River Island Country Club

History

Some of the very best features of the natural world shadow every step you take at River Island Country Club. Located just east of Porterville in the southern San Joaquin Valley foothills, this challenging course (73.5/135 from the tips) combines water and wildlife, mountains and sky into a heady brew that will leave you thirsting for another long drink every time you play. The Tule River ripples through six holes, flowing down from the nearby Sierra Nevada where both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park beckon. Native oaks and giant sycamores tower over the deer, bobcats, squirrels, rabbits and the occasional wild turkey that share the land. Casey O'Callaghan has been busy reworking greens and tee boxes, enlarging the greens but then undulating them to balance the difficulty scale. Set above the fogline on the vast expanses of a former cattle ranch, this private club is wide open for public play starting at noon on weekdays and from 10 a.m. weekends. It's a heart-of- California treasure. Learn more