San Juan Oaks Golf Club

Fred Couples is doing too well on the PGA Tour to focus on designing golf courses.

That's too bad.

Play one round at San Juan Oaks Golf Club in San Juan Bautista and you'll wish the former Masters champion would turn his attention to building courses full-time.

Couples scored an eagle with the 1997 layout, which features a wonderful combination of bunkers, ponds, a creek and huge, ancient oak trees twisting through the hills just outside Hollister.

"Boom boom" showed his penchant for the big dog with a course that measures 7,133 yards from the tips.

But don't fret. Five sets of tees will accommodate most players, even though the white-tee yardage of 6,342 is still pretty lengthy. The abundance of hazards and slick, sloping greens also yields a tough 71.7 rating with a 133 slope from the whites.

Swallow your pride and play from the gold tees if you need to. The golds measure just 5,785 yards, but the 69.2 rating and 127 slope rival many white-tee figures.

Couples does give you a nice, gentle start, which you will appreciate later in the day. The first three holes are three of the five easiest for men, handicap-wise, and the first five holes also include the three shortest par-4s on the course.

No. 1 is downwind most of the time as well, and has two bunkers near the left side of the green but plenty of bailout room on the right.

The second hole is a long, dogleg-right par-5, but has plenty of landing room for your first two shots. Your approach must cross a hazard to a shallow but wide green that gives you some indication of what Couples has designed on the rest of the putting surfaces.

The greens are slick with plenty of undulations, but they roll true.

Another sloping green awaits at No. 3, which features one of the sharpest doglegs-right you'll see anywhere. Play left off the tee to avoid an approach shot over the oaks.

Narrow par-4s await at Nos. 4, 5 and 7, but two of the top holes on the front side are the par-3s. Both are short, but usually into the wind. There is water left on both holes (Nos. 6 and 8), but solid irons will yield birdie chances.

Finish the front side with arguably the best hole on the course, a short par-5 that doglegs left around a pond.

Hopefully, you scored well on the front side. The back is almost 200 yards longer, and the greens have even more slope.

Still, birdies are possible on the first three holes: a par-4 that usually plays downwind; a par-5 that doglegs right around two huge oaks; and a short par-3 that plays into a cross wind.

Get ready, because the next three holes may kick your teeth in. Couples shows an affinity for split fairways, and the first is on a long par-4 that plays straight into the prevailing wind at No. 13.

No. 14 is a head scratcher, a par-4 with a true split fairway. The right path is more open off the tee but features an approach that must clear another big oak. The left side is a mess early but opens up toward the green. Good luck.

You must cross the ravine again at No. 15, a long, uphill par-5 where the second shot offers the big hazard-and-oaks challenge.

You can get strokes back at the finish. No. 16 is the shortest hole on the course, a downhill par-3 over a hazard to a wicked sloping green.

Finish with two long par-4s. The first is the longest 4 on the course, with a narrow approach to another slick green protected by a bunker.

No. 18 is a beautiful dogleg right with an approach over two big oaks to a green fronted by a bunker.

San Juan Oaks has a bevy of positives. It's a well-manicured, upscale track with 18 solid holes and a few spectacular ones. There is great variety in up and down, left and right, and long and (sort of) short holes.

The course is demanding, but Couples has provided bailout areas on many holes.

Amenities are wonderful. There are two permanent on-course restrooms, and the clubhouse is downright posh.

There isn't much of a downside, except for the obvious ... San Juan Oaks is 130 miles from Vacaville, and the shorter route takes you through East Bay traffic. Driving down Interstate 5 south is longer, but may be easier on your nerves.

Price is another factor that must be mentioned. The weekday rate is $71 with a cart, and there are enough hills that you'll probably want one. The carts also feature flip cards with tips on all the holes, a yardage book on wheels, of sorts.

The weekend fare is $96, but you get what you pay for. This course is that good.

Hit the internet before you hit the road. Some good deals are available on the course's web site address at www.sanjuanoaks.com.

But even if you don't have a coupon, set aside a day and make the long trip south. A good round with your driver and long irons may put San Juan Oaks near the top of your favorite courses list.

Hats off to Couples. And while nobody is rooting for his playing career to tail off, his designing career is off to a great start.

Directions - Take Interstate 80 west to

I-680 south. Take Highway 156 east. Turn right on Union Road.