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Inaugural Edition
The Sierra Golfer Sierra Golfer Your guide to golf and life in the Sierra Other Features ‘10 questions’ with the Golf Guy Your Guide Golf and Best values in golfto course property Greenhorn Checking in with Creek the Golf Girls Life in the Sierra Have we found our Shangri-la? Course/Lodging Directory The Price of Golf
Why it’s a bargain to play right now? Guide to Sierra Golf 2008 Ryder Cup Creek Courses What happened? Greenhorn Resort in Ryder Cup 2008 Angels Camp, CA Cowgirl Golfer Golf and Nature in all its Glory from Texas Tough Hole of the Month 10 questions with the Golf Guy Local Golf Roundup
Greenhorn Creek Special Digital Edition
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Message from The Publisher The Sixth Edition of Sierra Golfer Magazine. It’s hard to believe that I made it this far, to tell you the truth. But it sure is fun, and rewarding. This one is a bit different, though, but none the less exciting and gratifying as we move into what I did not coin as the ‘brave new world we now live in.’ This Greenhorn Creek Special E-edition was inspired by one of my marketing partners when he saw the digital version of one of our previous print editions, and thought it would be cool to have his own E-edition for his ongoing marketing efforts. I had to agree with him and so here it is. Our first dedicated E-edition of Sierra Golfer. This digital edition can be downloaded to your desktop, emailed to a friend, or even printed if you wish. Advertisers will have live links from their pages right to their websites as well. And helping the advertiser is what these editions are all about, in my humble opinion. I know what they are going through right now. This Special Edition is not only promoting my favorite course in the county, but will promote the entire county as well. Maybe we’ll see some more visitors to our county and help jump-start our economy in the process. Hey, I’m optimistic, and that’s exactly what we are trying to do here. Working together for the common good. Will this medium replace paper? I don’t know yet, but I do know that my worldwide network of golfing, wine and food lovers will enjoy the digital version as well, and that won’t hurt our cause either. I say, the more the merrier. Best wishes. Sierra Golfer Magazine Rick Rider Editor and Publisher Angels Camp, California 209.327.8934 rick@sierragolfer.com PO Box 11 San Andreas, CA. 95249
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Table of Contents Feature Greenhorn Creek Resort in Angels Camp Page 4 Love on the Links Page 8 Pro Spotlight Page11 Calaveras County Back to Nature Page 6 Adventurers Page 12 A Real Fish Story Page 14 Cowgirl Golfer Page 16 Golf Course Living Page 18 Calaveras County Facts Page 20 County HOPPIN-INGS Page 26 Famous and Infamous Calaveras Characters Page 29 Frog Jumpin’ in Calaveras County Page 30 Is there still gold here? Page 30 Subscribe to the Sierra Golfer Magazine by visiting www.sierragolfer.com or simply sending an email to rick@sierragolfer.com. Digital subscriptions are free of charge and can be downloaded at your convenience.
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Greenhorn Creek Resort Angels Camp, CA What a place To call home I’m not sure about most golfers, but I like wind down a little bit after a round of golf with my golfing buddies and toast the game with our favorite beverage. On the veranda overlooking the 18th green here at Greenhorn Creek, we sometimes get a bit distracted by the gorgeous view and the breathtaking setting, especially as the sun sets over Bear Mountain. Sometime we even stop needling each other just long enough to comment on how beautiful the setting really is. The fact is, we have just played 18 great holes of golf and sitting on this veranda reminds us that life could hardly be any sweeter. We are truly some of the luckiest golfers I know. The ironic part of playing golf at Greenhorn Creek, of course, is that although it is as challenging as it is fair, it is also equally serene in its
natural beauty. It seems like every round we play here we will see at least 3 or 4 deer just sauntering around the course like it’s just as much their course as it is ours. Well now, I guess it really is, as well as the rabbits and squirrels and even the occasional fox. Thank God I haven’t run into a bear yet. No, the only real danger here at Greenhorn Creek is the lightning fast greens we play on most of the year. The greens are consistent and smooth and true, yes, but pretty darned quick. And we know that on the first tee; so the strategy becomes obvious very quickly…approach the hole from below the hole. By that I mean we are always conscious of where the hole is located relative to the front of the green, since most of the greens slope from back to front, and if we can keep our approach shots somewhere between the front of the green and the hole, we can generally putt uphill to the hole, and that’s good. That is the challenging aspect of this course in my opinion, along with the demanding tee shots on virtually every hole, and the necessity to use almost every club in your bag while
www.sierragolfer.com negotiating the tee shots. You won’t use driver on every long hole, as accuracy off the tee is paramount. A truly wayward tee shot is usually not found on this course. On the design aspect of the course, though, I think it is interesting how a landscape architect retained the natural lay of the land to sculpt this beautiful and challenging course. Don Boos, a local landscape architect was brilliant in this design endeavor, and later on the renowned golf course architect Robert Trent Jones II touched up his work. What resulted is a course that doesn’t just wear you out, despite the challenging nature of the layout. The holes sort of alternate between tough and not so tough, to allow a golfer to catch his breath. Hole one is tough, hole 2 not so tough, except for the green, of course. Hole three is a tough par three; hole 4 is a not so tough par 5. Holes 5 and 6 are two tough holes in a row though, so hitch up your britches or skirts on those. Big numbers can be had on either or both of those holes. Then the course let’s up again a bit on number 7, a shortish par 5. Then comes another tough par three at 8, followed by a not so tough par 5 number 9, to round out the front nine. So really, about half of the holes are difficult and the other half less difficult, and I find that a nice balance. The back nine is another story altogether. Make sure you get some food at the turn for some energy on the back
nine, ‘cause you’re going to need it. Tough hole after tough hole requires golfers to pay attention and hopefully have our games on by the time we get to the long par 5 tenth, followed by a tough hole number 11. The short par four 12th is no slouch either. Then we come to the most picturesque hole of golf this golfer has ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot of beautiful golf holes. The tee at hole number 13 is at the highest point on the golf course and overlooks New Melones Reservoir in the distance, as well as Bear Mountain and other mountains as well. Words that describe this sight are hard to come by. Then we have to figure out which golf club will give us just the right distance to land us on the green, as the green is at least 30 feet below the tee level. Hitting a good shot here is a tall order when you have all that grandeur right in front of you. This hole is the ultimate risk/reward hole in my book. Hit a good shot and you can make an easy par or maybe birdie. Hit a poor one and you’re in for a big number. Kind of like the par three #6, where you don’t have many options but to suck it up and make a good swing, and knock your ball onto the green. The alternatives are not much fun. But boy is it fun to make that good swing when you have to. The rest of the holes on the back nine are just plain Continued on pg 5
www.sierragolfer.com tough. Play hard. That is until you get to hole #18, another shortish par five that is another brilliant risk/ reward type hole. The fairway bunkers shouldn’t come into play, but the approach is pretty intimidating. Another opportunity to hitch ‘em up and make a good swing, lest we dunk one in the pond fronting the green. What a great finishing hole, and a great way to finish this round of golf. It’s always nice to leave a course with a
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good taste in our mouths, and if we play three good shots here,
History abounds at Greenhorn Creek
we can finish with a nice score on the last hole, of an equally beautiful and challenging golf course at the same time. A wise man once said that balance is the key to life. Well, Greenhorn Creek is the epitome of balance. From the condition of the course all the way to the service in the clubhouse, the staff of Greenhorn Creek has figured it out. Tough and fair on the course, top-notch service off the course. If ever there was a place I’d like to call home, this is it.
