The next time your friend asks if you want to play golf 45 miles south of Turlock, I have some advice for you. Don’t immediately scoff and think “not a chance” like I did. Say yes.

Upon further investigation my three hours in the car yielded a visit to one of the top five public courses in California.

Located in the heart of the Central Valley, Stevinson Ranch Golf Course offers pristine fairways and lightning fast greens. As unlikely as it is to be compared to Disneyland, Stevinson Ranch is touted as a golfing oasis, recently rated as the number-one public course in California by Golf Destination magazine.

I accompanied Oakmont’s golf pro John Yacobellis on a group trip to Stevinson recently, and Yacobellis only half-jokingly advocated that the participants should ready themselves for Stevinson’s lightning-fast greens by “practicing putting on your kitchen table.”

Stevinson offers four different sets of tees ranging from 6,093 to 7,180 yards and the fairways are as lush as those on the PGA tour. The blue tees play 6,646 yards with a slope of 129.

For those looking to play and stay, Stevinson Ranch offers lodging as well. As we retreated to our “cottages” after day one of golf, with the fog rolling in the surrounding area was reminiscent of something that Fred, Daphne and the rest of the Scooby Doo gang would encounter in solving a mystery.

Double occupancy packages that include two rounds of golf and a night’s lodging start at $170 and I would be remiss if I left out the outstanding service offered in the pro shop and friendly staff at the full-service restaurant located on the facility.

For more information go to stevinsonranch.com