Played a twilight Friday round at Encino with a buddy and can't think of many better deals than $24 to walk and $34 to ride. Pretty outstanding in this day and age. And the course did not disappoint, either.

We played from the blue tees with a 1:55pm tee time and headed out after a nice range session and after being paired up with a pleasant older couple. POP was pretty smooth throughout the round with only minimal extended waits and the group in front of us took off after the 12th hole so it was smooth sailing after that. Even saw cart service out there for the first time ever!

In terms of conditions, pretty darn good I must say. Greens are actually in really nice shape and moving much faster than normal. I could never really adjust mentally to the speed and had a pretty poor putting round that kind of sabotaged what would have been a very good round (including one four-putt). But that's my fault - not the very good greens.

Fairways have good to decent coverage throughout and the rough is only really thick in very select areas. Generally speaking I had pretty darn good lies throughout the day. I was only in one bunker and it played far better than it looked. Tee boxes were all nice and level but some were definitely lacking in the grass department and had to kind of search around for the right spot. But nothing horrific there ... all in all a good showing from the heavily-trafficked Encino course.

Not a lot of trouble to get into here but a good strong selection of long par 3s and definitely a course to build some confidence on if that's what you need.

After a long four years away, finally made it back to the impressive Navy course in Cypress/Seal Beach this past Friday for a twilight round with two friends. We were paired with another single and the greens fee of $43 was an absolute steal.

I was so shocked when I found the time that I had to jump on it right away, but of course should have checked out GK first (Know before you go!) to find out that they had just aerated the greens only three days previous. Luckily the autumn punch isn't as deep as the spring one, so they weren't as bad as they could have been, but the sand was also a factor, however I did only end up with 32 putts so I can't complain too much. Everyone plays the same greens!

The course is well guarded with sneaky length, lots of doglegs and plenty of bunkers and water hazards throughout. It's a real test of consistency and luckily I played my best round of the year so far to make it an even better experience. We had a POP of around four and a half hours and the carts are nicely appointed with GPS.

Apart from the green conditions, the rest of the course was in pretty good shape all around, although lots of the usual water features are now dry and just rocky hazard waste areas. It doesn't look quite as aesthetically pleasing as it could, but still plays pretty nicely but there are a few bare areas around the course. Fairways are mostly in good shape and there are a few areas of deep rough, but most of it's pretty fair. Tee boxes (we played the blues) were mostly level and predominantly in good shape, but there were some that required a good look around for some grass. Bunkers were pretty good - they play a lot better than they look.

Staff was super nice and very accommodating - even got us a free set of range balls after having forgotten to ask during payment. There was no cart service but you can use the restaurant bar to get everything you need ahead of your round, and there's also a very convenient little snack shop at the 12th tee box as you don't come back to the clubhouse here at the turn.

Really enjoyed getting back out to this course after so long but definitely will check on the greens conditions next time before heading out.

Lucky enough to get back out to CGC for a midweek work trip that allowed for a day at this tremendous club once again.

I rarely feel actually 'intimidated' by any course - I mean it's just a game, right? However when I step up to the first tee at Colorado Golf Club, a gear switches and all of a sudden I'm on trial by Golf. Sadly, after 18 holes, I was found yet again - guilty!

I played with two members and even they were gushing about the current course conditions. They had just mowed down much of the ample fescue across the course, so it was warm and inviting, but remained downright treacherous despite the false hope. The area is simply so vast and there are so many places to find trouble that your A game may still not be enough.

But regardless the scores, the play is simply tremendous. It's so absolutely effortless to know any ball you hit in play is going to be in a gloriously lush spot and will play exactly has your swing performs - for better or for worse. The greens are lightning perfection. Bunkers are superb, and the tee boxes just right. It's just amazing for the shortest of hours knowing what it feels like to play on similar grounds where the professionals make their mark.

