Met three buddies to play Encino Wednesday, 3/2, for a 2:40 tee time. Starter let us out about 10 minutes early, ahead of the high school players. GK'er "chipper28" posted a review just two days ago s... Continue »

Met three buddies to play Encino Wednesday, 3/2, for a 2:40 tee time. Starter let us out about 10 minutes early, ahead of the high school players. GK'er "chipper28" posted a review just two days ago so I'm pointing you there for a full review (about five back in the thread.). I'm only adding a couple of comments. Since his review they must have cut the greens because I found them medium/quick and not especially bumpy —pretty decent really. Otherwise, what was really noteworthy was that, after letting a single tee off ahead of us on the first tee, we seemed to have the course to ourselves. High schoolers receded in the distance behind us as the round went on, and nobody in sight ahead after the single pulled away from us. We got done in just about four hours, pretty much as we were losing the ability to track the ball in the deep gloom. In summary, greens were decent and the rest was adequate to the task at hand. A muni in winter.

Played an early afternoon round on 3/1/16. The drought conditions persist but was surprised by the courses ability to maintain it greenery. I just walked on and was paired with a regular who said th... Continue »

Played an early afternoon round on 3/1/16. The drought conditions persist but was surprised by the courses ability to maintain it greenery. I just walked on and was paired with a regular who said that the last time he played Encino, the greens were lightning fast. Today...not so much. Greens were much slower than I'm used too, and bumpy to boot. They were in much need of a mow. The fairways continue to be fast and firm, but patchy as you drift off the fairways towards the rough. The bunkers weren't an issue, if a little on the thin side. Fairways are wide open with large welcoming greens, which falsely lures me into believing I'm decent at this crazy game..ha! We could have finished in about 3 hours but were caught behind a sluggardly foursome. But my playing partner Charlie, kept me entertained with his stories as a cameraman during the Oscars. So good times. Come out and play it before they punch the greens next month.

Played today 1/18 with mid-morning tee time on a holiday. It took us about 4 1/2 hours to play 18. Not bad. I wish it was this fast on the weekends.

Course conditions were just fair today. Weat... Continue »

Played today 1/18 with mid-morning tee time on a holiday. It took us about 4 1/2 hours to play 18. Not bad. I wish it was this fast on the weekends.

Course conditions were just fair today. Weather was overcast all day. Course is still dealing with drought conditions. The fairways were very firm/hard. Grass was mostly yellow, some green grass and a lot of bare spots or just hard packed dirt. There was good coverage of the grass so you can still play. Your balls will get a lot more roll with the ground being so hard. There was plenty of green grass on the tee boxes. Sand was just ok or more like loose dirt/sand in the bunkers. Most of the greens were very firm/hard. Hardly had to fix ball marks on the greens today. Greens were a little fast with it being so hard.

Like playing here. Fairways are a lot more wider than Balboa. Will be back again. Noticed today that there were workers on the course cutting down or clearing away some of the trees that had died or fallen down.

Played Wednesday, 10/28, at 7:15am and finished in 3hrs 40min. The greens had recently been verticut but it did not affect play. The greens rolled smooth at medium/fast pace and held shots. The fairwa... Continue »

Played Wednesday, 10/28, at 7:15am and finished in 3hrs 40min. The greens had recently been verticut but it did not affect play. The greens rolled smooth at medium/fast pace and held shots. The fairways are fair to good due to some thin spots but playable. The rough had mostly good coverage with some thin/bare spots. The tee boxes are fair to good due to mild unlevelness. The bunkers for the most part are good with a fair amount of sand in them. I was in three greenside bunkers and the first two had good sand. The third had good sand, bunker left of 17 green, but there were plenty of rocks and pebbles in it. Not good when a rock gets between the club face and the ball.

The course layout is flat and mostly straight forward with mild doglegs with the exception of one short par 4. There is plenty of room off the tee but mature trees line the fairways. The greens typically pitch back to front. The course isn't the most challenging but it provides plenty of length and long par 3's from the blue and black tee markers. Overall it was an enjoyable course to play. The staff was friendly.

It's been a few years since I last played here. We played here on Labor Day with a mid-morning tee time. Pace of play was a little slow on the front 9. It took us about 3 hours to play 9. Back 9 w... Continue »

It's been a few years since I last played here. We played here on Labor Day with a mid-morning tee time. Pace of play was a little slow on the front 9. It took us about 3 hours to play 9. Back 9 was a little faster about 2 1/2 hours to play 9. It was a hot day playing at Encino.

