The Golf Explorer:

Cypress Lakes Golf Course, Travis AFB

by Hal Gevertz

Travis Air Force Base named after Brigadier General Robert F Travis who died in a crash of a B29 Superfortress while transporting a nuclear weapon, was officially activated in May 17, 1943 as an Air Transport Command with the primary mission during World War II of ferrying aircraft and supplies to the Pacific Theater.

In May of 1949 the Strategic Air Command became the parent Major command for the airbase. It is now designated as the 60th Air Mobility Wing which includes C-5 and KC10 aircraft. They also have in their inventory C-17 Globemaster III.

Travis Air force base today handles more cargo and passenger traffic through its airport than any other military air terminal in the United States. Today AFB includes approximately 7,260 active USAF military personnel, 4250 Air Force Reserve personnel and 3,770 civilians. Travis AFB is also the largest employer in the City and Solano County with a local economic impact of more than $1 billion annually.

So you would think that a military golf course to handle some of their recreation needs would have opened its doors sooner than it did in 1960. It was the year the management decided to utilize some nearby farmland for that purpose in the adjacent agricultural town of Vacaville. Its beautifully surrounding setting is bordered by rolling hillsides, and fruit orchards. It also includes one of the largest factory outlet complexes in California.

With sufficient acres to work with architect Bob Putman and Joe Finger designed an 18 hole course with four sets of tees ranging from 5,535-yds to the championship tees of 6,873-yds. Although it’s an exceedingly level course, each hole has either or both trees and water in play. And if that doesn’t do the trick this valley landscape is noticeable for generating constant nasty winds that could send your golf ball shots on unauthorized tangents.

The day I played the course wasn’t one of them so I wasn’t complaining. I guess the military and civilian golfers who canvassed the course were also content. At one time Cypress Lakes Travis AFB was only opened to the military. But after the 9-11 terrible events, all the money given to the upkeep of military golf courses were taken away. Now they survive by the revenue obtained by the course and clubhouse events. With its excellent maintenance, inexpensive green fees and golfers galore playing the course it looks like they are doing a great job paying the rent.

As I observed the layout of the land I came to the conclusion that there are numerous doglegs to contend with. And if you don’t hit the golf ball in the proper part of the fairway the dogleg designates you could end up taking more strokes than necessary.

The 402-yd par four 4th was the first one observed. It starts off innocently enough in a straight line but makes its way right in a hurry at the end of the hole where a bunker guards the right side. The putting surface slants at the entrance while leveling off at the back where it tilts from right to left. The 410-yd par four 9th is another than angles right with numerous tall trees surrounding the back of the putting surface. Fronting bunkers are also easy to capture with a green that has enough quiet undulations to cause indifferent putting.

As water goes, the one shot 176-yd 3rd has the wet on the right side as you get close to the slight slanting putting surface that breaks from right to left.

Cypress Lakes front side gives you a preview of what the course is all about but the back side takes you around a variety of holes that makes the course worth playing. The 174-yd one shot 11th could be the start of something exciting as the tee to green is separated by a body of water that requires accuracy and distance. The putting surface is designed for easier putting as movement on it is hardly noticeable.

It is followed by fenced in “cho-cho” train tracks traveling along the left side of the 437-yd par four dogleg right fairway. It’s close enough to make it difficult if a drive or second shot travels where the train property is ready to cause out-of-bounds trouble. The 428-yd par four 13th is also accompanied by railroad tracks on its left side as the fairway angles right to a green that enjoys left to right upward movement.

Cypress Lakes saves all the best for the last starting with the 363-yd par four 15th that doglegs left in a big way. The putting surface waits with frontal bunkering concealing the roundabout green that moves from left to right. It’s followed by the signature 409-yd top rated par four. It ends up with a 90 degree right turn that takes you pass a grove of tully swamp land. It separates a batch of safe passage turf grass on the left side of the fronting fairway to another pond where an uplifting green severely makes its way from left to right.

The par five dogleg left number 17 of 557-yds comes in with the longest yardage on the course and suggest you avoid the scattering of trees along the way to a tilted elevated greens site that has a fronting bunker to avoid. The putting surface climbs steadily from front to back while breaking from right to left.

The 451-yd par four 18th comes complete with all the hazardous elements as it starts off along a straight tree lined venue. Then trouble arrives as the fairway turns abruptly right where water lurks meanically on its right side. And if that isn’t something to worry about there is a fronting strip of tully field waterway with just a touch of safe middle of the road opening to squeeze through where a tilting green that breaks from left to right is found.

What’s nice about playing golf in this neck of the woods is that there is other close by golf courses to play including Paradise Valley, Rancho Solano and Green Tree. There are lots of inns and motels to stay at and tee times and reasonable green fees are readily available. That’s all you need is a couple days from what you might be doing and just have a great golfing adventure.

For reservation and starting times Call 707 451-7646