Legend has it that Greenhorn Creek got its name when inexperienced or “Greenhorn” prospectors were sent down the creek to pan in what were thought to be worthless diggings. Gold was discovered and it became known as Greenhorn Creek. The area within and around the resort was rich in gold deposits, and the names of many hard rock mines are still used today such as Lindsay Court, Blair Mine, El Dorado, Mary Belle, and Triple Lode to name a few. Five prehistoric Miwok sites have been identified within and around the resort and have been placed in Protected Cultural Resource easements. Greenhorn Creek is a model for the efforts being made to preserve the ancient cultural heritages and historical
elements of our earliest inhabitants. The Selkirks and McCauleys came to this area with Chinese laborers in 1856. The still-standing chimney and the rock wall on the 4th hole are historical sites that add a unique character to our golf course and community. The lake on the 5th, 6th, and 7th holes was originally a drainage area where Chinese placer miners toiled for gold in the 1860’s and 70’s. Three generations of Selkirks and McCauleys lived here until the 1930’s when the property became grazing land.
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Getting back to Nature in Calaveras County Courtesy Sierra Nevada Adventure Co.
When it comes to planning a summer vacation with your family, you might be thinking that Disneyland or Hawaii would be a fun destination. No doubt. But hey, you don’t always want to fly or drive long distances. So many holidays involve crowds, noise, big expenses, stress and distractions that keep the family from actually bonding. Maybe it’s time to consider a different kind of vacation. Let’s talk about some other options that are closer to home. There are so many benefits of going camping or backpacking
setting, you can find some quiet time and live a simple life, if only for a few days. Many of us were fortunate enough to have had early, positive experiences connecting to nature. One of the best gifts you can give a young person is to turn them on to the outdoors. If you’ve forgotten how nice it is to disconnect from your cell phones, your E mail, your TV, your MP3 , etc., it’s easier than you think Sitting around a campfire and talking and listening to each other with no outside distractions is practically free. There’s nothing quite like loading everything up in kayaks or a canoe and paddling away from shore, and spending the afternoon finding the perfect camping spot where you can truly escape. Or, if your family is more mobile, backpacking is the ultimate in getting away from it
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Kayaking is Great Family Fun! Courtesy Sierra Nevada Adventure Co.
with your family. This could be the summer you and your family get to know more of your own back yard. We meet people from all over the world that come to hike in and explore the Sierra because it’s an incredibly beautiful destination. Obviously, being out in nature is a healthy way to spend time together, but camping or backpacking also offers an affordable and memorable vacation. Depending on what you’re up for and how mobile your family is, there are so many non-motorized ways to enjoy nature. Camping with family and friends in a remote setting is an awesome way to enjoy each other’s company. In a natural
all. What a great feeling it is to be self-contained and free to explore the trail, the lakes, the rivers, and the mountains. There can be no doubt - camping and backpacking promote wellness. Just the simple act of connecting with nature has a beneficial affect on people of all ages. Nature speaks to all of us on a physical as well as a spiritual level. It’s where we come from, and it’s why nothing is more refreshing than time spent outdoors. Life consists with wildness. The most alive is the wildest. Not yet subdued to man, its presence refreshes him. Henry David Thoreau
Are you looking for an activity to keep the whole family happy for the day? A great way to enjoy the Highway 4 corridor is to visit some of our beautiful mountain lakes and paddle around in a kayak or canoe for the afternoon. If you’re a fisherman, there’s no better way to “sneak up on ‘em” than in a roomy one person kayak. If you’re a nature lover, load your camera gear into a tandem kayak and take your spouse out for a romantic tour of Lake Alpine. Got kids?
Photos courtesy Sierra Nevada Adventure Co. Rent a lightweight 16 ft. canoe, put lifejackets on the little adventurers and show them a funfilled water world. That’ll wear them out! The folks at Sierra Nevada Adventure Co. in Arnold, located at 2293 Highway 4, can help you choose the perfect kayak or canoe rental to suit your family’s needs. They’ll help you load everything onto your vehicle and give you all the helpful tips on where to go and how to use the equipment. And, it’s super affordable! Kayak rentals start at $40. a day and family sized canoes start at $55. a day. Please call 209.795.9310 for more information.
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Love on the Links By Robert Reed
The oft repeated dictum Location, Location, Location is answer to the question “What are the three most important factors when buying real estate?” The same maxim may be applied to choice of a wedding site. The Holiday Season of Christmas and New Years is also the season for engagements. Three quarters of engagements occur in this period. CREEK Wedding planners EENHORN and Bridal Fairs have their busiest season January to March. Should you scan RESORT the many bride check lists published during this
season in the magazine and newspaper special brides sections you will find the first and most important choice to be made after the guests list is Location, Location, Location. At Greenhorn Creek Golf Resort in Angels Camp we meet with many brides to discuss their upcoming nuptials. Dad is rarely present to have his say. The brides family traditionally bears the expense of the wedding so should the father of the bride be left out of this most important decision: Location, Location, Location? Assuming that the audience for a Golf Life Style magazine is primarily, but not exclusively male, we offer some advice on the value of a Golf Course Resort location for the important
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www.sierragolfer.com event. Ladies will also find this information worth considering. The location of a destination wedding can satisfy several purposes. It will set the mood for the event. A beach or forest setting may satisfy the brides romantic ideal but create logistic difficulties that should not be overlooked. Convenience to lodging, facilities, support services, accessability to vendors and a trained staff may not be available at the beach. The private or semi-private golf club serves a discerning public regularly at Club member events. It’s staff is practiced and equipped to serve and entertain large groups. Golf course venues are surrounded with well manicured natural beauty and on-site facilities to serve both romantic and practicle purposes. Your local club may provide the services you want. One that describes itself as a Destination Resort will include lodging and recreation possibilities for family and guests traveling in to the event. Comfortable and affordable lodging close by or on-site make it easier and more affordable for invited guests. During a recent trip to attend a wedding in New York City the hotel’s group rate negotiated by the brides family was $475 a night for a couple in a modest room. An extended stay would have been prohibitive. At Greenhorn Creek lodging is available in spacious condominiums for as little as $125 a night. Cottages a
few steps away from the club can house families for $215 per night. Reducing travel and delay during the events of a wedding can be important. A rehearsal dinner site and wedding reception site convenient to lodging may be a safety issue for quests who enjoy too many celebratory toasts. A golf club can host the rehearsal dinner, wedding and reception in one spot to make the event seamless whereas a reception hall may be inconvenient to hotels or the wedding site. A destination wedding is for many guests travel in lieu of a vacation and the recreational possibilities are further enticement to attend. Destination Resorts like Greenhorn Creek offer golf, swimming pools and tennis plus gathering places for cocktails and lunch or dinner preceeding or following the wedding day. The Gold Country provides many distractions for visitors. Yosemite is nearby, wineries, Gold Country towns and mountain recreation are close at hand. The Western slope of the Central Sierra Foothills is near to the Bay Area and Valley cities and the perfect wedding destination where you can experience the Sierra Golf lifestyle.
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Greenhorn Creek Golf Pro Spotlight The Steakhouse at Greenhorn Creek Darryl Pief
Allan Ramorini
Darryl was born and raised in California’s Tuolumne County and is living on the same ranch his ancestors homesteaded in 1880. Darryl has played golf for 35 years, in addition to being a physical education instructor. He held the position as Golf Coach at Sonora High School for 30 years teaching boys and girls the game of golf. In addition to teaching golf, he coached cross-country, track and wrestling. Since he has always loved the game of golf, he felt it would be perfect to retire from teaching and join the ranks of the PGA as a Class A member. He contends, and always has to his students, that if you want to do something, do it well and become professional. As an amateur, Darryl has held the distinct position of being the Club Champion at three different courses in the county and has participated in numerous NCGA events. He currently plays in Northern California Senior PGA events and spends a lot of time teaching and giving golf lessons at Greenhorn Creek Resort. When he’s not golfing, his passion is to spend time with his family and work cattle on his family ranch.