First time playing here with the new yellow (front) tees. I hated them. Most of the time it was just a spot on the ground. No tee box. Some of the yellow tees were way to the right. When teeing off you are looking straight into the trees on the right.

Course conditions were very good with this on-going drought. Signs show that they are using reclaimed water. Fairways, tee boxes and greens have very good coverage. Tho' some of the fairways were bare in spots and mushy in other spots. Greens were in great shape. But there were several greens with unrepaired ball marks. Didn't care for the bunkers. It felt more like a mixture of dirt and sand. Not very soft and fluffy. Tee boxes had good coverage. Like the layout for Encino. Some of the par 3's were very long. It's always fun to play here. Lots of trees here and some entertainment from the nearby radio controlled airplanes on some of the holes on the front 9.

Driving range was pretty much all dirt. There is a chipping/pitching area and putting area. Plenty of parking nearby. No GPS in electric carts. Clubhouse on day we played had no A/C. Not good on a hot day. Staff at clubhouse was very friendly.

Played here for the first time since the 1990's and had a very good time! The course is in "pretty good" shape considering that we're experiencing a drought. The pace of play was brisk and good, whic... Continue »

Played here for the first time since the 1990's and had a very good time! The course is in "pretty good" shape considering that we're experiencing a drought. The pace of play was brisk and good, which is unusual for an LA Muni, and I was very pleased overall. Many holes clearly lay out a risk/reward scenario and call for a certain shape of tee shot which is also great for a muni. About 1/2 the holes are straight/flat par 4's that only require that you hit the fairway in order to score. Encino is a bit longer than all the other city courses in LA and you get to use your whole bag. This is a welcome change from most of the courses that driver-wedge holes. It seems like the better players in the LA City League hang out there and like to play good golf. So if your game is a bit beyond beginner, you'll find it very fun and exciting. The bad parts, there were a few areas of serious disrepair on the course but that is understandable since the course is busy and we are in a drought so I don't hold that against them at all. The club house at the Encino/Balboa complex is nice but not luxurious. The staff is VERY friendly and accommodating. Lots of TV's and decent food in comfy chairs to relax after the round. The practice area is also nice with a few putting greens, chipping green, practice trap, and a field that allows you hit wedges to warm up with your own balls. Overall a good time and look forward to going back soon!

Played today in the afternoon. Also played last week. The conditions were the same last week to this week. Greens are the best part of the course, there are in good shape. A little soft but was recept... Continue »

Played today in the afternoon. Also played last week. The conditions were the same last week to this week. Greens are the best part of the course, there are in good shape. A little soft but was receptive. Fairways are doing ok. There are spots in the fairway that are thin with some bare spots. The rough was the same as well. They have a good deal going. Twilight rate starts from noon. Walking for $19 is not bad at all and the course was pretty empty. Was sandwiched between two foursomes and with playing solo, I took my time and hit 2 shots per hole to work on my game. And even with that it only took just under 4 hours to finish the round. That is not bad at all for some enjoyment and improving your skills. USGA is doing a study on play time at the course. They are handing out a GPS tracking device and is checking where you are every couple or few minutes. With the way the course is, it should give them some good results!

Played Encino on May 25, 2015. Greens were in very good condition. Taking drought into consideration, the fairways and rough were not too bad, but far from ideal. You get the sense that they are doing... Continue »

Played Encino on May 25, 2015. Greens were in very good condition. Taking drought into consideration, the fairways and rough were not too bad, but far from ideal. You get the sense that they are doing the best they can do. I have played Encino many times and have always enjoyed the course, and I did so on May 25, 2015. Course is not easy, but not difficult either. A mediocre golfer like me can play an enjoyable round and not feel beat up by the course. Pace of play was excellent. We finished our round in just a few minutes over 4 hours.

Played yesterday for the first time in quite awhile. Since the course has been reviewed recently by others, I don't have too much to add on. Everything is what you'd expect from a city course-averag... Continue »

Played yesterday for the first time in quite awhile. Since the course has been reviewed recently by others, I don't have too much to add on. Everything is what you'd expect from a city course-average fairways & rough that are patchy (but not thin, disagreeing with previous reviewer), greens with LOTS of unrepaired ball marks and bumpy at times, sand that is soft like play sand, but not golf sand consistency. There was also a lot of crud in all the bunkers. On various holes there were a lot of spots marked GUR (usually mudpits). POP was fine at just over four hours with a little waiting on every back nine hole, and service was fine. I honestly wasn't looking for too much my first time out in awhile & Encino fit the bill. Everything is simply bland or fine.