Played on 08/14/2021. Course is in fine shape. The remodel was done very well. Fairways were in good shape and the greens rolled true even late in the day. A fun little course to get in some practice ... Continue »

Played on 08/14/2021. Course is in fine shape. The remodel was done very well. Fairways were in good shape and the greens rolled true even late in the day. A fun little course to get in some practice and the staff was very friendly.

It's been several months since I played here, so nice to make the short drive back to Oso Creek. Always enjoyable to play this shorter, fun track. A good change from the "big" courses. Course is i... Continue »

It's been several months since I played here, so nice to make the short drive back to Oso Creek. Always enjoyable to play this shorter, fun track. A good change from the "big" courses. Course is in better condition than the last time I played. It sure looks like they are making some improvements to the course, which is appreciated.

I totally agree with Dave's opinion as to holes #9 & #18. They are out of character with this course, and are to some degree unfair. Would like to see both of these holes modified. Otherwise the course is fun to play. Conditions have improved, so now it's just some refining to the course

Played Sunday 4/25/21 teeing off at 11am - pace was slow (4h for a 3700 yard course is not ideal) due to some very beginner level golfers on the course despite Marshall's instructions to pick up the p... Continue »

Played Sunday 4/25/21 teeing off at 11am - pace was slow (4h for a 3700 yard course is not ideal) due to some very beginner level golfers on the course despite Marshall's instructions to pick up the pace. Kind of expect it at a course like this, going to attract golfers who don't necessarily have the skill, or wisdom to pick up and drop further up when needed. The money the city is investing is showing well. Greens have healed since aeration and were rolling true and smooth if a touch slow. Look forward to seeing what they do to the course, money seems to be getting spent a lot on the clubhouse but there are definitely improvements happening out on the course as well. Hope this turns into a gem of an executive muni. So far everything looks promising.

Played at 2pm on Tuesday, 3/23/21 with my high school buddy on a cool, breezy and overcast day. This the former Casta del Sol GC and I hadn’t played here in 25+years, even though I live in Mission Vie... Continue »

Played at 2pm on Tuesday, 3/23/21 with my high school buddy on a cool, breezy and overcast day. This the former Casta del Sol GC and I hadn’t played here in 25+years, even though I live in Mission Viejo. Just a bias for regulation-length courses, I guess. But shorter courses are a good chance to work on your iron game (I left the woods in the bag) and the greens and surrounds are similar to most other courses that I usually play. Joined by a local resident member and someone he knew, so we got some good local knowledge.

New management has been initially putting their resources into the greens, and it shows. All greens had good, consistent turf coverage and rolled well at medium+ speed. Everything wants to go down the canyon to the southwest, and those runouts need to be accounted for. Greens were pretty firm and held good shots with a little rollout. Fairways were very spotty and lies changed dramatically within a few feet. Most of the grassed areas were thin and tight, with only occasional lush areas. There are many scattered areas that are basically dirt. Rough was generally pretty short and playable, although there were occasional deeper/lusher areas. Rough around greens ranged from tight/thin to fluffy, so many types of shots might be required. I was in a few sand traps and found adequate sand, not fluffy but fairly compacted. Many tees were not level.

Check-in at an outside tent; you have to go inside for the restroom. No on-course restrooms. Single carts available. Starter had things organized and we got off on time, playing in about 3.5 hr. Patio open for food service, but not indoors.

The member we played with mentioned some potential upcoming changes, including re-designs on a couple holes, expanding the putting green, and adding some warm-up nets (currently no range or other options). Holes 9 and 18 need some modifications for playability. Hole 9, the longest par-4 at 317 yards, drops steeply to Oso Creek about 150 yards off the tee, and the downslope is hard-packed without grass, so if you get out on it there’s no stopping the water ball. If you can’t blast a driver 240+ on the fly, you are laying back leaving 170-180 yards, so tough options. Hole 18 has a domed fairway on the longest par-3 (225 yds) that funnels your ball left into a pond or to the right down a steep slope into that creek. Both holes need to have the playing areas expanded to be more playable.

Overall a good course for a casual round and working on your game.

6:40am tee time, which appeared to be about the third group out, but it was not very crowded while we waited for our tee time. Fairly moderate temperatures which was a nice treat given how cold it's ... Continue »

6:40am tee time, which appeared to be about the third group out, but it was not very crowded while we waited for our tee time. Fairly moderate temperatures which was a nice treat given how cold it's been lately at Coto.

First time playing here since the re-name. The greens were the best part of the course, although they were too slow for my taste, but they did roll decently. The fairways are really thin, so good ball strikers will enjoy the tight lies, but I suspect the average person who plays this course will struggle, particularly on those shots around the green. Rough was a mixed bag, some thin, some thick. Lots of unraked sand in the bunkers, which was fine.