Allan Ramorini is a Gold Country Native! His family has lived in Angels Camp, for over three generations. Inspired by a local professional, he started playing golf when he was 14 years old. For golfing privileges, he began working at Greenhorn Creek Golf Resort at sixteen. After playing on the golf team at Bret Harte High School, Allan attended Modesto Junior College in California. As Co-MVP, he was recruited to play for The University of Great Falls in Montana for the school’s first intercollegiate team where he played for two years before graduating. While in school, he worked at Meadow Lark Country Club impressing locals with his long drives. Currently working to become a Class A Member of the PGA, Allan is a true athlete dedicated to the game of golf. Has a calm demeanor on the course, chooses his shots well, (often opting to drop a club length for a calculated shot, though he’s a long driver), and he’ll forget a bad shot and focus on the next. We look forward to watching Allan become a player with aspirations of touring with a branch of the PGA.
PGA Professional
Assistant Golf Professional
CAMPS Steakhouse at Greenhorn Creek welcomes you to a fabulous, comfortable experience. The restaurant is constructed of hand cut and chiseled rhyolite stone from a local quarry off of old Dog Town Road. The clubhouse and restaurant were inspired by the distinguished Julia Morgan and designed by California architect, Mark Primack. Doorways and windows are framed in recovered Douglas fir, dating to 1910. The bar is made of Carrara marble and the tables are made from 230 year old wood recycled from an old barn. Majestic stone fireplaces flank twelve foot panel doors. The dining room is elegant without being pretentious. Diners have fabulous views of the golf course. The dining room has high ceilings and an abundance of natural light, which exudes a rustic theme and a feeling of warmth. Veranda dining is at its best under the shadow of Bear Mountain. The lovely Veranda overlooks the lake on 18th green with spectacular sunsets; and, the outdoor Arbor is shaded by a graceful wisteria covered trellis. The menu is designed using fresh, local ingredients where possible. The food is comfortable, yet artistic with innovative flair along with regional classics. Hand-cut steaks and fresh fish prevail, salads are hand-tossed, meats and steaks are cut in-house. And, like in any good ranching community, slow-roasted Prime Rib is served on Friday and Saturday nights. Tasty, quick sandwiches, salads and burgers are served for lunch and throughout the day. Breakfast is served on Sunday with a wide selection including truly
the best Eggs Benedict. The wine list boasts wines from the region as well as fine selections from Napa, Sonoma and the Central Coast. With its rich soil and temperate climate, grape growing in Calaveras County is as old as the Gold Rush when French and Italian immigrants brought varietals with them. With over forty growers and twenty one wineries, Calaveras County yields wine grapes that create awardwinning wines. The wine list also features a “Library Selection” with some of the finest wines and vintages available. Greenhorn Creek is proud to serve fabulous cocktails hand shaken by our cocktail “mixologists”. Served at the bar are the best, most effervescent, tangy Cosmopolitans, fresh squeezed zesty Lemon Drops, and bittersweet Appletinis. A good selection of bourbon, scotch, tequila and gin are available for the connoisseur. Greenhorn Creek features six beers on tap with a new, interesting rotating beer, monthly. Talented live musicians play on Friday and Saturday nights. Virgil Rucker sings on Friday and Bobby Bilecci and Natalia perform on Saturday nights. The background music is soft and engaging during the dinner hours and proceeds into lively arrangements that lead to dancing as the evening ensues. Aimee Brown is the personable restaurant manager. She graces the dining room with warmth and personality. Vince Beluardo hails as the Executive Chef of CAMPS, flanked by Mitchell Webster, the evening Chef de Cuisine. The team consists of seasoned professionals, talented and passionate and proud to serve meals with integrity.
12 | Sierra Golfer • Greenhorn Creek Edition ride tandem for a maximum combined weight of 280lbs. Purchase the 3-zip combo and make your last zip super style for maximum speed and thrills – lying horizontally, face down, like your favorite super hero. No experience or By Lisa Boulton athletic ability is necessary. Available daily, year Looking for some high round, weather permitting. adrenaline thrills to spice up Participants must be between your golfing trip? Head over 70 and 280 lbs. Check out to Moaning Cavern Park california-ziplines.com for with a friend and race the 1/4 videos, photos and pricing mile long zip lines at up to information. 50 miles per hour. Check in, gear up in a seat harness and hop aboard the zip cruiser to the launch area. Walk across the custom built Sky Bridge to the 100-ft high launch tower and get clipped onto a zip line by a professional zip guide. Once you lift your feet, gravity takes over and you’re off, skimming the treetops above the beautiful Gold Country landscape. You don’t even have to hold on – just sit back and enjoy the ride. Zip guides are stationed at the landing tower to unclip you from the line when you have come to a stop via a smooth custom engineered braking system. Parents and kids can
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Adventurers and Thrillseekers... Come on up
Want more thrills? You’re in luck. Moaning Cavern was the first show cave in the United States to offer a cave rappel. This daring rope descent takes you 165 feet to the bottom of the main chamber for the very best view of this magnificent cave and its massive formations. All equipment and training is provided for an experience you’ll never forget. For the less adventurous, guided walking tours are also available daily, year round. No reservations are necessary. See photos and videos online at moaningcavern.com. For more fun, climb or race your friends up the custom 32-foot climbing tower also above
ground on the property. The first to ring the bell at the top is the winner. Descent is by automatic belay system. Residents of Amador, Calaveras and Tuolumne counties bringing proof of residency can join the free Locals Adventure Club for significant year round discounts on activities at Moaning Cavern, California Cavern, Black Chasm Cavern, Sutter Gold Mine and Gold Cliff Mine. Check out caverntours.com for more local underground fun and adventures. Please call 866.762.2837 for more information.
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14 | Sierra Golfer • Greenhorn Creek Edition Oh Boy… what do I do now? My first thought was to jump in but I had broken my femur four years earlier and the water was deep and cold. I figured that might be a critical mistake. The next thing I knew I This one didn’t get was laying across the bow of away! the boat with the 5’ handle of the net in my left hand and New Melones Reservoir, my right hand was working Angels Camp, CA. the trolling motor and the fishing rod at the same Sunday morning, April time. The net just barely 19, 2009 was a good day to reached the fish with my go fishing at New Melones arms submerged. After a 30 Reservoir. Everyone was minute struggle lying across busy so off I went alone. the front of the boat I started It wasn’t long before I felt something…upon hook set, my rod jolted downward with awesome force. Using Berkley Power Hawg and 5601 ABU Garcia with 20 lb Stren and a Dobyns swim bait rod, I was prepared. I knew instantly it was a Gorilla!! The fish dove under a lay down tree with four large limbs. The power of the rod enabled me to hammer its head into a limb. That seemed to shock the fish. It bucked violently then just laid there with its giant protruding eyes looked up at me. I thought
A Fish Story in Calaveras County...Naw... Really?
to get exhausted. The fish appeared to be exhausted as well. It dawned on me to call my son on my cell phone for help; he could be here in 30 minutes. Due to my location, the cell wouldn’t work! At that point I was getting fatigued and had to make my adrenaline kick in. All of a sudden I got a second wind and was in “full fishfight mode”. I then realized the only
way this was going to work was to release line off the reel while pushing the fish with the net. This seemed like an impossible task. I needed to have my net arm submerged, hold the rod and work the trolling motor all while laying down. After another 10 minutes I realized it was now or never. I made one more attempt almost going over board head first. The fish bucked
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hard fighting like it knew this was it. To my astonishment she bucked right into the net. I brought her up half way then realized she would not come any further because the line was under the tree and connected to my rod. I was still on my belly, my mouth was by the reel, I was able to chew on the 20 lb line till it broke and the net and fish came up. It took both arms to drag her into the boat. The fish was massive, so massive that I could not estimate the weight. Officially she weighed 13.15 lbs and was spawned out and had lost considerable weight from the process. She measured 28” long and 21” in girth. I estimate she was plus or minus 16 lbs a month earlier. She was blind in one eye from years past, but was totally healthy. I released her back into New Melones. It was an awesome feeling as she swam back into the depths.
