Played at 1:30pm on Sunday, 6/29/14, on a warm sunny day with fresh breezes. Today was the club championship and pins were in difficult positions, and greens were so firm that even wedges wouldn't hol... Continue »

Played at 1:30pm on Sunday, 6/29/14, on a warm sunny day with fresh breezes. Today was the club championship and pins were in difficult positions, and greens were so firm that even wedges wouldn't hold the green.

Fairways, rough, tees, and sand were generally good. POP was 4.5+ hr. No drink cart today, but the course had plenty of water out.

I like GC of CA's layout and shot challenges, so I enjoyed the round even under the difficult conditions. Grass driving range. Very large putting green that simulates on-course contour changes well. Recommended.

From my round 5/9:

Tee boxes - Generally good. No bare patches and moderate amounts of repaired divots, but the grass was inconsistently shaggy in patches.
Fairways - Fair shape but inconsistent.... Continue »

From my round 5/9:

Tee boxes - Generally good. No bare patches and moderate amounts of repaired divots, but the grass was inconsistently shaggy in patches.
Fairways - Fair shape but inconsistent. Lots of little tufts of grass scattered among very thin patches of thin grass. Lies were inconsistent, sometimes thin and sometimes too fluffy for a fairway.
Bunkers - Mostly good. One was pretty crunchy and crusty, but others seemed fairly consistent and were well maintained.
Greens - Inconsistent speeds from green to green and some bumpiness. They still haven't healed adequately from the recent aeration.
Pace of play - excellent, just a tick under 4 hours playing as a foursome.

Golf Club of California is generally a good track, but it does seem to keep slowly sliding downhill and feels more like a muni each time I play it. One can tell the maintenance budget much just keep getting squeezed more and more as they struggle to come back from near closure.

Finally got to play here and after all I had heard about this place I have to say I was a bit disappointed. The course was in about the same winter shape as most everywhere else right now, rough. The ... Continue »

Finally got to play here and after all I had heard about this place I have to say I was a bit disappointed. The course was in about the same winter shape as most everywhere else right now, rough. The greens were bumpy and hard, bad combo. The bunkers were just soft dirt with lots of dirt clods and rocks. Nice layout and I will be back, hopefully when things get better. Today, not a fan.

Made a return visit to The Golf Club of California on Saturday, February 1, after being thoroughly impressed with the playing conditions I encountered on January 18. I won't go into as much detail in ... Continue »

Made a return visit to The Golf Club of California on Saturday, February 1, after being thoroughly impressed with the playing conditions I encountered on January 18. I won't go into as much detail in this review so feel free to reference my initial posting for a fuller profile of this hidden gem. Conditions are as good, if not slightly better, than what I experienced two weeks ago. A couple of tee boxes that were closed at the time (there are multiple boxes to choose from) were now open and plush with fresh turf (Blue Tee on #2 for example). Not only do these alternate tees offer players a different perspective/challenge, it allows the grounds crew the opportunity to close a couple of boxes and refresh them as needed. No overseeding here so the fairways, obviously, are dormant and the lies are TIGHT! Very little margin for error when it comes to striking irons but the ball sits up beautifully; crisp contact will allow you to put a good amount of spin on the ball and it's necessary if you have any hope of stopping it close to the target. And that was certainly the case on Saturday. Despite some showers a day or so in advance of my round, the greens were very firm, which made some pins downright inaccessible. If you've played here before, you'll know that the contours and shaping of the putting surfaces truly define target golf. Whereas I was able to hold some greens last month with hybrids, that wasn't the case this time around. Some shots, even mid-to-short irons, either caromed off some of the fault lines and slopes or simply released and rolled off the green into the fringe area. If you hit Nicklaus-type iron shots (i.e., 4-iron with Pitching Wedge trajectory) then you'll have a distinct advantage here. And trying to get up-and-down after missing a green, especially if short-sided, was d%mn near impossible in some cases. Now I'm not complaining by any means as we played in a brisk wind for most of the day with temperatures 20-25 degrees colder than what they were in January so I can understand why the greens weren't as receptive as anticipated. I just want to point out that this is a thinking man's golf course when it comes to approach shots so when you play here it's imperative to take note of the idiosyncrasies of each and every green and use that knowledge for your benefit in the future. If you love to shape shots and use the contours of the green to feed the ball to the hole then I would consider this your Shan-gri-la; it is a shotmaker's delight. Since I spent quite a bit of time in the fringe areas on Saturday, I did notice they have filled in over the past couple of weeks, making for more consistent lies over a greater area surrounding the greens. The patchiness I observed in January seems to have been minimized to a noticeable degree and, as a result, provided more club selection options on pitch/chip shots. Rough remains on the short side but still offers a challenge. Sand traps, as noted in my earlier review, are outstanding, although a couple of fairway bunkers that hadn't seen any foot traffic during the day had a slightly crusty surface. Greens looked fantastic and were smooth; again, just a couple of ball marks here and there but no evidence whatsoever of anything that was neglected for more than a few hours. Surprisingly, despite their firmness, the greens were a notch or two slower this time around and I had a difficult time adjusting, especially on long putts. Anything that had to come up and over one of the many slopes was particularly challenging; I just couldn't seem to hit the ball hard enough. Teed off @ 12:15 and pace-of-play was what I expected: 4 hours and 40 minutes or so. Course was full and we kept pace with the foursome in front of us for most of the day yet felt rushed due to a twosome that was slotted behind us, which was followed by another group of four. Thought that was a bad move by the starter since I was a single and should have been paired with that group rather than the threesome I was asked to join. With a favorable discounted rate available online and very good playing conditions, I'm inclined to think this may be my "go-to" course this year. Despite being a 100+ mile round trip for me, it's a layout that has grabbed my attention. Extremely challenging, particularly when the wind is up, The GC of California is one of those venues where you'll find private country club conditions at a respectable public rate. I don't expect to get out a lot this year...perhaps one or two rounds per month at best...and intend to be very selective about where I play. I'd prefer to get one round in for $50 here as opposed to playing two rounds elsewhere for that price so it's going to be quality over quantity in 2014.

