Perfect day out at Rio Hondo today for my GK Cup match with Marvin (mcantos). We had a 2:10 tee time and played from the blue tees. We shared a moody cart that kept on having fits of fatigue and joint... Continue »

Perfect day out at Rio Hondo today for my GK Cup match with Marvin (mcantos). We had a 2:10 tee time and played from the blue tees. We shared a moody cart that kept on having fits of fatigue and joint pain all afternoon ... no GPS on it either. Oh yeah, we did see the cart girl once on the 4th hole tee box but she drove right by and never stopped. That was amusing.

As far as course conditions, everything is pretty good right now at Rio Hondo. There was nothing that stood out as outstanding, but there sure wasn't anything that felt too problematic either. It was above average in all respects. Greens were in pretty nice shape, rolled medium fast and true, while the fairways had plenty of good lies, a few thin here and there, and nicely cut rough with only some areas of real mayhem.

Tee boxes in good shape, and the bunkers were all good as far as I saw, but maybe a tiny bit grainy and of course people still aren't using the rakes just yet. It'll come with time I hope.

Rio Hondo is definitely a 'hit hard, hit first' golf course with the bulk of its teeth showing on the front nine with very narrow alleys for fairways and large trees in all directions waiting to swallow up anything wayward. Both par 3s on the front have water trouble, too. But she softens on the back nine, offering plenty of par chances and very few 'scary' holes outside of maybe 14 and 18.

POP was quite good (better than expected at least) so we only waited on around a quarter of the holes at best, so that was quite nice finishing in just around 4 hours and 20 minutes on a busy LA Friday afternoon.

So yes, overall, Rio Hondo is a good test, a good value and a good time.

Back out to Rio Hondo yesterday with a couple of buddies at 1:30 pm. Check in was smooth and the course was very busy with the range packed and tee sheet stacked.

$30 single cart fees in effective... Continue »

Back out to Rio Hondo yesterday with a couple of buddies at 1:30 pm. Check in was smooth and the course was very busy with the range packed and tee sheet stacked.

$30 single cart fees in effective. Course is in good shape. The greens were still a little bumpy and slow running around 8/8.5. The aprons and area around the greens were in great shape. Fairways were good, but plenty of divots despite the return of the divot mixes on the carts. Sand traps had rakes and in good shape. The restaurant is now open for indoor dining and libations. I had a friend who had not played this course in 10 years...and he became a fan again. Look forward to returning soon.

*** Senior rate pro tip*** from their website:

(Reduce Senior Rates valid all day Monday, and before 8am or after 11am Tuesday thru Friday)

Go play!

Played here today with my weekly tournament group. We had a good tee time (9am) ,so I got out early enough to miss the usual slow play here. The course was in okay condition. Tee boxes where nice, the... Continue »

Played here today with my weekly tournament group. We had a good tee time (9am) ,so I got out early enough to miss the usual slow play here. The course was in okay condition. Tee boxes where nice, they are firm and level. The fairways where firm and fast , but they did have some GUR and spotty patchy dirt areas. The rough was a nice playable level, again, some spotty dirt patches. Bunkers with no rakes are in good condition with good quality sand. Greens rolled at a medium pace, but rolled very true. A good place to play, with a lot of undulating fairways ... Fun and challenging.

Made it back out to Rio Hondo this weekend, grabbing a late solo spot with a 2pm tee time, playing the blues and riding. Paired up with a lovely older Korean couple and this 80yo had some good stories... Continue »

Made it back out to Rio Hondo this weekend, grabbing a late solo spot with a 2pm tee time, playing the blues and riding. Paired up with a lovely older Korean couple and this 80yo had some good stories to tell and game to boot. Fee with cart a very reasonable $56 for this place.

Unfortunately caught the tail end of the recent punching so there's still ample evidence of it on the greens, and still a good amount of sand on them to make matters more complicated. Green speeds of course were quite inconsistent and unreliable, but not enough to sour the experience. You adjust like you do other greens on any course.

Fairways are in relatively nice shape overall with a few thin areas to contend with in popular landing areas or near the greens. But you're going to have plenty of opportunities to get off clean shots off good grass. Rough was not too penal at all so nothing to worry about there, while the tee boxes were mostly in good shape and level. Avoided bunkers all day but saw them to be in nice condition where I noticed them.

POP was very nice at just over four hours, and also had good cart service once or twice during the round. Did not hit balls before my round but Rio Hondo has a pretty nice dual-level driving range with yellow balls that often find their way to the 18th fairway.