Dennis Lee
3 Great Motels
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Cowgirl Golfer From Texas “How Do I Get Started?” By Kristi LaRue
“Do you play golf?” The new Club Manager’s wife asked in her southern drawl. “Well, I’ve tried to get into it but I just can’t find anyone that’s just learning and can play on a regular basis”, I replied (in my Texas accent!). “I’ll play with you. I’ll get a tee time and call you.” Yeah, right. How many times have I heard that”? The next day…ring, ring. “Hi, I got us a tee time for tomorrow mornin’. See ya there. Whoa. Is this for real? Am I finally going to learn how to play golf? Maybe I’ll catch a glimpse of my hubby on the course. Maybe, just maybe, someday I’ll be good enough that he’ll play golf with me! That sounds like a goal. One can always improve and stay more focused when they have a goal, right? So, looks like I’m ready to get started. I have clubs, a partner, and a goal. But what
do I do now? Both my partner and I had some experience playing on a course. We both had taken lessons over the years, practiced sporadically at the range and had played once or twice a year. Now it was time to hunker down and get serious (But please, not too serious. I still want to have fun!). We decided to start our endeavor playing 9 holes only. At that time in my novice career, I couldn’t even imagine playing 18 holes. How in the world can people be out here for that long? Don’t they have better things to do? Our next decision was to skip the score keeping. No need to depress ourselves any further. We knew our scores would be well over our body weight so why add another large number to our lives? Indeed.
www.sierragolfer.com And lastly, we voted to nix the rules! It’s hard enough to get that teeny ball down that long fairway without having to trouble ourselves with some silly rules. We’ll just learn them slowly as we progress. So that’s how I got started playing golf (officially). It’s been 2 years and I finally broke 100 three weeks ago! Woo hoo! And, I play on a regular basis with my hubby. So it can be done. As I reminisce on that day when I met my golf partner, I realize how blessed I was for her to come into my life. I would never have progressed so quickly had it not been for her persistence and determination to get us out there every week (sometimes twice a week). If you really want to learn, I suggest the following: * Find a friend who will play with you at least once every two weeks * Don’t keep score at first but be honest once you start * Don’t kill yourself playing too many holes until you are ready * Learn the rules but in corporate them slowly so you don’t get too frustrated * Try different clubs/shots on the course (if it’s not crowded)
You’ll be surprised how quickly you improve. And before you know it, you’ll have the Golf Bug! Happy fairways, The Cowgirl Golfer Kristi LaRue, who was born in Corpus Christi, TX, now enjoys life and golf in Austin, with her husband Jim. Kristi has a daughter who is a freshman at Auburn University, and is very active in her community. She’s also a darned good golfer for a Texas Cowgirl. Editor’s note.
A very angry golfer was on his way to carding a round of 150. He turned to his caddy and said,’You must be the worst caddy in the world.’ ‘That would be too much of a coincidence, sir’, answered the caddy in a quiet voice.
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18 | Sierra Golfer • Greenhorn Creek Edition club. Or, it could mean very little privacy as everyone heads toward the club for early morning tee times just as you are picking up your paper from the driveway in By Kymberly Flaigg your robe (need I mention in ‘morning hair?). When home shopping, Real estate agents often promote their golf course check out the orientation properties for sale by in relationship to the club illuminating the home’s house and pro shop; you location in relation to the may be a social butterfly community and its amenities. and love the morning and But what does that all really evening interaction the mean to you over the next location provides but keep five years, or longer, as you this in mind if you want to create your resort lifestyle? be off the beaten path. If you’re a swimmer, or Well that depends on the way the community is configured enjoy an evening dip in both geographically and the summer months, being demographically. Let’s look near the pool can be a great at how those influences luxury. Noise from the pool could affect you in your doesn’t have to be a problem dream community and either. Smart builders will orient the home correctly for property selection. The geographic layout of peace and privacy and place a golf course community garages and landscaping and how the homes are between you and the pool. configured in relation to This provides privacy and its course and amenities is quiet while keeping your the most important factor premier access to the summer as you consider your home cool-off spot at a premium. choice. Let’s dissect the Be careful of front or back above exclamations by the doors facing toward the local realtor. “Near the club pool or the pool’s parking house” can mean getting lot…this can allow sound to up a few moments later for travel right in to the home. We all get the beauty of your early morning tee time, or it can be a staggering living on the fairway of a distance to your front door nice long par 4. A cup of after a few cocktails on coffee, a morning sunrise Saturday night. I may mean and the endless views up eliminating the excuse of the 1sth fairway; peaceful the fitness center being too and relaxing, until a scratch far away and creating an golfer misses his 2nd shot opportunity to keep your of the morning and the fitness commitments. It nasty words fly! And how can also mean you may do those greens stay so find yourself bouncing lovely and green? Well, to a canned version of lots of sprinklers, aerators, “Celebrate” at 10 p.m. from mowers, edgers and sand groomers. Your weekend weddings at the trap
Dream of golf Course living?
romantic morning dream has just become a nightmare. It doesn’t have to be though. A few small mitigations can ensure you will enjoy your golf course home. Some pointers to remember are; sound loves to travel up. Tall homes that line the fairway can make a tunnel of sound bouncing right into your home. When searching for a home on the course, find one that doesn’t have homes right on the other side of the fairway. Or, find a fairway with no homes on the other side; maybe there is a green belt or band of trees on the other side to help absorb sound? Also a single story home that is lower to the ground offers more quietude. A few trees and bushes strategically placed can also buffer sound. Then there is the placement of the home on the fairway. Play the course. Try your best shank a shot toward the home you are considering. Can you hit it (not trying to
www.sierragolfer.com hit it of course)? Is it in the middle or toward the end of an average drive, or is it closer to the chipping stage. Sometimes courses create buffer zones and open space between the course and the homes with generous set-backs. This is the best situation. with neighbors and strangers, check out the location of the cart path. Is it behind your home or across the fairway? Fairway life is a lovely way to live so do your homework to create the environment you desire for your lifestyle. I live on a golf course and have sold golf course homes for 12 years now. It is a fabulous lifestyle and a great way to make friends and have a sense of community. If you check out the course, the neighbors, and the placement of the homes around the course, you can ensure your new lifestyle endeavor is up to par!
