I was thrilled to find out Ventura County golf courses were open for business. I left my house in Rosemead around 07:20 am and arrived at 08:00 and teed off at 08:20. My buddy made a tee time for 08:50 am but it seemed Matt was getting the groups out faster to keep the pace of play on time. They have implemented a lot of precautions for social distancing (markers on the floor, limiting entrance to use restroom and bar area, no ball washer) but they did have water fountains on a few holes (use at your own risk). They use the service window by the first tee box to pay for the round and to talk to the starter. It was a warm day and they allow golf carts for those who are disabled. My group of gymflake, Roger Cleveland, and a walk on Ken were off and running. The fairways are lush with the rough around 1-2 inches in the first cut. The greens for being punched recently were running fast, true, and firm but receptive and holding a well-struck approach shot. They don't use pins but only shallow cups with progressive hole locations (hole 1 front, hole 2 middle, hole 3 back, and so on). We just lasered the group in front of us to get an approximate pin distance so no big biggy. They were doing maintenance with grass cutting and watering throughout the course but it did not affect pace of play or interfere with shots. The course was in spectacular shape and you appreciate it as you walk the course. Overall a great place to play and this course holds a dear place in my heart as it was the first place I shot even par. The staff is accomodating and marshals make sure you keep the recommended social distance from other players but in a respectful manner. The driving range is open for business along with the club repair shack but all practice putting greens and practice areas are closed. No rakes in bunkers so are prepared to use your foot to smooth out the sand for the next poor soul who finds the same fate as you. The bar is open and they have a cute beverage lady who comes around frequently to quench your thirst. Pull carts are available to rent. I will definitely be back. Shot 82 and I'm happy with that for not playing in 6 weeks. =)

I had the opportunity to play this course on 4/19/19. I took my dad out around 11:30 am on a Friday afternoon. Had no tee time, just showed up and the pro shop said, "go on out to the ball boys and they will set you up." We were teeing off literally after we left the pro shop. The cost was $60/per player ($120 total) which included a cart with GPS, cold towel, and cooler with ice. As soon as you drop the clubs off you are greeted by the cart attendants. They take your bag and strap it to a cart waiting for you as soon as you leave the pro shop. Everyone on the course is very friendly. Got paired up with two members and they were in a match game so I didn't really talk to them. The fairways were immaculate. I've seen greens similar to the fairways at this course. Rough is non-existent, only a secondary cut then cart path. I love these dessert style golf courses. The bunkers were compact but had enough sand to get out. Everything about the course layout was challenging but very playable. The one caveat was the greens. They were in bad shape. Maybe it was because of the different type of grass they use here but they looked like mini weeds growing into each other. They were very receptive but putting on them were very very tricky. The grain of the grass dictated a lot how the ball would roll more than the break and the speed. They looked fast but they were extremely slow. I had a hard time finding pitch marks on the green but our playing partner said don't bother, "they heal themselves". Also, most of the greens looked diseased with dark black patches. It was a shame to hit a nice drive and a second only to struggle hitting puts. I have to state this, driving the ball off the tee is a premium, a couple of the holes run along the driveway of the entrance so if you have performance anxiety maybe this course might be too challenging for you. I did notice the ball travel and roll a lot further on this course. I normally drive it around 250 yards but I was getting tee shots of about 270-280 yards with my Project A and Cleveland Custom XL drive. I have to say this course has so much potential if they fixed the greens. I would definitely play this course again because my brother lives behind the 4th hole so access is not a problem. Also, twilight M-F is only $30 for non-residents which includes cart (they don't allow walking at any time), which is cheaper than my local course (Whittier Narrows). On the weekday there is no one playing on the course after 3 pm. Whenever I am visiting my brother in Henderson I will be playing this track.

