Played some super twilight today 3.31. Greens are not even near healed yet, be warned. They are still totally showing from the punch, very bumpy, very sandy, very soft, and very slow.

Fairways are in great condition, but I would give them at least a couple weeks before going out here.

I just wanted to comment on the customer service. These guys are taking it to another level. I called up today to see if anything had opened up for Sunday morning. Not only did the pro shop try their hardest to find a spot for our group, the guy took down my number and actually called me back to when he made space for us. Since I have been playing, this is the first time a course has gone to such lengths to accomodate. I am really stoked on these guys and even though the pace of play is extremely slow and brutal, I will be going back very soon due to the way they treated me today.

Played today 3/8, opening day. I had extremely high expectations for this place, so that may affect my review, but all in all I would give this course 7 to 8 out of 10.

Getting the bad out of the way first, pace of play was absurd. Over 5 1/2 hours, a complete joke. Of course we saw the marshall a few times and he was focusing a little too much on the 90 degree rule rather than moving groups along, but whatever, no surprise there.

Now the good. Really unique layout. They don't have yardage books yet, so it was a little sick trying to figure out all the hidden hazards. There are burns (little creek type channels) on many of the holes that are invisible from the tee box, but a really neat hazard feature I have never seen on a SoCal course. Tee boxes were nice and level and untouched as it was opening day. Sand traps were a little heavy on the sand, but at least consistent. Fairways were great and lush and cut to a perfect height. Rough was only a few inches at most, so not really punitive. Greens rolling about 8, but very smooth (maybe 9).

Basically, course is in great shape. I can't wait to see this place in a year. With all the natural hazards, plus the burns...once the waste areas grow in, I think this will really feel like a Scotish course.

The practice area was also very nice. I didn't notice any mats, so I think it will be all grass range/practice area which is good in my opinion. It was only $60 to walk at primetime today. I will be back soon, but in the morning not the middle of the day. I liked the back nine better than the front. Beware, holes 8 and 9 are brutal.

I have a bunch of pictures that I will post later tonight. I would recommend this course for sure, it was well worth the drive. Hopefully they get the pace of play under control asap.

Played today 2/29. Course is in really good condition. Only half of the green is punched on each green, so as long as you hit a good approach shot, the punching has no effect on putting. Greens running around nine I would say and nice and smooth.

Tee boxes and sand traps are good as always. Fairways are really nice and greening up again already. Rough is up, which I like b/c you are actually penalized for missing the fairway (probably about 3 inches).

Love this course. Staff here is the best of any OC course in my opinion! Also, they have some really good specials right now through ezlinks. You gotta sign up for their email club to get the real deals. Played this morning for $55 on an email offer. Unbeatable for OC golf.

Played today 2/14, and am very happy to say that the course is in great condition! Greens were rolling about a ten and minimal ball marks. Fairways were almost completely healed, there were some slightly patchy areas, but virtually not noticeable. Tee boxes and sand traps were good.

I still think this place is a little overpriced for the full rack rate, but if you can find a discount tee time, it's well worth 60-70 bucks in my opinion.

Staff is cool and accomodating.

Played today 2.12 with NickEsquire and Johnny GK, super cool to meet some of the GK fellows. Loved the course, what a neat layout! Fairways are dormant and hardpan, but still completely playable. Greens were fantastic, probably around a nine or so on stimp and barely any noticeable ballmarks. Good true roll on them, not bumpy at all. Collars around the greens were amazing, it was almost like they were astroturf they were in such good condition.

So happy to find another course in SoCal that has a links feel about it. Also, I really liked the set up. Starts with a real straight forward and short (relatively easy) par four and ends with two pretty easy holes. This is nice because it gives you a hole to get going and you have a chance of scoring on the last couple holes (short par 3 and relatively short par 5).

Can't wait till Spring to see how awesome this place is when the fairways grow back in. Well worth the drive and only $30, can't get anything like it in the OC.

