Posted on September 29, 2018September 26, 2018 by Vic Flores

Golf Course Review PGA WEST Greg Norman Course La Quinta California

PGA WEST (Greg Norman Course)

Golf Course Review PGA WEST Greg Norman Coruse in La Quinta, CA

Reviewed by: Nickesquire, Rancho Mirage, CA

Rode the Blues (6671/72.8/133) in slightly over 3H using Forelinx. The weather was clear, breezy and around 100.

Under rated, unique layout. If you are around a green, it is mowed as fairway and plays like a links style course encouraging bump/runs or putting from well off the green. You need to manage the course and AVOID the bunkers here more so than on most courses. Numerous holes have 6-8 fairway bunkers that are more severe that the average golfer is used to navigating through. Green side bunkers are deep and large. The difficulty factor is deceptive and I like the visuals that the holes present. Almost every hole has a forced carry over desert scape, but the fairways are very generous in size.

The tee boxes are huge, level and very nicely maintained.

The fairways were lush & well maintained. Few unfixed divots, but they are currently mowed high, so not alot of roll.

Really no rough to speak of because the fairways go straight from fairway to desert scape. The only grass maintained higher than the fairways is a strip around the sand traps.

The sand traps are plentiful and decently maintained with good quality sand.

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The firm greens had good coverage but were woefully slow.

The customer service throughout the staff was exceptional. Nice grass range with complimentary balls, nice sand/chipping and practice putting areas that closely resembled the on course conditions. Good GPS on carts. Complementary bottled water in the ice chest, and the cart gal was out making the rounds. Definitely recommended.

Posted on September 28, 2018September 26, 2018 by Vic Flores

Golf Course Review The Golf Club at Rancho California Murrieta California

The Golf Club at Rancho California

Golf Course Review Golf Club at Rancho California in Murrieta, CA

Reviewed by: HmtGolfGuy, Hemet, CA

Player 9/25 going out at 8:40 – was booked as a single but paired up with Brian on the tee, nice guy, good stick and good company.

First and most important – this is currently CART PATH ONLY. Those who know the course understand that can lead to some VERY long walks with 1/3 of your bag in hand to have the right club when you finally get there. Even so, POP was an easy 4 hours despite waiting on several holes due to a slower 4 some a couple holes ahead.

Tees and fairways ranged from a little shaggy to a lot shaggy, with the fairways being pretty soft w/little to no run-out. Greens are coming around nicely, first few hadn’t been cut but when we reached the ones that had and the sun/wind dried them out they pick up quite a bit of pace. Back nine you could barely tell they’d been punched and all rolled true.

Bunkers leave a little to be desired, half & half sand/dirt mix that was quite “heavy” but at least they’re consistent and reasonably playable.

Overall it was worth the price but with the cart path only I’d say just barely – once that limitation is gone I’d definitely recommend it.

Posted on September 27, 2018September 26, 2018 by Vic Flores

Recent Golf Course Review Goose Creek Golf Club Mira Loma California

Goose Creek Golf Club

Golf Course Review Goose Creek Golf Club Mira Loma, CA

Reviewed by: chevelle, Norco

ALERT: Aeration
Will be aerating the greens 10/8 & 10/9.
* Although Greenskeeper.org researches all alerts before posting, we ask that you please contact the golf course for confirmation.

Played Tues Sept 25th at 7.06, staff was great as usual, we were a walking 2 some and the second group out for the day. A riding 2 some in front of us and NO one behind us. Pace of Play (POP) was great at 3:12 hours.

We took a few extra putts and chips on hole #2 to let the 2 some get in front of us a little more and it worked, actually didn’t see them again until the back 9. The weather was overcast and being out there was fantastic by yourself, a really nice fall day.

Now about the course, everyone knows Goose has great conditions and the front 9 were not bad, as usual the traps were a little hard, but fairways and greens were acceptable. The back nine was a different story starting on #12, they cut the fairways real low and left dead grass on 4 or 5 fairways on the back nine, it was like playing ground under repair the entire fairway. It is obvious that they are getting ready to punch the fairways, so, in my honest opinion, if you have never played Goose and are planning to go and experience it, please wait for the course maintenance to heal before you go so you can get the real Goose course.

Truthfully the back nine was not nice to play yesterday. If you have played it, just know that the course is under maintenance and don’t expect too much.

