Note: my rating is a little on the low side right now, but that is because the greens were recently punched and sanded. No doubt conditions will improve very soon. I played here Friday morning, teeing... Continue »

Note: my rating is a little on the low side right now, but that is because the greens were recently punched and sanded. No doubt conditions will improve very soon. I played here Friday morning, teeing off at about 7:30 a.m. We had a foursome of walkers and finished at just about 4 hours. We did have to wait a little on a few holes, but nothing like it could get at this notoriously slow course. The greens are still healing from the recent aeration. I would say they are a little bumpy, but very playable right now with medium-fast speed. The greens also were soft and receptive to most any kind of shot. The tees were recently over seeded (lightly) and were beginning to grow in, but many were somewhat uneven. The fairways and rough were nice to hit from with lush grass most everywhere. I visited a couple of bunkers and the sand was very nice; probably the best bunkers in the area right now. I did enjoy the morning and it was a good walk for $29.

Finally made it back to Knollwood on Saturday and it was even better than the first time I was there back in May. The dreaded six-hour round that was anticipated at KCC on a Saturday morning 10:30 tee... Continue »

Finally made it back to Knollwood on Saturday and it was even better than the first time I was there back in May. The dreaded six-hour round that was anticipated at KCC on a Saturday morning 10:30 tee time never materialized. Sure, it was a five-hour round, but we never had any backups at any holes, and compared to the expectations, it was fantastic. The layout at Knollwood is the star. I wish I would have been able to see this place in its glorious old Rat Pack pomp, but this was good enough for me. It's a wonderful track that winds through the canyons with a lot of elevated tee boxes and uphill and downhill par 3s that challenge your game. While the course is lined by houses, they never spoil the feeling that you're far from civilization outside of crossing the street a few times in between holes. Also a wonderfully convenient transition from front 9 to back 9 by the snack shop to refuel. The fairways are in great shape - terrific coverage for the most part and even perhaps some overwatering on hole 7. There was GUR in the left side middle of the fairway, but strangely that ground seemed better than the area to the right of it you had to move your ball (one of the few dry areas of fairway).The tee boxes were all in pretty good shape, and the greens rolled well and true, held shots well and were minimally damaged with ball marks. The rough was pretty consistent as well, but stay out of the prominent mulch on many holes. The highlight? The bunkers. Best sand on any public course in LA. I'm talking the fluffiest of fluffy from the fairway bunkers to greenside - superb. We played from the blue tees which is a good challenge and saw the cart girl 2-3x on the day. Also got a walking rate of $38.50 (and $5 for the push cart) which is terrific for the quality of this track. I believe they're aerating this upcoming week but get out to Knollwood as soon as you can. I can't guarantee you'll be lucky and not have a six-hour round, but even if you do, enjoy the course anyway. It's easy to do.

First time playing here and really enjoyed it! Most holes are creative and clearly lay out a risk/reward scenario that keeps it interesting and fun. The greens were great and track accurately. Very ... Continue »

First time playing here and really enjoyed it! Most holes are creative and clearly lay out a risk/reward scenario that keeps it interesting and fun. The greens were great and track accurately. Very fun to putt and require a read and touch unlike most public courses in LA where the greens are overused and inconsistent. Overall a very fun round and definitely plan on coming back soon! The bad part, like most public courses in LA, we got behind a group of Korean golfers who play amazingly slow and are completely oblivious to the groups behind them. Our round was 5 hours and 20 minutes. We figured that we spent over an hour and a half waiting on the group in front of us either on the tee box or in the fairway. These guys were very nice but they hit from the back tees with an average drive of 175 yards in the rough. They fell out of position multiple times and they refused to let us play through (which is in the rules of golf) and made no efforts to speed up. We called the clubhouse as did other groups that were waiting with us on the tee boxes. Unfortunately the staff at Knollwood didn't take any serious action beyond asking the group to speed up; which they did not. I grew up in the East playing golf and this pace of play is not tolerated. I haven't seen it tolerated anywhere but Los Angeles and it's so very disappointing. I don't think the marshall even warned them, just politely asked that they speed up . . . and they didn't. We naively expected the marshall to hold them while we played through. Last disappointment was the food options. Beat up and old looking food areas with very average food. Even with the incredibly slow pace of play and so-so food, I had a great time and really enjoyed the course and will come back soon. Courses make more money when the pace of play is upheld and when everyone isn't allowed to play from the back tees, maybe one public course here will realize that. Again, a very fun course that rewards creative shot making and is well worth the money!