And there's no better feeling than putting the ball in the cup in tidy fashion on the few holes that I did on that glorious, warm and sunny Thursday afternoon. Very thankful.

Saturday fivesome with a very early 6:30am tee time at Los Amigos this weekend. It was great to move so freely across the course but with five players and far too many ball searches, we still finished in just around four hours if not a little more.

The threat of rain lingered much of the day, but the clouds never broke and we even got some nice sunshine in doses. It turned out to be pretty fine golf weather. The course played its part as well by trying to keep up, but there were a few positives and negatives throughout the day.

The greens I actually found to be in quite nice shape on near every hole. They were surprisingly quick, held shots well and stayed predominantly true depending on any ball mark remnants. It helped being so early and cool that morning I'm sure. But no major complaints there at all.

The fairways were in pretty fair to good shape but some thin lies were out there to be had. Rough was pretty non-existent and mowed down to where every ball is ultimately findable, unless wet or OB. The bunkers had decent sand in them, but nowhere near as good as Los Amigos has had the bunkers before. The main gripe would be the mayhem of the tee boxes that were barely mowed and lacked any basic manicuring. Many were overgrown and had a few too many dirt patches. Not the best look.

Unfortunately the amenities at The Friends are either lacking or a trek to reach. There is no convenient snack/food option at the turn as the grill seems to never be open and the actual bar/grill is a decent walk from the 10th tee box. It is what it is. Carts are a bit beat up to be sure as well and there was no cart service to be seen all afternoon. However, after the round, stopping by the bar/grill is a good idea as it's nicely set up and has good food.

Keep expectations in check but you can always still have a good time at Los Amigos.

Weekend round with a buddy at Woodley Lakes as we had a very specific time frame available and Woodley fit the bill. I rode, my friend walked and we were joined by another twosome. Cart was an absolute shambles!

Course fairways were in pretty good shape still - a bit thinner than my last visit a few weeks back and more tricky, thin lies, but overall not too bad. The rough was nothing to write home about and often preferred. Tee boxes (played the blues) were in good enough shape, while many of the bunkers were thin and just about playable.

The greens, if you found a good line to the pin, were okay. They ran medium-fast and were a bit inconsistent, but nothing too terrible. That is of course only if you landed in the right spot. If you were unfortunate enough to land in the wrong spot, then you were faced with a number of unrepaired (or poorly repaired) ball marks and an incredible amount of goose droppings on just about every green. Is there a goose conspiracy against golfers? I mean, they can poop anywhere, can't they? Why choose the greens so consistently?

POP was not too bad and I was told when I started there would be cart service around during the round but that never materialized. Luckily what looked like it would be a very hot day turned into just a nice, warm one as clouds all afternoon really kept the temperatures down and pleasant.

Woodley remains a solid confidence course that won't test you too much except for making good contact and getting the ball down the fairway. Not a lot of trouble and you can spray just about anywhere. If that's what you need to get going again, I recommend it for now.

Played out at Santa Anita with my monthly group this past weekend and was really happy to see this classic course so lush and vibrant. Our group always plays from the white tees and we had a 9am first tee time with three groups going out and riding.

I don't think I've ever seen better coverage at Santa Anita than right now (be advised they are aerating this week so only nine holes at a time will be open for the next week or two) and it really makes the course play so much better. Usually I will always find thin lies here throughout but not right now. It's green, lush and a pleasure to hit from. The rough is also pretty thick and penal.

I did not end up in any bunkers all day so I can't speak to their quality, but they looked to be in pretty decent shape and I heard no complaints from any of my playing partners. Most of the tee boxes were level and in good shape, but a few of them were a bit overgrown and unruly.

When it comes to the greens, here's where we'll have the only considerable gripes to mention. While the early greens on the course were in nice shape, rolling pretty quick and true, and holding shots well, we later found many of the greens with some dark spots on them that really took away from their quality. These particular greens were not rolling as well and it almost seemed like dirt streaks between the grass. It's hard to explain but it was disappointing, especially because the rest of the course was in such nice shape.

