Late review. Snuck out for an afternoon round at Alondra last Saturday. For my semi-annual visit, I walked on at 1:00, joined on 10 two twosomes that had earlier paired up and was able to finish jus... Continue »

Late review. Snuck out for an afternoon round at Alondra last Saturday. For my semi-annual visit, I walked on at 1:00, joined on 10 two twosomes that had earlier paired up and was able to finish just as it was getting dark. Pretty good pace of play for a weekend round.

The course was in decent shape. Some bare spots, definitely thin winter conditions overall in the fairways. There were some muddy spots but nothing really bad considering the course traditionally drains poorly. The rough was hit and miss. Generally cut down but I was in some gnarly spots as well, left on 15 and on the backside of the green on 17. The bunkers were playable. The greens were interesting. I asked someone making the turn about them and he said they were good and surprisingly quick. I found them to be medium speed but also looking like they may be developing some fungus problem. I was chipping for practice on the 8th green and the ball was hopping all over the place. That said, they rolled pretty well on putts considering the time of day.

Overall, the course exceeded my expectations which admittedly were not high. For $23.75 walking, it was a good deal.

I played the course on 11/30/19. It was in decent shape however, they're still working on some of the tee boxes and have the tips pushed up a little bit. The greens aren't bad but in the middle of win... Continue »

I played the course on 11/30/19. It was in decent shape however, they're still working on some of the tee boxes and have the tips pushed up a little bit. The greens aren't bad but in the middle of winter they're where I'd expect them to be for a muni. I like Alondra as a practice course. Outside of the full length 18 hole course, it has a par-3 track, chipping area with a large bunker, decent practice greens and a driving range. The biggest challenge this course has is the people who manage it into the ground. The concession stand charges .80 cents for a cup of water. I don't know who decided 80 cents was the right price but it just seem like a very cheap move. I also went to the driving range after it rained. All the mats were soaked and it didn't feel safe to hit the second bucket I paid for. I mentioned this to the guy in the "pro-shop" and who told me I should find a dry mat instead. It was annoying to explain that there aren't any dry mats because it had rained. I asked to give back the full bucket in exchange for a token to use another time. The old whiny man said they can't do things like that. Just another example of the cheapness this place is saturated with. Avoid the "pro-shop" as much as possible and the penny pinchers at the concession stand. Other than the lack of personality, of the people who run this course it's a great practice track.

I know I just reviewed Alondra. But after having played it today since my last review the course has is even more dry and the greens are worse than before. They are slower and bumpy. There are strange... Continue »

I know I just reviewed Alondra. But after having played it today since my last review the course has is even more dry and the greens are worse than before. They are slower and bumpy. There are strangely, spots on the course where the grass has grown quite thick. The course in its usual pattern will probably be in nasty shape until we can get more rain.

On July 4th I went to practice and after hitting several chips realized how few people were teeing off. I took advantage and played instead of practice. The greens are still in good shape. The rest of... Continue »

On July 4th I went to practice and after hitting several chips realized how few people were teeing off. I took advantage and played instead of practice. The greens are still in good shape. The rest of the course is drying out. This is typical for July. I even saw cracks in the clay based soil. The July 4th festivities in the park were packed with people. The next day, today, I heard they might turn the golf course into an expanded from what there is now, park. If they do this public golf on a per capita basis would safe to say would be the worst in the nation. Seeing how crowded it was in the park, I see their point. But, to eliminate a revenue (even though it is down) producing facility would be a big mistake. Rancho Park and Los Verdes are still very crowded. Where would you go? Victoria, with its methane soaked fairways? Yeah right! Chester L Washington would turn into a Rancho Park. Weekday fees would soar to 45$ to walk. Keep Alondra open!!!!!

It's been 10+ years since I last played here, and will probably be at least that long until I return. While there is nothing really wrong or bad about the course, it's just not very exciting or inter... Continue »

It's been 10+ years since I last played here, and will probably be at least that long until I return. While there is nothing really wrong or bad about the course, it's just not very exciting or interesting. Combine that with marginal conditioning and typically slow pace of play.

The greens need to be rolled! The ball seems to have a mind of its own while it jiggles toward the hole. Slow greens allow you to slug the ball to help keep it on line, but that's not my preference when it comes to putting. I like fast greens ! Fairways were for the most part pretty good, with some bare areas and a few holes which it appeared they forgot to turn off the sprinklers last night, because there were puddles/casual water everywhere on them. Greenside bunkers were very thin with just a veneer of sand covering the hardpan. Tee boxes were OK, with some needing attention, but you could generally find a decent spot to put your peg in the ground.

