Played the back nine again. And before I forget, the customer service as great. that being said . . .

The greens were drenched because the gardeners were watering just as we had arrived. This made play quite frustrating as the ball hydroplaned across most of the greens and dug deep on approaches (not to mention that my pant cuffs were unnecessarily dirtied).

The tee boxes were thin as well. It is a neat experience to tee it up from the tips, the current blue placement, but please, be observant to the ratio of dirt and grass.

It seems as though the course is going through a slow transformation and will be soon a very nice course with the rough edges smoothes out. Also, I am sure that the conditions will change the next time I play there, and I will.

Right out of work, and onto the course ...

I arrived in plenty of time for my tee time. But since I was the only one of my foursome to show, I was placed with another group and moved up quite a bit. Without time for a good warmup, or sufficient time on the Johnny Cat, I was off to a rocky start.

The tee boxes, and especially the greens, were in good shape. As a matter of fact, the greens were in great shape! However, it was the fairway condition that brought down the experience, but only by a little. And since the 2pm, greenfees were only $20, just being there was worth it.

Getting around was unusually slow for that hour. But as I said before, the greens coupled with the fact that the course is challenging and a pretty sight for the eyes, my time was well spent.

The course challenges the golfer to try new things as the fairways do not favor one particular drive. The greens have undulations and swells that make the golfer think in terms of segments while putting. And just try to get out of a fairway bunker with trees impeding your progress (#11, par 5). These are not unfair, but more so, are challenges. And with the course's fairways in a state of flux, you do have to see the course for more of what it is.

At $20 or even $45, I'll play there anytime. And besides, just like any course, the fairways will come back. And when they do, the course will be its usual fantastic.

First, the time played was at dawn ad on the back nine. With that out of the way ...

Chester, as wide open as it ways, demands more of your attention that you would first expect. The greens have many breaks, and some are very graduated. The bunkers do quite well to promote a garrisoned green.

The fairways were smooth and nicely cut. The teeboxes, however, are a different story. They do need work. I had to place and then replace my tee on more than one occasion.

Nonetheless, a good experience, if you could get past the attitudes in the pro shop. They do not take too kindly to questions. Either that, or, I just have that face that begs to be ignored.

El Dorado is my back nine home course for Sunday mornings. On this particular occasion, it was very nice to see the front nine.

First, the items that I rated as poor or not so good, such as bare spots or green damage, are all due to player sensibilities. Some people fill their divots on the fairways and tend to theirs on the greens. Others do not. I always thought marshalls should be rewarding players (on occasion) for going the extra mile.

The fairways were very nice and smooth. My ball rolled a few extra yards. Also, the greens were very soft at times, holding my wedge shots. The greens were not very honest in their readings, however. Or perhaps I need to review more agronomy.

The tee boxes were a bit disappointing, though, especially in the par three's. And it is this that I blame other golfers. The greenskeepers are there to enhance the conditions of the course, not merely pick up after golfers who do not practice good etiquette.

Worth the money? You bet. $29 could not have been spent better. I like Rio Hondo too, at $45, but that is another story. These aforementioned courses are a bit different, and garner different fees.

Another good course, and challenging at that, is Cypress Golf Club. But I tend to run into too many egomaniacs there.