Played on 7/23/12 and 7/24/12. Took advantage of the $26 after 11am weekday special. The weather was a bit warm on both days 90 degrees but with the wind it wasn't that bad. The course managers did how ever decide to water the greens and fairways a wee bit much. The greens were soak but they did roll nicely. There were a few ball marks but most amateurs don't know how to fix a ball mark correctly. The tee boxes were very lush and at times furry. The fairways were lush and at time soaking wet with a few dry spots. Not a lot of roll. The ruff was about 3-4 inches long. The thing I like about this course is that this course is very open. You can hit a stray drive on another fairway but you have the opportunity to hit it on the green on your second shot. The thing I dislike the most is that most of greens on this course is elevated. holes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 16 have all raised greens. I guess this is the only defense next to the thick ruff and trees for punishing the players. The bunkers on the course is never raked by the greens-keepers and is filled with compact wet sand which makes hitting out of them reasonably easier from the fairway bunker and very difficult from green-side bunkers. I do love this course. When the wind is blowing (usually from the south-east) it makes most of the par 4's very long. I like the practice areas on this course as well. The driving range is all grass and their is a short game area by the 18th green and a few putting greens around the club house. Don't expect to buy any golf equipment on this course as the pro-shop is no longer there. The city decided not to renew their contract with the shop owner. This also effected Rancho Park as well. Shot 77 on Monday and 79 today. I started off as a single on Monday and started off as a twosome but I let the guy I was playing with go ahead because he was one of those guys who just hits and hits and hits. Very fast player.I play fast but his guy must have been going some place important quick because after the third hole he was gone. Most of the course was open and empty pretty much all day except for the junior tournament behind me. Finished both days just over 3 hours. Over all very pleasant days of golf. Staff is always friendly and the bar is waiting with open arms right passed the 18th green to celebrate a birdie or to console a bogey.

Woodley Lakes Golf Course Review
Los Angeles Golf Course Reviews

Played today on 5/14/12. Figured Monday would not be that busy but I was wrong. Teed off at 10:20am and was finished around 3pm. The weather was perfect. Nice breeze and around 85 degrees. Not a cloud in sight. Maintenance over watered the course. I should have worn my water proof shoes as there was wet spots and mud traps on hole 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, and 15. They were especially bad on hole 8. The front of the greens were completely soaked. Overall the greens healed nicely from the spring punching. Yet some of the greens were very wet and spongy. Green # 5 and 16 were fuzzy. Fairways were nicely mowed. There were many areas of dirt and sand on the fairways. As my friend would say, "the rough was rough". Most of the rough was about three to four inches long. I would recommend this course as of this moment. Course is in as good of shape I have seen it in a while.

Side note: Driving range is a mess. Balls are so old and damaged that it is not worth practicing there to gauge shots or distances as balls land on dirty in the driving range. The driving range shop is so out dated and it was closed today. Bring cash or buy tokens from the proshop. The starters are quite nice and friendly. The group in front of us were so slow and had no idea how to play the course. When I asked them if they played this course before they stated they did but they teed off the wrong way on the second hole and hit their drives into the 18th green. Called the starter and they came right out and asked these yahoos to speed up or let us play through. These guys played up to the 9th hole and left. Well, I thought they left but as I was on the 17th green I saw them on the back nine 14th whole. Complete idiots.

Balboa Golf Course Review
Los Angeles California Golf Course Reviews

Played the day before Christmas with a buddy. Course was not busy at all. Got on at 2pm with no problem. Greens fee were a little high for an executive 9 hole. $14.50 to walk. There are no electric carts only push carts for rental. I come here when I have a few hours to blow and it is only a few minutes from my house. Tee boxes are were very wet and soggy. Fairways were lush and have been like that for years. Greens were soft (hairy) and running slow. All the greens are relatively flat with little break. This is a nice little track to come out and practice your short game and putting. There are a few holes you can hit driver but a nice place to practice on the par 3's. Overall not bad but I remember when it cost $11.50 to play a couple of years ago but this place still can get busy with the older crowd in the mornings. If you get a chance to play with Ray (one of the starters) take that opportunities. Nice guy but he leaves after 6 holes. Three things that put me off about this course. No driving range but they do have a chipping area and batting cage style practice at the end of parking lot. Too many old people in the morning and they allow fivesomes. Pros, nice little putting area, nice starters (once you get to know them) and simple layout for the beginner.

