The Club at Ruby Hill, an elegant private club owned by Arcis Golf overlooking Northern California’s lush Livermore Valley wine country, is poised to celebrate its 25th anniversary with a series of commemorative events, including golf tournaments and member appreciation dinners.
One of the San Francisco-San Jose region’s most acclaimed full-service private country clubs, The Club at Ruby Hill features a Jack Nicklaus Signature Design Golf Course, the first layout the golf legend built in Northern California. Befitting of the course’s reputation, the championship course will serve as a local U.S. Open qualifying site in early May.
“I am very proud of the playable, fun golf course we created at Ruby Hill,” Nicklaus said. “I had a great time designing the course and have played it quite a bit. I would leave the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and head up there to get a round in because I enjoyed playing it. Happy 25th anniversary to all the members and it’s pretty fantastic that there are still 23 original members involved.”
The Nicklaus course, an imaginative layout designed amidst more than 53 picturesque vineyards, serves as the centerpiece to a remarkable, upscale club set on 225 pristine acres. In addition to golf, the Club features a 32,000-square-foot Clubhouse, tennis courts, fitness center, junior Olympic swimming pool, and bocce ball, along with unlimited opportunities for socializing, dining, networking, and special events with banquet space for more than 300 guests.
“The Club at Ruby Hill personifies what a full-service private club is all about,” said Blake Walker, Founder and CEO of Arcis Golf, which acquired the club and assumed management seven years ago. “It boasts a rich history over its first 25 years, an active membership, and a full slate of activities. We look forward to continuing to create new memories and experiences for our members and their families, with soon-to-be unveiled capital plans that pave the way for a very bright future.”
General Manager Andre Jackson is enthusiastic about a robust series of year-long events planned to commemorate the anniversary, highlighted by an appreciation dinner for the 23 original members; an outdoor kick-off celebration with activities for the entire family; and a 10-course dinner with wine pairings. Also scheduled, Jackson said, are golf, tennis and bocce tournaments; a movie night that will include a slide show honoring the past 25 years; a wine walk; health-and-wellness activities; and more.
“This is a huge milestone for the Club and my team is committed to ensure it’s a memorable time for all of our members,” Jackson said. “Every one of our members makes this Club a special place and we look forward to keeping the celebration going throughout 2021.”
The original grape-growing property where the Club sits today was founded by John Crellin in 1887 with money made from the oyster trade. It was named for the bright red soil its vineyards boasted. The land subsequently transferred to Wente Vineyards and in 1985, a friend and business partner of Jack Nicklaus approached luxury home developer James Ghielmetti with the idea of building a golf course.
In 1987, the process was started to secure all of the government approvals and move forward with the project. Construction on the course began on Labor Day 1993, with Jack Nicklaus supervising every detail. Through the years, The Club at Ruby Hill has become one of the finest, full-service private clubs in the greater San Francisco Bay region. The Club is surrounded by a community of 850 homes valued at between $2 million to $20 million.