How many steps? Marin Country Club
When we lived in Scottsdale, Arizona, I tried to play golf every weekend. I always tried to play a different course, too. With so many Troon courses in Scottsdale/Phoenix, it was easy to play somewhere different nearly every week. When we moved to Naples, Florida, I played Tiburón Golf Club at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples a lot, but most courses in Naples are private, so my options were limited. When we moved to Santa Rosa, California, I was excited to see so many Troon courses nearby.
In Santa Rosa, I play The Fountaingrove Club a lot, but there are several Troon facilities nearby that I hope to experience while in California including StoneTree Golf Club, Boulder Ridge Golf Club, Fairbanks Ranch Country Club, Silverado Resort and Spa, Yocha Dehe Golf Club, Contra Costa Country Club, Hiddenbrooke Golf Club, El Macero Country Club and Marin Country Club. A few weeks ago, the phone rang. It was Laura Schifrin, membership director, Marin CC.
We had a good chat and she invited me to come down to experience Marin CC. We met for lunch, took a tour, and spent time talking about the membership sales funnel and what we use at The Fountaingrove Club to track leads. It was a great visit and I was impressed with everything. After our meeting, she asked if I wanted to play golf. The course looks amazing online, and I was excited for the chance to play it. They allow walking, too, so I figured I’d also write a “how many steps” blog post to further promote this property.
Before I teed off, I hit a few balls on the range to warm up. I was planning to carry my clubs, but an outside service agent asked if I wanted to take a push cart. He helped get me loaded up and I headed to the first tee. The course is spectacular and has some breathtaking views. The greens are small, and there are some areas you don’t want to miss! I didn’t hit the ball very well, but scrambled to a decent score. It was quite a workout, though. The front 9 ended up being 6,370 steps/2.84 miles.
My game didn’t improve at the turn. I started the back 9 with a duck hook left into the trees. It something, kicked right and I was able to find/play the second shot, but it was in the thick rough. I punched a 3 wood down the fairway leaving me 247 yards to the pin. I hit 3 wood again, but this time long and a little left. It was still on the green, but nowhere near the hole! Needless to say, it was a long putt and I walked away with a bogey. After that tee shot, I didn’t deserve to make par! The back, while less hilly, ended up being a longer walk. The back 9 was 7,524 steps/3.38 miles. At the end of the day, I ended up walking 13,894 steps/6.22 miles.
The course is awesome and I hope I get a chance to see it again. I really enjoyed my time with Laura, seeing Ryan Wilson, general manager, Ken Doherty, director of golf, Tiffany Hutchinson, member services manager/HR coordinator and the rest of the staff I met. The experience at Marin Country Club is second to none and based on the activity of their members on property, is a place people like to spend time.
If you ever get the chance, connect with Laura for a tour. She can show you how to Relax, Play and Make Friends here in Northern California.
Ricky Potts is Membership Director for The Fountaingrove Club, member of the Club Management Association of America, host of The Wednesday Match Play Podcast presented by MemberText, part of the Golf Radio Network, Certified Beer Server®, obsessed with electronic dance music, golf and fitness.