Played Waikoloa Beach on 5/4 - course was in pretty good shape but paled in comparison to Mauna Lani South and Hapuna Beach courses just up the highway - bunkers were very rocky with lots of little pieces of lava mixed with the shallow sand, greens very slow compared to other courses mentioned, fairways were actually pretty nice and rough was actually more penal than at the other courses. Beach course is still pretty much a one-trick pony - highight is the oceanfront par-5 seventh that has its green perched on a lava outcropping next to an ocean inlet. Rest of the course is pretty much a bunch of mid-range par 4s and 3s that vary depending on which way the winds are blowing that day. There is a $69 10-hole rate which allows you to play holes 1-10 so if you want to try your hand at number 7 you can do so without having to play the hole course - its a good inexpensive warmup or a chance to get in a few holes in without being away from the wife or family for too long. Rates otherwise range from $140 (morning) to $95 (after 2PM) for resort guests (Marriott, Hilton, or condos); a bit higher in the morning for off-property guests

Played Hapuna Course at Hapuna Beach Hotel today - got 10AM time for $89 on GolfNow. Pace of play was very fast - starter said that most of the players were members (Hapuna/Mauna Kea residents?) and most the groups were twosomes. Course was in great shape - greens were virtually flawless and fairways/tees/traps all were in great shape. Did have a few tees that were not completely level - not surprising given the elevation changes on this course as it goes up and down the hills above Hapuna Beach and Mauna Kea resorts - downhill holes have spectacular ocean views, particularly holes 15 and 17 where it seems like you are teeing off towards the entire Kohala Coast looking back towards Kona. Lots of development going on on the back nine - holes 11, 12 and 14 used to be pristine lave beds but now those areas are becoming filled with condos and luxury homes. This course is a bargain as I believe the regular green fees drop under $100 in the afternoon.

Played Mauna Lani South Course this past week - course conditioning was superb with every tee, green, fairway and bunker immaculate. Variable wind conditions as always on the Kohala Coast this time of year - course is well laid out to provide suitable targets even in high winds though - greens are very large and most fairways are pretty wide save for a few that will test one's nerves. Three oceanfront holes very spectacular with some of the bluest water you will ever see from a golf course - 15th of course the most famous but par 3 7th actually is tougher with a much smaller target - par 4 13th is fairly short but the green is perched right at the water's edge and if the guy putting the pins out that day wants to stick it hard by that edge you will have a fun time. Pro shop staff is very friendly and accommodating. Paid $130 to play at 1pm - finished in 4 hours. Waikoloa Resort courses were $120 at 11:30AM - for my money, Mauna Lani South is worth waiting the extra time and very small amount of extra money.

Hadn't played Green River is some time - pleasantly surprised by the shape of the fairways, tees and bunkers. Very nice lies in the fairways, bunkers in great shape and tees were very nice. Greens were a bit firm for my liking but they were pretty smooth. Overall a very pleasant afternoon round with only a couple instances of play slowing down. Looks like they are working on cobbling together another 9 holes on the Orange County side of the course.

Played on 4/15/08 - Staff was very helpful and friendly as I was a single playing golf while my wife gambled back at the hotel - very windy but course was still very playable with lots of room in most spots. Greens and most fairways not as tougly defended as the Mountain course but not a pushover either - greens in very good shape and very fast. Pace of play was pretty good - finished under 5 hours (which by current standards seems pretty fast!). Usually make it a point to play at least one round at this course every time I hit Vegas (we find the nearby Suncoast very nice and relatively inexpensive).

Played on Saturday 5/2/08 - round took 6 hours - lots of fivesomes and pace of play obviously slow - far cry from 20 years ago when marshals at this course whipped everybody along in 4.5 hours! Overall course conditions good - overabundance of kikouya leads to not much roll in fairways and spongy lies - greens were in good shape. South is not a course for those who cannot consistently hit 250yd+ drives. Would play there again but for the pace of play.

Played the course on Friday March 2 - moderate winds of about 15-20 mph from NNE

Greens as fast, firm as true as ever - fairways very tight as bermuda is dormant - bunkers did not have much sand in them

Staff is very friendly but the problem with the round was the usual one found Eagle Glen - round took 5 1/2 hours.

Nicely routed and designed course with "firm and fast" conditions. Most all greens have a "safe side" which allows a runup type of shot if the player wants to exercise that option.
Only a couple of layup holes so players get to hit driver on most all of the par 4s (influence of Tom Lehman on the design?)
Lots of "environmental hazard" areas but generally they only come into play if the player misses the shot badly. Great value for the green fee (under $100 on the weekends) - nice staff that is very friendly and helpful.

Course was in real good condition and really didn't show any effects from recent aeration. The design is very much a "resort" type which allows for some degree of wildness and doesn't penalize the player that might come up short but straight on their approaches (meaning very few forced carries to the greens). Facility has it all - two regulation 18-hole courses, a 9-hole par three course and a natural grass "miniature" putting course, not to mention a complete practice facility. Staff was friendly and helpful from start to finish.

Eagle Glen would be a nice play to play golf except for the pace of play - it never takes less than 5 hours on a weekend and often longer. The staff is friendly and helpful, but the course always seems to be behind schedule on tee times or has groups on both nines passing through - once on the course players unfamiliar with the course take hours on the greens which are perhaps the firmest and speediest in all of Riverside County. You can't fault the condition of the course - it's just that it takes so long to play that it really makes one question the value of a premium green fee for a round that lasts over 5 hours.

Played Mesa Linda in scramble a couple of weeks ago - it had been a long time (probably 10 years) since I had last played there and the course really has developed well since that time. For a "shorter" type course, it had lots of interesting shots.

Had not played Riverside Course in some 6 months - appears major new effort had been taken to make greens firmer and to cut down grass around the front of the greeens to allow runup, bump and run or putting options from that area - this was as good as I have ever seen this area of the course play. Green River courses have always been a little ragged in terms of the overall condition but the greens and the area around them had clearly been attended to with care and it really made the course a lot more fun to play. Nice job - credit to the super and his staff for turning around this part of the golf course and making it a little more fun to play. Hey - at $17 for the Super Twilight rate to get in some 15-16 holes, not a bad deal on a Saturday afternoon for the cost-conscious!