Looking for tee times a few days before, the 18-hole courses were well booked so I played Roosevelt Friday, 6/12, booking a 4:10 tee time. While there were times available throughout the day, I electe... Continue »

Looking for tee times a few days before, the 18-hole courses were well booked so I played Roosevelt Friday, 6/12, booking a 4:10 tee time. While there were times available throughout the day, I elected to go out for the late afternoon experience. Once there, a sign indicated no walk-ups allowed and tee times had to be reservation based, but the sign also posted a phone number, so I think it would be possible to call while you are there and book if there was something available. Me as a single joining a foursome made five. This was only my second time at the course and I think it is a pretty cool 9-holes. Overall conditions were good. Tee boxes were generally pretty level with good coverage. The notable exceptions were the sixth,which was getting more of workout, and the seventh, where the actual teeing grounds weren't being used and the makers were clustered off to the side of the white tee. The seventh was same situation when I played there months ago. The unused tee boxes look great, so maybe they were part of an upgrade that they giving time to mature. The fairways were nicely grown in and cut an appropriate length. Previous visit they were lush to the point of shaggy. The rough was grown in enough to teeter between punitive and playable depending on your spot. I avoided the bunkers so I can't comment beyond they looked OK. The areas around the greens were good length, but if you hit a kikuyu section, chipped against the grain, or the ball settled down a bit, it could be grabby and tricky. The greens themselves were a nice medium quick speed. With an abundance of trees,you get a bit more detritus and pine needles around, but the surface itself was good, true and with a minimum of pitch marks. Pace was a little sluggish overall but steady. The major exception being a backup of about four groups at a time at the sixth tee box — a narrow, downhill chute of a par four. You could see that wait coming from several holes away, so everyone was pretty chill about it when they got there. In fact, that vibe seems to be part of the character of the place. The four guys I was grouped with were relaxed and enjoyable company throughout the round. No par-5s, so technically an executive course, there are only three par-3s and several holes you can pull out your driver if so inclined, it doesn't feel particularly executive. The contours, proximity to the Griffith park hillsides, and occasional urban and observatory views make the course much more interesting than the usual back-and-forth muni. I played a pretty mediocre round but had a really enjoyable overall experience. Because there is no range there and the putting green is still closed, the lesson I am finally taking to heart for these 9-holers is to stop somewhere on the way and get properly warmed up first — in this case over by Harding/Wilson. Warming up and figuring it out on the actual course in the space of nine holes is usually going to detract from the experience. My last two full swings were by far my best of the day, but a little late. That is a slap on me, not the course. After two rounds, I happen to think the course is a bit of a gem, but for most, it's certainly worth a one-time experience, at minimum.