Played at 3pm on Friday, 8/14/15, on a sunny, warm breezy afternoon. I escaped to San Clemente to get away from the heat inland in OC – the temps at SC were very pleasant, and the cooling breeze was n... Continue »

Played at 3pm on Friday, 8/14/15, on a sunny, warm breezy afternoon. I escaped to San Clemente to get away from the heat inland in OC – the temps at SC were very pleasant, and the cooling breeze was nice (although very much a factor in shot and club selection). Booked as a single for $33 (walking rate) on TeeItUp.com; got out on time just after a 3some teed off, and was followed by a 2some. I caught the 3some at the second tee, but they didn’t ask me to join, and after they left I waited for the 2some, but they were fooling around on the first green until I finally teed off, and played the rest of the round as a single, waiting almost everywhere, in 4+ hours.

Overall the course was in decent shape, although I really don’t like that kikuyu grass. The Senior Men’s Club had their championship earlier in the day, so course conditions were primed for that event. The course looks a little dried out, with large browned areas in the fairways and rough, but the kikuyu gives the impression of lushness. Greens were receptive but firm, and rolled at medium speed with many scattered ballmarks. Some greens had scattered bare or sanded areas. These greens are REALLY small – I’m guessing the course has slowly reduced green sizes over the past few years to hold down maintenance costs. They don’t have any big tiering, but are slopy toward the coast and can be very quick downhill.

Fairways were generally good and provided good lies, with only scattered thin/bare areas, but many unfilled divots. Traps looked to be in good shape. Tees were OK, mostly level and adequate, although par 3 tees were pretty torn up. Rough was variable, and hitting out of gnarly kikuyu on some of the steep slopes on the back 9 was very challenging, along with difficult footing and chancey lies.

I came down here as a warmup for the GK Redhawk event this Sunday. Hopefully the fairways at Redhawk won’t kill my drives as quickly as these kikuyu fairways do! Oh, and the hole handicap ratings on the scorecard are totally bogus – looks like they are based strictly on hole length.

Out on San Clemente GC on a Saturday afternoon after the thunder showers subsided, nobody really out so PoP no issue. I did not have to pay so I don't know their green fee. Layout is in the SC hood,... Continue »

Out on San Clemente GC on a Saturday afternoon after the thunder showers subsided, nobody really out so PoP no issue. I did not have to pay so I don't know their green fee. Layout is in the SC hood, crossing a few roads here and there with homes lining many fairways. A bit hilly but very walkable. Most holes are right in front of you but there were one or two semi blind shots ... course knowledge not needed. Greens were mostly flat, level, and rolling true at medium speed with just some subtle breaks, mostly toward the ocean. Not many hazards to navigate, for sure a go-low course. Kikuyu grass everywhere, some was deep and wet from the rain. Very difficult to chip from that stuff if your ball settles at all. The drive here on the weekend is brutal on the 5 fwy. south, do not want to do that again. Otherwise, an okay muni in okay shape. I'd play here again but probably won't ... just out of my jurisdiction.

Played 6-29-15 early morning walking joining a threesome and playing in a little under 4 hours. Overall course is in just OK shape. Tee boxes were mostly level with descent coverage. Fairways were nic... Continue »

Played 6-29-15 early morning walking joining a threesome and playing in a little under 4 hours. Overall course is in just OK shape. Tee boxes were mostly level with descent coverage. Fairways were nice and green with a few dried out areas. Rough was in good shape long in some areas and short in others. Found one sandtrap on 18 which was wet and compacted but still descent to hit from. Greens were rolling fairly smooth with medium/slow pace.

I had a 12:00 time as a single out here today. Walking rate of $44. Checked in and was given a free token for range balls, which was cool. I rarely hit balls before I start and every hitting bay on th... Continue »

I had a 12:00 time as a single out here today. Walking rate of $44. Checked in and was given a free token for range balls, which was cool. I rarely hit balls before I start and every hitting bay on the range was full anyway, but a nice gesture nevertheless. Teed off a couple minutes early and POP was good until No. 15. It was a bit slow going for the last four holes and we finished in just under 5 hours.

Conditions are decent. I hadn't played here for a long time and the practice putting green made me fear the greens had become terrible, but the greens on the course are thankfully better than the lumpy, bumpy conditions on the practice green. Not by a lot, though. A member of the men's club who I played with said they had some bad timing with heavy rain right after aerating and sanding about a year ago, and the greens have been bumpy ever since. They were soft and ran medium to medium slow speed.

Elsewhere, the kikuyu fairways are consistently good and excellent in some spots. Same for the rough. The rough is very sticky kikuyu and balls quickly come to a halt when entering it, even though it's not very deep. Tee boxes were decent and all the bunkers I was in were fine.

