Played here today in the GK + GolfMoose collab outing. Super fun times being paired with JohnnyGK and rgm2525. We were group 1B so we got to play the course as normal, starting on 1. POP was typically... Continue »

Played here today in the GK + GolfMoose collab outing. Super fun times being paired with JohnnyGK and rgm2525. We were group 1B so we got to play the course as normal, starting on 1. POP was typically slow for these types of events at a little over 5 hours. It was a very hot and hazy day but a nice wind helped combat the heat most of the time. (Although it seemed like that wind was into us on about 80% of the holes. ;-) )

Conditions are great. The practice putting green was extremely pure and those conditions translated to the course as well. Greens were very smooth, medium-fast, and accepted full shots really well. (Most of the course seemed very well watered.) They recently renovated and reopened sometime in the the last year, and there are nice contours on many of the new greens. The fairways were similarly excellent, providing great lies almost everywhere except a few areas that were sort of burned out, and some of those areas were aerated. Many of those aerated areas were right in front of greens. Rough was lush, thick bermuda that took a toll despite not being too deep. It could really grab your club. Blue tee boxes were mostly good; a few were in lesser condition. All the bunkers I was in were great.

This was my first time ever playing here. I sort of expected a little more interesting layout. I always figured it was sort of a "sister course" to Mission Viejo Country Club, because they're both RTJ Sr. designs from the same era, Valencia from 1965 and MVCC from 1967. I realize it's unfair to make this course live up to a random expectation I developed in my head, but Valencia lacked as many elevation changes that make MVCC more interesting, in my opinion. (VCC filling in for Riviera as host of the PGA Tour's L.A. Open in 1998 also led to higher expectations.) Don't get me wrong; this is a very nice course and it was an outstanding day. Would love to play it again sometime. (Whoever led the renovation really loves fairway bunkers.) Thanks Johnny for organizing it!

Rode the blues this morning 7/17/23 as a part of the Golfmoose/GK event joined by Todd, Mark and Kevin. We enjoyed a relaxed pace of play with some minor waiting from the group in front, i think we fi... Continue »

Rode the blues this morning 7/17/23 as a part of the Golfmoose/GK event joined by Todd, Mark and Kevin. We enjoyed a relaxed pace of play with some minor waiting from the group in front, i think we finished in like 4 hrs 40 minutes. It was 102 degrees today with a 12-15mph breeze. Our cart had some issues engaging on the back nine. No GPS on the carts. No beverage cart today but snack bar was open and there were water stations on the course. Nice big driving range on mats and very nice putting green. If I lived up this way I would probably do a membership here as I just love the layout. Playing partner stated that many of the holes here resemble some of Riveria CC. 2nd time on this layout, last time was two years ago. Some of the sight lines are clearer on the front as they have lost some trees. Very strategic course from the blacks or blues as they have many fairway bunkers in the 250 to 280 range that come into play sometimes placed right in the middle of the fairway. Very well designed course. Most holes other than number 2 bend to the right. Parkland style course that is tree-lined but would not say target. Couple par 4s on the front have water features to avoid off the tee. 3 of the 4 par 3s have water to avoid either short or to the right. Beautiful par 3s here!! Lots of history here with Billy Mayfair beating Tiger Woods in a playoff in 1998 at the Nissan Open. Greens ran smooth and were very soft on high Irons approaches. Greens varied in size and depth depending on the hole. For instance the 1st green is very narrow from left to right. All green complexes had major potato chip swales that can be challenging to read. Overall rating the greens an 8/10. Most fairway lies were lush. Some fairway/chipping portions closer to the greens/fringe were tighter and hole punched in some areas. Overall fairway turf rating 7.5/10. Tees were level, lush and firm. Rated 7.5/10 Was not in any greenside bunkers but was in a few fairway bunkers which had just the right amount of sand in them. Rated 8/10. Rough was around 2 inches mainly uniform and just off the fairways easy to play from. Rated 7.5/10. If you have the chance don't pass this course up.

This used to be a championship golf course…hosted a senior event and the LA Open. and was a wonderful and tough challenge to play. Played there twice recently and it is a disaster. They did a renov... Continue »

This used to be a championship golf course…hosted a senior event and the LA Open. and was a wonderful and tough challenge to play. Played there twice recently and it is a disaster. They did a renovation and redesign and the condition of the course is awful. And the design changes by the Straka firm are out of character of the course and silly, creating difficulty without interest while failing to address issues that could have been resolved. They elevated greens which were designed to allow the ball to be bumped/rolled (for example #1), placed bunkers in strange places in the middle of the fairways (for example #6 and #18), and created ridiculously difficult shots (the 220yd #3 with a giant water hazard into which balls roll from the green). They have taken an exciting championship caliber course and turned it into a mediocre course in poor public course condition. The corporate owners seem to have little understanding of golf. I will say the one saving grace is the putting surfaces, which are excellent, and which I understand were not touched in the renovation.