I played here on Friday, 8/28/15, 07:24 tee time. We pretty much waited on every shot until the 6th hole, the first par 3. By then things got along okay for the rest of the round, but it still took 4 ... Continue »

I played here on Friday, 8/28/15, 07:24 tee time. We pretty much waited on every shot until the 6th hole, the first par 3. By then things got along okay for the rest of the round, but it still took 4 1/2 hours (it felt longer). Don't bother coming out here later than 08:00 because the wait will just about kill you. Overall, conditions were lush and had good lies in the fairways and rough. The greens rolled medium fast and without any noticeable bumpiness; there were a lot of poorly repaired ball marks as well as fresh ball marks. I walked the course in 102 degree weather for $29. The course itself has undergone some changes since I last played here (Oct. 2014). Much of the rough has been replaced with mulch (I suppose as a water saving measure). This has given the course a lot more character and really defines the holes. Some new landscaping has also been added. Several bunkers have been removed; off hand I can say right side of 5 fairway short of green, left side of 7 fairway, left side of 9 fairway, right side of 11 fairway, green side right on 13, right side short of green on 16, and there may be others that I cannot remember. This alone has made the course that much easier to play. A couple of bunkers have been added: right side of 2 fairway and right side of 15 fairway. Also, the left side of 10 fairway which used to drop off and was little more than thin rough over pine tree roots is now filled in with slight mounding and allows a much better lie and angle to the green. I will be posting some new pictures soon.

Another 5hr 15min round at Knollwood.

Had a 815am tee time on July 3rd. Got off nearly on time. Joined a threesome as a single. Played from the blues. Tee boxes all day were pretty good. Some une... Continue »

Another 5hr 15min round at Knollwood.

Had a 815am tee time on July 3rd. Got off nearly on time. Joined a threesome as a single. Played from the blues. Tee boxes all day were pretty good. Some uneven lies but not too bad. Decent coverage but a lot of unrepaired divots.

Fairways were what you would expect in the drought stricken and hot Granada Hills area. Very firm but weren't generally too penalizing. From green to brown. Mostly good coverage. Certainly playable. The rough is all over the place in terms of length and lushness. Some areas hard pan dirt. Other areas cut short and thin. And other areas very long and incredibly thick. They are also in the process of removing grass and laying mulch in several large areas which is nice to see.

Greens complexes where hit and miss. Areas around the greens were similar to the rough - inconsistent lies. Thick and long, short and thin, hard pan, etc. traps were excellent and difficult, very soft powdery sand. The greens rolled pretty smooth and medium fast but were littered with unrepaired ball marks and badly healed ball marks. They really need to reseed some of the greens. I always struggle with my approach shots at this course because of the tight lies and many of the greens are raised up from the fairway.

I like the layout at Knollwood but the pace of play is just always an issue. I just can't see myself wanting to come back with so many other options.

Played this morning in 3.5 hours and it would have been 3 w/o slow back nine players. Course is in nice shape (IMO) and we were expecting some issues based on previous reviews? But really saw nothing ... Continue »

Played this morning in 3.5 hours and it would have been 3 w/o slow back nine players. Course is in nice shape (IMO) and we were expecting some issues based on previous reviews? But really saw nothing that bothered us. No problems with tee boxes (clean, flat, tee accessible). Sand traps were clean and playable (heard no complaints). Fairways were in good shape (clean and providing good roll). Did see some dry areas but they were areas that one would venture only if slicing or hooking. Greens were in great shape and rolled true/fast; held shots and released as well as providing good chipping speed. Customer service excellent. I really enjoy this course and glad it is close enough to play on a semi-regular basis.

Have not played Knollwood since June 2009. I've always enjoyed playing here, (when it's not windy) I had a 6:12am tee time, and by that time they were already 20 minutes behind ??????. How does th... Continue »

Have not played Knollwood since June 2009. I've always enjoyed playing here, (when it's not windy) I had a 6:12am tee time, and by that time they were already 20 minutes behind ??????. How does that happen? In all fairness, pace of play not all that bad, once we got off # 1. Just a hair under 4 hours, but given we were the 3rd group off, fours is unacceptable.

Greens were very good, fairways not so much. The "new bunkering" was great looking and the sand was fantastic. HOWEVER .... they removed a number of bunkers which I guess was to speed up play? I like the new bunkers, but wish they had left the old bunkers in place!

Overall had a great time. However as it's close to 90 miles from home, it will probably be a few years before I return again.

Played a Sat round at Knollwood for the first time ($38 walking). Friend said it was a great layout and he was right. I had my concerns about this place from earlier reviews but left feeling only posi... Continue »

Played a Sat round at Knollwood for the first time ($38 walking). Friend said it was a great layout and he was right. I had my concerns about this place from earlier reviews but left feeling only positives.

Now, that's not to say all is perfect, as there are many dry patches on the fairways and many of the tee boxes are in need of some TLC, but the greens were really good, as was the sand. The layout I really enjoyed - old school golf - narrow but fair, winding up and down the SFV canyons between homes, but those homes never feel like they're bearing down on you.

POP on a Sat was to be expected - just under 5 hours, but in truth I liked the track so much I could have gone around again. Again, it's by no means perfect, but it absolutely works for me and I look forward to it again, especially if the fairways get really green ever again.

Played here on Sunday 3/29/2015. Tee time for 215, arrived at 150, told won't tee off til 3pm due to lack of golf carts. It took three hours to play front nine. Left after 13th hole a little past 7p... Continue »

Played here on Sunday 3/29/2015. Tee time for 215, arrived at 150, told won't tee off til 3pm due to lack of golf carts. It took three hours to play front nine. Left after 13th hole a little past 7pm. Never again will I go here in the afternoon. The staff was very friendly and very apologetic.