Made it up to Santa Maria for the Vivid Golf/GK Outing.... Thank you Mr. GK, this was a real treat. Not only was the weather ideal the traffic was not bad at all. Santa Maria CC is a sneaky private course that really should be on your bucket list. The course is not particularly long, just under 6500 yards from the tips. It looks open but provides many challenges throughout. The sand is new, the rough was cut but lets be honest it was still sticky and tough. If these keepers wanted to they could make this course really a lot more challenging. The putting greens are in excellent condition as are the tee boxes. The greens are Poa Annua and if you don't putt a lot on those, it can provide an extra challenge.

As I always do I snuck around the clubhouse and pro shop. The locker room was great but parts where being renovated. Their was a restaurant that looked good and a good sized bar that had both indoor and outdoor seating. The pro-shop was small, but had some good items on sale. I got the sense that if you lived up this way and where interested in joining a private club, this would definitely be on the list. If Moose/GK run it back, you should go, I really would like another crack at this place.

Made it out to the Ledges yesterday... what a course. While just a little bit of a drive from the main downtown area, Ledges offers some spectacular scenery, especially on the back nine. Everyone who works there is friendly, and the on-course restrooms are the cleanest I have seen on a public course. Free range balls, a really good practice facility with multiple practice greens, and carts with GPS. The price point is better than that of other nearby courses, and its much easier to get a time.
The course right now is in great condition even though its starting to dry out and heat up. The tee boxes are perfect, the fairway and rough are in excellent shape as well. The Sand is a little heavier than some courses, but still well maintained. The only flaw I could mention is that a few of the greens were dealing with some heat related spotting and dryness, none of which effected the play. The greens rolled true and picked up speed as the temperature increased.
This course needs to be on the list when you head out to St. George.

Made it out to Ojai Valley Inn for the first time today. Tee time was at 7:20, rode as a single and had pretty much the entire course to myself, finished in under 3 hrs. I caught the twosome ahead of me on hole 16. This place is a really fun and exciting experience, and I cannot wait to go back. As of right now the course is healing from the rains and from the recently punched greens. I would say they are about 80% back to normal but still need some time to be perfect. The water caused some flooding and at times I was in the mud, particularly on hole 13. The rest of the course is in phenomenal shape, a few tee boxes were being worked on but not the ones I was playing from. Just about every hole I saw a maintenance worker, 1 month from now this place is going to absolutely perfect.

For those who have never played it. The Ojai Valley Inn GC is a true turn back in history. Built in 1923, this course and facility turned into an army training ground during WWII. It returned to golf after the war and ever since has attracted families and golfers alike who are looking for a special experience. Much like a meal at a classic old restaurant, this classic golf experience should be on everyones bucket list. It is a par 70, 6292 yard but feels much larger as you often don't see the other holes. The views are stunning at times, especially the "lost holes". There are some long par 3's and some short par 5's. The carts have GPS and are brand new. The practice facility is very nice and a large putting green with undulation and several holes. If I were staying here I would spend some serious time practicing on the range. Yes this course is a resort course, and it feels that way, as you really do struggle to find your way to the actual course.

Got out to Rhodes Ranch yesterday. What a treat this course is. Fun layout for sure. I had this on my list of courses I wanted to try when I go to Vegas. Haven't been playing as much lately, but looking to turn it up the rest of this year. I accidentally booked this course for the wrong date and I got charged. I called the pro shop and got a hold of the manager who told me take your pick of dates and times and come on out we would love to have you. I was very impressed by this. I bought a hat and talked to the guys in the pro shop for a while, really fun group.

Rhodes Ranch is a 6151 yard Par 71 that weaves through a deep housing complex that also serves as a private for those who live there. The practice facility is rather large and has a good size practice green. The course is challenging but enticing. Drivable par 4s, long par 3's, the par 5's are long, and some very unique traps. The greens were tough to read with the wind but fair. The fairways were perfect and the sand needed a little love. Overall, for what you can potentially pay for out in Vegas, this is a gem. A little slow for a Friday morning but totally worth it. It is not close to the strip however a brand new casino opened up a mile away and it seems really nice. Looking to not break the bank and have fun, this is it.

Made it out yesterday for the Greenskeeper/Facebook collaboration at the legendary Soule Park golf course. A huge thank you to Mr. Gk and Matt for organizing this event. Please continue to offer these events, this was a great round at a fun course for a complete steal of a price.... Not to mention you get to golf with great company. I was blessed to be paired with Wendy, Matias, and Rob. Highly recommend anyone who uses this site to sign up for the next event. Always a blast.