6:36am tee time. I thought it would be horrible considering how many people were there when they opened the gate at 5:30, but it took just a tick under four hours, which is not my preferred pace, but way better than I expected. Truth is I had a decent time and enjoyed the round, but too far to drive to play here when there are so many better choices along the route.

Played Saturday.

Greens are in decent shape. Afternoon sun will affect roll as thatch get a bit bouncy but a well struck putt will ensure you reach the hole and keep the ball on-line long enough... Continue »

Played Saturday.

Greens are in decent shape. Afternoon sun will affect roll as thatch get a bit bouncy but a well struck putt will ensure you reach the hole and keep the ball on-line long enough to hit your putting line.

Thin lies EVERYWHERE. Left wrist was hurting towards end of round. No cushion underneath so had to change the way I hit the ball and started punching my shots to get by. Rough cut to same height of fairway with bare spots everywhere. Tee boxes were well groomed and level.

Bunkers both fairway and green-side is a mixed match of hard pan, harder pan and just plain concrete. Thin layer of dirt will fool you initially. Take your pick and think of shot as just a normal chip shot instead of trying to blast your ball out of the bunker; hoping to draw enough sand.

Pace of play because even on a Saturday after 11AM it's literally empty was a stunning 3 1/2 H and that was picking up a single here and there on my stroll though the course.

Had a confidence round at Alondra this weekend that didn't quite succeed in that department, but it was nice to see this very busy track in some decent shape as summer closes in soon.

No, it's not... Continue »

Had a confidence round at Alondra this weekend that didn't quite succeed in that department, but it was nice to see this very busy track in some decent shape as summer closes in soon.

No, it's not in great shape by any means. It's not even really in good shape. But it's in playable shape, and if you've played here a lot, you know that's about as good as it's going to get.

Greens on the front nine are still showing signs of aeration and were sanded, but the back nine were actually in pretty decent shape, but certainly on the slow side. Fairways have patches of green but still mostly yellow-ish, but playable. Bunkers are thin and annoying as you decide whether to try and take non-existent sand, or pick it clean. Rough is often more advantageous to hit from than the fairways, and the tee boxes are pretty much a wreck.

This will never be a destination course without a boatload of investment, but the current conditions are about as good as they might get for some time. Get out there if you want some straight-ahead, no frills golf to work off the rust.

This is to give a heads-up to my fellow GKers. I played there this morning early and found that they're punching and sanding the back nine greens today. There is a small temporary green cut in the f... Continue »

This is to give a heads-up to my fellow GKers. I played there this morning early and found that they're punching and sanding the back nine greens today. There is a small temporary green cut in the fairway considerably short of the regular greens on each hole. The front nine greens were in very good shape, probably the best I've seen them in a long while. I asked but the staff didn't know when they'll be punching the front next. It's too bad that they couldn't just leave them alone as they are... The condition of the rest of the course, i.e., fairways, rough, bunkers, etc., is basically the same as reported in previous reviews for this course.

Nothing worse than a confidence round at a place like Alondra that fails to actually end up building any confidence, but wet, muddy and thin conditions on Sunday did not help out in the least. Played ... Continue »

Nothing worse than a confidence round at a place like Alondra that fails to actually end up building any confidence, but wet, muddy and thin conditions on Sunday did not help out in the least. Played the blue tees walking with three friends and a 10:40am tee time. Course was fairly empty and it was more or less smooth sailing and we even let a twosome play through at the 8th hole.

Again, rather poor conditions overall at Alondra, but the greens were actually in pretty good shape. A few had some signs of damage but they rolled pretty nicely and at medium-fast speed, and held shots well even after the moisture had worn off by early afternoon.

Rest of the conditions were not quite as solid. Thin fairways rule the day here but you'll occasionally find a nice patch of grass. More often than not though you'll need to be picking the ball clean. Not really fair to assess the bunkers with all the standing water in them from the rain, but the dried out ones were no great shakes. Tee boxes very poor and need lots of re-seeding or something. Rough was not penal and often a relief from the thin in the fairways.

POP was around five hours but that was because we were playing for a bet and all putts counted, so completely our fault. Weather held up nicely luckily as well. No cart service all day but not something one usually expects at Alondra anyway. Flat course, some long holes to challenge, but mostly straight up and down with few exceptions. I've seen Alondra better. But I've also seen it worse.