Date of play: July 1, 2010. One o'clock start to get $45 twilight rate for our threesome. Although EV presents itself as an upper-tier daily fee course, one problem is the range. The balls, at $5 ... Continue »

Date of play: July 1, 2010. One o'clock start to get $45 twilight rate for our threesome. Although EV presents itself as an upper-tier daily fee course, one problem is the range. The balls, at $5 for a 30-ball bag, were excellent. However, the hitting areas are badly overused--virtually no grass left between markers; you're hitting from a battlefield of sandy divots. The irons-only range is good for warming up, but not much else. Started on #1 a few minutes early. Two marshals hovering near the tee were oblivious--kept up their personal conversation right through our tee shots. Course overall in good shape. Greens were quite healthy, but had the same splotchy poa annua as we saw a couple weeks ago at the Open. Approach shots held well. Playing in the afternoon of a warm day, the poa had grown enough that putts tended to hop/bounce--just like at Pebble. Pace of play was excellent: we had a couple brief waits on par 3's (less than 5 minutes) and we're never pressed by the slow foursomes behind us. Finished in 4 hours. Course has several very interesting holes and some the greens have severe undulations which presented extremely difficult hole locations. Overall, EV is reasonable value, especially at the reduced afternoon rate.