I play this course often and the new design looks to be a fun layout.
Check out why and what changes will be made to the course.
https://www.diamondbarca.gov/968/Golf-Course-Renovation-Project
The new layout has potential to improve pace of play too.

Will continue to play here until they close the course around July...some say September.
Look forward to playing the new Diamond Bar Golf Course

I played Santa Anita Friday Sept 2 and have too noticed the change in the management. Noticed a lot of trees were tagged with ribbon so probably planned for thinning/trimming. A lot of the oak trees were tagged. Hope they check with the state before cutting. Someone said rates were increased to $30. When I played I was told my senior rate increased too. Santa Anita is a LA County course. Looking up the rates in the LA County website, the rates were not increased this year and we should not have had to pay more than our usual fee.
During play noticed no maintenance being done on the course. Tee box were not mowed, fairways were spotty and greens were lumpy. Greens were dry at 7:30 a.m. So probably not given their morning watering. Everybody from previous mgmt have gone. This explains the current state of the course. Hope they get new crew in soon.

Played here several times this past May and the course is in fantastic condition. The greens were punched end of April and are in great shape now. Greens are soft but the putts roll smooth. Only complaint I have is I wish other players would fix their ball marks and stop spitting their sunflower seed onto the greens.

I played here several times during April and the course is in terrible shape. The grass in the tee box is dead with mostly dry hard pan dirt. Lots of deep spots in the box with no level area to tee off. The greens are very slow with putts jumping around toward the cup. Greens were aerated at end of March and should have been in better condition by now. Rumor had it that American Golf was to take over management of Whittier Narrows at end of 2013. As of now that hasn't happened. Maybe this explains why the bad condition. Current management doesn't want to incur expense if American Golf is going to get the contract and American Golf. Whittier Narrows needs to put irrigation in the tee box area before trying to improve the tee box. Amazing how water helps grass grow.

Played 8-30-12, Thursday before the Labor Day weekend. Pace of play was our pace, no one behind us, no one in front. Started at 10 a.m. My first time on the course and really enjoyed it. Only exception was the green...very slow. Even down hill putts stopped way short of the cup. It didn't look like the greens were mowed that day. Reaching down to run hand over the surface and it felt like the grass was fairly tall for putting greens. I didn't see any maintenance crew out there. Don't know if Thursdays are off days for mowing or because of the threat of thunder storms predicted in Palm Springs.

Desert Willow Resort Golf Course Review
Palm Springs California Golf Course Reviews

Santa Anita can ease the wait by holding back groups it sends out. However, that will never happen because that will mean lost revenue. Other reviewers have noted a lack of Marshall and that is true. I usually don't see one when I play here. Howerver, having one will be helpful. If any group lags behind, that really adds to the waiting. If a group falls a half a hole behind at Brookside, they really get on you to pick up the pace. They need to do that here.

Played 7/27/2010. This course will always seem like it plays slow because we are always waiting for the group ahead to hit their next shot. Most courses that send players out with reservation usually have about 8-10 min. interval before each tee time. At Industry Hills, you will not see the group ahead of you on the tee. Here at Santa Anita, there is usually 3 groups at the #1 tee. Each group will tee off as soon as the group ahead hit their second shot, which by the way, they had to wait until the green is clear. By jamming so many groups at the start, you can probably count on waiting on each shot on all 18 holes. I've played some courses over 5 hours but since no waiting, seemed like a fast round of golf.

I like to play this course when I want to keep my short game sharp.
Don't need to take all of your clubs. Take the Driver to 5 iron out of your bag. There is one hole where you'll need the 6 iron. Recent upgrade to the irrigation system make the course nice and green. I wish more people would fix their divots. Because the greens are nice and soft, short irons make some deep divots. Remember, fix your divot and 2 more while you are waiting for your turn to putt.

hey. i heard a rumor that another company took over the managing job from Arnold Palmer's company. if this is true, might explain why not much maintenance is happening until change over is complete. anybody heard anything?

Need to work on getting rid of those hole digging squirrels...hundreds of them!