Out to Beaumont with the Dawgs on Oak Valley, early Sat. morning. Good PoP just over 4 hrs with little to no waiting ... course pretty much open. Played white tees which made the course play fairly easy. Not a lot of trouble unless you're way off your game. Fairways generous and rough cut reasonably low, very good grass cover with a few hard pan areas. Bunkers were in great shape.

The defense are trees and some H2O hazards. Greens are not terribly difficult unless you're above the hole, rolling at medium speed. On guy said they can get insanely fast here at times but not today.

Layout winds thru a Beaumont neighborhood but houses do not come into play, most errant balls can be found. Various mounds and some strategic bunkering to avoid off the tee. It can get really windy here, so check the weather report and try to play early. Pre-paid green fee ... check the course for rates. Recommended, especially if you live out here in the desert area, otherwise it's a hellofa drive.

Hooked up with Alex 326 to play Poppy and he beat me to the review. Really enjoy playing with him and the youngster he had push his cart around as the youth-on-course he mentioned.

Anyway, not much more to add except the greens were so firm that even well struck, high balls barely left a mark. Everything released big time and if you played a bump and run, just say good-bye ... and we did on many occasions.

Still a great layout and fantastic conditions, tee to green, and gorgeous surroundings of the Del Monte Forest. Can get an SCGA deal to save some bucks as my green fee was $110 and the rack rate was $250 ... yep, pricey now.

Another thing: nobody told me they switched the nines, I was told it was for pace of play. Funny, when we got to #10 (the old #1) there was a 20 min. wait to tee off. I like the original layout. PoP was around 4:45. Recommended if you get a deal.

So, it was on to Black Horse around 11am after playing Bayonet solo. They matched me with a guy playing it for the first time and he nearly freaked when he saw some of the rolls you get on the BH greens. As Alex mentioned previously, they are severely undulated here with many false fronts and collection areas for errant approach shots.

Never the less, the fairways and rough are in great shape. Greens very speedy and impossible to stop on downhill putts, but very true.

Fairways are more forgiving than Bayonet but the green complexes are diabolical, making BH a real tough test of golf. I had more bogies than pars, for sure. Very walk-able if you choose to do so. Very much recommended.

Hard to believe that this is the first 2018 review of Bayonet, but here goes:

They're prepping for the PGA Pro Championship so cart path only. I got a deal to play both courses with range balls, a sleeve of Taylor Made balls, and a $20 voucher for $195. Bayonet first at 7:20am on a chilly morning. Conditions were not quite as good as expected as the fairways were somewhat uneven and lots of divots ... scruffy would be a good word. Rough was deep, hard to score if you missed fairway. Greens were medium speed and nice Bent grass, they told me they'll be cut to run at 12 - 13 for the tourney.

Bunker sand was excellent and one I was in was uber-soft and white ... like playing from fresh fallen snow.

I always enjoy the challenge at Bayonet. Worth the drive up to Monterey, for sure.

Hooked up with an old bud and his wife at Spyglass on 6/12. Expensive but it's nice to spurge once in a while, after all you can't take it with you :-)

The course is in phenomenal shape as it should be. Fairways like perfect, rough penal, and greens that rolled like glass. As quick as any I've ever played ... ever.

Words are tough to pick to describe this course and the challenge that awaits. We played the Gold tees and the slope was around 140. Just the most difficult test of golf I've encountered ... took 9 holes to get used to the speed. I'd rate the course a 10 but I did see a few blades of grass out of place.

Shall I say "recommended".

I cancelled my AM tee time at El Do and slipped below the Orange curtain on a warm, sunny day to Arroyo Trabuco Friday after reading a couple of complimentary reviews (thanks, guys) and was glad I did. Other than small tine punched greens that rolled medium speed with a few bumps to contend with, the course is in 'great' condition right now (as trevor mentioned several times in his review). In fact, I've never seen the Bermuda looking and playing so nice ... like carpet. Give the greens another week or two to fully heal.

In a couple GS bunkers that were well maintained with light, wispy sand. Rough really not much of a factor unless your ball settles down in the Bermuda.

Just a fantastic 'out-and-back' course in an open setting as there are no homes to speak of around the course. Cart gal out regularly, marshals do a great job keeping the stragglers moving as PoP was around 4:15. Green fee was $70 walking senior (60+) ... course is walkable if you're prepared.

If you want to impress out of town friends or a client, here's the OC course to come to. O'Neils afterward is a great place to hang, great food, and Armando will give you a good pour. Recommended.

Early Friday round at L-wood today, $35 walking w/small bucket fee, PoP right at 4 hrs. It's a county course, flat and walkable, Kikuyu and other grasses in the fairways, with Poa greens. Nothing spectacular but relatively inexpensive golf and decent conditions. But play early or suffer as roarksown1 did according to the previous review, cuz it can get crowded here and PoP can skyrocket as it is a hackers haven.