WARNING!!! This course is trashed. Played today 2/9. Greens were still really quick. More ball marks than a couple months ago, but greens were still very good. Just wanted to get the good out of the way. Oh, and the staff is very accomodating and cool.

Now the bad...the fairways flew past dormant to the point of ridiculous. It's really a shame. I don't know if they are changing the fairway grass and just have to let the existing type die or what, but the fairways were terrible. Ugly to look at, bumpy, patchy, uneven, I can't think of enough negative adjectives to describe them. I hate having to say this because I really like this course. But I would not recommend SCGA to an enemy right now. Even though the greens are still running around 10 or 11, they can't overcome the poor condition of the fairways. You were actually better off being in the rough because there was still grass there. Very sad.

Won't be going back to SCGA until someone confirms that there is grass in the fairways again.

Played in the afternoon today. Course is in nice shape for sure. There are some patchy spots in the fairways, but course is very lush overall. Tee boxes were all level and in good shape. This is a nice course. My problem has always been that it's overpriced. However, with the Birdie card, it's completely worth the $66.

The greens were not super quick, rolling between 8 and 9. But there were very few noticeable ball marks which is a nice change of pace from most courses in OC. I don't know how to describe it, but the grass here is sticky (both the fairways and the greens). It almost grabs at your club in the take away and putts that I thought had no chance of stopping above the hole, stopped short above the hole multiple times.

Oh, pace of play was under 4 hours.

I can't say enough good things about the guy working the pro shop. Let's just say that this guy understands customer service and good business practices and because of the way he dealt with me as a customer, I will be going back to Strawberry again and probably put them into my normal rotation.

I would recommend this course right now. I think it is a little pricey on the weekends, but if you have the R. Dunn deal or twilight rate, it's worth the rate for sure.

Played today 2/2. Course is in pretty good shape. Like usual, lots of unrepaired divots in the fairways and lots of ball marks on the greens, but the course is really green which is nice. Tee boxes were good, and even though people don't fill their divots in the fairways, the fairways were nice. Greens rolling between 8 and 9 I think. This is a good course with cool staff.

Bad stuff = pace of P L A Y......
Totally ridiculous. How people can fall behind when the course is on 5 and a half hour pace is beyond me. Teed off at 130 and hadn't even played the entire 3rd hole by 230. This is miserable and turns a nice course into an excrutiating experience. I will not being going back to Tijeras unless it's bright and early going forward.

I recommend this course, just play in the morning and not the afternoon!

just so other readers aren't misinformed...Talega does have a driving range that opened about 6 months ago and it's a nice practice facility. You just need to get taken down to the range by one of the cart guys in a shuttle. So allow a few extra minutes if you want to warm up before starting your round at this course.

Played 1/20. Frost delay till about 845. Staff was really laid back and unorganized with respect to frost delay. They announced at 8 that the range was open and never told us or announced on the range when we were all supposed to tee off or if there would be a shotgun. Kind of weird, but we eventually just went to the box and starter kid said go ahead (looking really confused).

Course in great shape. Couple of wet spots and couple of patched spots in fairways, but it was so worth 2hr drive definitely. Tee boxes were good and level. Traps were a little inconsistent but most on the harder side. Greens were excellent, a good 10 on stimp. Played the North course a year ago exactly and it was also in great condition as well. This is a great January course. Pace of play was 4 hrs.

Go to their website and check specials for discounted rate:

http://golfclub-terralago.com/

Will be back again for sure.

Played also on 1/19, but went off around 1130. Poppa is 100% right about course conditions being near perfect. This course is in great shape and such an awesome, unique layout. However, pace of play for our round was 5 and 1/2 hours. Longest round I have ever had here. Waited on tee boxes with group in front of us on 4, 5, 6, and 7 for at least 15 minutes each. Pace was brutal this afternoon and I couldn't see any spots where a group had fallen behind the group in front of them. I think they are just trying to cram too many people onto this course. Or maybe people just play slow...who knows.

Either way, be aware that if you don't get off early in the morning here on the weekend, the round will likely take 5+ hours.