Penmar Golf Course Review
Venice California Golf Course Reviews

Played 12/6/11. Teed off at 10:42am with my buddy and two Korean FOB. First off let me rant about the people at Rancho Park. I am Korean/American but I emphasize the AMERICAN more than the Korean. I grew up in the U.S.A. since I was a toddler so I have no connections to the way Koreans are or their backwards way of thinking. I am stating this because of the many encounters I have had with those people on golf courses with their poor golf etiquette and manners (talking, walking ahead of you before you hit, teeing off out of order, talking loudly on their cell phones, etc.) Don't get me wrong I am not saying all Koreans are like this but for some reason Rancho Park attracts the most ignorant and selfish Koreans players. To be fair I have had some great Korean playing partners in the past but majority of them have no clue of their surroundings. Today the "Lee" twosome was a perfect case of pompous ignorance at it's finest (pardon the sarcasm.) They were decent players but when they walk in front of you to hit there ball first before you get a chance is rude and dangerous. They did not fix ball marks on the green or replace divots. Nor did they help us find errant shots. They were all too worried about hitting there next shot. Because of these types of people I did not enjoy my day. I will no longer be playing this course in the future because I can not have fun when I have to think about other people being apparently rude and selfish.

Secondly, to the OLD women that play this course. Please do not drive your carts next the the green because you do not want to walk 10 feet from the cart path. Please do not stand next the green you just finished playing and wonder why a ball landed next to you from the group behind. Please talk with an inside voice while playing golf outside because I do not want to know about your kids life or what you want to eat for dinner on my back swing. Please wave the group up that is behind you on a par three when people are waiting and there are three groups in front of you. Please do not pick up or hit my ball because we happened to hit the same brand of golf balls even though mine cost $49.99 a dozen and yours cost 19.99 a dozen. But most of all please learn how to play golf the right way and not make the rest of us suffer because you feel like you have to be the same as your husbands.

Back to the course review. Course was in decent shape. For being dry and windy the course was overly wet. Most of the greens were damp and rolling well. The fairways were nice and lush (the few that I hit) and the bunkers were damp and compact. I think I would have enjoyed it more and noticed the details of the course if my friend and I were not paired up with these yahoos. Shot in the high 80's. This course has always been a nice gem in the city but because of the rate increases, rude players, and slow play I would not recommend this course to those who like to play fast. If you have more than 5 hours to play and thick skin then this is your course. BTW Tuesdays is old women's day in the morning. Check my other posts of this course. You will see a slow decent of ratings because this course is great but the people make it awful. And to think they use to have the LA open here with Jack and Arnie. So sad =(

Rancho Park Golf Course Review
Los Angeles California Golf Course Reviews

Decided to play Rancho Park today even though I hesitated because of the notorious slow place of play. I play this course once or twice a month depending on how much patience I have. Had a 10:12am tee time but Mike (funny as hell) bumped me up to a 9:36am tee time. Got paired with three elderly men. Two of them left after 9 because they were tired.

First off, the course of over watered because of the unusual warm weather we had the last couple of days. The first tee was the busiest I have ever seen. Two lawn mowers going at it down the fairway and up the fairway. Two maintenance people over watering the greens on the first green. First off, you should water the greens in the early morning hours and not when the sun is out and secondly, it should only take one person to do the job. The greens were overly wet and slow. I'm use to having the greens semi fast to medium but it felt like I was putting in my living room shag carpeting. The fairways were nicely mowed but again damp and saturated in some spots. Not much rolls with driver.

I have also noticed that this course is not as crowded as before since the rate increase. $33.00 to walk for a resident tack on another 16 bucks to ride as a single. $49 bucks a round? Yet, my playing partner payed only $20 because he had the senior rate. I have also noticed that this course is becoming an old players course. Everywhere I look there were senior citizens in droves. I have nothing against older players but come on give me a break. Same course but because they are over 60 they gets a discount? Ridiculous! For a muni course that use to cost $21 just 5 years ago. The financial system has really taken a hit for the city of Los Angeles. I have a simple solution. Reclaimed and use wasted park land and other unused land and create more golf courses. It will create more jobs, relieve over crowding on golf courses, and maybe even lower rates through out the system.

Back to the review of the course. The greens were all wet and slow for the most part and so were the fairways. The bunkers were decent. Wet for the most part but it made those long fairway bunker shots easier. I also think that they need to put up some large trees or hedges along the left side of the third hole par 3. I don't mind the foot traffic or movement of cars but when a large truck stops to yell "fore!" in our back swing it tends to be a little distracting. Over all not bad or good for the price. I finished just under 5 hours. Pretty good for Rancho Park. They seemed to have finished the driving range renovation on the right side and the new pro-shop management is nice too. I just hope this course doesn't turn into Penmar. For $49 I can got Los Verdes, Alondra, Simi Hills and even Moorpark(when they have their specials). But since it is relatively close to my home I guess I have no choice.
One last thing. If you go on Tuesday their is a really cute girl at the snack shop on the 12th tee.