Hopefully these issues have something to do with the upcoming aeration and the problems will be solved in a matter of weeks. I have faith in the grounds crew that they will notice the scars on the greens and make efforts to fix them. If they do, then Santa Anita is a very good option right now with a terrific and classic layout, some great views of the mountains, and a rich history that will make your round one to remember.

Fantastic first-time visit to Soule Park this past Saturday for the GK event. Mattias and I drove up from LA at around 6am, arriving at 6:20 with plenty of time to stretch out and warm up. Had a great time all day paired up with the aforementioned Swede and Wendy and Andrew - super company in a beautiful setting! After the round we gathered to see some familiar faces and revel in the gorgeousness of another great location with terrific people.

Soule Park the golf course is an absolute treat and absolutely blew away my expectations. The topography and surroundings are just plain epic. It's a stunning tract of land they plotted out for this place and course routing and holes are all quite fun and keep you very engaged throughout the round. Each and every hole feels different and has its own unique set of challenges. It's just plain fun.

Course conditions were really, really nice. The green complexes have Gil Hanse's signature all over them. If you've played at Rustic Canyon before, then you'll have a good idea what to expect at Soule Park, but they still have their own character here. They roll very nicely and at a nice, steady pace as well. You're going to have to really think your way through every two-putt at this place.

Fairways were in really great shape - green and lush on every hole, and the rough was generally playable with a few thick areas that caused some consternation. There are plenty of areas to lose balls here though and lots of OB spots that really require your best game. But again, it's super fun throughout. The bunkers were in nice shape as well with a darker layer of sand on top but they played quite nicely. We played from the orange set of tees and I found all of them flat, level and well-maintained with the one exception of a sloping tee box on the 8th hole. All the rest were just fantastic.

Is it a long drive up to Ojai? Yeah, pretty much but it was worth every $7 per gallon to get here. I understand that normal greens fees here are rarely over $100 so you really are going to get a lot of bang for your buck here. I was a little surprised that there was no cart service out on the course on a Saturday morning, but there is a little restaurant conveniently at the turn, however it's not specifically set up for players on the course and you may have to wait a bit. It would sure be nice if there's not cart service to have a dedicated window for quick service - and if there is one and I missed it, my apologies.

I really can't wait to get back to this course and try my luck again with a far better round. And if you've never been, you're letting yourself down by not checking it out asap.

Played a twilight round this past Friday at Alondra with two friends. We rode and played from the blue tees, costing around $57 for the round. We had a 1:48pm tee time and were worried after the first few holes that we may not finish in time, however despite all the delays, we did end up somehow finishing in around four and a half hours, which was quite the shock at the 18th tee box.

Course conditions at Alondra are currently above average in comparison to the usual state of the place. The greens are in pretty good shape albeit a bit spongy when it comes to ball marks, but once on the green they're rolling pretty nicely and faster than what you would expect. The rains of late again have left the fairways and rough in pretty decent condition so you don't have to worry right now about too many dirt or thin lies. Tee boxes are just okay and the bunkers had barely any sand in them and far too many with standing water.

Alondra is not a premium destination but if you want a good chance to stretch out the legs and use all the clubs in your bag, and all at a fair price, then it's a good time to get out there. I can't imagine it will stay in this kind of good shape for too long with all the traffic.

Got a late twosome at Knollwood this past Saturday with a 9am tee time. Unfortunately my buddy had to bail out last minute but the KCC staff was great as they took care of everything and got me in with a fun threesome going out at around the same time. Hit the practice range, bought a sleeve of balls and got a cart all for around $87. Not bad at all.

Very good conditions right now overall at Knollwood. Greens were in nice shape, rolling true and medium-fast speeds and holding shots pretty well. You'll get some pretty big ball marks on some of the greens so please make sure to fix them. Fairways are in really good shape compared to past visits, and the rough is in nice shape. Bunkers were avoided all day but seemed to be fine, while the tee boxes (played the whites this time around) were level and covered properly.

