Bailey Creek Golf Course
The Anchor of a Northern California Golf Getaway
Chester, California is finally getting the recognition for golf it deserves, and Bailey Creek Golf Course is the reason why. This 18-hole championship course sits below Mount Lassen with Lake Almanor at its edge, and it plays every bit as well as it photographs. Pair a round here with the cluster of respected courses near Graeagle, about an hour and a half south, and you have enough golf to fill a long weekend on a variety of courses.
Homer Flint designed Bailey Creek in 1999, and the course stretches to 7,040 yards at par 72, with more than fifty sand bunkers, four lakes, and Kentucky bluegrass fairways that hold their color all season. The sixth hole is the one everyone remembers, a single tree planted dead center in the fairway, Flint’s small joke on golfers who try to cut the corner. After the round, the clubhouse grill serves tri-tip and homemade chips, and the patio view of Lassen is worth lingering over.
Bailey Creek is a public course open to golfers of every skill level, with tee times booked directly through the course and PGA instruction available for juniors and groups alike. It sits about ten minutes from downtown Chester and just down the road from St. Bernard Lodge, making the lodge the closest comfortable base to the course.
More Golf Near Graeagle and Lake Almanor
Once you have played Bailey Creek, Plumas County has enough golf to fill a full week, most of it clustered around Graeagle. Plumas Pines Golf Resort, also a Homer Flint design, runs along the Feather River through sculpted fairways at 6,504 yards and par 72. Graeagle Meadows opened in 1968, the original course in the area, with elevated tees that open onto views of the Mohawk Valley and five surrounding peaks.
For a tougher test, Whitehawk Ranch Golf Club in Clio is regularly ranked among the top 20 public courses in California, its 550 acres threaded with seven streams and a signature downhill par 3 through a bowl of towering pines. Grizzly Ranch Golf Club near Portola brings a similar caliber of golf with plenty of climbing holes, and it has been ranked the top public access course in the entire Sierra Nevada. Golfers chasing something more dramatic can drive out to the Dragon Golf Course at Nakoma Resort, framed by a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired lodge.
Golfers who prefer a shorter, quieter round can head to Lake Almanor Golf Course, a relaxed nine-hole option in the pines close to the lake.
Bailey Creek Golf Course should be the anchor of any golf trip to this part of Northern California. It is the closest championship course to St. Bernard Lodge, and its reputation holds up a special trip on its own. Book your tee time, then reserve your room, and you have a golf weekend that does not feel like anywhere else you have played.
Stay Near Bailey Creek Golf Course at St. Bernard Lodge
Golf is rarely the only reason people come to this stretch of Northern California. Lassen Volcanic National Park is a twenty-minute drive from the lodge, with bubbling mud pots, steaming vents, and a summit hike up Lassen Peak that rewards the climb with views across the entire region. Lake Almanor sits close by for boating, fishing, and paddling on water clear enough to see straight to the bottom. Add the Pacific Crest Trail, horseback riding from the lodge’s own stables, and a handful of quiet mountain trails, and a golf trip here tends to stretch into several extra days.
St. Bernard Lodge is a Hotel near Lassen National Park set on ten acres just outside Chester, built around a historic property that has hosted travelers since the 1920s. Rooms come with a full breakfast, and the on-site tavern makes dinner or a drink an easy walk from your door. It is a straightforward, central place to stage a few days of golf, hiking, and everything else this part of the Sierra offers. Check availability and book your stay.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bailey Creek Golf Course
Who owns Bailey Creek Golf Course?
Bailey Creek is a public golf course open to golfers of all skill levels, with tee times available directly through the course rather than through a private membership.
How do I book a tee time at Bailey Creek Golf Course?
Tee times can be booked directly through Bailey Creek Golf Course, and the course also offers PGA instruction for juniors and groups.
What is the scorecard like at Bailey Creek Golf Course?
The course plays to 7,040 yards at par 72, with more than fifty sand bunkers and four lakes worked into the layout.
Is there a restaurant at Bailey Creek Golf Course?
The clubhouse grill serves food after your round, including a well-known tri-tip plate, with patio seating that looks out toward Mount Lassen.
Where is the closest lodging to Bailey Creek Golf Course?
St. Bernard Lodge is about ten minutes from the course, making it the closest comfortable place to stay for a Bailey Creek golf trip.