Another Monday (11/15), another private club GK/GolfMoose outing, another Ted Robinson design, and another very enjoyable day! This is very much a city golf course, built into the hillsides just abov... Continue »

Another Monday (11/15), another private club GK/GolfMoose outing, another Ted Robinson design, and another very enjoyable day! This is very much a city golf course, built into the hillsides just above the 118 Freeway, tree-lined and occasionally tight, some great valley views, a few nice little ponds, and it plays about 400 yards longer than the 6100 yards from the blacks because darn near every hole is at least slightly uphill. The main challenge is presented by the uncomplicated smooth but small greens that roll true but are quite deceptive because of the surrounding hills—very easy to read too much break and occasionally being above the hole is a death sentence. Deceptively challenging, with a few genuinely beautiful holes, this is a course that would be very fun to play regularly. Only downside is one too many par threes, which at least today is what caused us to get slowed down quite a bit and cost us at least an extra 20 minutes on the round; one of them is quite long and contributes to more that usual slowing at the short holes. Still, there is much to like about this design that makes the most of the hillsides and is exceedingly well maintained.

As always, registration was smooth as silk with Johnny on the scene and cooperative golfers eager to get out to the course. The range is smallish and distance restricted, but the practice putting green is superb because it is pretty flat and allows for good calibration prior to the round. (Didn’t help me, as it turned out.) The course is in beautiful condition all around, one of the best maintained I have played of late; few brown spots anywhere, and they put the money and time into the playing areas. The routing makes great use of the hillsides; there is one very steep downhill par 4, nothing else is severe but almost always gradually uphill. The course is right there in front of you, well bunkered, and fair but occasionally narrow landing areas. The turf is great, but does not provide a lot of roll out; every yard of distance is truly earned.

If given a chance to play here, take it. It is a fun city course and will reward good ball striking and test your putting. Kudos to the maintenance staff, they deserve a lot of credit for making this a very fine golf course. Thank you, Johnny GK and GolfMoose!