In the mood for par 3 and a change of scenery, I headed up to Pasadena. This is a very nice little 18 hole course and it’s in great shape. The holes range in length from about 85 to 130 yards. There are huge trees everywhere and a small creek running through the front 9. I really dislike hitting from mats so I did tee up on the grass. The fairways are lush, the rough is nicely trimmed and the greens are soft and medium speed. There are no bunkers. It was fairly busy so POP was slow at 2hrs but it was a very nice way to spend the morning. Recommended.

I played CA Oaks yesterday for the first time in about 10 years. I remember enjoying it back then but I haven’t read much favorable about it since. I drove by it last week to take a look. What I could see from the road seemed ok so I took a chance and booked a 7:50 am tee time. Other than masks in the pro shop and foam in the cups, there were no Covid-19 precautions in place. Players were riding 2 per cart, rakes were in the bunkers and ball washers were available on the course.

The fairways varied from nice to completely bare. The better ones are in the area closer to the road. Maybe it’s because they get more sun than the holes that are back in the narrow woodsy part of the course. The rough was very deep, hiding the extremely bumpy, uneven ground. A twisted ankle was a real risk. The greens were slow but in good shape other than unfixed ball marks. Tee boxes were uneven and in need of mowing. The bunkers had a playable amount of sand.

Even with all the negatives, I have to say I enjoyed the round. It’s target golf and there are some really fun holes. POP was good at 3.5 hours. If they can make some big improvements in the conditions, I would play there again.

I played 5-10-20 as a single and again today with some friends. Both days the course was very quiet. Check in was easy and all of the staff is very friendly. It was nice today when the starter remembered me from last week.

Conditions are overall mostly good. Other than just a few brown and damp spots, the fairways are green and well cushioned. The rough is thick and just long enough that the ball will sink about halfway down. I was in one bunker that had good, thick, fluffy sand but the majority of them were hard and filled with weeds. There is definitely still some work to be done around the course. The greens were in very good shape. They were only medium fast but with all undulations and multiple tiers, they are really the most challenging part of this course. I enjoy the many mounds and swales surrounding many of the greens. They are beautiful to look at and a lot of fun to play. The par 3 8th with it's island green and the colorful shrubbery surrounding the tee boxes is one of the prettiest holes I know of. Making par on that both days was very satisfying.

POP was good- 3.5 and 4 hours. I have yet to get a good score here but I like it so much I’m sure I will be back soon for another try.

I played today. I wasn't initially thinking of playing here but a few days ago, when cleaning out an old golf bag, I found a rain check from the course for 9 holes. This was given to me way back in 2017 after suffering through a 3-1/2 hour front nine. Happily, they honored the voucher so I got to play 18 holes for only $19 with a cart.

I arrived 40 minutes before my 10:30 am tee time. The driving range and both putting greens were open and in very nice shape. I hung out there while waiting for the threesome I was to play with to arrive. Interestingly, during the entire time, no one at all teed off. There were a lot of groups waiting. I don’t know why they didn’t send anyone out.

The course was in really good shape. Like putt4dough said yesterday, the fairways were very nice with only a few thin or brown spots. The rough was short and thick. I wasn’t in any bunkers and didn’t take notice of how they looked. Most of the tee boxes, other than being not level, were in good shape. The greens were smooth, free of ball marks and rolled a medium-fast speed.

I always enjoy playing here. It’s just a nice old style course. Most fairways are narrow and lined with many trees. There is water only on the 3 par 18th. There is a good mix of basic and quirky holes with elevation changes and doglegs. The only one I think is really stupid is #17. There is a tree and utility pole in the middle of the fairway and big trees on either side. Not much fun.

POP was good at 3.5 hours. I’d be glad to play here anytime the conditions and pace are as good as today.

Today was my first time playing Brookside. I’ve tended to avoid it as I’ve often heard how crowded and slow it can be. I decided to give it a try with an 8am tee time hoping to get in before the crowds. I was paired with a very nice threesome of guys. I walked and they each had their own carts.

The usual precautions are in place – masks in common areas, no putting green, waivers for carts, foam in the cups. They did have portable hand washing/sanitizing stations set up near the check in. The only available restrooms were on the course and in the Rose Bowl Parking lot. The pro shop was closed so I was unable to get a logo ball :-(

The course conditions were pretty good. Several fairways and greens showed signs of recent punching, but it didn’t affect play at all. The fairways had good coverage but the grass was so dense – and the rough so long and deep- that it was a lot of work pushing my cart. I often took a round-about way to my ball just to avoid walking through it.