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Live Music Friday and Saturday Nights
Best Burgers Steak and Seafood in the Region 711 McCauley Ranch Rd
Angels Camp CA 95222
(209) 729-8181
20 | Sierra Golfer • Greenhorn Creek Edition flat valleys and rolling hills CALAVERAS in the western part of the COUNTY AT A county to more than 8,000 feet at the Sierra crest in GLANCE the east. Temperatures vary Just the Facts and with elevation and season. Nothing But – Almost! Average low, 20-40 degrees; Average high, 80-90 degrees. Average rainfall, 40-50 Calaveras County inches; Average snowfall, up Visitors Bureau to 300 inches. Where in the World: The Size of It: Calaveras County is in the heart of California’s Gold 1,024 square miles; 652,920 Rush country, the Sierra acres Nevada Foothills between Number of Locals: Lake Tahoe and Yosemite 48,000 and growing – but National Park. not too fast! Ratio is still one person to every 14 Getting There: By car: From the Central acres. Folks are friendly and Valley, 1 hour; Sacramento, helpful, just ask. 2 hours; San Francisco, 2 Highways & Byways: ½ hours; Los Angeles, 6 ½ Excellent driving on main hours; Yosemite Valley, 2 ½ hours; Lake Tahoe (in non- roads and side roads that wind through the county. snow months) 2 ½ hours. By air: San Francisco, Good signs keep visitors on Oakland and Sacramento the right track. Motorcycles airports service commercial and sports cars find highway carriers. Calaveras County heaven on scenic routes Beautifully Airport in San Andreas hosts throughout. banked and graded, this is private aircraft. By train: Amtrak stations the ultimate ride. Just watch in Sacramento, Modesto and the speed limit and you’re on a roll! Stockton. Highs and Lows: Altitude is near sea level in
Getting Around: With towns not far apart, you
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can see and do a lot in a day. From Angels Camp: Hwy 49 to Hwy 26 to West Point – 1 hour; Hwy 49 to San Andreas: 15 minutes; Hwy 49 to Mokelumne Hill: 25 minutes; Hwy 4 to Copperopolis: 20 minutes; Hwy 4 to Murphys: 7 minutes; Hwy 4 to Arnold/ Calaveras Big Trees Park: 30 minutes; Hwy 4 to Bear Valley: 1 hour. Trees, Shrubs &Flowers: Chaparral (Spanish for scrub oak) covers much of the landscape along with manzanita, live oak, aspen, white alder, black cottonwood, dogwood, willow and wild azalea at lower elevations. At mid elevations, mixed conifer forests include ponderosa pine, white fir, incense cedar, sugar pine, Jeffrey pine, black pine, and giant sequoia. Lodgepole pine, red fir and white pine forests are found above 5,000 feet. In spring and summer, fields of blue, white and pink lupine, brilliant orange poppies and yellow goldfields are
seen along Hwy 49; white dogwood and orange leopard lily along Hwy 4. In the fall, aspen, oak and maple show brilliant red, vibrant yellow and gold. Lodging: Historic hotels, quaint cottages and cabins, bed & breakfast inns, upscale resorts and convenient motels offer choice accommodations for every preference and pocketbook. Camping: There is a variety of rustic tent campsites in the high country to full-service RV resorts: Calaveras Big Trees State Park; Stanislaus National Forest; New Melones Lake & Resort; Angels Camp RV & Camping Resort; Frogtown RV Park at the Angels Camp Fairgrounds; Gold Strike Village; Golden Pines RV Resort & Campground between the Gold Country and high Sierra. Continued on page 20
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Your Golf Course Real Estate Specialist in Calaveras County
Affordable communities that enjoy a lifestyle where you always feel at home
Community tours available daily Greenhorn Creek Saddle Creek Forest Meadows
Vivian Danielsen Priority Realtors 209.736.9497 Main 209.918.6351 Mobile vivian@priorityrealtors.com
22 | Sierra Golfer • Greenhorn Creek Edition Restaurants throughout the Calaveras County, county range from quaint continued country cafes to first class dining rooms and offer the Horsing Around: spectrum of fresh food wellFun and frolic with your prepared and well-priced to four-legged friends. Copper please every palate. Creek Equestrian Ranch in Copperopolis offers riding Arts & Culture: lessons, ranch rides and Many artists, writers, more. Or bring your own performers and musicians horse to GreenStone Inn make their homes here. The B&B (Bed and Barn!) in Arts Council has information Angels Camp and ride the on year-round theater trails on the family’s two performances, musical ranches, totaling 1,500 acres. concerts, art galleries and Or take a guided outing with exhibits, arts and crafts Horse & Barrel through fairs, festivals, and more. scenic vineyards or in the The Historical Society lists beautiful high country. many museums. Ironstone Vineyards Amphitheatre Wining & Dining: presents headline entertainers Over twenty-five family- in their Summer Concert owned wineries, more than Series. half of them in the area of Murphys, range from the Shopping: large Ironstone Winery Antiquing, boutiques, art and entertainment complex galleries, wine tasting rooms, to boutique operations and gift shops in every producing a few hundred community provide pleasure cases. Tours are available and bargains for browsers at some and all offer and buyers. complimentary tasting.
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Rivers & Lakes: Two major rivers, Mokelumne on the northern border and Stanislaus on the southern boarder, plus many streams. Nine public access lakes from large reservoirs to small alpine lakes offer more than 300 miles of scenic shoreline. Fishing & Water Sports: Excellent bass fishing at low elevation lakes and remote mountain streams and lakes also abundant with rainbow, brown and brook trout. From mild to wild, water sports include houseboating, flat water or river kayaking and canoeing, high speed boating, jet skiing, water skiing, wakeboarding and class IV whitewater rafting on the north fork of the Stanislaus River from April through early June. Golfing: Six courses: Public – Forest Meadows (Murphys); Meadowmont and Sequoia Woods Country Club (Arnold); Semi-private – Saddle Creek Resort (Copperopolis); Greenhorn Creek Resort (Angels Camp).
Caving and Zipping: Ancient subterranean worlds are hidden right underfoot at California Cavern, Moaning Cavern, and Mercer Caverns. Stand in awe of the dazzling crystalline formations; explore miles of winding passages and underground lakes on guided adventure trips; or take the plunge for an exhilarating 165-foot rappel in Moaning Cavern, all equipment and instruction provided. New in 2008 – Experience the thrill of the new 1500’ twin zip lines where you can race at speeds of up to 40mph! Farms & Ranches: From alpacas and cashmere to worms and wine, Calaveras is home to more than 450 farms and ranches covering almost 38 percent of the county. Cattle and Christmas trees, timber and hay, melons, tomatoes, apples & olive oil, the list goes on. Ten farms harvest more than 175 acres of organic fruits and vegetables. Many have roadside stands in season and are open for visits and tours by appointment. Continued on page 22
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Quality Food At Budget Prices Fresh Produce Quality Meat Local Wines
Full Service Deli Fresh Sushi Friendly Service
re e h k Clic e our To se ekly We ials Spec
We are the Best of Fresh Angels Food Market 396 N Hwy 49 Angels Camp Mon-Sat 7am-8:30pm Sunday 8am-8pm
Sierra Hills Market 117 E Hwy 4 Murphys Sun-Thur 7am-8pm Fri-Sat 7am-9pm
24 | Sierra Golfer • Greenhorn Creek Edition Calaveras County, cont. Biking & Hiking: Road riders and mountain Parks & Public Lands: bikers from beginners to Community parks in many experts find diverse terrain towns offer picnic areas, throughout the county. The tennis courts, ball fields, skate Calaveras Visitors Bureau parks, equestrian centers, in Angels Camp has a list of children’s playgrounds, routes and trails and Gold nature trails, bicycling, Country Bicycle Tours offers boating, fishing and more. custom rides. Hikers of all The granddaddy of them all levels can roam 150,000 – Calaveras Big Trees State acres of public lands. Trails Park – boasts two magnificent wind for hundreds of miles, groves of giant sequoias and including more than 150 the chance to see them up miles at high elevation in the close and personal on gentle pristine Carson-Iceberg and walks of less than one mile Mokelumne Wilderness. or challenging trails of 10 miles and more. Let It Snow: Great downhill skiing and crosscountry skiing, snowboarding and tubing at Bear Valley Mountain Resort just 50 miles east of Angels Camp; backcountry ski touring, telemark skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling on hundreds of miles of roads and trails in the Stanislaus National Forest. SNO-PARKS at Lake Alpine and Spicer Reservoir Road provide easy access. FUN FACTS (and some fiction) Frogs: 4 , 0 0 0 + frogs and 50,000+ people who love them come from all over the country for the 5-day Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee in May, an
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annual event since 1928. Winners are enshrined with brass plaques on the Frog Hop of Fame along Main Street in Angels Camp. Ghostly Haunts: Rumor has it, that historic hotels including: the Hotel Léger in Mokelumne Hill, built in 1851; Murphys Historic Hotel in Murphys, built in 1856; the Dorrington Hotel in Dorrington, built in 1852, house the friendly spirits from the past. What’s in a Name: Calaveras County is a Spanish word meaning skulls, reportedly the bones of fighters left behind after an Indian war and discovered by Captain Gabriel Moraga. Angels Camp is named for a trader, Henry P. Angel, in the 1850s. Mokelumne is Plains Miwok and comes from the word moke, meaning “fishnet”, and umne, a suffix meaning “people of.” Stanislaus may be named for a Christianized Native American known
as Estanislao or for Saint Stanislaus. Calaveras County: Located in the heart of California’s gold rush country between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park. The diverse landscape stretches 1,024 square miles from near sea level in the flat western valleys and rolling hills to more than 8,000 feet at the Sierra crest. The land is rich with historic sites, family farms and vineyards, forests of giant sequoias, rivers and lakes and underground caves. A vibrant arts culture thrives along with fine winemaking and all types of outdoor recreation, including fishing and boating, golf, bicycling, hiking, camping and skiing. Small, rural towns dot the landscape connected by well-maintained highways and country roads. For more information on Calaveras County as well as lodging packages, special events and other facts and figures, call (800) 225-3764 and visit www.GoCalaveras.Travel .