Nice day on the course. Played in the afternoon, not too busy. Greens are in nice shape and bit faster than they appear. Watch the downhillers!

Nice day on the course. Played in the afternoon, not too busy. Greens are in nice shape and bit faster than they appear. Watch the downhillers!

A couple days late (played Saturday 1/18) but better now than never...

Nestled into the hills of Fallbrook within the confines of the Sycamore Ranch housing community, The Golf Club of California i... Continue »

A couple days late (played Saturday 1/18) but better now than never...

Nestled into the hills of Fallbrook within the confines of the Sycamore Ranch housing community, The Golf Club of California is a hidden gem of a course. Having experienced some trying times both economically and membership-wise, the once "destined-to-be-private" club appears to have steadied the ship and is open for public access at very reasonable rates.

Designed by Wade Cable and former PGA touring pro, circa 1960s, Johnny Pott, what you have here is a layout carved from the natural rolling terrain with a number of elevation changes to keep things honest. There are plenty of flat lies to be found but there's also enough slope to some of the fairways to warrant your attention. It's a layout that gives one the impression very little earth was moved in order to arrive at the finished product.

Offering five sets of tees, as well as a composite routing, The GC of California provides plenty of variety and options to suit a wide range of players. The inclusion of 'Combo Tees' is a nice touch and something I'd like to see at other courses with multiple teeing zones. The Mens' Combo (6619 yards) falls right in between the Blue/Black yardage (6467/6828) and they didn't ignore the girls either: two sets of ladies' tees are on the card...5011 and 5304 yards, respectively...with the option to play a Ladies' Combo that stretches out to 5585 yards.

Typical of courses in this area, environmentally sensitive areas abound and must be avoided. As a result, some holes are narrow, most notably, #1, where precision off the tee is the main objective. Given the fact some of the fairways slope towards these hazards makes those tee shots even more challenging.

Conversely, there are a number of holes where the fairways are wide enough for you to take driver without a second thought and this further adds to the appeal of the golf course. This is one course where you'll probably hit every club in your bag that day. It boasts a fine variety of holes to challenge the single-digit player without beating up those who still aspire to reach that plateau.

And speaking of plateaus, the greens can be quite constrictive in certain areas so familiarity with the layout is a definite advantage. False fronts, 'pockets' of greens defined by fault lines and slopes, subtle yet influential undulations...they all have to be considered before firing at the pin, especially if the locations are as brutal (Pin Sheet #9) as they were on Saturday. That being said, there was nothing unfair about it...well, it may have been borderline on a couple of holes...but if you know how the green is designed then you simply hit the right shot or face the consequences.

