Tilden Park Golf Course

If you survive the first hole, you're in for a real treat.

Welcome to Tilden Park Golf Course in Berkeley, home of big hills, huge trees, mature greens, some really cool wildlife ... and one of the hardest par-4s you'll ever see.

Swallow your pride and take bogey or worse on the first hole, then get ready to have some fun.

Tilden Park is a course that can alternately frustrate you or thrill you. Just remember to enjoy the scenery if you can't seem to master the greens.

The 1935 design has majestic oaks lining most fairways, so the accent is on placement, not distance. In fact, the back- (blue-) tee yardage is just 6,294.

Of course, you may not care about the short holes when you're on the first, a 404-yard (from the white tees) par-4 that heads straight up a mountain. Women play a 401-yard par-5, which is still tough. Pat yourself on the back if you manage par.

The second and third holes also are tough, two more long par-4s. The 4s are the staples here, since the par-70 (for men) has just two par-5s. Of course, if you thrive on 5s, this is a downside.

Get shots back on the next three holes, starting with a short par-3 over a hazard to a big green at No. 4.

Pay special attention to the flag colors on all the holes. The 70-year-old greens will hold almost all shots, so aim right at the pins. Several greens, especially on the front side, are surrounded by trees, so they don't dry out (and speed up) until much later in the day.

The fifth hole is a short par-4 with the approach across a hazard. Use an extra club on the approach, because the green is the most heavily sloped on the course, back-to-front.

A very short par-4 is next, followed by a long but straight par-3 and a short par-5. Get some shots back.

End the front side with another test, a short par-4 that doglegs left straight uphill to a heavily sloped green with a false front. Be happy with par.

Head back down the hill to start the second nine, which has a solid mix of easy and hard holes. Hold on at the par-3s (nos. 11 and 16), which are beautiful but measure 199 and 186 yards, respectively, from the white tees. Both also are guarded by bunkers.

Get a shot back on the only par-5 on the back side (No. 13), which is narrow but measures a mere 438 yards from the white tees.

Finish your day with two more long par-4s.

The upside here is a beautiful walk in the woods, although when you look at the first hole it may be easy to find the extra $15 to ride.

You should see plenty of wildlife, including squirrels, deer, raccoons and even a fox or two.

There is good variety in the par-4s, and the par-3s are tough.

Most of the trouble comes from the trees that line the fairways, as with most park courses. Seven holes have water hazards in the form of a creek that runs through fairways, but there are no lakes and only 14 bunkers on the entire layout.

The greens are consistent, although they are among the slowest you'll find. Spend extra time on the putting green before you start.

You may have extra time before your round. The course is not a secret, so soak in the scenery while you wait on tee boxes.

Directions - Take Interstate 80 west to Berkeley. Take the Albany exit east. Turn left on Cleveland Avenue, which becomes Buchanan Street. Take a slight right onto Marin Avenue and stay on Marin through a roundabout. Turn right on Grizzly Peak Boulevard.

Take special note of the turns, because it's easy to get lost on the ride home. Ask directions.