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Visit the weekend, and you’ll stay forever
Dan Seider 209-795-4218 Daniel@BigTreesRealty.com
www.BigTreesRealty.com
26 | Sierra Golfer • Greenhorn Creek Edition
IN FROG-CENTRIC CALAVERAS COUNTY, RIBBETERS AREN’T THE ONLY HOPPIN-INGS
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from circuses and zoos a new lease on life. The ongoing project of the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), an internationally recognized leader in animal welfare, is dedicated to the rescue and welfare of exotic animals from traveling circuses, zoos, wildlife auctions and breeding farms worldwide. Call (209) 745-2606 or visit: PawsWeb. org.
1. Wine-ing in Calaveras County: Calaveras County is a burgeoning wine destination, with 25+ family-owned wineries. The county produces outstanding classic red and white wines in the French Spanish, Portuguese and Italian varietals. All wineries offer complimentary tasting and chances are the person pouring your wine is the owner of the winery or the winemaker. Call (209) 728-9467 or visit: CalaverasWines.org.
4. Slow down. . . and Savor the Sierra - A person doesn’t have to travel to New England to view spectacular fall colors! As winter approaches the western slopes of the Sierra, Calaveras County’s landscape changes colors. … The Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway is one of the most beautiful stretches of road you’ll ever travel, delighting visitors with a rainbow of brilliant yellows, opulent oranges and radiant reds around every bend. The byway ranges in elevation from approximately 3000’ to 8500.’ Expansive views of granite outcrops, basalt columns, ancient volcanic peaks, deep river canyons, glacially carved valleys, majestic stands of conifers including giant sequoias, open meadows, clear mountain lakes, and swiftly flowing streams and rivers can all be experienced along the route. One can find historic relics of people who lived here before as well as present day resorts and recreation facilities.
2. You Ought to be in Pictures! Missed out at the Academy Awards? In Calaveras County, you can star in your own Western movie at The Vallecito Vigilantes. Write your own script or choose from pre-written story boards such as Mother’s Day (great for families); The Wild Bunch (perfect for groups of couples or corporate groups); or hop on a horse, rob the bank and get out of Dodge before the sheriff shows up. The parties ride off into the sunset, toting a professional quality DVD. For your ticket to stardom, call (209) 736-4758 or visit: Millerosa.com.
5. Calaveras County Olives offer a Taste of Tuscany: The western valleys and rolling hills of Calaveras County transport visitors to Tuscany with tastes of premium olive oils and farmers who love to talk about their products. Near Copperopolis, the Calaveras Olive Oil Company tends to Frantoio and Leccino trees grown from seedlings from the hills of Tuscany and the Greek Kalamata. Olive oil is processed by folks who learned the process from their grandfathers. . Visit CalaverasOliveOil. com for more information.
3. Lions and Tigers and Elephants—Oh My! Take a walk on the wild side at ARK2000, a wildlife sanctuary that gives exotic animals rescued
6. A Worm’s Day is Never Done: If you think worms are just for fishing, spend an hour or two at the Vierra Worm Farm and discover all the contributions made by these industrious little critters. With expert care and feeding by the family, they have wiggled their way into a thriving vermiculture industry in eastern Calaveras County. Visits to the farm may be arranged by appointment. For information on products and everything wormy, visit: www.VierrasWormFarm.com.
(Angels Camp, Calif.) – When frogs are your county’s calling card, some may consider it a bit quirky. While “frog centric” could be a malady, in Calaveras County it’s just part of the relaxed lifestyle. Here’s an unofficial Top 20 that proves frogs aren’t the only hoppin-ings:
7. Hollywood Hall of Fame Comes to Calaveras County: In Calaveras, sidewalks are reserved for championship croakers. There’s 77 gold plaques embedded in the sidewalk marking the Frog Hop of Fame honoring stars of the amphibian persuasion and their handlers. These plaques are part of the prize the frog jockey and his/her frog receive for winning the Jumping Frog Jubilee. Visit: www.FrogTown.org. 8. Be a Designated Walker: Ditch the car and put on your walking shoes for the best wine-hopping tour in Calaveras County. From downtown Murphys, you can walk to 11 wine-tasting rooms nestled between antique shops, art galleries, museums, boutiques, quaint inns, bistros, fine restaurants, and more. Call the Calaveras Wine Grape Alliance at (866) 806-WINES or (209) 736-6722 or visit: CalaverasWines.org.
9. Rock On! More than 20,000 rock hounds and collectors flock to Calaveras County for the annual Valley Springs Pow Wow the first weekend in May. For more than 30 years they have come to dig and identify, to buy and sell, and to share a passion for precious gems. They also come for three days of old-fashioned family fun with country fiddling, down-home cooking, Native American dancing and more. Visit: ValleySpringsPowwow.com.