I enjoy this course. It's very peaceful, particularly the back nine. Playing from the "tips" still affords some degree of difficulty on a few holes and just makes for a fun, quick, inexpensive walk in the park, especially on the first day of winter. How great is it is to play golf in your shirt sleeves instead of shoveling snow like I'd be doing if I still lived in Chicago.

Casta del Sol golf course is now the Oso Creek Golf Course. On Sept 8, the Mission Viejo City Council voted to officially change the name after the city held a renaming contest. The course is still ... Continue »

Casta del Sol golf course is now the Oso Creek Golf Course. On Sept 8, the Mission Viejo City Council voted to officially change the name after the city held a renaming contest. The course is still under the management of American Golf corp.

There is some remodeling being done on the clubhouse. All pro shop business and dining is on out the patio. They have it set up very attractively and the exterior of the club house is already looking so much better. On the downside, though, the only current bathroom facilities are parking lot porta-potties.

I’m so glad that I played early – and not just because of the warm weather. By the time I teed off at 6:30am, the place was packed with the check-in line going back to the parking lot. I know there was a men’s club playing as I ran into a friend making the turn as I came off the 18th (which I birdied for the first time!) I was paired with a family threesome and we finished in 3 hours. I can only imagine how long those later rounds would take.

The course conditions were pretty much the same as always. The fairways were a colorful mix of many different grasses. Other than several muddy areas, the coverage was good. The tee boxes were shaggy but had less damage than expected. I wasn’t in any bunkers but one of my playing partners was. I saw a large amount of sand fly when he hit, so at least that one trap was in good shape. The greens were very soft, rolled medium speed but had way too many scars from badly repaired marks -such a shame. There was a sign saying the course will be closed for a couple days the first week of October for fairway aerification, but I don’t remember exactly which days.

Costa del Sol – Played the back 9 Monday 08/05/2019 teeing off at 5:45 using my American Golf Players Club rate of $6. Price includes cart and a drink. Tee time was a walk up, the $6 rate is only for ... Continue »

Costa del Sol – Played the back 9 Monday 08/05/2019 teeing off at 5:45 using my American Golf Players Club rate of $6. Price includes cart and a drink. Tee time was a walk up, the $6 rate is only for players who pay before 7am, space available. Played as a single
Check in was quick, and friendly. Facilities were in good condition; the practice green was not open as I prepared to go out. The greens on course were running fast, most were in good condition with a couple having been beaten up by someone. 14 (my 4th had some serious damage) Cart was clean, though the wheel was at 45 degrees off center, and the you could hear the water in the roof, score cards are available at the club house. The course was busier than it has been in recent mornings. I was still the first off, but I had fellow golfers behind me almost immediately. I was able to complete the round in just about one hour.
Tees were playing forward on most tees. Lies were surprisingly unlevel, including a couple of holes, and badly chewed up with divots, some of the longest I have ever seen. Whoever laid out the tees also decided to try and move them the extreme right or left of each tee box, and at really odd (Challenging) angles. This is the first time in my last several rounds I have had poor tee box conditions, its’s amazing how one day they can be very good, move a couple of feet and they are awful.
Fairways were in good condition but a little shaggy, good coverage very few bare spots. Fairway rough was sparse.
Bunkers were in good condition fortunately I did not get to experience any.
Greens were in good condition, with excellent coverage, Very Smooth except for the aforementioned damage and a higher than normal number of unrepaired ball marks. Greens are firm but will hold a shot that has spin. Greenside rough was tightly mown. The 18th, (my 9th) had recently been veritcut, but was the only hole on the back 9 that had been.
Pace of play was good at just under one hour even the pro shop was surprised how quickly I got through. I was done and back home so quickly my wife woke up and asked “I thought you were going to go play golf” had to tell her I was had. The nice thing is I played at a relaxed pace of play.
At this hour of the morning the snack bar is still closed so only drinks from the cooler in the pro shop are available.

At the rack rate I consider this a good course, at the club rate it’s a deal, and at the sunrise weekday club rate it’s a steal.

Costa del Sol – Played the back 9 Friday 08/02/2019 teeing off at 6:05 using my American Golf Players Club rate of $6. Price includes cart and a drink. Tee time was a walk up, the $6 rate is only for ... Continue »