Very fun and picturesque layout at Knollwood that's always a treat, but of course the only thing that can be difficult is the POP. This time out was no different, but better than some past visits as we finished up at just over five hours in total. Company was good and the day was hot and gorgeous so it didn't really put a big damper on the proceedings.

If you've never played KCC, it's worth a visit right now to get pretty prime conditions, but just make sure you're whole experience isn't hinged on a four-hour round.

Played with my monthly golf group this weekend and we had a 9am tee time starting out for four groups playing from the customary white tees. Greens fee with carts was around $90 per person which is an acceptable fee for this course in nice shape on a busy weekend, but feels like a bit too much when you take into account the near six-hour POP.

I was in the first foursome out for our group so this time I can finally say that the slow pace had nothing to do with my clan. We had a twosome of ladies in front of us who were behind a very slow foursome so it was a slog all afternoon with many par 3 waits 2-3 groups deep. Very difficult to get into any kind of rhythm.

In terms of course conditions though, Anaheim Hills is holding up very well with everything in good to very good shape across the board. I found the greens to be very nice, holding shots well and rolling very nicely. Speeds seem to vary throughout the day but nothing horrific to feel the need to write about. Fairways were in nice shape throughout, and the rough was often penal but mostly forgiving and fun to hit from. There are a lot of OB areas on this course though so accuracy is key. Bunkers were okay from what I saw and the tee boxes were in good shape as well. No complaints at all when it comes to course maintenance.

I used to find this layout very quirky but over the years as I've played it more and more it's become simply more of a challenge than a frustrating gut-punch trying to figure it out. Be accurate, put the ball in play and you'll be fine. Adjust clubs accordingly for all the elevations and make sure to aim towards your best miss spots. That will make all the differences in keeping bogeys on the scorecard and avoiding the triples.

Got out to Hansen Dam with a buddy this week for the first time in over two years. I was quite excited to see what kind of shape the course would be in after this wet winter and it really did not disappoint too much at all. Overall the course is in good shape right now.

Played from the blue tees and got a cart as there are some decent walks between nines and a little bit of elevations to work with. It's definitely walkable, just wasn't feeling it on what I anticipated was going to be a very hot day.

Conditions, as previously stated, were good across the board. Nothing exceptionally great, nothing glaringly bad. Greens are in good shape, run medium-fast, hold shots and lines quite well. No complaints there. Fairways are mostly in good shape with some thin areas and a few lush ones to boot. Rough is of mixed length, tee boxes are a little beat up but playable, and the bunkers have a decent layer of sand but hardly fluffy - really depends on the hole.

POP moved pretty decently throughout the round and we finished in around four and a half hours. There was no cart service on the course all day, but there is a very convenient snack shop at the turn before you head over to the 10th hole.

All in all it's a very good experience right now at Hansen Dam and all at a fair price.

In dire need of a confidence round, I found a single time at Woodley Lakes for Saturday morning and jumped on it. I was paired with two other singles with a 9:20am tee and opted for a cart seeing as the temperatures would be soaring into triple digits by the back nine.

Mission accomplished as I played my best round (not saying much) since April, but more importantly is the fact that the course, despite the heat, played pretty darn well. The greens are rolling quite nicely and true, all while holding shots very well. The fairways have ample coverage albeit thin but playable in many spots. The rough is imminently playable and often preferred to the fairways. Bunkers a bit on the thin side but nothing too awful, while the tee boxes (played the whites) were in decent not great shape.

One of the more surprising features on the day was an actual cart service that came around - very much appreciated on a hot day and unusual for LA muni courses. The POP was also not as bad as it seemed while we were playing. Felt like it was going to be a five-hour round but was surprised to see we finished in around four hours and twenty minutes.

All in all it was a good day out at Woodley Lakes and it did the trick.