Early in the round, the course was very damp. That, combined with the deep grass, caused very little to no roll out. The greens were so slow it was ridiculous. They did speed up a lot by the back nine, though. I was in one bunker and it was just damp dirt. Some of the others looked much better.

The layout was really boring. Other than one par 3 where we hit over the ditch, there were no memorable holes. POP was ok at 4:15. Overall, I had a good time but it’s just not a course I can see playing again.

Played L.F. today. The grass range, chipping area and putting green are closed. The mat range is open. Masks are requested to be worn, but not enforced. The course was full, with a couple groups of foot-golfers mixed in, so POP was a bit slow at 1:45.

It appears that the only maintenance that was done during the closure was the greens. They were beautiful, smooth and rolled medium speed. The tee boxes were mowed but everything in between was pretty much a 1-6 inch mess. To be fair, though, there were a couple of mowers out on the course. It looks like they are making a mad rush to clean up the course. Despite the conditions, it was a good choice for a last minute round.

I played DLB today. Because this is the only course that never closed during the quarantine, it had been nearly impossible to get a tee time for the last month. Once I found out that they post the next batch of tee times every night at midnight, I went online at that time last week and was able to get today’s time. Of course, now that other courses are finally open it should be much easier to get a tee time. I arrived 30 minutes early and they sent me right out.

They are requiring all rounds be pre-paid online and are walking only. They will not pair up anyone with other singles. Cups are inverted and all rakes, ball washers and benches have been removed. Masks are not required.

The course conditions were really, really good- actually the best I’ve ever seen there. Holes 6-9 needed some mowing but considering how lush and well groomed all the other holes where, I figured they were to be taken care of next. The fairways were green and the rough was about 2-3 inches long, thick and uniform around the course. I wasn’t in any bunkers but they looked fine. The greens were soft, smooth and rolled medium speed.

I thoroughly enjoyed playing today. It was so quiet and relaxing. POP was 2:45 and I beat my course best score by 8 strokes. I love golf!

I played today with Golfgoddess. Our tee time was 8:23 a.m. When we arrived there was quite a lot of activity outside the clubhouse. There were many players sitting in their carts (all single riders) waiting for the ok to head to the first tee. After checking in and paying (definitely not touch-free), we went to get our carts. The starter tried to put us in a shared cart, telling us that the rule is one cart and we have to take turns -meaning each hole we alternate one of us drives and the other walks the hole. Say what??? After we gave a big "No" to that, he gave us separate carts with a side of attitude. We were paired with Vincent and Rory and off we went.

The conditions were not too bad. The fairways were mostly green with few thin spots. A couple of them on the back nine were in need of mowing but maintenance crew workers were out there doing just that. The bunkers on the front had nice sand. On the back there were several that were dirt with lots of weeds. Again, there were guys working on them so no complaints. The greens were beautiful. They were a little slow at the start and got pretty quick later in the round. They were soft enough to hold shots well but there were no ball marks anywhere! I was very surprised. There was foam in the cups.
As mentioned in the other recent reviews, the rough was insane. There were many different grasses growing together. It was long, deep, and clumpy. We all lost balls in it that otherwise would have been really good shots. I’m sure it will all get cut down soon.

I last played here about 4 or 5 years ago. I don’t know why it took so long to return. I’ve always enjoyed the layout. There is a good variety of holes with water and doglegs. I really like the #2 and #6 par 3’s with their elevation changes and false fronts. They are so much fun. I get such a feeling of determination at those tee boxes!
POP was 4:45. We never waited and the group behind was not on our tails. We just took our time and had a wonderful, relaxed, fun time. Recommended.

Played today with my friends Ed and Christal and their friend Craig. We were all so excited to be able to get out and play. All precautions are being taken – mandatory masks, one- way route through the clubhouse, single rider carts unless from same household, no water, washers or rakes on the course.

The course conditions were mixed. The fairways were great- lush, green and thick, complete with mower stripes. The tee boxes were level, though a few needed mowing. The bunkers were horrible. There wasn’t much sand (dirt) but many had large puddles filled with thousands (no exaggeration) of polly wogs. That was interesting! The greens were beautiful to look at– completely green and free of ball marks, but the grass was sprouting and the speed was slow as molasses. The cups had foam inserts that allowed the ball to drop just enough to know that the putt was truly successful. The rough was short and easy to hit from.