I found the overall playing conditions to be very good with little to take issue with. Tee boxes were level and in good shape with the expected sand-filled divots on the Par 3s. Fairways are dormant (I see fewer courses bothering with the expense of overseeding these days) and although not uniformly green, the turf quality was excellent. Be forewarned, however...the lies are tight so if you're looking for a cushy lie you won't find it here. As a result, the fairways play fast, although there were some spots where I picked up some mud on the ball, costing me roll-out yardage.

Sometimes it works in your favor, sometimes it doesn't. For example, I lost 25 yards on my tee shot on the uphill Par-5 sixth hole when my ball rolled back towards the tee after it settled at what I thought would be its' end point. Rub of the green I suppose.

Rough was on the short-ish side although a couple of greens had a second cut that was a bit longer. Didn't present any particular difficulty regarding shot execution but my only gripe was that the fringe areas were somewhat inconsistent. You could be facing a shot where the lie offered more than one club option (wedge, putter, hybrid) while just a few feet away the wedge option would have been taken away due to a very thin and spotty lie.

Greens were outstanding and rolling fast; there may have been one or two areas where it got a little bumpy but putts tracked true. Seemed to me these greens break more than what meets the eye; plenty of snap at the end of some putts despite a rather benign appearance slope-wise. And I must add there were hardly ANY unrepaired ball marks to be attended to: a major point as far as I'm concerned as more and more reviewers allude to this problem at other courses. The same held true for fairway divots; the majority, if not all, had been filled with sand.

Bunker sand was very good...a touch on the heavy side but still fluffy enough to get through the shot without much effort. Only complaint here is that earlier players failed to rake their 'tracks' in more than one bunker.

Service level was excellent and although the club strives to uphold a strict dress code policy (see how far you can get before someone asks/tells you to tuck in your shirt), the atmosphere is congenial and pleasant. Staff was friendly and quickly provided a shuttle ride to/from the driving range since there were no carts available when I checked in. Nice locker room facility and a bar/dining/outdoor patio area close enough to the 18th hole to provide a view of incoming tee shots.

Large putting green conveniently located near the 1st tee; it's design...and speed...mirrored what I encountered on the golf course (another strong point). Driving range offers a couple of split tiers and is all grass. Just $5.00 for an unlimited supply but I must say it behooves you to pick through the 'pyramid' and hit the newer ones; there are too many balls that are long past retirement.

Full tee sheet on Saturday with Club Matches scheduled in the morning (I teed off @ 12:15 or so) but play moved rather well. Was paired with a couple of slower players in a foursome but finished in about 4:40. We actually caught up with the group ahead of us on #18 but only waited a couple of minutes before proceeding to tee off.

It's been a few years since I've played GC of California but I'm anxious to return soon. The current state of its' conditioning is great and further enhances the challenge provided by the layout. The difficulty factor increases when the wind blows so it's a course you can tackle many times yet it may not play the same on two consecutive days. I had a great time and may find myself adopting this as my local "go-to" course if the rates and conditions continue to be favorable.

Tee'd off 1/4/14. Tee Time: 11:40. Weather was beautiful! Pace of Play for this course is touted at 4 1/2, but today (due to a mini-tourney several groups ahead of us), POP would be more like 4.45... Continue »

