9 holes at Poppy Ridge Golf Course

Poppy Ridge Golf Course sits in the rolling hills east of San Francisco Bay in Livermore, California. Designed by Rees Jones with Steve Weisser and opened in the mid-1990s, the facility was developed by the Northern California Golf Association as a public-access course intended to serve the region's golfing community. The property features two eighteen-hole courses—Merlot and Chardonnay—named for the wine country character of the surrounding Livermore Valley.

The courses occupy gently rolling terrain with views toward the nearby hills and vineyards that define this part of the East Bay. Jones routed the holes to take advantage of natural elevation changes, incorporating strategic bunkering and water features that require thoughtful club selection and course management. The layout reflects Jones's design approach of rewarding accuracy while offering multiple playing angles for golfers of varying skill levels.

Poppy Ridge has hosted numerous NCGA championships and regional amateur events, serving its founding purpose as a competitive venue for Northern California golfers. The facility includes practice areas and a clubhouse that supports both tournament play and daily public rounds. The courses remain accessible to a broad range of players while maintaining conditioning and challenge suitable for serious competition.

The Livermore setting provides a distinct playing environment compared to coastal Bay Area courses, with warmer, drier conditions and a landscape that transitions between grassland and wine country agriculture.