Wanted to play here, now I have. Got there at 6 for a 6:30 time, I could see that a few groups had already teed off, but the clubhouse area was pretty quiet. Check in was a breeze, nice, relaxed, frie... Continue »

Wanted to play here, now I have. Got there at 6 for a 6:30 time, I could see that a few groups had already teed off, but the clubhouse area was pretty quiet. Check in was a breeze, nice, relaxed, friendly fellas (isn't that how everyone should be who works at a golf course?), gave me a range token and said go warm-up a bit if you like and we'll find you some playing partners. Got sent out right at 6:30 with three locals. pleasure to play with (but shouldn't everyone be, especially when they can play nice and early on a Tuesday?). Found the course in pretty much typical muni condition. Played from the blues and walked it, easy walk, some hills, but nothing to extreme.
Tees: mostly level, no problem finding a place to hit from
Fairways: like the whole course, a mix of grasses, visually not the best look but were very playable . . . never had a bad lie
Rough: minimal, but enough to take into consideration when playing from it
Bunkers: I was only in a couple fairway bunkers and they were fine (although deep in spots), the green side bunkers looked to be wet brownish sand, but appeared smooth and maintained
Greens: I learned quickly the west fast, east slow thing, but just couldn't hole anything! A lot of little wiggles and turns, not bumpy per say, just not real smooth. 7 decent looks, no 1 putts! My only one putts came on 2 after almost chipping in and 16 after going OB left off the tee (and some other trouble) and then draining a 20 footer for double. The greens accepted shots well, the cups just didn't! 34 putts, 2 putted everything except those two holes
Layout: interesting and a lot tougher on a few holes from the blues as my playing partners, who played the whites, informed me. Hole #16, 331 from the whites, 387 from the blues.
POP: Just over 4 hours
Overall: a good muni course, I was thinking something similar to Balboa Park, but San Clemente is a bit longer (and it played it this morning, not much roll out, thick ocean air) and a bit trickier with the sloping fairways. I'll be back sometime, hopefully the greens get some TLC.

Played 04/10/15 @ 7:30 am as a single, hooked up with a three some. Two brothers and there 90 year old dad! I choose to walk the "pride of the pacific". POP was about 4 hours, never had to wait on any... Continue »

Played 04/10/15 @ 7:30 am as a single, hooked up with a three some. Two brothers and there 90 year old dad! I choose to walk the "pride of the pacific". POP was about 4 hours, never had to wait on any holes, if anything we fell about a hole behind. Tees lush, fairway lush, perfect to hit from with some low rough that was very playable. Greens not to bad, pretty firm, medium fast speed and as usual a little bumpy on those poa annua greens. As always with these greens towards the ocean fast, away slow, always tough to get the right speed on your putts. All in all an enjoyable day at SCGC, $36 to walk + the starter gave a free token for a warm up bucket.

The more I play here, the better I like this course. Always in good condition, although a few of the tee boxes were a bit chewed up. Greens were for the most part very nice, with few bumps along t... Continue »

The more I play here, the better I like this course. Always in good condition, although a few of the tee boxes were a bit chewed up. Greens were for the most part very nice, with few bumps along the way. Fairways better than when I played here a few months ago.

It's just a pleasant way to play golf. Ocean views, mild temperatures, no difficult walks between holes, almost like a stroll in the park. Can't think of a better way to spend a February morning !

Played out here this afternoon with a couple of friends. I guess Valentine's Day kept the usual crowds away, so it was a nice relaxed afternoon. We had a 12:37 time and teed off a few minutes after th... Continue »

Played out here this afternoon with a couple of friends. I guess Valentine's Day kept the usual crowds away, so it was a nice relaxed afternoon. We had a 12:37 time and teed off a few minutes after that as a threesome. It was mostly threesomes and twosomes out there today, and even a single behind us taking his time and playing 3 balls. We had to wait a little on most holes, but never much, finishing in about a 4:20 pace. $44 walking rate. The course was in very good overall shape. A few tee boxes could use a little leveling out, but mostly they were well-kept. The fairways were consistently lush and green. Maybe a tad shaggy for my tastes when playing kikuyu, but that's a very minor quibble. Rough a bit more inconsistent. Some really thick, brutal patches and other spots thin, but seemed to be more good than bad. I was in one bunker and it had nice sand. The greens looked a little splotchy and we hit the occasional bump, but they rolled much smoother and quicker than they looked. As always, they are quite deceptive here with the ocean break that comes into play much of the time. It's been several years since I last played here (not since they redid the clubhouse), but I've always loved this course. To me, it's Orange County's counterpart to other popular coastal munis like Los Verdes or Coronado. It draws similar crowds, but doesn't seem to get the same kind of recognition as those others I mentioned. Several great ocean views, especially on a picture perfect day like today. After playing here again today, I'm now extra bummed it didn't make the bracket tournament because I'd easily vote for it over several of the OC courses that did make the cut. It's one of the best overall values in this area. To quote weber's perfect double-negative description in his last review here: "There is just nothing to not like about this place."

Played Sunday 11/18 @ 11 am as a threesome. The place was pretty dead because of the NFL playoffs. POP a little over 4 hours. The overall condition of the course was pretty good ,tee boxes, fairways ,... Continue »

Played Sunday 11/18 @ 11 am as a threesome. The place was pretty dead because of the NFL playoffs. POP a little over 4 hours. The overall condition of the course was pretty good ,tee boxes, fairways ,bunkers were just fine. The greens were in excellent condition, firm ,full and the ball would hold it's line nicely. For poa annua greens they rolled real smooth. The greens were firm yet receptive of shots, anything above the hole or putting towards the ocean were very fast. They had that trickle effect, you know when the ball just keeps rolling past the cup. I must admit that the greens are probably in the best condition that I've seen them in years. Well done head greenskeeper and staff. Nice greens always put a smile on my face.