Played here today at 1:28 in my GK Cup match vs. 14over. Got a great deal on TeeOff.com for just about $28 each. There was a big US Kids Golf tourname... » More

Played here today at 1:28 in my GK Cup match vs. 14over. Got a great deal on TeeOff.com for just about $28 each. There was a big US Kids Golf tournament that thankfully started right behind us. We played with one other guy and pace was decent; not good, not bad, and we finished in about 4.5 hrs.

The course is in very nice condition. Greens are smooth, medium-fast and accepted full shots very well. Fairways are really nice, maybe the nicest I've ever seen them here. The rough is also very lush and thick in spots. Tee boxes were decent, maybe a little beat up late in the day. Bunkers are the only area that need attention; they are inconsistent from one to the next.

As I've said in previous reviews, this course seems to grow on me more and more each time I play it. Definitely recommended right now!
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Played here for my first time on Monday, 8/5. I had a $99 GolfMoose voucher good for a round + replay and booked the first time of the day (6:00 a.m.)... » More

Played here for my first time on Monday, 8/5. I had a $99 GolfMoose voucher good for a round + replay and booked the first time of the day (6:00 a.m.) one month ahead of time. I was paired with a twosome from England and a guy who works at Bali Hai and was enjoying his day off. After a few holes, the twosome asked us to go ahead alone, as we were playing a bit fast for their liking. We finished in under three hours and then my playing partner helped coordinate with his buddy the starter to get me back out for the second round right away. Pace was slower and it was hotter, so I only stuck around for 12 holes on that second round.

Course conditions are fantastic for August! The greens are smooth, medium-fast, and accepted full shots very well. I did notice a few more imperfections in the second round, but early they were excellent. Fairways were also really great, providing good lies all day. The rough was just a tad below the quality of the fairways with slight browning in spots, but generally very good. Tee boxes were good all day; I seem to recall thinking one was a bit bumpy underfoot. (Certain tee boxes seem to be getting re-seeded and are pure dirt right now, but they are all closed. Some tees were moved back as a result; others moved up.) The beautiful white sand bunkers were the only slight negative. The first few I was in were really good, but the further into the course I got, the more compacted they seemed to become. A full crew of workers was out on one of the holes (15, I want to say) working on the bunkers, so perhaps they're in the midst of renovating them.

Playing with views of Mandalay Bay and Luxor is pretty cool. Conversely, playing with views of Jack in the Box, the freeway and billboards is sort of a bummer. If you're into aviation or easily bothered, planes will be flying at low altitude over you all throughout your round. I think Schmidt-Curley did a great job of routing the course to not feel too jammed in to its footprint, though. Holes seem to play in all different directions and avoid the back and forth I expected for some reason. It's a fun course and also tough.

Definitely recommended in its current condition!
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Had a 10:07 "Deal" time from TeeOff.com that was originally scheduled for my GK Cup match vs. apisarski. Unfortunately he injured himself and needed t... » More

Had a 10:07 "Deal" time from TeeOff.com that was originally scheduled for my GK Cup match vs. apisarski. Unfortunately he injured himself and needed to bow out, but I decided to keep my time and play. I arrived early - around 9:15 - to find red signs on the pro shop door and front desk announcing "Pre-Paid Tee Times Cannot Start Before Their Time." So I checked in and they said they'd call me in about 20 minutes. Oddly, that whole time no one teed off on the Chino Creek course, while Butterfield Stage was packed with a tournament. The pro shop called me in as promised and paired me with two other singles, and still no one had teed off since I arrived. So we basically had the course to ourselves all day, we teed off about 20 minutes early, and then one of the guys decided to drop back after nine. So POP was incredible, finishing in 2:40! I only saw two other groups on Chino Creek the whole time we were playing, and we never waited on a shot until my approach shot to 18.

Conditions are decent overall. Greens are the highlight. They were very smooth (perhaps due to so few players ahead of us), medium speed and held full shots well. Fairways were decent/good except when they weren't, like when my ball ended up in some weeds in the 15th "fairway." The rough varies wildly from deep, thick stuff around some greens to rodent holes and hardpan in other areas. Definitely puts a premium on hitting the fairway. Tee boxes were mostly in good shape with lots of puffy kikuyu. I was in two bunkers, both of which had a thin layer of soft sand on top of compacted sand beneath. I learned my lesson in the first one and really struck down into the second one, which produced a much better result.

Overall the course looks a little rough around the edges, but plays pretty good and makes it hard to complain for $27 including cart today. Gotta love the prices from the beverage cart, too!
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