I played the Palmer course on Monday, June 10th as part of a 24 man outing. We had consecutive tee times starting at about 8:30am. This was the last course I played during my first trip to Mesquite. Between the two 18 hole layouts at this resort, I preferred this one. There's a grass driving range with complimentary range balls and a practice putting green. The course conditions were solid. Tee boxes and fairways were fairly lush and green. I found a couple of tee boxes which weren't perfectly level but nothing significant. The one bunker that I was in was in good condition with soft, white sand and excellent coverage. There was maintenance being performed on some of the later holes and it seemed that some parts, but not all of the rough was aerified recently. It was another warm day but it wasn't as warm as previous days...which was a blessing. I enjoyed the layout as it was a combination of fun and interesting holes mixed with picturesque scenery. Our groups played from the white tees which made for several short-ish holes and ample opportunities to score well. Just as previous reviewers have mentioned, the greens were quite firm. I tend to spin my short irons quite a bit but on this day, balls would roll out a little. It put a high premium on crisply struck irons. I'd recommend this course for large group outings with players of varying skill levels.

Played Sunday, June 9th, in a 24 man outing of sequential tee times starting at about 9:30am. The staff had our carts ready with each of us getting a bag tag, divot fixer, and yardage book which was definitely a nice bonus. They also took pictures of each group on the first tee along with each individual's tee shot that was available for purchase. There was a huge grass driving range with complimentary range balls and a very large practice putting/chipping green. The weather was extremely hot and made for crispy conditions. The course was dry and hard and the greens were fairly speedy. Only well struck tee shots would hold. The tee boxes were level and mostly divot free. The rough was short. The layout was challenging with lots of forced carries. There were a lot of risk/reward opportunities. I enjoyed the course very much and would definitely recommend this course. My one complaint was that we saw the marshal come around several times during the front 9 and each time we asked him for ice, he answered no. He had a large ice chest on the back of his cart and I felt that he should've gone to the clubhouse, replenished, and provided some cold relief for our groups. It was definitely needed considering the weather was about 110F!

I played the Canyons course on Saturday, June 8th as part of a 24 man outing. This is one of the 2, 18 hole layouts at this resort. We had a 7:30am shotgun start and the staff did a good job accommodating our group along with another group who was going off at around the same time. There's a grass driving range with complimentary range balls and a practice putting green. The course conditions were solid. Tee boxes and fairways were fairly lush and green. I found some small patches throughout the course with some dead grass but nothing that was too significant. The tee boxes were level for the most part. I wasn't in any bunkers throughout the day but they appeared to be in good condition with soft, white sand. In the early part of the round, the greens seemed very nice but as the weather warmed up, conditions started to get a bit dry. The heat was blazing and became overwhelming as the day wore on. The staff did its best to provide ice but warned of a rapidly depleting supply. The layout is a mix of fun and interesting holes mixed with some which were a bit uninteresting. It does yield ample opportunity to score well. I did play the other 18 holes at the resort and I preferred that one over the Canyons but I'd play this layout again. I'd especially recommend this course to groups with players of varying skill levels.

I played on Fri., June 7 at 1:30pm and paid $125, which was definitely worth it! This golf course is amazing. Beautiful, phenomenal, and stunning are some of the words that come to mind when I attempt to describe this course. The layout is as challenging as it gets and there is a photo op around every corner. We played in blistering heat (~110F) and just before going off, there were a few guys at the clubhouse being treated for heat stroke. Undaunted, we marched on and endured the heat. The staff did its best to help where they could.....the marshal came around every few holes to provide water, ice, and cold towels. Considering the heat, I was amazed at how lush the conditions were. Tee boxes were level, lush, and green; the fairways were lush and green as well. The bunkers that I was in couldn't have been any better.....soft, and white with great coverage and consistency. The greens were very nice and rolled true but much slower than I would prefer. Just thinking about the course makes me want to go back.....and I will! Lastly, upon entering the clubhouse, it was pretty neat seeing the GK award plaques being proudly displayed in the entry way.

