So, it's my first time playing Kopokelli, a buddy and I met up at 3:30 after work, and walked on for $21 which came with a cart and a Gatorade. The course was wide open, and even when we ran into a group on the back 9, they kindly let us play through. We finished in a little under three hours.

I absolutely love the layout, for starters. It has elements of links golf, with blind hazards, severe undulation on the fairways, and everything playing incredibly firm. The tee boxes were pretty solid from the tips, only a couple spots were noticably unlevel at all. The fairways rolled for days, but a lot of it was just hardpan and some dead crabgrass.

The greens were the major source of my enjoyment, though. They were very firm, rolled true, and had strong grain and a lot of undulation. There were plenty of putts, pitch shots, and approach shots that really forced me to think. The greens are definitely the star of the show.

The bunkers are well-placed, and absolute garbage. I didn't see any rocks that would mess up a wedge, but if you find your way into a bunker here (you will), you'll likely be in a large crevasse that happens to be hard pan, or in a puddle (even in 110° heat).

I'll definitely be returning to put some of the course knowledge I gained to work and see how well I can attack the pins, but I'm still gonna hate the fairways and bunkers, with a passion.

One of my vendors took me out here this morning for a 7:45 tee time. Pretty generous fairways, a few challenging holes tee to green from the tips. The greens we're very firm and rolled true, with some great pin positions today. The cart girl was around at least four times in our four hour round. It is a fairly forgiving course, but it is easy to put some high numbers on the card. Definitely recommend.

So, the Long Beach Open is finished, time to hit up El Dorado. Throughout the year, tee to green isn't great here, but they always step up their game for the tournament, and it is outstanding to play around this time. The greens are firm and fast, the fairways are solid and healthy. The only issue are some of the neglected tee boxes that have grown awful shaggy. Get out here while you can if you like tough green conditions, and do the same at Costa Mesa CC. They both host outstanding open tournaments, and really get their greens challenging. If you go early, like we did (first group out at 5:20), the greenskeepers saturate every hole you're approaching. There are some holes where they turn the water on as soon as you're on the tee. Unless you like dodging sprinklers and having your drives plop soundly, go later in the day. Oh, and I'm not sure how the sand was, I had a good day avoiding the traps, but my friend hit in one that was completely water logged, so I had to dock them a bit.

Give 'em hell on the links, folks!

From time to time, people ask me why I don't golf much in LA or OC and head out to the Inland Empire, and this course is the perfect example. Sure, it was a bit over 100 degrees and an extra two hours of driving overall when we played there yesterday, but it was a 3.5 hour round from our start time of 2:30 and $39 a player with our birdie savings card (they also had a lot of times on GolfNow from $45 to $40).

When we got there, a really helpful attendant picked us up in a cart to take us to the pro shop, not out of the ordinary for a nice course, but for the money, it's a big deal. Andrew in the pro shop was very helpful and nice, giving us detailed descriptions of the current conditions of the course. The greens had been running slow because they were heavily watered earlier in the day, but by the time we got out there, they had dried out pretty well and were rolling progressively quicker and firm. The tee boxes and fairways are among their best assets, very lush and cut properly. I played from the tips, which at just over 7,000 yards is not a daunting task whatsoever, especially as it plays a bit shorter, other than a few burly par 3s and long par 4s. If you haven't been here before, utilize the gps as much as possible, especially from the tee. Shot placement is key, and driver may not be necessary for you on a lot of holes.

On the other hand, my partner found a few fairway bunkers that were full of rocks and boulders, or were muddy. He just switched to a soft forged iron, so I recommended that he take relief for the sake of his clubs. I found a couple of greenside bunkers that were in good shape, a little on the compact side, but very playable.

They had coolers of cold water every few holes, which is key if you're out there on a hot day, make sure you bring a water bottle to fill up!

On the 27th, I had a babysitter watching my boy and about 8 hours to burn with not much to do, so I headed out to Los Verdes. The first five holes are the slowest in the history of golf, but each are memorable. I keep hearing people say it's because the management tries to get too many people on the course at once, but honestly it's just the layout. I really feel for the kids working their butts off in the pro shop trying to keep everything moving and getting such abuse when there isn't anything anyone could possibly do about the pace here. When you start with a short, reachable par 5, short par 4, short par 3, godawful difficult and long par 4 with a blind green that takes a stroke of luck or genius or a 330 yard drive, then short-ish par 3, you're going to be waiting. It took us over 2 hours to get through those holes, and then it was pretty smooth sailing (in comparison).

The front 9 is nothing to write home about, most holes are pretty easy, and driver can stay in the bag except for #4 and #6, but the greens roll true and fairly quick (real quick downhill and downgrain), the tee boxes are decent and the fairways are pretty alright, though really hard, so expect a few undercover hardpan lies. If you prefer taking a divot, this course isn't going to suit your game well.

NOTE: There is heavy construction on the par 5 sixth hole. There is a hole in the middle of the fairway about 100 yards closer from the actual green, so take into account when figuring out your yardage. Several of the bunkers are being rebuilt on this hole and on the 7th, which is also undergoing a tee box rebuild.

