Deep Cliff Golf Course

Clark Glasson designed Deep Cliff in 1961 and then did something unusual for a golf architect: he stayed. Glasson personally operated the course from its opening through 1992 — 31 years — before selling it to a private operator. That level of owner-designer involvement is rare in the history of California golf, and it shows in the care with which the 3,369-yard layout fits into the terrain above Stevens Creek Reservoir. The routing uses the contours of the Cupertino foothills rather than flattening them, with six par 4s and twelve par 3s arranged so that each hole has its own character. Deer, rabbit, and quail are regular presences on the course, much as they were when Glasson first moved earth here in 1961.

As an executive course, Deep Cliff sits at par 60 — a number that sometimes misleads first-time visitors into expecting a pitch-and-putt. The par 4s demand real iron play, and the par 3s range from short to mid-length, several of them playing across or beside Stevens Creek with genuine penalty for miss-hits. The 6th hole has a fairway that deceives from the tee before bending toward the creek bank before the approach. The 18th plays from an elevated tee box above the clubhouse, with a narrow fairway finishing the round in view of the practice area. Three tee options on each hole mean the course can be set up for a wide range of abilities, from beginners learning the game to experienced players working on specific parts of their short game. The course has won the Golf Digest Merit Award for Public Facilities. An 8,000-square-foot putting green and an 11-station hitting area serve as the practice facility.

Deep Cliff is currently managed by CourseCo, Inc. and is located five minutes from Highway 280. Green fees are among the lowest in the South Bay for a full 18 holes, making it a reliable after-work option for Cupertino and Sunnyvale residents who want a round without a four-hour time commitment.