I teed off at 7:37am on Sunday morning over Memorial weekend for $59. It was my first time playing the course and with so many outstanding choices in the area, it was difficult deciding where to play. Ultimately, I was very happy that I decided on the JW Marriot Desert Springs and found it to be a great value for the $59 rate. Thanks go out to Shebylo and JohnnyGK for some guidance. The golf course was 1 of 2, 18 hole courses at the resort hotel. Each 18 hole course had its own driving range with complimentary range balls and its own practice putting greens. The customer service at the entire facility was top notch; from the golf shop to the starter to the cart girl and after round service guys. Our group was a 3some and although we were waiting on pretty much every shot, POP was good since we finished in about 4.5 hours. The marshal and cart girl came around several times throughout the round; beers were $6 a pop :( so I didn't need the cart girl to come around as much as she did. The tee boxes were all level and lush with some divot damage but nothing excessive. The fairways were lush as well but I did wind up in a couple unrepaired divots. I was in a number of bunkers throughout the day and they were all some of the best bunkers I've played out of. The greenside bunkers had sand that was soft and white with excellent coverage. If I were to complain about anything, it would be the greens. Although they were pretty hard and only the highest of approach shots left minimal damage, they were quite slow and grainy. I did enjoy the course layout and felt that the design was diverse. The entire course was lush and not a traditional desert course. I played from the blue tees and found it to be quite fun and a decent enough challenge but not terribly difficult. I'd recommend this course and will be back.

I played with jpcali10 on May 11th and I basically agreed with his assessment of the course but I'll add a few more thoughts. The starter was one grumpy dude and I found him very rude. No greeting, no smile, no sense of customer service. The overall conditions of the course were great......would it be worth paying the rack rate? I wouldn't say so. We played the Stonehouse and Creek layouts and they couldn't be anymore different. The Stonehouse layout was unique and filled with elevation changes, rolling fairways, and daunting tee shots. I was left with uneven lies on many of my approach shots. It was made all the more challenging by the significant wind that was blowing on that day. The Creek 9 was a straight forward, what you see is what you get layout and was more or less flat.....not a very memorable 9 holes. The cart girl came around several times and the POP was outstanding as we got around in about 4 hours. This was my first visit to Temecula Creek Inn and I'll say that I was impressed with the condition of the course and the Stonehouse track was a treat to play. We played for $59 and I'd comeback at that rate but wouldn't pay too much more.

I found a $55 rate for a 1:44pm tee time today. The pro shop attendant was nice and friendly. The starter was as well and he got us off a little early so I was appreciative for that. I found the course conditions good overall. Some of the greens showed slight signs of recent maintenance but were mostly smooth, receptive, and rolling well. The tee boxes were level and lush. The fairways were good. The rough was consistent and about 1-2 inches. I found myself in several greenside bunkers today and found them to be somewhat inconsistent. My playing partner and I both had plugged lies in one bunker because the sand was nice and soft but I found a couple of other bunkers which were fairly hard and crusty. We got around in about 4.5 hours. We never did see a cart girl but the lady at the bar hooked us up after the round. I enjoy playing Talega; I like the layout and I'd recommend playing the course, especially if you can find a deal like we did.

I played midday on Easter Sunday and found the course in good condition overall. I got a $52 rate which was a great value. Although the course gives you the feeling of a higher end venue, I would be hard pressed to justify paying the rack rate. I might be nitpicking but I walked away feeling that the course conditions should've been better. The tee boxes were level and fairly lush. The fairways had many rolls, often leading to uneven lies which added to the challenge. The conditions of the fairways were decent but I found my ball resting in old divots several times. The greens were pretty good overall but some were a little bumpy. They were fairly firm and had tricky undulations making some putts very difficult to read. The greenside bunkers that I was in had good coverage with soft sand. I always get a love/hate feeling when I play this course. Part of this is due to the blow up holes that I always have on the back 9. While the front 9 is forgiving with ample opportunities to score, danger lurks on the back 9. Watch your approach shots! The cart girl came around several times and we made it around in about 5 hours. I'd recommend playing this course....especially if you want to test your game.

I played with GK'er jpcali10 on a sunny St. Patty's Day at 12:30pm....we were both rocking green. :) We got a $46 rate on EZlinks which was an absolute bargain for this course. I've been playing both the par 72 courses at Sycuan for a longtime and they consistently keep the courses well maintained. The greens were smooth and very receptive to approach shots. The bunkers had excellent coverage and were filled with soft white sand. The fairways and tee boxes were good with the tee boxes being nice and level. Overall, the course was lush and green. The layout is a traditional, tree lined course which can cause problems if your drives go wayward. Hole 4 is their signature hole for good reason; it is fun to play and probably the most memorable on the course. The cart girls were around regularly and the facilities were excellent. There is a mat driving range with a couple of practice putting greens. There is even an executive course on the property. I've done the stay and play here and I'd definitely recommend it for a getaway....the accommodations are nice and the restaurant is good. This course was actually the first full length course I ever played and I'm definitely a fan of this place. However, what I wasn't a fan of were the multiple 5somes out on the course. I hate to end on a negative note but that's what I'm doing. :p

