Little late with my post here as I played with Dconnally on 5/25 in our GK Cup Match.

It had been a long time since I'd been out to SC (maybe 5-7 years?) and I don't really know why. I have a soft ... Continue »

Little late with my post here as I played with Dconnally on 5/25 in our GK Cup Match.

It had been a long time since I'd been out to SC (maybe 5-7 years?) and I don't really know why. I have a soft spot in my heart for this place as I played it a bunch as a kid and I just think the vibe is cool and it serves the golf community well as a municipal course that provides a great experience.

Everyone I've ever met at this place has been cool. Guy in the shop was great, lady in the snack bar was funny and engaging, the locals hanging around were fun and loud and when we were making the turn a junior group was loading up on snacks and they all seemed to be having a good time. Love a place that loves golf but understands how to make it fun and accessible.

As for the course, it a really fun layout. I think the front nine is a little more straightforward than the back, but the holes never get boring. I've been playing a tighter, more punishing course so getting out to SC with it's parallel fairways and somewhat bigger greens was nice. There's definitely a challenge to be found, but the course is absolutely playable and is a nice layout for all skill levels.

As for the conditions, I thought they were really good. Fairways were super lush and pure. Kikuyu is really starting to come in so you get those lies that sit up a bit, but it was like playing everything off a tee. However, kikuyu rough grows the same and being lush means it's not easy at all and over the next 3-4 months will likely get even tougher. Seems that especially around the greens there was some tricky stuff.

The greens were pretty crispy and bumpy visually as they don't look totally healed from punching, but didn't roll too bad. If you've never played here you HAVE to pay attention to the ocean pull. It's the craziest thing I've ever seen. More like everything goes hard to the Southwest from what I was reading. Definitely playable greens and will probably just get better over the next couple weeks.

Pace of play was more than okay. Half our foursome dropped off at the turn so we slowed a bit on the back, but I'd say it was in the 4 1/2 hour range. Not bad for a place that packs them in.

All in all I had a great time and will do my best to get back to SC sooner rather than later. It's in good shape, price is good, people are great and if you can get around in a decent amount of time it's kinda hard to beat for South OC/North SD.

Met up with GKer AndrewZ28 for a GK Cup match at 2:51 pm on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon, 5/25/21, a sunny afternoon with surprisingly little wind for this course. The kikuyu is lushing up at the end... Continue »

Met up with GKer AndrewZ28 for a GK Cup match at 2:51 pm on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon, 5/25/21, a sunny afternoon with surprisingly little wind for this course. The kikuyu is lushing up at the end of Spring and it’s wall-to-wall at San Clemente. Greens are pretty firm and look dried out, but hold shots pretty well. I thought they rolled pretty good – just ask Andrew! Fairway cuts are short and fairly tight, but the ball sits just fine. Rough has been cut low in most places and is easy to play from. I wasn’t in a bunker – AZ said a fairway bunker he was in was fine, but greenside he ran into footprint/grooming problems. Rakes were in bunkers so we played it down. Tees were OK but a few sloped to the back of a righthanded golfer, and boxes on #1 and #12 were being resodded.

Basic carts. Divot mix (sand) on the carts and refill barrels scattered around the course. Pace was good until we ran up against a backup on #13 and things slowed down – we finished in ~4.5 hr. San Clemente always seems to be in pretty good shape, and is very good right now.

A very rare afternoon round of golf. It was more about the people I was playing with than the golf, so I was wasn't too concerned about the pace of play, which for me would have been intolerable were... Continue »

A very rare afternoon round of golf. It was more about the people I was playing with than the golf, so I was wasn't too concerned about the pace of play, which for me would have been intolerable were it not for the fact I was "visiting" more than golfing.

Conditions were sub-par for San Clemente, which normally very good. Greens, as Sparky14 indicated were bumpy, but I'm sure that will be corrected within a few few as they heal. Bunkers were neglected. But otherwise the course was fine. Always enjoy walking this course, particularly on a beautiful spring day. Nice relaxing course with enough challenge to keep your interest without being overly penal.

Out early on 5/19. It's been a few weeks post-aeration, but the greens are still a bit shaggy and bumpy. A couple of more weeks and they should be good to go.

A few tee boxes are being completely ... Continue »

Out early on 5/19. It's been a few weeks post-aeration, but the greens are still a bit shaggy and bumpy. A couple of more weeks and they should be good to go.

A few tee boxes are being completely rebuilt (1, 11, 16). Always surprised that #1 tee box is always so bad when the #10 tee box that is 15 yards away has always been nice. Hopefully the #1 rebuild fixes that.

Otherwise, standard SC conditions with better than most fairways and patchy rough. Bunkers - some are still being ignored and are a mess. Some are fine.

Definitely seen SC in better shape, and I am sure it will be again soon. Still a great bargain though.