The layout? You know the story here ... easier back than front, but lots of narrow holes that will test length and accuracy. Good variety of lengths and looks for the par 3s here. Tree trouble always abounds and plenty of water features throughout to keep you sharp. Very good public golf at a reasonable price. Can't go wrong coming here right now, or even better in a week or two when the greens are healed up.

Conditions: aeration taking place on half the greens, but other than that course is in good shape. Fairways are firm, but green. Rough probably about 3 inches thick. Sand traps are loosening up, but s... Continue »

Conditions: aeration taking place on half the greens, but other than that course is in good shape. Fairways are firm, but green. Rough probably about 3 inches thick. Sand traps are loosening up, but still slightly packed down/hard. The non aerated greens were in good shape and medium speed.

Pace of play: finished a twilight round in a little over 4 hours. No back ups.

Layout: good for my high handicap. Hard to completely lose a ball unless you fly it over a fence. Couple challenging holes including a long par 3 and some holes with water in play that you have to decide to fly or lay up. Couple holes protected by deep green side bunkers as well.

Finally made it back to Rio Hondo this weekend as it was the location for my monthly golf group's round in February. We played from the white tees and had four groups go out there with a 10:40 tee tim... Continue »

Finally made it back to Rio Hondo this weekend as it was the location for my monthly golf group's round in February. We played from the white tees and had four groups go out there with a 10:40 tee time on Saturday.

The driving range is open but the practice putting area behind it is not. Why I have no idea.

I was really looking forward to getting back to Rio Hondo as I always have fond memories of a fun, challenging course with some of the better Muni conditions you'll find in Southern California. Sadly that was not the case this weekend.

The fairway have decent coverage but the lies in so many areas were paper thin, and it appears that they have painted some of the fairways to look more lush than they really are? I don't mind that if the surfaces are still good to hit shots from, but that is not the current case. The rough was in good shape, as were the bunkers - very nice, white fluffy stuff greenside. Tee boxes were a mixed bag but mostly of the beat-up variety.

Greens were fairly good but too many ball marks and inconsistent speeds. There aren't really any tricked out greens at Rio Hondo, but lots of bumps and those pesky ball marks make long lag putts a real adventure. Speeds were medium fast but varied from green to green. They are playable but I've seen them much better here.

POP was quite awful as we came in a little over five hours and waited on many holes. It was a very crowded day though so we can let a little of that slide. Cart service came around once I believe but there's a very convenient snack shop at the turn. We paid $60 for the round + cart which is normally very fair here but perhaps a touch over the top right now, but I would come back again expecting to see improvements as the weather improves.

Despite the less-than-spectacular conditions, I think Rio Hondo remains one of the region's best Muni courses and expect they'll have it up to snuff in no time.

The greens have not all recovered from recent aeration and have lost speed due to bumpiness.
Been playing here for 25 years, worst I have ever seen greens. Course is thin all over but greens very di... Continue »

The greens have not all recovered from recent aeration and have lost speed due to bumpiness.
Been playing here for 25 years, worst I have ever seen greens. Course is thin all over but greens very disappointing.

Read some prior reviews and thought I would try this course since I was in the area visiting my mother. Glad I don't live around there any more.

Greens were bumpy and full of ball marks. Tees, f... Continue »

Read some prior reviews and thought I would try this course since I was in the area visiting my mother. Glad I don't live around there any more.

Greens were bumpy and full of ball marks. Tees, fairways and rough were fine. Actually the bunkers even with no rakes were ok and playable.

Pace of play is a joke. Started at 11:10 on a Friday. Even with foursomes only took 4 hours and 45 minutes to play.

Two groups ahead of us the foursome was two holes behind after five holes. Called the pro shop. Said they would come out and check. Didn't see anybody.

By the 15th hole the same group was three holes behind.

Golf with Chinese coronavirus pandemic has now turned publc courses into a substitute for the bars.

Very happy I belong to a private club and don't have to deal with it very often.

Out with clients at Rio Hondo yesterday at 10:40 am. Check in has been moved inside with one door to go in and one door to go out. Snack shop was open with plenty of food and drink specials. Cour... Continue »

Out with clients at Rio Hondo yesterday at 10:40 am. Check in has been moved inside with one door to go in and one door to go out. Snack shop was open with plenty of food and drink specials. Course is recovering nicely from aeration almost 6 weeks ago. There are some greens like #2 that still show small holes. Greens were a little bumpy, but much better than two weeks ago when I played running around 8 or 9. Fairways has nice coverage and rough was not penal at all. POP was 4 hours. Single carts available and course was very busy. Range is open, but putting green is still closed. This course is a no brainer must play compared to Los Amigos and Montebello in the area. If you are in the area, play this one and skip the other two if you can get a tee time.