Rancho Park Golf Course Review
Los Angeles California Golf Course Reviews

Played 11/8/11 for a 9:48am tee time for me and my buddy. Checked in at 9:30am. Starter calls us at 9:50am for first tee and when we get up there, there are already 2 groups waiting to tee off. Group 47 is teeing off and 48 is waiting to tee off and we are 49. Didn't get to tee off till after 10am. I know that every time I play a any LA muni course the expectation is that of slow pace but thinking that it was a Tuesday morning there sure were a lot people on Balboa and Encino (doesn't anyone work anymore?). Got paired up with an elderly man with a maid/nurse/caddie and a retired guy. Birdied the first hole but all down hill from there. Course was wet from the rain on Friday and Sunday. Some mud balls here and there. Greens were healing nicely and rolling true, not too fast not too slow but just right. I always found the greens to be harder on Balboa than on Encino. I wanted the cart girl to stop so I could get a drink but she just kept passing us on whole 5, 10, and 16 so I just ended up going to the vending machine by the rest room and got a soda for $2.50. Pace of play was okay as we finished up just before 3pm as the sun was looking like it was dying. Shot an okay 85. I don't mind the slow pace of play from the group in front of us but if your drives go 150 yards and you wait to hit your second shot from 200+ yards than I think those people need to go to the range and re-evaluate their actual yardages. I think the City needs to put into place a system for handicapping tee boxes and have it mandatory that if you shoot in the high 90's and above to hit from the forward tees and to have to pass a test to know the rules of golf before you go out. I have an idea to change the color of the tees to all Black (forward, middle, and back) so you take the psychological aspect out for playing certain tees. Over all not too bad. I come out to the Valley to play Balboa, Encino, and Woodley because these are fun old school golf courses at an reasonable price.

Balboa Golf Course Review
Los Angeles Golf Course Reviews

Played 9/20/11. 9:30am tee time. Got a great deal on GG $54 for twosome with cart. First off, starter does not call groups to tee. Felt like first come first for first tee. We were a foursome and we let a twosome tee off first. There seem to be no one on the course except for a couple of groups in front. Played in about four and a half hours. My buddy had an altercation with one of the maintenance workers cutting the rough on the first tee. I thought it was kind of funny that a worker would cut grass so close to the players. Seemed like it was maintenance day. Course was severely over watered. Fair ways were soaking wet and saw a couple of plugged balls in the fair way and my tee shot on the 9th hole spun back a couple of feet because of the wet fairway (absolutely no wind today). Tee boxes were very nicely maintain and fairways were lush but also wet. It is quite a distraction when you hit a nice drive but does not roll out when you hit a nice shot and wet dirt splatters all over you from the back splash. Shots tend to carry a bit further because of the higher elevation and low humidity. Greens were nice and rolled true not too fast not slow at all but just right. Bunkers were all over watered and felt like wet dirt (hard pan at times). The last two times I played this course was more fun because there were less distractions and the course was in better shape. Pro shop could go with more products and the range could use some shade because hitting 25 balls drains a lot out of a person before a round in 95*+ weather. Over all I would go back if the course was dried out a bit more.

I have been coming here for a couple of years now for and this one of my favorite golf courses in my rotation. had a 9:48am tee time but Matt (funny and cool guy) in the pro shop hooked us up with an earlier time at 9:15am. Finished in less than five hours and we would have finished faster but my twosome was paired up a couple of senior guys that were all over the place. First off, the course was in above average shape. Tees were nice and taken care of. Fairways on the other hand were average with spots of hard pan lies. Greens were in great shape and were rolling true with the exception small rocks from the bunkers. I love holes 3, 5, 11, 12, 14, and 16 because of the options off the tee. Shot my personal best of 71, 3 over on the front and 3 under on the back. Greens were so nice that I only had 20 putts. In the past the greens were either lighting quick or slow and bumpy from being punched but not today. They were just perfect. Even the green on hole 6 was consistent. My only gripe would be that they tend to over water the greens when the weather gets hot and this was evident when my 6 iron shot on hole 8 plugged on the green. More than half of the ball was under ground but other wise the greens were receptive with the right amount of spin. The staff is great from the starters, snack bar, and the very friendly Marshalls. One tip that needs to be stressed is the club repair shop is the cheapest and fastest repair shop I have ever found. I had a hybrid re-gripped and it cost me no more than 5 dollars and I was hitting balls with it in less than 15 minutes. They have a great selection of products and it is next to the driving range so instant adjustment is possible. Driving range is good as well and they let you hit off the grass on Mondays and Wednesdays but the yellow range balls gives a sense of hitting kiddy balls. I live in Mar Vista in West LA but I drive to Simi Valley because the course is well worth the drive. Never too crowed except Wednesday mornings from the Womens tournament. Practice facility is adequate but having the chipping and putting area next to the 10th tee can be annoying and distracting. Overall go there and play I know I will be back real soon to see if I can shoot better than 71.