Then, you get to the back 9, which makes up for the lackluster front. The tee boxes are immaculate, the bunkers are pristine and fluffy, the greens are perfect, and the views are spectacular, especially on the 15th hole overlooking the ocean. Book on GolfZing to get a rate that helps you not feel hosed when you may or may not finish 18. We started at 3 pm, and made our last putts on 18 as the last rays of sun started to disappear. Enjoy, if you have the patience!

I played Westridge last week for the first time because it was listed on my Birdie Savings Card, and had some interesting reviews on here. Not great reviews, but interesting. First of all, it was hard to find the place (that has nothing to do with them, just wanted to let you know to give an extra 15-20 minutes than you usually would), but their customer service was very efficient and kind. On the 9th green, there was a kid cleaning our clubs, which was awful nice. If you're a water fountain drinker, bring an extra few water bottles, their fountains that do work have vile swill in them.

Enough of that, the course... Has a whole lot of potential. A WHOLE lot. The layout is solid, plays significantly longer than the scorecard would have you believe. I played from the tips, and wouldn't recommend it unless you consistently shoot 70s or 60s. Maybe even low 80s, but are a glutton for punishment and play quickly. There are some par 4s that require more than most golfers can offer. The par 5s that seem too short require great precision or ditching the driver off the tee. On the tee, don't expect a level lie, and you'll have trouble getting your tee in the ground in some spots, and way too soft in others. The tee box grass is excessively long and patchy. There are a whole lot of narrow fairways. The risk isn't often too bad because the rough isn't much of a penalty, but the fairways were awful shaggy and patchy. If you're a geologist or some sort of rock collector, you'll be a big fan of their bunkers. If you're a golfer, you may want to take a free drop out of the bunkers, at least if you care about your club faces, and don't want to be too angry.

The greens were very shaggy and sluggish, but a lot of them have enough slope that if you are above the hole, it'll be moderately quick. Below the hole, you need to give it a big whack. As with most courses around these parts, it's a rare sight that you'll see anyone fix their ball mark on the green, so you have that to contend with too. I'm hoping they'll be cutting and rolling the greens sometime soon, because they are very healthy, and should be the star of the show out here. Instead they were the aging child star needing to get into rehab again.

Get me a crew and a lawn mower, I'll get this place in proper order in no time. Okay, not really, I can't even keep grass alive on my own lawn, but the point stands, they're doing something right out there, it's so close, they just need a little bit to get it polished up.

I don't know what my rating score is going to come out to, but if it isn't high, it should be. After taking some time off to let my back heal, reset the batteries, and hopefully get rid of the new swing I'd been tinkering with, I needed a course that was in very good shape, but wasn't too demanding, which I'd heard about Goose Creek many times. They were $39 for twilight, which isn't too bad, and they were able to get me out right away. I don't know why I keep hearing that this course is very easy. The tee shots are not very demanding, but bunkers are well-placed in my landing zone (290-310) and I ended up finding more fairway bunkers than I have in the past year. The bunkers were by far their biggest shortcoming, but that isn't saying much, as they were still in pretty fair shape.

The course is not very long, but the greens are tricky when it comes to approach shots. There were a lot of sucker pins that from 100 yards out or more seemed welcoming. I had some well-struck shots to the middle of the green that got sucked off into different bailouts. The greens almost played and looked like links courses. They punched a little while back, which somehow didn't affect playability. The only problem I had with them is that very few people fixed their ball marks, which is increasingly common.
On the par 5 fourth, the group in front of us was playing excessively slow, and my buddy and I saw a patch of golf balls in the foliage on the left side off the fairway. I always like finding some junk shag balls, so we went in there. DO NOT GO IN THERE. We both got caught up in some poison oak that I didn't see at first. When we got out with our assortment of Pinnacles, Slazengers, and Top Flites that we paid dearly for, we complained that there wasn't a sign. There was, we had just walked past it.

This round was capped with one of the best finishing holes I have ever played at a public course. A 460 yard par 4 that I went driver, PW, lipped out my putt from 12 feet for a satisfying par. If you want a good time on a very different, fun course, with just enough challenge to keep you on your toes, look no further. I will definitely be back.

I only paid $20 bucks at noon through GolfNow, so if I gave a brutal review, it would be unfair, like the New York Giants playing a pop warner team. The pro shop is adequately stocked, and the starter was very helpful. Wearing a tee-shirt, but helpful. The course is very short, just over 6000 yards from the tips (overall, it plays considerably shorter than even that with the number of holes that are significantly downhill) with a few par 4s that are a bit too short, but all the par 3s play well, and the finishing par 5 is a chore. You can find trouble left and right on almost every hole. The greens are very healthy and pretty smooth, just shaggy and slow. The fairways and tee boxes were kind of a mess. The bunkers were like hitting out of empty swimming pools. But, I paid $20. We had a really slow fivesome in front of us, and we still finished in less than 4 hours.

