‘Tayman Park South’ at Fairgrounds GC in Santa Rosa?

It’s not exactly "Tayman Park South," but Healdsburg golfers may have some dejà vu now that Jimmy Stewart has taken over operation of the nine-hole course at Fairgrounds Golf Center in Santa Rosa.

Stewart, whose Tayman Park Golf Group operates the nine-hole n Fitch Mountain Road in Healdsburg and also the 18-hole Ukiah Municipal GC, will be making one significant addition to the Fairgrounds course,  a covered driving range.

Tayman Park offers the area’s only covered range, a popular three-tier setup that allows golfers to practice their skills just about any time of year.

Stewart, whose group took over the Fairgrounds operation Nov. 15, actually helped redesign Fairgrounds GC when the county added a turf track for horse racing in 2004.

“I’ve always had a good feeling about the place, which has been a great location for junior golf,” said Stewart,  who took over at Tayman in 1999 and in Ukiah in 2005. “We had thought about running the course when it was redesigned but the county wanted to do it.”

But this fall, with revenues down, the county opted to look for an independent operator and Stewart’s group presented the best offer, securing a five-year lease.

Fairgrounds already has a driving range, but Stewart said “making it a covered facility will allow golfers to hit balls all year long.” The range also has lights and can stay open as late as 10 p.m.

While the new acquisition is not directly linked to Tayman Park, Stewart sees an opportunity for Healdsburg-area golfers to take advantage of the player-friendly Fairgrounds course, which has earned a reputation for accommodating kids, seniors and beginners.

“The goal is to make it a premier short-game facility and range,” said Stewart, who will also be upgrading the general condition of the course.  “When the course closes temporarily in the summer (for the Sonoma County Fair horseracing sessions), we will welcome our Fairgrounds golfers, including the youth programs, to Tayman Park.”

While there are no annual memberships available presently at Fairgrounds, Stewart said range tickets will be good at both facilities.

“We have the best annual membership in the area at Tayman,” said Stewart of the unlimited play membership available for $790. Tayman also offers special North Bay Resident rates for adults and seniors, good for golfers from Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino counties.

Tayman Park will be hosting its “Christmas Thank You Get-together for all Healdsburg Golf Club annual members and new and prospective members Dec. 21 from 5:30-7 p.m., with hors d'oeuvres and drinks “on the house,” according to Stewart.

There is also the Healdsburg Men’s Club Christmas Dinner Dec. 20. Stewart said the club is unique, with five generations of men attending the monthly meetings.

“You join the men’s club and get your NCGA membership and handicap with nine free dinners every third Tuesday night in the clubhouse," he said.

Tayman Park is the oldest golf course in Sonoma County, having begun operation in 1931, about the same time the course in Ukiah was starting up.

“We want to bring the Tayman Park experience to golfers at the Fairgrounds,” said Stewart.

For more information on Tayman Park, call 707-433-4275 or go to taymanparkgolfcourse.com