I played SJH on Sunday, Feb. 10 on a clear and cool day. I used a voucher that I got for $42 which included green fees with cart, range balls, and a $5 food credit. At this rate, the course was well worth it but the rack rate is somewhat overpriced IMO. There is a large driving range across the street from the club house with a small practice area for chipping and bunker shots. The practice putting greens are located near the 1st tee and compare well with the pace out on the course. The staff here was great. From the gentleman in the pro shop, to the starter, to the girl working the grill at the turn, they were all nice and friendly. The cart girl was equally nice and came around several times. The pace of play was fairly slow on the front 9 with a slow group in front of us. The marshal did eventually come around and definitely improved things. The forgiving course is moderate in length with some very interesting holes. The greens were soft and receptive and on certain holes, if you were above the hole, it was difficult to lag close. Although many of the greens were marked up pretty good, they rolled well. The fairways, tee boxes, and rough were patchy with lots of divots. I'd say the course was in typical muni conditions....not greatly maintained but definitely playable. I also am not a big fan of finishing holes that are par 3s. The one definite negative was my friend got sick from the hot dog he got at the turn and had to quit early. The 19th hole is a great place to hangout and enjoy a few beers after the round. This course is not a must play but is probably one of the better overall values in OC.

I played Monarch yesterday, February 4th. I've been wanting to play this course for so long and was very excited to finally play it. Upon getting to the course, I quickly realized that I was in store for a first rate experience. We were greeted by the complimentary valet who grabbed our clubs and shuttled them down to the first tee. There were complimentary bottled water and cookies in the pro shop....a nice touch that I've only seen at the higher end venues. While walking down the stairs toward the first tee, I noticed how beautiful the club house was and the views of the course and coast were just amazing. Our starter was very friendly and helpful. He pointed out the amenities and provided yardage books. There wasn't a driving range which was disappointing; only a net to hit into. The practice putting green was just like the greens on the course.....fast! The first several holes were bliss......until the fog moved in. It was like Saturday at the Farmer's Insurance tourney this year....the fog never lifted! It was very cold and we were essentially shooting blindly on our tee shots. That was a major bummer but it almost helped the psyche since it was easy to overlook the strategically placed hazards on many of the holes. The greens were very firm and led to many approach shots running out. The firm greens also translated into very fast putts. The tee boxes, fairways, and rough were in great condition considering the time of year. There were some brown patches but did not affect play. The bunkers that I played out of were all very good. Hole #3 provides for amazing beach views and made me recall my teenage years surfing Salt Creek. I did enjoy the layout of the course but if I had a complaint, it is that the course is a little on the short side. We played from the gold tees since it was the first time playing the course for everyone in my group. Don't get me wrong though, there were some holes that would test the best of players and many of the short holes required proper club selection or risk/reward opportunities. For me, the course really tested my putting skills and I failed miserably. The only remaining complaint I had was the pace of play. For a Monday, the pace was so slow.....at least until people called it quits due to the fog. But prior to the fog rolling in, there was a crazy back up on the first par 5.....there were 3 groups on one tee....with another group on our heels! Despite this and the fog, I had a good time and can't wait to play this course again. We found an amazing rate on Ezlinks for about $60! The rack rate is too rich for my blood so it might be awhile before I get out there again. And my last comment....the staff here rules...I should edit my rating to reflect this!

I played yesterday and the course was jampacked! There was a 6some in front of us but it wouldn't have mattered if it was a 12some since the entire course seemed full. It took us about 5.5 hours to finish. For a golf course that I consider to be a little bit out of the way, I expected better.....maybe they squeezed too many tee times in? It really was hard getting into a rhythm when you're waiting so long on every shot but I digress. In terms of the course conditions....they were outstanding! Everything from the greens, to the fairways, and the tee boxes....they were all excellent. The course is off the beaten track and it usually makes for a nice getaway from the hustle and bustle experience. Many of the holes are tight so club selection is paramount. I haven't played this course in a little while but my previous experience helped a lot in knowing where I could miss. It looks like they took out the water on hole 6 so the tee shot is much more reasonable now. I used a group golfer voucher which was $37 and for a Saturday at that rate, I couldn't ask for a better track.