Continued on page 28
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Frog-Centric Calaveras County, continued 10. Flower Power Unites Calaveras Communities and Delights Visitors: Plant it and they will come. Coming up are millions of fragrant flowers, flooding the countryside with color. Coming to enjoy the spectacle are thousands of visitors and locals who will find magic this spring in the meadows and hills of Calaveras County. Don’t miss the California poppies along roadsides, 500,000 daffodils at Ironstone Vineyards and 100-year-old roses filling a new garden just inside the gates at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds. Call (800) 225-3764. 11. Forget High-Priced Chic and the Check That Goes With It! Calaveras County courts visitors with historic hotels in quaint towns, authentic cabin and mountain vacation rentals, charming restaurants, boutiques and antiques, family-owned wineries and outdoor adventures and free complimentary wine tasting in over 25 wineries. There is plenty of good home-cooked food for $10 to $20 most local restaurants. A fine meal at an upscale restaurant like Crusco’s in Angels Camp won’t break the bank at less than $30 with a glass of local wine. Call (800) 225-3764. 12. Frogs and Frog Jumpers Get Their Own 5-day Festival! Manhattan has the Empire State Building and Paris has the Eiffel Tower. But Calaveras County has the frog. Immortalized by Mark Twain in his short story, “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” the bug-eyed amphibian has gone on to achieve international star status. Some 400-500 frogs are expected to make a total of 2,000 jumps in various competitive divisions during the area’s annual Jumping Frog Jubilee. The fair includes rodeos, live rock concerts, midway rides, country crafts, professional and amateur art and exhibits, and much more. Visit: FrogTown.org or call (800) 225-3764. 13. Go Jump in a Lake! The water’s fine at Calaveras County’s crystalline lakes. Enjoy swimming, championship fishing, boating, house boating, water and jet skiing, camp sites with hook-ups, full-service marinas and much more. Or come for the spectacular scenery, wide vistas and cooling breezes. Just a few places in Calavaras County where you cast a line and test the waters are New Melones Lake, Lake Camanche, Lake Tulloch, New Hogan Lake and Lake Pardee. Call (800) 225-3764. 14. Calaveras County is Antique Heaven: Looking for Depression glass, a Victorian rocker or the sort of bathtub that Scarlett or Rhett would have loved soaking in? You’re likely to find it in Calaveras County, where several towns dating back to the gold rush days are chock-ablock with shops crammed to the rafters with antiques, collectibles and other wonderful oldies-but-goodies. Some of the buildings are antiques themselves, and more than a few are said to harbor resident ghosts. Call (800) 225-3764. 15. Take the High Road to Calaveras County: Aching for automotive adventure? Take the high road through Ebbetts Pass, perhaps the most dramatic pass in the Sierra Nevada. In November 2005, it joined the ranks of 125 designated National Scenic Byways in the United States, one of only seven in California. Ebbetts Pass climbs thousands of feet in elevation along a 58-mile stretch of Highways 4 and 89 from the east end of Arnold to Markleeville. Wide vistas await tourists who drive by pristine Sierra lakes, through massive sequoia redwoods, and glacially carved valleys and canyons. Visit: scenic4.org. 16. Black Bart’s Bad-Boy Days of Crime and Rhyme Live on at the Calaveras County Museum. Flashback to 1875: The Wells Fargo stage was robbed by a desperado wearing a flour sack over his head with two slits that revealed his piercing blue eyes. Over the next eight years, the
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lone horseless ranger conducted another 20-some robberies, walking out of nowhere with an unloaded double-barreled shotgun to confront the stage in a calm, polite voice. Bart stood trial in the county courthouse in San Andreas and spent time in its county jail. After serving part of a sentence, he was released on good behavior and vanished, never to be seen again. Today you can visit the jail where he spent time. Call the Calaveras County Museum at (209) 754-4656. 17. Read the Handwriting on the Wall: California’s colorful past is preserved for posterity on a stone wall in Murphys, and it’s down right entertaining. The Wall of Comparative Ovations, located on the Old Timers Museum, is the project of E. Clampus Vitus, a fraternal brotherhood dating from 1851. It contains 82 stone and tile plaques that pay homage to everything from Mark Twain and early miners to saloon dancers, fancy women and wounded buffalo. Visit: www.Ceres.ca.gov. 18. Last One in Sheep Ranch Please Turn Out the Lights. Sheep Ranch began as a mine that became one of the richest of the Mother Lode. The thriving community became home to many noteworthy people, including Lloyd Tevis, who helped develop the telegraph over the Sierra Mountains and the father of William Randolph Hearst. Today, free-roaming sheep herd downtown and the Sheep Ranch/Pioneer Hotel is testament to the days when cowboys and miners roamed this Wild West mining town. Call (800) 225-3764. Calaveras County: Located in the heart of California’s gold rush country between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park. The diverse landscape stretches 1,024 square miles from near sea level in the flat western valleys and rolling hills to more than 8,000 feet at the Sierra crest. The land is rich with historic sites, family farms and vineyards, forests of giant sequoias, rivers and lakes and underground caves. A vibrant arts culture thrives along with fine winemaking and all types of outdoor recreation, including fishing and boating, golf, bicycling, hiking, camping and skiing. Small, rural towns dot the landscape connected by well-maintained highways and country roads. For more information on Calaveras County as well as lodging packages, special events and other facts and figures, call (800) 225-3764 and visit GoCalaveras.Travel.
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Calaveras County Known for Famous and Infamous Characters Edited by Rick Rider Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist. Twain is most noted for his novels Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which has since been called the Great American Novel, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. He is extensively quoted. During his lifetime, Twain became a friend to presidents, artists, industrialists and European royalty. Twain’s first important work, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, was first published in the New York Saturday Press on November 18, 1865. The only reason it was published there was that his story arrived too late to be included in a book Artemus Ward was compiling
featuring sketches of the wild American West. Twain’s story was immensely popular, and was soon printed in many different magazines and newspapers. This led Twain to use it to anchor his own first book which appeared in 1867, with a first issue run of only 1,000 copies. Twain’s first book collects 27 stories that were previously published in magazines and newspapers. The title story first appeared in print in 1865 and has also been published as “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” and “Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog.” In it, the narrator retells a story he heard from a bartender, Simon Wheeler, at the Angels Hotel in Angels Camp, California, about the gambler Jim Smiley. Twain describes him: “If he even seen a straddle bug start to go anywheres, he would bet you how long it would take him to get to—to wherever he going to, and if you took him up, he would foller that straddle bug to Mexico but what he would find out where he was bound for and how long he was on the road.” Twain enjoyed immense public popularity. His keen wit and incisive satire earned him praise from both critics and peers. American author William Faulkner called Twain “the father of American literature”.
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Charles Earl Bolles, alias Black Bart, was an American Old West outlaw noted for his poetic messages left after each robbery. He was also known as Charles E. Boles, C.E. Bolton, Charles E. Bowles, and “Black Bart the Po8.” A gentleman bandit, Black Bart was one of the most notorious stagecoach robbers to operate in and around Northern California and southern Oregon during the 1870s and 1880s. The fame he received for his numerous daring thefts is rivaled only by his reputation for style and sophistication. It is believed that Black Bart was born in Norfolk, England. When he was two years old, his parents emigrated to Jefferson County, New York, where his father purchased a farm. In late 1849 Bolles and
a cousin took part in the California Gold Rush. They began mining in the North Fork of the American River in California. His brother Robert joined them in 1852, but died in San Francisco. Bolles then returned east and married Mary Elizabeth Johnson in 1854. By 1860, the couple had made their home in Decatur, Illinois. In 1862, however, Bolles decided to go to war, and took part in numerous battles and campaigns, including Vicksburg (where he was seriously wounded) and Sherman’s March to the Sea. On June 7, 1865 he was discharged at Washington, D.C., and returned home to Illinois. He had received brevet (honorary) commissions as both 2nd Lieutenant and 1st Lieutenant. Continued on page 31
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Why a Frog Jump? Courtesy Frogtown The world-renowned Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee has a rich heritage dating back to the 1800’s. In the early Gold Mining Days, the Mother Lode Country was very prosperous. It attracted many industrious individuals looking for adventure. One such individual was Samuel Clemens who regularly made the trip from San Francisco to a small mountain cabin near Angels Camp. It was during one of Mr. Clemens’ trips that he heard a tale that inspired his first published work, “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”. The story records the antics of a character named Jim Smiley and his frog Dan’l Webster. Mr. Clemens first published this story in 1865 and used his pen name, “Mark Twain”, and so the legend began.