Played in an SCGA tournament. Course was wet after a couple days of intermittent rain. Course was redesigned over past year, tons of tree removed , and new green and bunker complexes constructed.

... Continue »

Played in an SCGA tournament. Course was wet after a couple days of intermittent rain. Course was redesigned over past year, tons of tree removed , and new green and bunker complexes constructed.

Tee boxes were dormant bermuda, very muddy with little grass in the areas we played. Fairways were also dormant bermuda where worms had pushed up dirt so you accumulated thick layer of mud on your shoes. Felt like you were ice skating. Cart path only made for 5 hour POP.

Green were in good shape, around 11 speed, held moderately well but has lots of false edges and balls tended to roll towards bunkers and water hazards and greens were built up.

The bunkers were very maddening. Every bunker , green side and fairway, had a two foot grass lip all the way around the trap. Sometimes this prevented you from taking a full backswing. The sand was a heavy beach sand was way too penal. If your ball flew into bunker , most likely a very bad fried egg with no chance of getting within 20 feet of pin.

Visually the course design is beautiful. Get a Riveria type feel to the course. I bet the spring/summer conditions would be fantastic. Blue tees at 6500 was more than enough of a test. Playing the tips at over 7100 yds would not be fun and don't think you could break 100 in a tournament. I'd wait until it warms up and dries out before I'd play there again.

Big clubhouse, lots of parking, nice range and short game area.

Played in the SCGA outing today at the newly renovated Valencia CC. As a first time player of this course, I must say the layout was fair, however the conditions today were tough to say the least. We ... Continue »

Played in the SCGA outing today at the newly renovated Valencia CC. As a first time player of this course, I must say the layout was fair, however the conditions today were tough to say the least. We started on hole 5 after a 20 minute delay due to frost. I broke 5 tees trying to get that first shot off. I knew then that It was gong to be a long and challenging day. The greens today were so incredibly dry and fast they well over a 10 on the stimpmeter. The fairways were in good condition but dry and lots of roll. Without question some of the best sand I have ever played in, very new. The rough was basically none existent as they had removed a whole bunch of trees to completely re-do the course. According to the SCGA proctor of the closest to the pin contest, Valencia is going to put in a bid to potentially hold the Genesis championship when the Olympics are here in a few years. As the Olympics would use the Riv, and there is some clause that says they can only hold 1 large pro tourney a year. Hence Valencia attempting get that tourney for a year. Who knows?

As for Valencia CC as a member club to join, If I lived closer and had the means this would be one I would look into. It is a serious challenge of a course. The clubhouse, and locker room are very nice and very clean. Big lockers and I think I saw a sauna or steam room. The food is good according to the guys who ate. The practice green is large yet the driving range is not that big but suitable. Worth a chance if you get on, especially if you love an old school challenge.

Comparing this to the Oaks Club, I would say this course has more of a classic feel to it while the Oaks has more unique challenges and blind shots. Valencia has some bunkers that are perfectly placed.

Both were well worth the outing fee, and I would do it again if I get the opportunity.

A Jem of Robert Trent Jones! Very forgiving fairways, but some tough bunker placements and par 3’s that require long carry or dump off areas that will leave you with a tough chip to make par. Course ... Continue »

A Jem of Robert Trent Jones! Very forgiving fairways, but some tough bunker placements and par 3’s that require long carry or dump off areas that will leave you with a tough chip to make par. Course is preparing for overseeding, so fairways not pristine but still very much playable. Greens were pristine and had some tough breaks. Rough thick, but not too deep. Will definitely play again if I get the opportunity.

Finally was able to make a GK outing Aug 16, and had a blast. Was grouped at random with others who had zero connections to one another except for GK membership, and my fellow GKers did not disappoin... Continue »

Finally was able to make a GK outing Aug 16, and had a blast. Was grouped at random with others who had zero connections to one another except for GK membership, and my fellow GKers did not disappoint. Would have had a great time with them anywhere, but Valencia CC made it all the more enjoyable.

