I decided to take the long way back from Sacramento and play Copper Valley. As mentioned before this course is a ways out there but it’s a solid trac... » More

I decided to take the long way back from Sacramento and play Copper Valley. As mentioned before this course is a ways out there but it’s a solid track. The course sits on a hill so it has several elevation changes throughout. It also has a few water hazards to the place gets a thumbs up in the design/layout from me. Conditions were very nice. Not over the top great like the last few places, I’ve played but definitely well above average.

The start was a bit odd. I tee’d off at 10AM and was part of the 10B group with the 10A group going off right in front of us. Not sure if others have seen this or not in a regular start. Anyway, I was paired up with an elderly couple in their 80’s. The were locals who play 5 times a week so they helped guide me around the course.

Greens were great. I rated them right at an 8. They rolled smooth at a medium fast pace. Greens are well designed with some easy pin locations yet had some bit to them and could be set up very tough. I will say that it seemed like we had a lot more favorable pin locations than tough ones.

Fairways were a delight. Very lush for the most part with only a few tight lies here and there. Fairways were green throughout the entire course.

Tee boxes were the week point. Good lush coverage but a few were unlevel. They weren’t horrible, but I had to step back a couple paces on a few of the tee boxes in order to find a flat hitting surface.

I avoided the bunkers all day but they looked decent.

Customers service: Everyone was polite, I’ll give them that. I can tell they don’t get too many visitors here (understandable considering the drive). Everyone on the course was definitely local and knew the routine. Me being the outsider, I was lost on a couple issues. I attempted to order from the restaurant and that was a disaster. Finally after waiting 30 minutes (after ordering on the 9th hole), I left and someone brought my food out.

My playing companions quit after 9, so I became a single. Unfortunately, I got stuck behind two super slow foursomes. The marshals forced the one group to let me through, after they denied my request (I was on the tee box with them on two consecutive holes). Anyway, It seems that the locals here are like surfers at a hidden surf spot. They treat outsiders like garbage.

That aside, it was great weather and the course is in excellent shape. Carts have GPS and the cups have spacers in them that are set fairly deep so no issues with balls bouncing out due to hitting the spacer.

Copper Valley is worth the price if you don’t mind the drive.
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Played Yocha Dehe on 1/12/21 with DeepSea14. This is my second time playing here and it’s an absolute gem of a course. Course checks off all the bo... » More

Played Yocha Dehe on 1/12/21 with DeepSea14. This is my second time playing here and it’s an absolute gem of a course. Course checks off all the boxes, elevation changes, great conditions, water hazards and super friendly staff. Like many of the Indian Casino courses, Yocha Dehe is hidden off the beaten path. It’s about an hours drive from Sacramento but well worth the drive. I drove from the valley and it was easily worth the 3.5 hour journey.

Greens rolled smooth at a medium-fast pace. Greens are normal size with most being double tiered. There were some tough pin locations set right on the ridge that made putting speed crucial. Greens held well struck approach shots. The only thing preventing these greens from being a 9 or 10 was that some of them had a brownish tint to them. Didn’t effect how the putts rolled but did take a point or two off for presentation.

Fairways were nearly flawless. These fairways easily could have belonged to one of the last two courses played over the weekend. They were that good!

Tee boxes weren’t far behind the fairways. Level, lush and excellent coverage.
I avoided the sand traps until the last two holes. Both bunkers were top quality with soft fluffy sand.

Getting back out here reminded me why I liked this course so well the first time and also confirmed all the high rankings Yocha Dehe gets on the Top Course lists. Highly recommended playing it.
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Like a gambler who doesn’t know when to quit, I went back out to Spyglass Hills in search of that ever-elusive birdie. After getting completely skunk... » More

Like a gambler who doesn’t know when to quit, I went back out to Spyglass Hills in search of that ever-elusive birdie. After getting completely skunked at The Glass in five attempts in 2020, I figured I’d roll the dice early in 2021. Being on a “hot” streak of 3 rounds in a row with a bird, I figured this was as good as a time as any. So I called up a buddy and the date was set for a 9AM tee time.

As I was pulling through the gate, my buddy called and said if we want to go out a little early we can be the first group out. There was one other car in the parking lot. Place was empty!! After a few range balls we set out at 8:50 as the FIRST group on the course. NOTE: To So Cal folks who can’t get a tee time, Call Spyglass they have a handful of prime tee times available (at least mid week).