On to the course.... Soule Park is always a treat to play. The course is visually stunning with scenic mountain views at every turn. Yesterday, the greens were quick and got faster as the heat went up. A few things about the greens here is they will roll true and are very well maintained. The fairways, bunkers, and rough are always great here. The only blemish I had was a few holes the tee boxes had been moved and I think it was hole 10 where it was not level. Some work is being done on the course as it looks like they are fixing a few cart paths. For anyone who is thinking about coming to Soule Park I would I highly recommend this course as it is the best deal anywhere in Southern California. Don't believe it? Go look up how incredibly cheap this course is their website. As of right now you can get on during the week for $30 and on the weekend for under$50. I would bet that you have paid a lot more for a lot worse...I know I have.

Played in the final SCGA member outing today at the hallowed Hacienda Golf Club. A true hidden gem of a club, and a fantastic course. I had heard people say if you get to do one SCGA a year try to make it Hacienda. The yearly event usually sells out within minutes, not sure how I got a slot but I am sure glad I did. This place is truly a special experience that I will never forget.

The clubhouse sits atop of the course and you can reasonably see a majority of the course by looking down. The pro shop is top notch and the locker room has that classic private feel to it. If you live close and have the means to join, this is the club you absolutely should consider.

The course right now is in very good shape. The greens are incredible, perfect in my opinion, held and rolled true. The fairways are being worked on in a couple low spots, but nothing to complain about. The sand traps, which have lips like I have never seen are great, a little wet from the rain the night before but they dried throughout the morning. The tee boxes were as good as you could ask for.

Overall, the experience was well worth it. I highly recommend this place if you get the chance.

Out to Falcon Ridge today after traveling to St. George we decided this was the best course to play for the money that had a morning tee time. So we decided that playing at 8:20 AM would be a wise decision. Unfortunately, it was 29 outside and we were under a serious frost delay that lasted about 30-40 minutes. By the time we started it was still in the 40's, which is hard on so many levels. The course is a tail of two nines, with the front supposedly easier than the back, however for our group that was the opposite. I think that all has to with the weather. Falcon Ridge, if you have never been there is a huge piece of property. Definitely cannot tell how big this course is without playing it. Each hole is unique and challenging. The course weaves through homes and across streets and around corners. It has a great clubhouse and restaurant with good bloody mary's and excellent food. The breakfast sandwich was well worth the 12$. The only down side here is no real driving range, just some nets and mats and old balls. The brand new carts are gas powered and can really move, the GPS should be installed sometime soon.

The course right now is in winter conditions with Bermuda dried out as the rough and the fairway/tee boxes are a rye blend that they do everything they can to keep green. The sand is a little rocky but still very good, and the greens when not frozen are rolling straight and held, surprisingly. When we finished about 4 and 1/2 hours later it was in the mid 60's, yes you read that right an almost 30 degrees swing from the morning.

Overall, I absolutely love this place its simply just fun, I highly recommend it and I hope to return in the spring or summer.

Played in the SCGA outing today at the newly renovated Valencia CC. As a first time player of this course, I must say the layout was fair, however the conditions today were tough to say the least. We started on hole 5 after a 20 minute delay due to frost. I broke 5 tees trying to get that first shot off. I knew then that It was gong to be a long and challenging day. The greens today were so incredibly dry and fast they well over a 10 on the stimpmeter. The fairways were in good condition but dry and lots of roll. Without question some of the best sand I have ever played in, very new. The rough was basically none existent as they had removed a whole bunch of trees to completely re-do the course. According to the SCGA proctor of the closest to the pin contest, Valencia is going to put in a bid to potentially hold the Genesis championship when the Olympics are here in a few years. As the Olympics would use the Riv, and there is some clause that says they can only hold 1 large pro tourney a year. Hence Valencia attempting get that tourney for a year. Who knows?

As for Valencia CC as a member club to join, If I lived closer and had the means this would be one I would look into. It is a serious challenge of a course. The clubhouse, and locker room are very nice and very clean. Big lockers and I think I saw a sauna or steam room. The food is good according to the guys who ate. The practice green is large yet the driving range is not that big but suitable. Worth a chance if you get on, especially if you love an old school challenge.

Comparing this to the Oaks Club, I would say this course has more of a classic feel to it while the Oaks has more unique challenges and blind shots. Valencia has some bunkers that are perfectly placed.

Both were well worth the outing fee, and I would do it again if I get the opportunity.

I had the distinct honor and privilege of playing a round with 3 GK legends yesterday at Sunset Hills CC. Johnny GK, GDR23, and Captain Kyle M. What a great day on a really challenging and fun private course. Thanks to both Johnny and to the Golf Moose team for these rare opportunities. As for course conditions, If that is what you are reading this for please go to GDR23's previous post for a much better explanation than I could ever give.