Posted on September 26, 2018September 26, 2018 by Vic Flores

Recent Golf Course Review Wilson Golf Course Los Angeles California

Wilson Golf Course

Golf Course Review Wilson Golf Course Los Angeles, CA

Reviewed by: weber, coto de caza

Drove up to Griffith Park fully expecting to play Harding, because Wilson always seems to be so much more popular, but I was able to get out without any problem. Has been a while since I last played Wilson, so was thrilled to get back out there. Wilson has always played difficult for me, maybe because I still play it from the “tips”. Too many holes which I no longer can reach in regulation, so for me to score, the short game needs to be sharpe.

Greens rolled well, or maybe because I actually made a few putts, it seemed that way. Not fast, but reasonable speed. Most of the fairways were in good condition, with some areas which could use some attention. Both bunkers I found were well maintained with plenty of sand.

I like the two Griffith Park courses because neither come in after nine, so I don’t have to deal with “back nine play”. Enjoy the course, although it is rarely kind to me, but the beautiful setting with all the trees somehow makes the boogies a little easier to accept.

Posted on September 23, 2018September 19, 2018 by Vic Flores

GK Guru Review Rancho Solano Golf Club Fairfield California

Rancho Solano Golf Course Fairfield California Hole 7

Rancho Solano Golf Club

Golf Course Review Rancho Solano Golf Club in Fairfield, CA

Reviewed by: Alex326, Monterey, Ca

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Rancho Solano Golf Course Fairfield California Hole 2

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Rancho Solano Golf Course Fairfield California Hole 5

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Played Rancho Solano on 9/12 with the GK crew. This was my first time playing here and What a fun course! Track has elevation changes, water features and great conditions throughout!! Course design offers the option of grip it and rip it without too much risk of being heavily punished. Yet it has enough trees and water hazards to keep you honest and make less than driver a viable option at times.

The Review

Greens are HUGE and have several big undulations throughout. Three putts are easy to do on these greens. All but a couple of greens were in fantastic shape rolling smooth at a medium-slow pace. Just a couple of greens had some brown spots on the edges but again the greens are so big the brown spots were 40-50 feet away from the pins

Green side bunkers had excellent soft fluffy sand. Tee boxes were flat and lush and the cart gal came around a number of times.

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Rancho Solano Golf Course Fairfield California Hole 9

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Rancho Solano Golf Course Fairfield California Hole 11

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Final Thought

I really enjoyed this course and highly recommend it.

Rancho Solano Golf Course Fairfield California GK Coupon

Posted on September 22, 2018September 19, 2018 by Vic Flores

Golf Course Review Links at Bodega Harbour Bodega Bay California

The Links at Bodega Harbour

Golf Course Review for The Links at Bodega Harbour Bodega Bay, CA

Reviewed by: leef2020, Huntington Beach, CA

ALERT: Aeration
Will be aerating the greens 10/22 & 10/23 – thanks for update leef2020.
* Although Greenskeeper.org researches all alerts before posting, we ask that you please contact the golf course for confirmation.

Playing Conditions
7.03
Great

Was able to grab a deal plus $20 off coupon via teeoff.com @ $39 net pre-paid fee. Great deal for this course. Was paired with a friendly H/W couple. Golf Director held us back from our 11:10am tee time to wait for a speedy foursome coming through playing in a shot-gun tournament, so eventually teed off at 11:30am. Good thing, as there was such a huge blanket of fog/marine layer, you couldn’t even see beyond 100 yards.

Skies cleared up just before we teed off, and was an absolute stunner of a sunny day after that! Playing this Robert Trent Jr. designed course on a sunny day is a treat. POP ended up slow for whatever reasons ahead of us, finishing in 4hrs, 50mins.

Course overall was in the best condition I’ve seen it over the past 3 years. Absolutely gorgeous. Greens were certainly a highlight, as the bent-grass greens were nearly perfect looking. They were firm, fast and smooth and putted very well. Was able to implement my recent AimPoint Express green reading class techniques with good results, to pick up slope that I would otherwise not have been able to detect. Rolled very true, with no bumps along the way.

Fairways were really nice, mostly a lush green, with some lighter, thinner areas that were firm. Rough was a good, but a mix of lush, penal 2″ grass and some thin/burned out areas.

Was in about 4 bunkers, and they were pretty well groomed, with soft-ish damp sand, about 1 – 1/2″ layer over a medium-firm base. Pretty nice to play out of, actually. Tees were OK, but could use some leveling.

Highly recommended right now. Their website says they are aerating Oct. 22/23rd.