Valencia CC feels like a “classic” metropolitan area course—interesting routing and a variety of holes, lots of trees, strategic off the tee, walkable, and relatively small greens with several surprises for the uninitiated. One other surprise is the amount of water on the course, as there are several holes where it comes into play and at least one where you can’t see it until perhaps too late. Overall this is a course that begs you to play it again because good scoring is available on a good ball striking day once you know your way around. But there is plenty of challenge even for the big hitters. I used every club in the bag on a pretty good ball striking day. It is easy to understand why this course has hosted the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour on several occasions. I finished the day wanting to play again and to inquire about membership despite its distance from my home. Definitely could be worth a regular drive.

The course is in very good shape overall, the one bad mark being the rough, which was fairly thin and often downright dirt alone. It appears to me that the Superintendent has dealt with dry conditions by focusing water where it is most needed, the fairways and greens and tees and especially the landing areas and green surrounds. For example, fairways often were a bit brown and thin just off the tee and on the edges and then into the rough, but good shots were rewarded with excellent turf for the next strike. And while missing the fairway off the tee often gets you into some trees, there were good exit options available from easy to risky. The same was true on approaches, as many greens clearly have red light and green light areas that would be fun to learn over time. Green surrounds were lush and challenging. Basically every shot makes you think.

The greens were exceptional despite having recently been lightly sanded. They rolled quite true and on the fast side of medium speed; they ordinarily must be pretty fast. Good putts were rewarded. Most of the green contours are straightforward, but a few are quite diabolical with buried elephants and severe runoffs; these impacted approaches more than putts, there a few greens that are really difficult to hit and hold without advance awareness and precision. I made more 8-10 footers that I usually do, and a couple long putts as well. Even some longish irons held the receptive greens. Very impressive greens overall despite the recent sanding.

As mentioned, the rough was in, well, rough shape in a lot of places, very thin to non-existent turf. I think this is a choice due to water conservation, and a good choice of one has to be made. The tees were flat and in fine shape.

I practiced/warmed up elsewhere because I knew the range would be crowded, but the range appears to be adequate with grass and mats available. I did not see a dedicated short game area. The practice putting green is large and consistent with the greens on the course, and has plenty of places to practice straight putts and speed (which many practice greens surprisingly lack).

It also is notable that pace of play was very good despite having two groups start on every hole. We started on 18 as the “B” group, a par five with several hills and valleys and potentially two blind shots, so that first hole was quite slow to finish, but after that we made it around quite comfortably and finished about 4.5, kind of amazing for as full as the course was.

Final comment is that I was pleased to know that so many GKers and Golf Mooseheads are great course custodians: Fairway divots we’re mostly filled and ballmarks on greens were virtually all repaired.

Congrats to Johnny GK and to Golf Moose for a great event, and many thanks to Valencia CC and its members for letting us all give their excellent course a try. I welcome the chance to play there again, this is the sort of course that rewards yet still challenges regular play. Good players here could take their game anywhere.

We played Valencia CC on 8/16/21 with Golf Moose and Johny GK hosting the event. This was my first time playing the course and I really liked it. Super challenging holes. Fast undulating greens and ... Continue »

We played Valencia CC on 8/16/21 with Golf Moose and Johny GK hosting the event. This was my first time playing the course and I really liked it. Super challenging holes. Fast undulating greens and plenty of water hazards to really make it a challenge. The staff and crew at Valencia CC were all super nice and courteous. I look forward to playing there again in November for the Veterans Tournament.

I was able to play Valencia CC as part of a Golf Moose/GK event yesterday, 8/16/21 and was so glad I did!
This course lived up to all the hype. Big holes, wide fairways, big greens and lots of traps... Continue »

I was able to play Valencia CC as part of a Golf Moose/GK event yesterday, 8/16/21 and was so glad I did!
This course lived up to all the hype. Big holes, wide fairways, big greens and lots of traps, but everything was in great shape. The fairways are lush with full cover and distinctly defined. The rough is thick and penal but not unfair. Tee boxes were in good shape, level and fairly wide as well. The greens is where we got a big break. They roll true, have plenty of undulations and tricky breaks, are large, but were covered with a very thin layer of sand, keeping them from being very fast. I honestly can't imagine what putting on super quick greens here would do to my scores here. They are were great!

The experience here was more than I had expected. Golf Moose & Greenskeeper did a great job of making everyone comfortable and got us off on time and kept the POP right where it should have been. The course staff were friendly and helpful as well.

If it sounds like I'm gushing here, I probably am.. It was a fun event, the course is difficult and challenging but not unfair at all. Course knowledge would have helped in a couple of areas, but now that I've seen it, I look forward to getting back whenever I have the chance.