Forest Meadows

Par 66 layouts have a reputation they don't always deserve — written off as short-course filler by players chasing length. Forest Meadows in Murphys earns a different kind of respect, sitting in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Calaveras County at roughly 2,000 feet of elevation, where the air is clean, the pines are tall, and the terrain does most of the talking. A course built into this kind of landscape doesn't need length to create drama.

Murphys itself is a Gold Rush-era town that has quietly become one of the most charming destinations in the California foothills — a main street of tasting rooms, historic hotels, and unhurried afternoons. The local golf scene is modest, which is part of the appeal. Forest Meadows serves the community and draws visitors who are already up here for the scenery, and the course fits that spirit.

Expect tree-lined corridors, uneven lies, and a layout that rewards placement and course management over raw power. It's a round designed to be enjoyed, not simply measured.