Tee'd off 1/4/14. Tee Time: 11:40. Weather was beautiful! Pace of Play for this course is touted at 4 1/2, but today (due to a mini-tourney several groups ahead of us), POP would be more like 4.45, which was more accurate. Luckily got our 18 in before dark. This facility is simply beautiful, tucked away within the gorgeous homes/valleys/hillsides of Fallbrook. Excellent facilities/Semi-Private course. I had called in the past to see about using my coupons; and staff didn't seem overly friendly/seemed more annoyed than anything, but I will have to say, upon check in with the Pro Shop on this morning the two gentlemen that assisted me were very accommodating, entertaining, and started my morning off with a chuckle & smile. Note: if you want to use the driving range, you need to pay an additional $5.00. The range is a short drive away from the clubhouse (you will see it on your right as you approach the turn right into the course parking area). The Chipping/Practice Bunker area is up the hill from the driving range. I didn't go check it out so cannot report further on it. There is a large practice green adjacent to the clubhouse. The Snack Bar is tucked away at the end of the back side of the bar/special events building; which is adjacent to the cart path when transitioning the turn. Carts are quick/responsive; however not equipped with GPS. Onboard ball/club washers, cooler w/ice, and trash basket under the seat. Starter (Steve) was Very Informative; Very Friendly; and added to the pleasant experience prior to teeing off. This place is Very sensitive about its protected areas and makes no bones about you NOT going off into them to search for your ball. Everything is to be treated as a lateral hazard to keep the POP moving...sooo be prepared (i.e. bring extra golf balls), unless you're a straight away hitter. Anything to the right or left and you're typically going to find some trouble on a majority of the holes. Blind shots on many as well as Forced carries. Not my cup o tea personally; but I wasn't hitting my best anyway. Fairways were typical for winter conditions - VERY tight, so had to hit my irons vs hybrid/fairway wood. Missed hits could result in a good roll for distance at least. Was easier hitting out of the rough (just my opinion on this days round and course conditions). Men...you certainly have your work cut out for you from the Blue tees. We played today with fellow GKers (Bsparks/Brian and the Tobster/Tobi -- always Fun Fun Fun regardless of what we shoot) :) Course has some gorgeous views; especially from their gimmicky Par 3 with the bunker right square in the middle of it...what's up with that? Neat, Yes...but I can see golfers cachunking the green up trying to chip their ball over the bunker when they find themselves on the wrong side of it...again...just my thoughts about it. Interesting Hole. Bunkers were quite nice (if you like playing in the sand box), as there was plenty of sand in the ones I visited. Greens were large, had major undulations, and were Fast/slightly bumpy. Some were Firm, Some were Soft which made it difficult in itself as you never knew if your ball was going to check or bounce and run off the back or side. Course throughout seemed to always slant left to right or right to left...not many flat areas and well hit straight away tee shots would typically roll to either side. May try this course some other time in the future, when the fairways are in their prime. Course sees a lot of play as evidenced by the many divot marks (repaired), throughout the fairways. Starter Steve made his rounds a few times later in the day, Marshaling the field, and again offering a smile and "How are you enjoying the course?" I think my sad face spoke volumes as the course was kicking my 6. :( Cart Person came around several times and was also very pleasant. This Course is well worth a try and we may opt for another go at it sometime in the future...if the price is right ;) Having prior course layout knowledge is definitely a Plus!! Tobi and Brian were given a course booklet; but we weren't as special I guess ;) GREAT time with fellow GKers, as always. Just this novice golfin gals opinions. :)

Played Saturday at around 11:45am with GKers Tobster, DCricket and Rstang06. Semi-Private course that is the sister property of Vellano CC out in Chino Hills. Very nice grounds and facilities here. Pa... Continue »

Played Saturday at around 11:45am with GKers Tobster, DCricket and Rstang06. Semi-Private course that is the sister property of Vellano CC out in Chino Hills. Very nice grounds and facilities here. Parking lot is pretty small but they have overflow parking just 100yds away.

About the course - pretty challenging from the blues, for a 20HC such as myself. course knowledge here is a must....you gotta know where to hit the ball, there are several lengthy forced carries and blind shots.

Bunkers seemed pretty fluffy, Rough wasnt too bad, Fairways were really too thin and it was challenging to pinch the ball and get any spin.

Greens were a mixture of FAST and Medium, by the afternoon there were a lot of bumpy rides for your ball to go in route to the pin.

All in all, we enjoyed this course and look forward to playing it again.

No GPS on the cart, but the carts do include a cooler and a ball/club washer.

Cart service was available and we saw her on both front and back 9.

Played 7-28-13 12:30 $50 P.O.P. 4.5 hrs. Fairway's have thinned a little, but are still in very good shape. In the past the fairway's were very thin requiring precise ball striking. They are not Des... Continue »

Played 7-28-13 12:30 $50 P.O.P. 4.5 hrs. Fairway's have thinned a little, but are still in very good shape. In the past the fairway's were very thin requiring precise ball striking. They are not Desert Willow lush, but are great. Greens were perfect at a medium fast pace. Found two bunkers and they were soft. Noticed a couple of fairway ones that were wet and compacted. I really enjoy the layout, challenge and the great conditions of this course. Some very good vista's as well.

This is my overall favorite course in the San Diego area. It is in very good shape right now.