This was my main round for the day. I went through the whole process to get an annual golf pass at Edwards AFB (ugh) and still not sure it was absolutely necessary for a one-time play (depends on who ... Continue »

This was my main round for the day. I went through the whole process to get an annual golf pass at Edwards AFB (ugh) and still not sure it was absolutely necessary for a one-time play (depends on who you talk to there). Oh well, finally glad to check this one off the list. This time of year, they do morning shotguns (today was mainly men's club members) and then open play in the afternoon. I was able to get out pretty easily in the afternoon and they offered me a $30 rate with cart and lunch, so that was a good deal. While I was waiting for my food, someone came up to me and said "hi." GKer Noeldaof was in there with the morning group. Small world! I headed to the first tee, but a couple other groups had gone off already and the twosome in front of me seemed dreadfully slow, so I asked if I could play off the back nine first knowing the morning shotgun would likely leave it pretty wide open. The pro shop guy obliged and I was on my way. I played through a walking single on the back nine and then two twosomes on the front nine (including that one that teed off before me on one). I played quickly and was done in a little over 2 hours. One perk of a less crowded military course I suppose! The course was in OK shape heading into the rough high desert winter months. It looked a lot worse than it actually played. Tee boxes were good. The fairways were firm, tight and fast with a lot more brown than green, but they were consistent and good to hit from. The rough was much more spotty as it just blends into the desert around the edges. Bunkers good. The greens are pure evil. They are firm and lightning fast. The wind was also howling in the afternoon, so that made this course way tougher. Almost all the greens are elevated, as well, so it's hard to know what you are hitting at. And, they all have some tricky false edges to deal with. I equate the greens to semi-blindly trying to land (and keep) your ball on top of a large turtle shell with wind trying to blow it off. I had so many balls (short chips and putts included) that would catch a combination of the wind and the slopes and then end up 10 yards off the green. Sometimes amusing, often frustrating! This is a decent layout. Pretty lengthy like most military courses, but it's the slick, elevated and undulated greens that really provide the challenge. If you live nearby, it's probably worth getting the civilian pass as a pretty good option in this region. For the rest of us, no real need to go through all the hassle unless you are desperate to check it off your list like I was : )