‘Sweet gold Daddy... I’ll be upstream Catching crawdads’ Anonymous California is great for a lot of things, but it sure is a great place to raise a family.
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In May 1928, a civic minded group called the Angels Boosters Club, developed and organized a big celebration on Main Street in Angels Camp to commemorate the paving of the streets. The celebration centered on a Frog Jump. It is estimated that 15,000 people attended the 1928 festivities. The winning frog, “The Pride of San Joaquin”, jumped an impressive 3 feet 9 inches. The current worlds record was set in 1986 by ‘Rosie the Ribeter” a California Bullfrog. Rosie was jockeyed by Lee Guidici of Los Altos, California. The world record breaking jump was 21 feet 5 3/4 inches. Today, over 45,000 fairgoers attend the annual event held the third weekend in May, held at Frotown. The annual Fair features arena events, rodeo, exhibits, livestock, carnival, destruction derby, 4 stages of entertainment and frog jumping. For more information about the Calaveras Frog Jump and Calaveras County Fair, call 209.736.2561. Especially here in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains. So much to do and so little time. While I can imagine that life was much tougher 150 years ago on this wonderful property I call home now in California Gold Country, I can also imagine a scene much similar to the one that the title of this story describes happening over a century and a half ago.
As I watch my daughter scurry off to another part of the river, I refocus my attention back down to the gold specks I just found in my pan, once again, as my daughter brings me back down to earth. You see, after seeing my first signs of gold in the pan I was working for a few minutes, I started getting a little more serious about what I was doing. The same thing men and women were doing in this area for over 150 years. There is more than a little more irony today though, with me and my daughter out exploring this gold covered river. Although I can imagine a prospector and his dog and children down at the river, kids having fun, dad or mom seriously looking for gold nuggets, I am simply finding gold as a hobby… because I live here. And as I imagine myself prospecting 150 years ago with my trusty dog at my side and daughter not far away catching water-skippers, the irony sets
in as I watch a jet-liner 30,ooo feet above me probably heading to New York or Boston, and my cell-phone ringing with some important message, I’m sure. I can also see how gold-fever caught on like the plague many years ago not far from where I hold a pan full of rock and sand. But as I glance over to where my daughter is playing on the river, just getting drenched from head to toe, I realize that she means more to me than a pan full of gold. Earth to Daddy. They say that 75% of all the gold is still here, probably right under my feet, and I may try to find some more. But my pot of gold is about to head up the hill for a bath, and a bed-time story. Honey, come look at this one, I say, referring to another speck of gold. All she could say was…’in a minute Daddy, this crawdad’s mine.’
www.sierragolfer.com Black Bart continued After the War, the quiet life of farming he fashioned held little appeal to Bolles, and he yearned for adventure. By 1867, he was prospecting again in Idaho and Montana. Little is known of him during this time, but in an August 1871 letter to his wife he mentioned an unpleasant incident with some Wells, Fargo & Company employees and vowed to pay them back. He then stopped writing, and after a time his wife assumed he was dead. Whatever it was that happened in Montana, it clearly changed Bolles’ outlook on life. He re-emerged in official documents in July 1875, when he robbed his first stagecoach in Calaveras County. What made the crime unusual was the politeness and good manners of the outlaw. He spoke with a deep and resonant tone, and told the stage driver, “Please throw down the box.” Bolles was always courteous and used no foul language. He covered his body in sacks and linen to hide his clothing and appearance. These distinguishing features became his trademarks. Bolles, like many of his contemporaries, read “dime novel”–style serial adventure stories which appeared in local newspapers. In the early 1870s, the Sacramento Union ran such a serial called The Case of Summerfield, by Caxton (a pseudonym of William Henry Rhodes). In the story, the villain dressed in black, had long unruly black hair, a large black beard and wild grey eyes. The villain would rob Wells
Fargo stagecoaches and brought great fear into those who were unlucky enough to cross him. The character’s name was Black Bart, and Bolles decided to adopt this individual’s identity. Bolles, as Black Bart, robbed numerous Wells Fargo stagecoaches across northern California between 1875 and 1883, including a number of robberies along the historic Siskiyou Trail between California and Oregon. He eventually began to leave poems at the sites of his crimes as his signature. Black Bart was very successful and made off with thousands of dollars a year. During his last robbery in 1883, Black Bart was shot and forced to flee the scene. He left behind several personal items, including a pair of eyeglasses, food, and a handkerchief with a laundry mark. The last holdup took place at the site, fittingly enough, of his first holdup, on Funk Hill, just southeast of the present town of Copperopolis, in Calaveras County. The stage had crossed the Reynolds Ferry on the old stage road from Sonora to Milton. The stage driver was Reason McConnell. At the ferry crossing, the driver picked up Jimmy Rolleri, the 19-yearold son of the ferry owner. The stage had to travel up a steep road on the east side of Funk Hill. Jimmy Rolleri had brought his rifle and got off at the bottom of the hill. He intended to hunt along the creek at the southern base of the hill and then meet the stage at the bottom of the western grade. However, on arriving at the western side
Sierra Golfer • Greenhorn Creek Edition | 31 of the hill he found that the swarmed around him when stage was not there. He began he was released. They asked walking up the stage road. if he was going to rob any On nearing the summit, he more stagecoaches. “No, encountered the stage driver gentlemen,” he smilingly and his team of horses. replied; “I’m through with Rolleri learned that as crime.” Another reporter the stage had approached asked if he would write more the summit, Black Bart had poetry. He laughed, “Now, stepped out from behind a didn’t you hear me say that I rock with his shotgun. He am through with crime?” made McConnell unhitch the Black Bart’s end is more team and return with them in keeping with the way the over the crest again to the romantics of his day would west side of the hill, where have had it. He disappeared Rolleri encountered him. without a trace shortly after Bart then tried to remove the his release from prison. His strongbox from the stage. San Francisco boardingWells Fargo had bolted the house room was found strongbox to the floor inside vacated in February 1888, the stage (which had no and the outlaw was never passengers that day). It took seen again. Bart some time to remove the box. Notes left behind by McConnell informed Black Bart Rolleri that a holdup was in progress, and Rolleri came At the fourth robbery: up to where McConnel and the horses were standing. “I’ve labored long and hard for He saw Bolles backing out bread, honor and for riches of the stage with the box. For But on my corns too long you’ve McConnell took Rolleri’s tread, rifle and fired at Bolles but You fine-haired sons-of-bitches. missed. Rolleri then took Black Bart, the P o 8” his rifle and fired one or two shots. Bolles stumbled, At the fifth robbery: dropped the items he had taken from the box, and fled. “To wait the coming morrow, If he was actually wounded, it Perhaps success, perhaps defeat And everlasting sorrow. must have been very minor. Yet come what will, I’ll try it Wells Fargo pressed once, charges only on the final My conditions can’t be worse, robbery. Bolles was convicted And if there’s money in that box, and sentenced to six years in ‘Tis money in my purse. San Quentin Prison, but his Black Bart, the P o 8” stay was shortened to four Note: A little know fact is that on years for good behavior. the first poem there was also a note under the verse. The poem When he was released in scribbled and the note had each line written in a January 1888, his health had different hand. It is thought that Bart clearly deteriorated due to did this to disguise his handwriting. his time in prison. He had The note reads: visibly aged, his eyesight Driver, give my respects to our old the other driver. I really had a was failing, and he had gone friend, notion to hang my old disguise hat on deaf in one ear. Reporters his weather eye.
32 | Sierra Golfer • Greenhorn Creek Edition
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