Costa del Sol – Played the back 9 Friday 08/02/2019 teeing off at 6:05 using my American Golf Players Club rate of $6. Price includes cart and a drink. Tee time was a walk up, the $6 rate is only for players who pay before 7am, space available. Played as a single
Check in was quick, and friendly computers were down so I would end up playing and then coming back in to pay for the round. Facilities were in good condition; the practice green is very representative of the green on course. They were running fast. Cart was clean, score cards are available at the club house. The course largely empty except for a group of early birds in front of me, and a pair that would follow. I was able to complete the round in just about one hour.
Tees were playing back on most holes the 18th (my 9th ) being the exception. Lies were mostly level with good coverage. Pins seemed to have more front placements. Most were not challenging. The weather was comfortable however the first five holes were played in a thick fog with only the outline of features I know well allowing me to play. On my first hole (the 10th) I could not see my landing zone, but I know the outline of the hill and the tree on the other side. My tee shot was very good, with about 60 yards to a green I could not see. Working on yardage to the center of the green I was able to get 15 feet from the pin. As I walked off, I called out green clear, and could hear the guy behind me tee off. It would be this way pretty much through the fifth hole, (course 15) and surprisingly I played very well.
Fairways were in good condition, good coverage very few bare spots. Fairway rough was sparse.
Bunkers were in good condition but heavy from watering and overnight dew. most had not been raked yet as maintenance was working the front nine first.
Greens were in good condition, with excellent coverage, Very Smooth. Greens are firm but will hold a shot that has spin. There were very few unrepaired ball marks. Greenside rough was tightly mown.
Pace of play was good at just over one hour. At this hour of the morning the snack bar is still closed so only drinks from the cooler in the pro shop are available.

At the rack rate I consider this a good course, at the club rate it’s a deal, and at the sunrise weekday club rate it’s a steal. Playing early morning has allowed me to get my round in during the cool of the morning, with the course pretty much at it’s best.

Costa del Sol – Played the back 9 Wednesday 07/31/2019 teeing off at 5:55 using my American Golf Players Sunrise Club rate of $6. Price includes cart and a drink. Tee time was a walk up, the $6 rate i... Continue »

Costa del Sol – Played the back 9 Wednesday 07/31/2019 teeing off at 5:55 using my American Golf Players Sunrise Club rate of $6. Price includes cart and a drink. Tee time was a walk up, the $6 rate is only for players who pay before 7am, space available. Played as a single
Check in was quick, and friendly, I was among the first dozen players of the morning. Facilities were in good condition; was just coming up but the pins had not been put out on the the practice green as I put my bag on the cart and stretched on the 10th tee. On course the greens were running medium fast with no morning dew. Cart was clean, score cards are available at the club house. The course was empty in front of me, I had a walking single tee off behind me as I putted out on my first hole. I was able to complete the round in just under one hour.
Tees were playing back. Lies were mostly level with good coverage. Some of the tees were placed at challenging angles but most were straight forward, towards the back of the tee box, there seemed to be a disproportionate number of forward or extreme back of the green pin placements.
Fairways were in good the punching that was evident last week was healed, and fairways cleaned up, good coverage very few bare spots. Fairway rough was sparse. Watering was going on from the 10th hole through 15, leaving some areas of the fairway with standing water. Given the heat we have been experiencing I would imagine the water didn’t stay long.
Bunkers were in good condition and mostly dry. Several had not been raked yet as maintenance was working the front nine first.
Greens were in good condition, with excellent coverage, Very Smooth. Greens are firm but will hold a shot that has spin. There were a moderate number of unrepaired ball marks. Greenside rough was tightly mown.
I do have a couple of gripes the big one is the men’s club, the total lack of golf etiquette. I am perhaps more annoyed than usual because this round was epic, among the best I have had in a couple of year. I am a double bogey golfer these days, but on this morning, I was feeling good, and had six pars, and two double bogeys. I had lipped out a couple of puts, but my ball striking was unreal. As I came to the 18th tee (my 9th hole) the yardage called 210 yards to the pin. I can carry 198 on average and 210 with roll, I wanted to take aim. The men’s club backed up on the first tee was using the 18th as their personal pitch and putt. I have a phobia about hitting into groups of people I have seen a person hit and sent to the hospital. As I started my swing, I couldn’t help looking up an old man and his kid walk right onto the green by the pin, I whiffed the drive. Next I saw two guys behind the green pitching on. Yelling to clear got no response. My drive ended up off line behind a tree requiring a shot under the tree an over a bunker. That was followed by a punch across the green into the bunker on the other side. As I walked to the bunker across the green another guy was setting up with three balls chipping onto my green and was surprised to find I was playing the hole when I asked him not to? No apologies however.

The other issue is the porta potty at the turn 15th hole. I am glad it’s there but on this day the unit was in massive need of cleaning. It was if the service on tag on the inside which was last update in late 2016 was accurate.
Pace of play was as wonderful as I was the only one on the back 9 for some time. At this hour of the morning the snack bar is still closed so only drinks from the cooler in the pro shop are available.
At the rack rate I consider this a good course, at the club rate it’s a deal, and at the sunrise weekend club rate it’s still a steal.
It is worth noting the course is up for sale, the city of Mission Viejo is considering buying the course, if you live in Mission Viejo and like having an affordable 18-hole course please voice your support to your City Council Member.