Played Balboa again on Friday Mar 16. The pace of play was pretty good for an afternoon twilight session. Was in the car at just under 4 hours.

The course was in decent shape, the tee boxes wer... Continue »

Played Balboa again on Friday Mar 16. The pace of play was pretty good for an afternoon twilight session. Was in the car at just under 4 hours.

The course was in decent shape, the tee boxes were a bit more scuffed up than I last remember them, including still being mostly uneven. This part really bothers me, not so much the divots or thinness because I get to tee up, but the unevenness is an issue. I did notice that the plateaus with the red markers were a lot less beat up than the back blues where I was playing.

The fairways of the course continue to be very thin, and brown. Still mostly in hibernation, the approach areas are especially thin on several of the holes. The rough was really a mixed bag, some holes the rough would be decent and lush, and even green some times! (my playing partner once remarked "what is green grass doing on a course like this?") Other holes it was thin and spotty. You really never knew what you were going to get.

The greens were improved over the past several weeks. I thought they ran very true and smooth. Hardly saw any un-repaired ball marks. They must be putting their water budget into the greens, which is not a bad place to put it.

Overall it was an enjoyable round, I went on as a single, but slowly gathered partners until we were a foursome. Had a very good time, and have no complaints about any of the staff.

Balboa Golf Course Review
Encino California Golf Course Reviews

Played Balboa for the very first time on 2-24-12. I enjoyed the course, even though it is fairly simple. The usual Friday crowds ensured that we could not complete the whole course since we teed off... Continue »

Played Balboa for the very first time on 2-24-12. I enjoyed the course, even though it is fairly simple. The usual Friday crowds ensured that we could not complete the whole course since we teed off at 245 (played 16). But that is probably expected on a muni course when the weather is perfect.

I thought that the tee boxes were fairly well maintained, with my only gripe being that the markers for the day were set on uneven portions of the box. The fairways were probably the shabbiest part of the course. There were many dried out and thin spots, especially on the approach on several holes. This made chipping up to the green very difficult. I thought that the rough was pretty even and solid on most holes. Having only visited 1 sand trap, but being close to several others they looked well maintained and fluffy.

I thought the greens ran rather well and smooth, not too quick but challenging nonetheless. When ever I fixed my divot, there were always 2+ more to fix as well. I guess people don't consider a divot tool a basic piece of equipment anymore. :(

Overall I had a good experience at the course, the starter was quick, and saw the drink cart twice, once on each nine. I hope to return and play again, hopefully a little earlier so that I can play the last 2 holes.

Balboa Golf Course Review
Encino California Golf Course Reviews

10 am Wednesday no wait straight to the first tee, could be the threat of rain, but fine by me, went out as a single, caught a twosome on 4. let me start with tee's all were well tended, and for the ... Continue »

10 am Wednesday no wait straight to the first tee, could be the threat of rain, but fine by me, went out as a single, caught a twosome on 4. let me start with tee's all were well tended, and for the most part flat, it is the middle of winter and that should be kept in mind. The fairways are in as good shape as any muni I have played this time of year, in fact better. Now the greens, they were very good, for the most part surprisingly so. I go to a LA City muni this time of year, I don't expect much, Balboa was a pleasant surprise. I was in the car and driving away in 3 1/2 hours.(it only rained for one hole)

Balboa Golf Course Review
Encino California Golf Course Reviews

This course was in good shape the pace of play was good 4 hours and the drink cart hit the spot on the 14th.The sand was excellent for I landed in 2 and took a snowman on one but overall we all had a ... Continue »

This course was in good shape the pace of play was good 4 hours and the drink cart hit the spot on the 14th.The sand was excellent for I landed in 2 and took a snowman on one but overall we all had a good fun round like usual so Ill be back later cya!

Balboa Golf Course Review
Encino 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. Grou... Continue »

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 7/15 - 1 pm start - 4 hr round. Course is in very decent shape, only a couple thin fairway shots all day. Rough varied per hole area from very deep (3-5 inches) to very playable (.5-1.5 inches)... Continue »

Played 7/15 - 1 pm start - 4 hr round. Course is in very decent shape, only a couple thin fairway shots all day. Rough varied per hole area from very deep (3-5 inches) to very playable (.5-1.5 inches). Was in 3 snad traps and they actually felt like sand - fairway bunker sand was a bit firmer than greenside. Greens were recovering very well from the last crosscut, and were rolling pretty decent, a few ball marks to repair as usual on muni but overall was a good putting surface. They got new carts here recently also. Starter was friendly, beer cart girl was cute/friendly/talkative. Trimming trees so there were a few wood piles around the course, but nothing in your way. Overall a great day - will always play here again, with Balboa/Encino at the same place, can almost always walk up and get on one of them.

Walked on the morning of 12/10. Pretty open and good pace for the round. Finished in 4 hours walking. Haven't played here in a few months, and I was really surprised at the green condition. It's in gr... Continue »

Walked on the morning of 12/10. Pretty open and good pace for the round. Finished in 4 hours walking. Haven't played here in a few months, and I was really surprised at the green condition. It's in great condition, medium to fast speed and rolled true. For a course that gets a lot of traffic, it was pretty good. The fairway was in good condition. Saw bare spots here and there, but nothing too much. I caught the sand on couple occasions, and it was in good condition. A little on the heavy side. Just like Encino, a good course to work on your game.

The Balboa side of the Encino/Balboa golf course is a bit more challenging from the tee box than the Encino course. The greens are a bit smaller and more challenging because of there lack of angulati... Continue »

The Balboa side of the Encino/Balboa golf course is a bit more challenging from the tee box than the Encino course. The greens are a bit smaller and more challenging because of there lack of angulation. Even though the weather was a bit cold in the past week, the greens were still in good condition. I enjoy this course because it challenges you to control your tee shot. It also requires you to be accurate on your distance from the fairway.

Played 4/2/2010 at 7:20 am. 4 hours, 20 min pace. Course is in good shape for this muni, very lush as other reviewers have mentioned. This is basic golf. A nice day to play!

Played 4/2/2010 at 7:20 am. 4 hours, 20 min pace. Course is in good shape for this muni, very lush as other reviewers have mentioned. This is basic golf. A nice day to play!