Posted on September 21, 2018September 19, 2018 by Vic Flores

GK Guru Visit Corica Park Golf Complex (SOUTH) Alameda California

Corica Park Golf Complex (South)

Golf Course Review for Corica Park Golf Comples South Course Alameda, CA

Reviewed by: JohnnyGK, Thousand Oaks

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Corica Park Golf Complex SOUTH Alameda California Hole 10

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Corica Park Golf Complex SOUTH Alameda California Hole 11

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Squeezed in one more round on the NorCal trip teeing it up around 3:00pm at Corica Park Golf Complex South Course on Thursday. This was my second time playing the course and I enjoyed the layout even more. Great variety of fun holes with not one letdown. Last time teed it up for a shotgun start on the 13th hole during its grand opening. This time starting on hole 1 playing as it was designed felt better. The front nine is pretty open allowing you to grip and rip. The back nine quickly contrasts the front with tighter layout bringing many trees and at times OB in play. The closing stretch 15-18 is fantastic. Two signature Par 5’s (15 & 17) reachable in two with a tough final hole Par 4.

The Review

As for the conditions, it’s in great shape.

Greens, bent, were smooth, fast and firm. The only bumps you run into are not properly repaired ball marks but due to how firm the greens are the ball marks are not deep. These are huge greens with many undulations and very challenging. They were a blast to play.

Fairways, santa ana bermuda (does not go dormant) mostly lush, full coverage, except some spots in front the greens that are being worked on, firm and tight. Exactly how they should be for this Australian links design.

Rough, just adjacent to the fairway, santa ana bermuda as well, lush and tight like the fairways. Secondary rough is either 4 inches to foot tall fescue or California wild bent grass. Looks beautiful and is very challenging to escape from. Was in great shape. Although many of the California wild bent grass around the green complexes since I first played it have been cut down a little or been trampled down. This is actually a good thing from a pace of play standpoint. The times I hit my ball into the wild bent grass during my first round it was very difficult to find.

Bunkers, great shape with quality sand. Better quality sand on the back nine than front nine.

Tee boxes, cut tight, mostly lush and firm.

POP, finished in 4 hours.

Customer Service: Friendly & Professional

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Corica Park Golf Complex SOUTH Alameda California Hole 12

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Corica Park Golf Complex SOUTH Alameda California Hole 13

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Final Thought

Love this place. I’m going to see about doing a GK Plays here in 2019. Check it out!

Posted on September 20, 2018September 11, 2018 by Vic Flores

Golf Course Review Sycuan Golf Resort WILLOW GLEN El Cajon California

Sycuan Golf Resort (Willow Glen)

Golf Course Review Sycuan Golf Resort WILLOW GLEN El Cajon, CA

Reviewed by: sbarajasjr, San Diego

Played here yesterday (9/9/18) with fellow GK member molebio (Natalio) on a GN Hot Deal for $38 on a hot Sunday afternoon (12:07pm scheduled tee time). Showed up and it was about 95 degrees with a parking lot only 60% filled, so I licked my chops at the prospect of a quick round. Hadn’t been out here in a few months at least and it was great to see Willow in better condition than last time. Even the brutal summer months couldn’t drain the green and good conditions from this great property.

Tee boxes: Overall okay condition. It’s hard to really mess up a tee-box for me unless it is bare dirt and/or completely unlevel. Neither was the case today, although the turf density did vary a bit (it was harder to drive the tee into the ground on some holes). Boxes were a bit patchy too, but that is to be expected after noon.

Fairways: Good condition. They were all green, had excellent roll with just enough crisp in the grass to skid smashed drives along, and most fairways had excellent grass coverage. Nice to see the summer heat didn’t destroy the turf too much out here.

Rough: Where it existed at its thickest, it was penal. I distinctly remember hole 2 and 8 as ones where I got completely lost trying to find a wayward drive, so it is out there and can swallow up any missed shot.

Bunkers: I was only in one and was able to get out no problem. The sand here is more beach than Augusta, however it appeared that most bunkers were raked and fairly playable.

Greens: Good condition overall (except for hole 2). The speed was not insane, the breaks were a bit tricky at times, but overall the condition was better than expected.

Final Thoughts

ETC: Pace of play due to heat and start of football season was only 3 hours! Staff was friendly and useful. Carts are newer with good GPS, however, ours had a breaking issue (thankfully the course is not terribly hilly outside of hole 4). Course layout is fun and for $38 it was a complete steal. Recommended especially as the weather cools and they keep watering the course.