get to play. My normal weekend group think it's too difficult so I only play it when I can take a vacation day and some other friends can play it - but I do love this place.
$76 (cart included), played on Monday, September 2009 at 8am
3 nine holes, Lake, Mountain and Canyon. Canyon is pure course management. Can be frustrating as all get out but can also be rewarding. The other two nine holes aren't easy but are really fun.
$76 (cart included), played on Saturday, August 2009 at 6am
Greens were aerated . Should have offered a discount as all the greens have lots of holes and sand.
$101 (cart included), played on Wednesday, January 2009 at 8am
This is the kind of course that you love and hate all at once. There are very challenging holes that, if played well, will reward you; played not so well, double bogey or worse. Canyon Nine--hate it, but it's also fun. My last outing I holed out from 100 yards on a straight uphill hole (Canyon #7) for an eagle. This was after our cart died driving up the hill... Good GPS on the carts, course is always in great condition, greens are tricky fast and easy to 4-putt.
$76 (cart included), played on Wednesday, June 2009 at 10am
I play this course all the time and love it. It is tough but worth it.
$46 (cart included), played on Monday, May 2009 at 6am
Broke 80 here for the first time this week. Shooting high 70's feels like shooting par at this course, which is a very fair test of golf. I'm a 10 handicap, so this course is just hard enough to be a challenge, but fair enough to be fun. The course was in GREAT shape and the greens couldn't have rolled truer (or faster!!).
$51 (cart included), played on Saturday, March 2009 at 6am
This is by far the best public golf course in the SF Bay Area.
If you are looking for a club with modern facilities, progressive layout, and overall playability for players of all skill levels, this is it.
The best thing about the course conditions at Cinnabar are the perfectly smooth, lightning fast greens (sometimes in the 12-13 range on the old stimpy). But if your read is right it will go in 100% of the time. Sounds obvious but not the case on a LOT of greens.
This is a country club quality facility without all the stuffy upity attitude. ***note the price I paid is a 50% discount because I am a "hawk member" which costs $290 per quarter. My only complaint is that a lot of the bunkers now need new sand.
$76 (cart included), played on Thursday, January 2008 at 8am
I try to play Cinnabar Hills whenever I am in San Jose - I think it a great public course
$101 (cart included), played on Sunday, January 2009 at 10am
When my son was under 18 years of age, father/son combination price was outstanding value. Now that he has turned 18 and costs as much as an adult, price seems too high for a place "just to play some weekly golf." Need to have a special occasion in mind for this price. Played Kapalua Plantation during Christmas of 2007...Cinnabar Hills is as challenging and is as well-maintained as the Plantation for a much better price, but, of course, without the Hawaiian Island coastal views.
$56 (cart included), played on Tuesday, September 2006 at noon
Outstanding facility
$126 (cart included), played on Tuesday, November 2008 at noon
Very challenging course - three 9 hole set up gives variety in play
$56 (cart included), played on Monday, October 2008 at 6am
The special discount price of $60 (w/ cart) before 9 a.m. on weekdays combined with the condition and layout of the course makes this course a great deal.
There are some great vistas from several of the elevated tee boxes.
Fast greens and good undulations in the course. Exposure to the wind in the afternoon can make the course extremely challenging.
The Mountain and Lake tracks are the more interesting of the 27 holes making up the course.
$56 (cart included), played on Thursday, May 2008 at noon
All three nines at this course are something special. Beautiful facility with great practice areas. Good golf test, dramatic elevation changes -- a lot of fun.
$51 (cart included), played on Friday, May 2008 at 2pm
Played super twilight and it's well worth it.
$76 (cart included), played on Friday, April 2008 at 8am
Great course , would play as much as possible
$56 (cart included), played on Tuesday, April 2008 at 8am
Great experience
Latest Golf Course Reviews
-
1
by Brian Clark 2023-10-08
-
2
by Brian Clark 2023-10-08
-
3
by Brian Clark 2023-10-08
-
4
by soundhar G 2023-10-07
-
5
by Brian Clark 2023-10-05
-
6
by Brian Clark 2023-10-05
Newsletter
Off the Fringe, “Golf’s best short read.” The award winning newsletter, sent twice monthly, that provides an unconventional perspective on the golf world.
$61 (cart included), played on Wednesday, August 2018 at 12:14 PM
Wide fairways and big greens should make for a low score. My old man swing denied me if that. Great day and great course.