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Nestled in the rolling hills of Burlingame, the Sapphire Country Club’s crown jewel stands as a testament to brilliant golf course design. Tom Jackson’s vision comes to life across 18 challenging holes that work in harmony with the natural mountain landscape. This masterpiece doesn’t just test your golf skills—it creates a journey through carefully crafted fairways, strategic bunkers, and undulating greens that reveal Jackson’s genius approach to golf architecture.
What makes Burlingame special isn’t just its stunning views or perfectly manicured conditions—it’s how Jackson captured the essence of mountain golf while ensuring playability for golfers across all skill levels. Let’s walk through this remarkable course and discover why it continues to be celebrated as one of the finest mountain golf experiences available.
The Jackson Design Philosophy
Tom Jackson approached the Burlingame course with a clear vision: create a challenging yet fair test of golf that celebrates the natural mountain terrain. His philosophy blends strategic challenge with visual harmony, a balance perfectly displayed throughout the course.
Jackson believed golf courses should tell a story, with each hole serving as a chapter that builds toward a satisfying conclusion. At Burlingame, you’ll notice how the course unfolds like a narrative—starting with relatively forgiving opening holes that introduce key themes before building to more dramatic challenges as your round progresses.
The design respects the natural contours of the land, with minimal earth moved during construction. Jackson’s light-touch approach means fairways follow natural valleys, greens sit on natural plateaus, and hazards often incorporate existing terrain features. This creates a course that feels like it was discovered rather than constructed.
Front Nine: Setting the Stage
Hole 1: “Mountain Welcome”
A gentle par 4 opener that plays slightly downhill, giving players a chance to start with confidence. The wide fairway narrows as you approach a green guarded by a single bunker on the right. Jackson designed this hole to ease players into the round while hinting at the challenges ahead.
Hole 4: “Decision Ridge”
This par 5 represents Jackson’s strategic brilliance. A split fairway offers a risk-reward choice—the higher route provides a shorter approach but brings more trouble into play, while the safer lower path adds distance but offers a clearer shot. The raised green requires precise club selection.
Hole 7: “Sapphire’s Challenge”
A signature par 3 where golfers face a forced carry over a small pond to a green surrounded by bunkers. What makes this hole special is how Jackson used the mountainside backdrop to create depth perception challenges that make distance judgment crucial.
Back Nine: The Championship Test
Hole 12: “Cascade Alley”
This narrow par 4 requires precision off the tee as the fairway threads between stands of mature hardwoods. Jackson’s clever use of the natural creek running along the right side creates both visual interest and strategic challenge. The slightly elevated green rewards accurate approach shots.
Hole 15: “Mountain Echo”
Perhaps the most photographed hole on the course, this downhill par 3 offers spectacular views and a thrilling shot. The significant elevation change requires careful club selection, while the green’s subtle contours demand a precise landing spot to set up a realistic birdie chance.
Hole 18: “Final Summit”
Jackson saved one of his finest designs for last—a challenging par 4 that plays uphill all the way to a green that sits like a crown on the property. The fairway narrows as it climbs, with strategically placed bunkers catching wayward drives. The two-tiered green ensures that even reaching the putting surface doesn’t guarantee an easy finish.
Course Challenges and Features
Elevation Changes
The most distinct feature of Burlingame is Jackson’s masterful use of elevation. Players must adjust not just for distance but also for how the ball will react on uphill and downhill landing areas. These elevation changes create both the challenge and the drama that make mountain golf so compelling.
Green Complexes
Jackson’s greens at Burlingame are subtle masterpieces—rarely extremely undulating but full of gentle breaks that can be difficult to read. Many feature collection areas that gather slightly missed approaches, giving players a variety of recovery options rather than automatic penalties.
Strategic Bunkering
Rather than pepper the course with sand, Jackson placed bunkers precisely where they create maximum strategic impact. They’re positioned to influence decision-making from the tee and on approaches, rewarding players who plan their way around the course rather than simply hitting away.
Experience Tom Jackson’s Mountain Masterpiece
Ready to test your skills on this remarkable mountain design? Sapphire Country Club welcomes players seeking a truly memorable golf experience. Book your tee time today and discover why golf enthusiasts consider Burlingame one of Tom Jackson’s finest achievements.
Call our Pro Shop at (555) 123-4567 or visit our online booking system to reserve your spot on this mountain masterpiece. Golf instruction and course tours are also available for those wanting to learn more about the strategic elements of Jackson’s design.