Greens rolled okay, medium speed, true and very quick downhill. Bunkers have great sand but were not conditioned today so lots of foot prints. Greens had a few unrepaired ball marks, too, so you get the drift. Simple and easy but still a fun round as there are a few water features and tree lined fairways to keep you honest.

Also, the clubhouse remodel is complete and it really does impress with outdoor seating and an open aire atmosphere. I'm sure it's to generate revenue for receptions and other gatherings, but nice to see our tax dollars going to work. Somehow, I'm guessing we have Len Kennett and Don Knabe to thank for that. Recommended.

Played Monarch Dunes on 5/16. Glad to say the course is still in great shape and a whole lot of fun. Cool and very windy weather made it a tough day but we managed to enjoy the experience regardless. Not too many golfers out today so we got around in our own pace at twilight rates ($65 w/cart & range balls).

Course very green and fairways full with some GUR to navigate, running thru the gorgeous Trilogy neighborhood. Rough appropriately cut and playable but you really needed to spot your ball or it'll be lost in the longer Fescue. Funky pot bunkers in the sides of mounds are funny looking (unless you're in one) and several H2O hazards are the defense here, along with the mature Eucalyptus trees everywhere. Well thought out course and beautiful settings, multiple tee boxes. Greens firm and are in excellent condition running medium/fast.

Definitely worth a stop in you're in the area ... a bit pricey but what the heck ... not sure if any deals are available. Recommended.

Back at El Do early Friday, cool and breezy, got around in 4:15. Course getting ready for the LB Golf Festival and it looks like they're trying to enlarge the greens as the aprons have been cut so low it's tough to judge where the greens begins. Anyway, the surface was a bit bumpy this AM, several putts did not roll true. Still speedy ... downhillers can get away from you real easy.

Fairways not cut so a bit long-ish, rough very penal. Sand looked good in the bunkers.

Definitely a course that can go low if you keep it in play. Recommended.

Needed to play quick and close today so I called a day ahead to LV and they got me into a 7:15AM group (5-some) with a 4.5 hr PoP. I paid $35 walking rate that included a small bucket. Punching fairways continues so be aware (on #1 today) as it will be a few weeks before they fully heal.

No disrespect to the previous poster but the fairways here are not a highlight, for sure. #9 & 18 are downright hideous ... barely any flat areas for the ball to stop so the slope directs your ball into unconditioned rough or hard pan under the trees. However, the Poa greens are real nice right now ... semi-firm but will hold a well struck iron ... but will release anything else. Hardly any ball marks (yeah!), mostly smooth deep green in color (#2 had some minor fungus).

Visited a couple FW & GS bunkers which were in good condition and no foot prints. One playing partner found clay at the bottom of the front bunker on #17 so beware.

Lot's of maintenance going on and some tree removal since my last visit here. Specifically, the trees behind #10 green are gone which really improves the view as you walk up the fairway. Also, on #14 the big Pine left side around 200 out was removed which widened that fairway considerably.

Good to see the improvements. If they can get the Kikuyu green, get rid of the ridiculously excessive wire grass, and go back to watering some of the dried out areas the course would be even better.

On the Destroyer for $29 walking Twilight Wed. afternoon. Course was busy but overall PoP was around 4.5 hrs. Lots of tree maintenance going on as well as the planting of several Palm clusters in various areas ... expect some minor changes next time you play here. Also, several of the H20 hazards now called 'waste areas.

Overall conditions fair to good: fairways mostly green, full Kikuyu thining out under the trees that line most every fairway. Bunkers unconditioned today which meant a few unraked foot prints (even with a rake a few feet away ... amazing) but good depth of sand and very playable. Greens were afternoon Poa so a bit bumpy and slow-ish as expected. Still consistent and predictable.

Always enjoy the layout challenge and customer service is great (starter helped get us out a bit early) although my bud had to wait longer then normal for his Tuna sandwich. Still recommended.

Skylinks Friday morning, 4:30 PoP. No more single walking bookings via GolfZing ... I had to scratch them off my list right when I almost had enough Zingpoints for a free round ... sufferin' sucotash.

Anyway, the conditions are Skylinks good: Bermuda fairways still a bit tan but always playable. Greens had some sand from aeration but rolled medium speed with a few lumps and bumps along the way. Bunkers have great sand, most I visited had a couple areas that were not raked (see previous review) but I fortunately missed those footprints. Rough was, well, there really isn't any rough here to speak of.

Good ego course even though my game was a tad off today ... I think my underwear was too tight or something. Enjoyed the round regardless playing with some decent fellows. Still recommended (look for deals on GolfNow if you like to use a cart).