Sunset Hills is nestled under highway 23 and sits on the border of Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, and Simi Valley. This private club has quite a few amenities like a full tennis facility with 10 lighted courts, a giant pool, a workout facility, a killer bar that over looks the practice facility, and a game room. The course is just over 6000 yards par 71 with narrow fairways, small greens, and unique fairway slopes. This combination makes it much harder than the scorecard and rating would suggest. This is the type of course you could play everyday and still be challenged. The grounds crew does an exceptional job at keeping this place nice. Everything was clean and the course was a reflection of hard work. The rumor is that this is one of the best private deals in Southern California. With both family and individual plans that won't set you back an entire retirement check. Without question, a great course to play at least once, should you get the chance.

Made it to Wailea Golf today to hit up the Emerald course. One of three options at the resort, the Blue a short course, the Gold the former Senior Skins game course (a real golf challenge they say), and the Emerald a mix of the two. All three are excellently maintained. The Gold and Emerald course share a clubhouse while the Blue is closer to the resorts. Before we get to the course, the facility is really a top notch golf location with a great range, range carts, a large practice green, and a locker room that rivals any resort I've seen. Lots of guys working the course both in the clubhouse and out on the course. At just under 200$ a pop this is what I would expect, as the Four Seasons, Fairmont, and Grand Wailea are all within walking distance.

As the course goes, Wailea Emerald is a challenge met with a variety of holes each uniquely presenting their own quirks. Up a hill, down a hill, dog legs, small greens, large greens. The tee boxes are in great shape 9/10 as are the fairways and rough. The Sand was soft but still could have been a little more filled. The greens were fast and smooth, but also the humidity did make the ball stick, so hard to read at times, especially in the shade. I was paired up with a great guy who was about my handicap and a very nice couple from Denver. We teed it up at 6:40 AM and almost immediately we let a single go past us... on the third hole. By the 5th hole another single came up and sat behind us the entire round. There were singles and doubles the next 4 or 5 groups behind us. Yet we kept pace at exactly 4hrs. I am not sure what is going on with the management and tee times. The Emerald wasn't as difficult as some may say it is. Today it provided a different challenge, rarely seen in a Hawaii, 90 degree heat with no wind and lots of humidity. After the round I felt completely drained.

I would love the opportunity to play the Gold and Blue courses, and should you be on this side of Maui this is the golf course you want to pay to play. I highly recommend a visit here the next time you come to Maui.

First round of my Maui trip this year started at a course that has always interested me. The Dunes at Maui Lani. A course completely unconnected to any resort that has good ratings, and recently people on other sites were saying the challenge is real and the deal is worth it. (Always go where the locals go)

My father-in-law and I rode the greens (71.7/135) in just under 3 1/2 hours. Had the entire course to ourselves and paid 92 dollars on the hot deal which basically ran all day as long as you pre-paid. Started with a little wind and rain, and finished with some humidity with a slight breeze. Shout out to the customer service, excellent all around. Course workers all over the place but not where we were, ever.

The course is a not as scenic as others on Maui but still provides few great views of the oceans and mountains. The tee boxes were just about perfect 9/10. The fairways ranked a 9/10 as well, really well maintained fairways. The rough was good no issues there. The sand, well that is the only real ding here, not much of any sand mostly red clay some of which had been softened but with the enormous amount of wind this course gets thats the way it goes. The greens are perfectly rolled a little slow as they must have watered in the morning before we played.

The Dunes at Maui Lani is a challenging course that is totally underrated in my opinion, some really fun holes and some basic holes, but all in all I would play here again, and again. The deal is so good to pass up and the service was excellent. Should you ever find yourself on this side of the world and want to save some dough and still be challenged, this is the place. Highly recommended.

Finally made it out to play MPCC (Canyon Crest/Creekside). First out on an absolutely perfect golf day, hardly any wind. Was fortunate to play with a longtime member who also is scratch golfer. He knew exactly where to put the ball, and today that helped me have one of my best rounds of my life. I decided to play the blue/white combo tees (70.1/127) and felt the challenge was not in distance but club selection, and creating good opportunities to score. MPCC is a great country club, with a huge practice facility, exceptional clubhouse, and GPS on the carts. The tee boxes are in perfect shape, the fairway and rough both scored high as well as I did not have a bad lie all day. The sand is a little heavy, and that did create a little issue for me on one hole, luckily I escaped. The wind would blow softer sand away and that is the reason they put the heavier stuff in according to the member. Makes sense if you have ever been in Moorpark during a windy day, you understand. The greens are tricky. While they rolled straight and were in very good conditions today, there seemed to be some that were sanded and others had a ridge right around the hole, if you were just slightly off it would turn away the ball. While this did not truly frustrate me, it seemed to bother the member, who claimed he speaks to the greenskeeper about it every week. Nonetheless, that in no way should deter you from playing or even joining the Moorpark CC (one of the best deals in Ventura County for a full membership).

At 85$ a pop on the weekday for a non-member, I will try and play here as often as I can. Highly recommended.