With the AT&T tournament around the corner, the course is in absolute perfect condition. Greens were super smooth without a pitch mark to be found. I will say that the greens were a bit slower than expected. They rolled at a medium-fast pace but not the wicked fast like Pebble on Saturday. Greens easily held well struck approach shots.

Fairways were top notch. Easily a 10+ rating. Very lush throughout. Rough was thick and penal. The front nine seemed worse than the back. Might also have to do with the fact I hit more fairways on the back nine.

Sand traps were also top notch. I was in two and was easily able to escape both bunkers which were deep. It’s such a pleasure hitting out of perfectly groomed sand traps with nice deep fluffy sand.

Tee boxes were postcard picture perfect. Level, lush and divot free.

POP was whatever we wanted it to be. With one in front of us and the group behind us being 3 holes back we were like on our own private course. So Nice!!

COVID: Masks inside like everywhere else, credit card only payment (either to pro shop or central reservations), flagsticks must be left in and they had foam inserts. As the first group out we ran into a couple cups that didn’t have the foam insert pushed all the way down. An easy tap with the putter took care of it.

Snack shop is closed down, no beverage cart out. We walked (CPO for those who want to take a cart). No club cleaning allowed after the round but we did get the shoe service. (attendant double masked and gloved) which was nice, mainly to just be able to tip them.

The sun was out, waves were crashing and it was a spectacular day at The Glass. And the gambler? Well, he broke even, but as he drifted off to sleep, I found an ace birdie I could keep!
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Was back out at Pebble Beach this morning with a 9am tee time to join GK'ers Gregholla, Apisaski and Fatfish433 for a great walk around Pebble( and wh... » More

Was back out at Pebble Beach this morning with a 9am tee time to join GK'ers Gregholla, Apisaski and Fatfish433 for a great walk around Pebble( and what was suppose to be the 2021 Birdie Chain Battle kickoff). Conditions are are pretty much perfect and quite possibly the best I've ever seen them.

Greens were easily a 10, rolling super smooth. Greens started out the traditional Pebble style in that they were very fast downhill but manageable uphill. At About the 10th the greens dried out and became wicked fast in all directions. Greens at Pebble Beach have subtle breaks that can be super tricky. They look so tame, yet have such a big bite!

Fairways and tee boxes were perfect as well. Super lush and a perfect emerald green. They are starting to narrow the fairways for the upcoming tournament. Sandtraps were fantastic as well. So fluffy and really a pleasure to escape from. It's no wonder the pros make bunker shots look so easy.

The Pebble Beach resort is still in full Covid lockdown. No onsite dining (inside or outside) and even the snack bar/shop is closed down. Cups have foam spacers halfway down and no rakes in the bunkers. Three of us walked and Dave took a cart (CPO)

No other services are currently being offered such as shoe and club cleaning. Pro shop is partitioned with only a small portion open.

As stated many times by all, Pebble Beach is a spectacular course well worth the 5 hour journey around the track.
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Needed a tune up round before the 2021 BCB starts on January 9th, so I went out to Hunter Ranch with Eli1488 and JusGas88 who served as my caddie sinc... » More

Needed a tune up round before the 2021 BCB starts on January 9th, so I went out to Hunter Ranch with Eli1488 and JusGas88 who served as my caddie since he’s on injured reserve right now. Hit the range which was pretty much only useful for hitting driver as there wasn’t a real clean grass area to be found. Range balls were 50/50 on quality with half being extremely dirty/muddy from the dirt landing area below.

As usual the greens were in spectacular condition rolling very smooth at a fast pace. Fairways were mainly winter thin and brown in color but decent enough to hit from. Tee boxes were the weak link of the course with most being chewed up, thin, brown and uneven at times. Sand traps are in nice shape. I had one trap that was thinner than expected but still very playable. The others were fine. Rough both primary and secondary are cut down right now. Usually if you end up in the secondary area it’s a lost ball but now it’s more hardpack dirt and will roll for quite some time.

We had a nice gap of about 4 holes empty before and after so we set our own pace of play. Restaurant is open for takeout food with a limited menu. Cups are set to normal depth (we left the flagstick in all day). We had a spectator/rider which they appropriately charged us the $22 rider fee for so we had two carts.

Check in was quick and simple. Hunter Ranch is always an enjoyable track and even in the “winter” condition it’s still worth the drive.
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