Several weeks back, in the heart of grow-in mode (the course project is now finished as of this writing – May 10th), I had the privilege to walk every hole of the new Jay Blasi renovation at Poppy Ridge in Livermore, California, with the Course Architect. If you were able to see some of our social media posts back in February and March, then it’s likely that you were among the first to catch a glimpse of what is sure to be one of the finest new course designs to be introduced to the world in 2025 (yep, I said the world).
In the next couple of weeks, media and industry types will get to put boots on the ground and peg it up on the new course that is operated by the Northern California Golf Association – just days later, the course officially opens to the public on June 1st.
As we walked, I peppered Blasi with questions about the property, design, routing and agronomic elements. The site is dramatic, the surrounding views are spectacular, the design offers options and thrills, and the new routing is genius. For those who’ve been living under a rock, Jay Blasi is a 46-year-old course architect who cut his teeth with RTJ II design some 20+ years ago on projects like The Patriot, Sentry World, and Chambers Bay. In actuality, he did far more on those projects than many are aware of… and that led him to branch off on his own to transform Santa Ana Country Club, Lakeside CC in Houston and the magical new short course at Golden Gate Park (just to name a few). Presently, Blasi has several projects in different stages of development, and just recently the renovation of Burl Oaks in Minnesota has commenced. It’s a busy time for golf architecture in America, and Blasi is just beginning what we believe is the prime of his career.
The 27-hole property was in desperate need of an overhaul for all of the typical reasons, but perhaps the element that will get most overlooked (as it does with so many of worthy renovations), is the routing. Poppy Ridge was designed by Rees Jones in 1996, during a time when golf carts were becoming almost mandatory in American golf. If walking was your preference, this place wasn’t exactly designed for you. Locals mentioned that it was a brutal trek with long arduous hikes from green sites to the next teeing area. The prevailing thought was that a site of this caliber had infinite potential to be a community asset, but it fell short on many levels. The NCGA decided that rather than go back to the well with Rees Jones, it was time to take the bold leap and hand the reins to Blasi.
Jay Blasi knew exactly what the renovation had to accomplish beyond the obvious needs and wants of the public golfer who focuses mainly on four elements: well-conditioned playing surfaces, exciting visuals, fun design with options, and, understandably, at a decent value (that last element is getting tough to find in golf these days, especially in California). What Blasi knew was the efficiency and quality of the walk is often the overlooked conduit that facilitates course conditioning/costs to maintenance teams, and often is the element that creates lasting bonds and friendships. All components that raise the experience level and bring people back wanting more.
The routing was the key to everything; and the property possessed so many natural attributes that would allow for the design and scenery to flourish, but if the sequence of the holes wasn’t solved, the project could not reach its potential. During our stroll on the back nine, Blasi revealed that the 14th hole was the missing link to tying everything together. The hole is a picturesque medium-length par 3 that plays uphill to a green complex that features a ridge with a feeder slope just off to the left that encourages you to use this massive contour to run the ball onto the putting surface.
The new routing removes 2000 yards of unnecessary steps between green sites and tees, accentuates the views, and challenges players while providing plentiful options, and views that will take your breath away. Even if you weren’t playing golf, as Jay and I weren’t on that chilly but gorgeous February morning, the property is now an incredibly pleasurable walk, providing some of the finest inland scenery anywhere in America.
If you’ve never played a Blasi course, and you’re planning on being in Northern California this summer or fall, be sure to get Poppy Ridge on your short list. The front nine will get you revved up, and the last five holes coming home are an absolute thrill ride, as you’ll see in our full feature coming up in early June. Stay tuned . . .