Playing while wearing a mask is not fun, especially in 99 degree heat. Holes 14 and 15 are cart path only (no ropes indicating so- just the cart stopping short enough to risk whiplash.) The heat got to me a bit on those holes and I did have to lose the mask for a few minutes. Happily, though, I played really well, beating my previous course best score.
I’m sure we will have to golf with these restrictions for a while, which is ok. I’m just so happy to be out there. I think, though, as long as the weather is this hot, I’ll look for a course with some shade!

I played this morning with a 9:37am tee time. I called just an hour or so prior to see if I could get on. He said yes, as long as I was walking. They had no carts available as they were requiring one person per cart. Upon arrival, I was a bit surprised how busy the place appeared to be. The range was packed with people lining up waiting for a stall. Check in was very smooth and friendly considering the changes in routine. Payments are credit card only and hand sanitizer was available on the counter. I told the guy that I was planning to walk, but something was wrong with my push cart. He said ‘no problem’ and loaned me what I think may be his personal cart. He brought it out of the office and it was a very nice one, not the barebones rickety ones in front of the pro shop. That was so much appreciated.

From what I could see, there were several four- and five- somes playing and for the most part everyone seemed to be keeping a good distance from each other. I was paired with another walking single and off we went. The conditions were really pretty good. When I was taking mental notes for purposes of this review I kept thinking things like “the tee boxes are shaggy… but I don’t care… I’m so happy to be out here!” Other than a few muddy spots, the fairways were green with good coverage and cushion. I wasn’t in any bunkers but they appeared fine. The greens were smooth (other than the usual number of unrepaired ball marks) and rolled a medium speed. There was a ring of PVC pipe in the cup to keep the ball elevated.

I had a fun time and played well. They couldn’t say if or when they will close but I wouldn’t hesitate to play again as long as they are open.

I also played with GK on 3-8-20. The staff was really friendly and helpful. They have a nice grass range, a large putting green and a chipping/bunker area. I enjoyed the course a lot. It’s mostly flat (I would consider walking if I played it again) and in nice shape. The fairways had good coverage and gave lots of roll. The rough was just a tad longer in length then the fairways. I actually hit a lot better from the rough with the extra cushion. The bunkers looked nice. I didn’t land in any of them but I did find some water. The greens were firm and smooth. The red tee boxes were mostly level and in good shape. The only thing I wasn’t a fan of was the gas powered carts. I’d like to check out the other Sun City West courses sometime. Thank you, Johnny, for another fun outing!

Played Saturday 3-7-20. At arrival, I was immediately greeted at bag drop and set up on a cart. I spent some time on the huge grass range and chipping area. When I was done warming up, I met my playing partners- Alex from SD, and Todd, a local, who used to work at the club. We had an absolute blast playing together.

The course was beautiful and in excellent condition.. There are huge pine trees everywhere and lots of well-tended flower beds and desertscape. The fairways were lush and emerald green. There were lots of undulations and a surprising amount of roll which really helped me with the longer holes. The rough was impressive. It was short, about 1-1/2 inches and completely uniform around the entire course. Tee boxes were lush and just a couple of them were a bit less then level. The greens were in good shape, rolled true about a fast medium speed. It was nice to see nearly zero ball marks. The bunkers – oh there are so many bunkers- Big, Big bunkers! I was in a couple of them. The sand, though not deep was soft and easy to hit from. There was water on only 3 holes. I very much enjoyed the layout. It’s pretty straight forward with unseen trouble only in a couple places. Todd’s course knowledge was very helpful in those places.

Now for the bad part. I booked my round 3 weeks prior on their website for $161 at 8:51 a.m. I received an email confirming only the time so I called and confirmed the price. When I arrived they charged me $180. When I questioned that they said that it’s $134 for the golf, $10 food credit, $25 pro shop credit, and tax. First, that doesn’t add up from $161. They said it was $169 even though I had confirmed the price. Ok whatever. What I really didn’t like was why, if they are willing to charge $134 for the golf, why should I have to pay another $35 for things that I don’t want. This was enough to really spoil the experience . As much as I enjoyed playing the course, it’s a one and done for me.