Played on 4/28/11. Teed off at 10am and finished at 2pm (twosome). Was a little surprised that they would let out a twosome when there were three or four groups on the tee box. Weather was perfect 70 degrees but was a little windy in the afteroon and it made a few wholes very challenging on the back. Everyone was very friendly from the pro shop, starter, marshals, and even the snack shop guy. Even the guy who hit into us on the third hole was very nice and said he was sorry (would not happen in the Valley or LA). The only issue I have with this course was the driving range. Gauging distance was difficult as after 95 or so yards everything falls into a valley and you can only see the huge nets and back of driving range at about 250 yards. The greens were spectacular. Never putted better in my life. The first cut off the green were like the regular greens on most municipal courses in Los Angeles. Rolls true with virtually no bumps and balls hold the line very nicely. Fairways were coming out of being dormant but still were nice and had a lot of roll for added distance. Water on the course come into play on every hole it's on. Play away from ALL WATER AT ALL COSTS. Add wind and fast fairways into the equation and disaster will happen. Wind plays a major factor as it is predominantly coming out from the west/southwest and affects holes 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 - water hazard, tail left to right wind into the water, 13 - dead into the wind with a small landing area for long hitters from elevated white/blue tees, and 15 - short par three but dead into the wind.

Overall loved the course and a great little gem hidden in Oxnard. Plays somewhat like a links style with very little trees coming into play but elevation plays a pivotal role in determining shot making abilities and creating beautiful vista views. Cost was very reasonable at $51 with cart. Overall excellent course to play in Ventura County. So nice I'm thinking about moving out there.

Played on 8/24/10. Rates have gone up but all city courses have a summer discount. 5 dollars off the round between 11am - closing. Paid $28 to walk 18holes. I remember when this course cost 21.50 to play on the weekday and now it cost $33. Nuts if you ask me. Course was not busy at all but the pace of play took a little over 5 hours to play. Teed off at 11:10am (11:06am tee time). I was paired with a Asian couple and one of the club regulars from Rancho.

Side Rant:

Forget what the guys name was but he had no golf etiquette what so ever. On two occasions he putted out and just walked off the green. Never once got the pin. On one occasion he could not see his ball and I was away. So as I'm about to hit he starts to say stop that's my ball. I flinch and pull my shot left into the rough. Then he realizes he is standing right in front of he ball. Total rude MF. On the next tee as I'm starting to tee off he grabs my clubs from my bag and starts hitting practice shot flinging dirt all over my push cart and bag. This guy was a joke. I had a feeling when I asked him if he wanted to play from the blues or blacks he states "blacks definitely blacks." I out drove him on every hole and he averaged only 215 yards off the tee (used my GPS to track his tee shots). The Asian couple wanted no part in this guy so they kept to themselves and on occasion we would speak Korean to each other and laugh at this guy. These are the regulars at Rancho Park. That's the crap shoot in playing in a muni course. I have not had "normal" playing partners at Rancho in a long time.

Course review.

The day was hot. Temp was around 85 degrees but it felt like 95. A little muggy. Greens were slow for rancho standards. Found out that the greens keepers were watering the entire course in fear of it drying out. Greens felt like I was putting on shag carpet (even the 14th green that is super fast from left to right was slow).

Fairways were in decent condition and the lies were good. Rough was cut nicely and were easy to get out of. Bunker was powdery and consistent, (100% better than Alondra G.C.). Over all I think this course is in great condition, pace of play has definitely gotten better since the rate increase. Is it worth $33 for a weekday round? Maybe. Would I spend over $50 with a cart on the weekend? No, better courses out in the Valley or Simi that offer better services and faster rate of play for less.

Playing again this Friday. Well see......