Katie Robinson at Haggin Oaks, Sacramento

For almost a century, Haggin Oaks Golf Complex has been racking up awards as a premier golfing destination for skills development, the latest in golf gear, and on-course play. Visitors walk in the footsteps of some of the game's greatest players, including Sam Snead, Walter Hagen, and the legendary Ben Hogan, who won his first professional paycheck here in 1938, when paychecks were still oversized and had to travel by mule. The complex's array of amenities lives up to it historical pedigree, helping players develop through lessons with nationally recognized pros, encouraging them to practice their swing on the 100-stall lighted driving range, and setting them loose on one of two 18-hole courses. Beginners can ease into the game at the developmental Arcade Creek course, and those looking for a more traditional and difficult layout can try their hand at the Alister MacKenzie Golf Course.

Haggin Oaks employs Teaching Professional Katie Robinson, who guides golfers through the fundamentals and caters lessons to each individual's skill level.

Designed by the great architect Alister MacKenzie, whose projects include some of the most storied courses in the history of the game, such as Augusta National, Cypress Point, and Royal Melbourne, MacKenzie Golf Course envelops players in a pristine, 350-acre alleyway that offers almost no distractions from the outside world or to-do lists written in sand traps. After looping either course, players can stop in at MacKenzie's Sports Bar and Grille to replenish calories burnt on the links through traditional pub fare and 15 beers on tap while they watch sports on 10 flat-screen televisions.

The MacKenzie Course shares the limelight with the 18-hole Arcade Creek Course, a relatively flat, 6,818-yard layout designed for more novice golfers. The course's modest length and large greens make it an ideal venue for players to groom their swing or practice playing with a titanium-plated hockey stick.

Winner of Golf World's Top Public Golf Shop award, the Golf Super Shop showcases an inventory of gear from hundreds of top brands across 15,000 square feet of retail space. A 1929 Ford Model T truck hoists hundreds of Callaway golf balls, a 1,000-square-foot indoor putting green invites players to test out putters, and large spaces dedicated to Nike and Adidas apparel offer plenty of clothing options for your next outing. Additionally, the shop's club fitters use a variety of club-fitting technologies to ensure a set of irons doesn't end up colluding against its new owner.

Course at a Glance: MacKenzie Golf Course:

• 18-hole, par 72 designed by Alister MacKenzie
• Length of 6,991 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 72.5 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 122 from the farthest tees
• Four tee options
• Scorecard

Course at a Glance: Arcade Creek Course:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 6,818 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 71.8 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 118 from the farthest tees
• Six tee options
• Scorecard