If you don't feel like spending much on a round and still want some challenge (and want a one of the best hot dogs around) Indian Hills is a great investment. You can't compare it to Oak Quarry or Hidden Valley or anything along those lines, but you don't eat steak every day either. Like the starter, this course has a laid back feel and is certainly not fancy.

I am always excited to take the trip out to Glen Ivy, and when I got a group together on Saturday to find a time Sunday, I was very happy to see that on their website I could book for $34 a pop! We got to the pro shop, and they inform us that GolfNow (who does their booking, unbeknownst by me) made an error and that time is for NEXT Sunday. We spend a half hour on the phone with GolfNow to remedy the situation (they required us to pay in full) and give up after they were no help whatsoever. They gave us a discount in the pro shop that wasn't too bad, which made things a bit better. You could tell management has their hands too tied up, which isn't great for business, but the employees still found a way.

Sunday (Mother's Day) was a little over 100 degrees (and all of their water coolers on the course were empty) and real windy, so conditions weren't perfect to give the most fair review, we were all exhausted by the 15th hole. The black tees aren't all that great, but are relatively level, just need a bit of a trim. The fairways are very good, even though many players are definitely not using the 90 degree rule or sanding/replacing their divots. The rough isn't too punishing, which is always nice on a course where out of bounds can come into play on every hole. The greens have healed up very well! They aren't up to full speed, but roll true and have good pace.

Glen Ivy is the home of the raddest Marshall in golf, Fred. Say hi to him when you're out there, he has some great stories if you find yourself playing too quickly (5 holes in 30 minutes, it was wide open)

I suppose we'll be back out there next Sunday, seeing as we're already paid up. I hope the golf gods give us some good weather and GolfNow doesn't somehow screw with us again.

I was planning on using the coupon I had for a $14 green fee on the South Course yesterday, but when I got there, they said they'd overbooked the groups in front of my time and suggested we try out the North Course. It's not all that challenging of a layout, and is very short even from the tips, but the fairways are narrower, and you can find trouble a lot easier. On the other hand, the condition is pretty sub-standard right now. The greens clearly weren't rolled after they were punched, so are incredibly slow and shaggy, the bunkers were like concrete, and the tee boxes were awful. As much as I wasn't a fan, once we got to the back nine, the layout was a lot more challenging, scenic, and fun. If they get the condition up a bit, I'd be back.

I had way too much money in Roger Dunn store credit last Friday, I finally got to the point where I didn't know what to spend it on, so I bought a Birdie Savings Card for $49. I have no use for the e6 balls it came with or the Golf Digest subscription, but Sunday I decided to utilize the 2 for 1 at PGA West Nicklaus Tournament with a friend of mine. The service was impeccable, the practice facility was top notch, and the Marshall, Archie, (who was pulling an afternoon double-duty as Starter) was very helpful and did a very fine job.

The course was everything I'd hoped, tee boxes were laser-level and lush, fairways were perfect, first cut and rough were beautiful. The bunkers were very good for a desert course (my buddy was expecting fluffy white sand, not knowing that isn't right for this type of course) very consistent and definitely a hazard, but not too painful. The greens are dormant, which makes them difficult to read, but I'm used to much quicker greens. Your approach shot needs some good finesse out here, just the right amount of spin and decent shot shaping because the greens are nice and compact. You could practically bounce a bowling ball on them. Very memorable holes, a few island greens (well only one, but a few others that play like an island). My buddy is a 15+ handicap and didn't have much trouble here, but definitely burned through a good number of balls. I play a plus handicap and lost one. On 18. After a monster drive. With people watching from the restaurant.

If you have economical transportation, a few bucks to burn, and have at least one friend, get yourself a birdie card and get down there, it's definitely worth it! If you aren't a confident golfer, bring the dozen e6s, you may need them.

After years of hearing nothing good about Dos Lagos, I decided to invest the 29 bucks to find out for myself. Any of you who played courses in Reno in the late 80s/early 90s will feel a little nostalgic when you pull up. A lot of the lot was dirt/rocks, the pro shop is a modular that sells a lot of balls found on the course, and the warm up areas were batting cages. I like the fancy clubhouses, but this one felt like home. We got out right at the tail end of a shotgun tournament (The Christian organization that put it on gave us free tacos and soda knowing that we weren't a part of the tournament. It was nice.), so I can't really judge the pace of play, but I was in for a surprise. The greens were what I suspected, incredibly slow and in poor shape. The fairway was shaggy but solid, though, the tee boxes were pretty level and healthy. There was no "rough" to speak of, it was cut about as short as the fairway, but was still distinguishable. I didn't find any bunkers, but the people I played with said they were good. The pin positions were almost cruel on many holes, which made the risk-reward setup of the entire course a lot more fun. I was shocked when I got to the first par 5. Out of bounds on the right, a steep slope to the wrong fairway, which funnels into water on the left, with a very narrow fairway. I don't know how I walked off the course with a shred of dignity left. The back nine was a real treat, I would definitely come back.