Teed off at 7:30 Was nice and sunny no fog surprisingly. Played here 2 weeks or so ago and they have definitely let it go since. Greens were brutal. Tons of ballmarks and dead and dried out. Not ... Continue »

Teed off at 7:30 Was nice and sunny no fog surprisingly. Played here 2 weeks or so ago and they have definitely let it go since. Greens were brutal. Tons of ballmarks and dead and dried out. Not quite concrete but getting near to it. Reminded me of AZ summer greens. Once I adjusted after two holes they rolled and were consistent. Many unlevel / dead grass tee boxes. Fairways and rough are to be expected with a SoCal Muni. There were some really long patches that needed a consitent mow. Sand is complete trash. Unkept dirty beach sand essentially. Love the track / vibe / price / views. Once greens are givin some love it'll be back.

Joined my high school buddy for a late afternoon round at 2:42pm on a breezy, very cool afternoon Tuesday, 4/13/21. Joined by two amicable locals and we teed off pretty much on time right behind the h... Continue »

Joined my high school buddy for a late afternoon round at 2:42pm on a breezy, very cool afternoon Tuesday, 4/13/21. Joined by two amicable locals and we teed off pretty much on time right behind the high school golf team, who were not the quickest players. Conditions were breezy and cool through the front nine, when the golf team finished, in ~2:10. We moved through the back at a similar pace as the weather worsened, getting very cold and raining on us the last 4 holes, finishing in just over 4 hours. That last 45 minutes was pretty miserable!

Course conditions here are pretty consistent over time. They are scheduled to aerify greens here in a couple of weeks so it looks like they are letting them start to dry out. Greens were cut close and were very firm, mostly rolling smooth but extremely quick toward the ocean/southwest. Most of our putts were pretty defensive, unless you happened to be putting back toward the inland side, when it was easy to leave everything short. We saw very few recent ballmarks on the firm greens. Fairways were cut fairly tight but gave good lies. Rough varied from deep and lush under some of the larger trees and in drainage collection areas to thin and bare on some slopes. It’s strange how variable the turf around some of the green mounding can be on the same hole. Tees were set wide and it was easy to find a good spot, although the tee on #12 has leveling issues that require attention. Sand traps had adequate sand, although heavy/damp, but there were no rakes out and at the end of the day there were lots of old footprints to deal with.

Basic carts and inconsistent course yardage markings, so bring your own tools. Shop is open for check-in and shopping, and upstairs restrooms are finally available. Aside from the weather and tough conditions, the most disappointing aspect of the afternoon was the repeated incursions into our playing lines of players from other fairways, whether in front of or behind us. On at least 6(!) occasions, players walked or drove into our fairway, while we were teeing off, to search for/play their ball, without hesitation or wave. Just … heads up, here I come! These included the golf team members as well as adults and older players. I was really surprised and frustrated by this ongoing lack of etiquette.

San Clemente always seems to have solid course condition. The weather and the firm, quick greens combined to make this a tough afternoon.

Teed off a few minutes short of 7am and finished in 3:45. The greens are putting smooth and playing a little on the firm side. Chips and pitches tend to run out more than anticipated. The greens had a... Continue »

Teed off a few minutes short of 7am and finished in 3:45. The greens are putting smooth and playing a little on the firm side. Chips and pitches tend to run out more than anticipated. The greens had a dash of top dressing but it had no real impact on putting. The fairways have good coverage. The rough is mostly good with some thin/bare spots mostly found in shaded areas. I was not in any bunkers today but my playing partners didn't appear to have any problems getting out. The tee boxes are decent with some a little thin of grass.

The course is walkable but not flat. The front 9 has some rolling terrain while the back 9 has several holes that go up and down the hill side. At this point in time single rider carts are still policy. The driving range on Thursday does not open until 9am. The staff is friendly.

Played 3/23 @ 10am, POP 4 hours. 57degrees and windy (15-20 mph all day). Greens are firm and fast. I putted off #1 and #6 green, I've never done that before. Anything above the hole or putting toward... Continue »

Played 3/23 @ 10am, POP 4 hours. 57degrees and windy (15-20 mph all day). Greens are firm and fast. I putted off #1 and #6 green, I've never done that before. Anything above the hole or putting towards the ocean are way quick! I've never seen the greens this hard and fast at SCGC. Tees fine, kikuyu fairways are pure with a little bit of rough. Get there now before the punch the greens in late April.

Teed off about 7:10 on a mostly sunny Thursday morning and finished in 3:45. The greens are in very good condition rolling smooth with medium/fast pace. The greens play a bit firm and down hill putts ... Continue »

Teed off about 7:10 on a mostly sunny Thursday morning and finished in 3:45. The greens are in very good condition rolling smooth with medium/fast pace. The greens play a bit firm and down hill putts toward the ocean can get away from you. The fairways have excellent coverage. The Rough is mostly good with a few thin/bare spots and long enough to affect shots but not too penal. The bunkers where well groomed with good sand. The tee boxes were decent.

Driving range, chipping and putting greens are open. Driving range does not open until 9am on Thursday mornings. Masks worn inside and single rider carts available. The staff is friendly.