River Oaks Golf Club

Built adjacent to the Feather River, River Oaks has plenty of built-in character for a relatively new course.

Oaks, bordering orchards and the water hazards all can get you in trouble, but the mostly wide fairways make for low scoring opportunities. It's a relatively short (6,467 yards from the blacks) but fun course built smartly around the natural beauty of the land, once acquired by John Sutter from the Mexican government in 1841 and since owned by the Scheiber family.

The course has struggled to be profitable, however. Formerly Rio La Paz Golf Club, it went through bankruptcy and foreclosure in 2007 after previously filing for bankruptcy in 2001. It was renamed River Oaks when it was purchased by California Golf Properties on Feb. 1, 2008, headed by one of the original owners, Alan Scheiber.

Address: 201 Lee Road, Nicolaus

Phone: (530) 656-2182; (916) 488-4653

Course: Public

Holes: 18

Par: 71

Length: Black tees 6,505 yards; blue 6,005; white 5,374; red 4,719

Course ratings/slope: Men's black 71.1/128, blue 68.8/123, white 66.0/114; women's blue 74.1/132, white 70.6/124, red 66.9/115

Web site: www.riveroaksgolfclub.net

Greens fees: $25 walking, $37 with cart weekdays; $37 and $49 weekends; seniors (60-over) $20 walking, $32 with cart weekdays, $32 and $44 weekends; juniors (17-under) $15 walking, $21 with cart weekdays; $20 and $26 weekends. Twilight (after 1 p.m.) $17 walking, $29 with cart weekdays, $20 and $32 weekends.

Rental clubs: Available for fee

Range balls: $7, $5 and $3

Men's course record: 64, Craig Howard

Women's course record: 66, Megan Stoddar

Signature hole: No. 10, 415 yards (black), par 4, big dogleg left, oaks out of bounds left, stakes out of bounds right

Opened: 2000

Head professional: Christine Arne

Superintendent: Gary Toledo

Designers: Homer Flint and Peter Jacobson

Ownership: California Golf Properties, Alan Scheiber, managing member

Fairways and rough: Mix of rye and Kentucky blue grass

Greens: Bent

Water: Seven lakes and several drainage canals. Water is in play on 13 holes.

Rounds per year: 40,000

Other facilities: Grass-tee driving range, sand and pitch practice area, putting green, restaurant open for breakfast and lunch