Snuck down deep behind the Orange curtain for a 1PM 'deal' at SJH with a bud on a gorgeous Sunday, $29 was hard to beat for a w/e. Unlike my idol, weber, and devout GK'er dconnally, who don't really ... Continue »

Snuck down deep behind the Orange curtain for a 1PM 'deal' at SJH with a bud on a gorgeous Sunday, $29 was hard to beat for a w/e. Unlike my idol, weber, and devout GK'er dconnally, who don't really care for this course design, I find it a nice diversion from your normal 'out and back' track. The holes are a bit bunched up on the front (except #5 & 6) but then on the backside, you slide under the road to #10 by the driving range (food/beer stop on Fri-Sun) for a couple holes, then back under the road to a par 5. From there, back in a tunnel and the course meanders through some housing tracks for a tight par 4, easy par 3, and longish par 4 with water (#15: it's like you're in someone's backyard on your tee shot with a home owner doing garden work ten feet behind you, weird feeling), then Mr. Toad's Wild Ride takes you back thru the tunnel to finish the last 3 holes (par 3, par 5, par 3). So, yeah, it's a little different and I can see why it'd be tough to walk. Conditions are actually very good right now but there are some real bad fairway and rough sections which will give you a thin or bare lie, determined by the rub of the green (fortunately, much of it is marked GUR). For sure, a pick-it-clean swing has an advantage when in these areas. Some bunkers are semi-hard pan, too, and could use some maintenance. But the greens were cut short and were very, very quick, super tricky to read when they're this fast, even if you know the course. Downhill putts ran well past the cup even when careful ... try to stay below the hole if at all possible. Most BM's are repaired decently but there's lots of them ... some rolls can get pretty bumpy. We got around in 4:45, which isn't too bad for a Sunday afternoon. And for $29 w/cart, a great deal. PS: dconnally, that grass you hate so much is Kikuyu ... and they have plenty of it at SJH. Just brutal to hit a pitch shot from that stuff.

Played San Juan hills on 9/3 after a long layoff and I found the course to be in great shape. From tee boxes to greens, everything seem to look and play great. We saw cart girl several times. There... Continue »

Played San Juan hills on 9/3 after a long layoff and I found the course to be in great shape. From tee boxes to greens, everything seem to look and play great. We saw cart girl several times. There were a few unfixed ball marks, but other than that, it was a nice day for golf.
I booked it on their website and paid 34.00 with cart.. If your in the area or want to try something different give San Juan hills a look..

Completely agree with the last review. I have never really been a fan of this course, just doesn't "fit my eye". Agree that the grass is very difficult to play from, and while the overall condition o... Continue »

Completely agree with the last review. I have never really been a fan of this course, just doesn't "fit my eye". Agree that the grass is very difficult to play from, and while the overall condition of this course is generally good, there is just something about this course that prevents me from scoring. There are a number of holes I just don't care for.

As I always walk, this course, while not all that difficult to walk, seems to take a long time to get around. ( Maybe it's the three holes off to themselves, or the number of long walks between some of the holes?)

Played at noon on a sunny breezy Saturday, 8/16/14 on a GN special for $42. Paired with a nice local guy and a pro-hopeful who hit the ball a mile but always seemed to be in the trees. I was looking f... Continue »

Played at noon on a sunny breezy Saturday, 8/16/14 on a GN special for $42. Paired with a nice local guy and a pro-hopeful who hit the ball a mile but always seemed to be in the trees. I was looking for an inexpensive local venue to tune up for the SCGA Affiliate Team Championship at Monarch Beach M-TU. San Juan Hills is meat and potatoes golf and fit this purpose.

I had only played here once in the past few years since they lost the holes along the river and built the new three in the "Bermuda Triangle" up in the hills. Also the first time since they built the new clubhouse. I was quickly reminded why I don't like this course - I hate the grass that is everywhere except on the greens - that thick, ropy grass that takes wear well and grows well in hot conditions, but gives crappy lies and is impossible to chip from around the greens or run the ball onto the green. I don't know the name, but I don't like it!

Greens are generally small, round or oval shape, and without any serious undulation or tiering. I found the firmness of the greens inconsistent through the round, with some being very firm (shots hit and released over the green) and others soft and receptive. In general, they rolled well at medium speed. Fairways were thin and firm and lies often sat down. Rough varied from dry/thin to lush. Sand trapss were uniformly good, with good quantity and playing surface. Tees were generally OK - some not level, and par 3s showing wear. On a couple of par 3s the main tee boxes were being resodded, so that crappy grass was mowed short down in front of the box for a (very uneven and unsightly) teeing area.

There were a number of resodded areas and areas under repair around the course. In the Bermuda Triangle and other areas the cart paths are showing a lot of damage from tree roots or poor construction. Many better (tho more expensive) choices on South OC.

Out for twilight on a Sunday afternoon at SJH. Greens a bit slower today than their normal speed, very soft Poa but rolling true. Greenside bunkers in decent condition, some thin but most were full ... Continue »

Out for twilight on a Sunday afternoon at SJH. Greens a bit slower today than their normal speed, very soft Poa but rolling true. Greenside bunkers in decent condition, some thin but most were full with nicely layered playable sand ... some dirt/mud at the base to be aware of. Great PoP for a PM weekend, got around in 4.5 hrs. Always great service. Use their website for the best rates.

Played 6-21-14
Tees,fairways decent. Greens were fantastic. This course is an hidden OC gem. Green fees are reasonable. Tees an fairways could use some work. But very playable. Great hillside course ... Continue »

Played 6-21-14
Tees,fairways decent. Greens were fantastic. This course is an hidden OC gem. Green fees are reasonable. Tees an fairways could use some work. But very playable. Great hillside course with a little bit of everything. Gets the afternoon ocean breezes.

Maintenance alert here at SJH is correct, they will aerate tomorrow. Greens will take 3-4 weeks to heal. Meanwhile, a great 19th hole.

Maintenance alert here at SJH is correct, they will aerate tomorrow. Greens will take 3-4 weeks to heal. Meanwhile, a great 19th hole.

Down behind the Orange Curtain again on Sunday, got out after the last rainstorm passed by at 11:15AM with clear sailing for 18 holes. 3:40 round. B'day green fee of $15 with a free bucket of range ... Continue »

Down behind the Orange Curtain again on Sunday, got out after the last rainstorm passed by at 11:15AM with clear sailing for 18 holes. 3:40 round. B'day green fee of $15 with a free bucket of range balls to boot. Naturally, the fairways were a bit soggy but dried out as the day passed. Greens were cut but slow by SJH standards. Most bunkers were conditioned, still heavy sand, very playable. Grounds crew will have some clean up in the next couple of days but after that the course should be in great shape. Another SoCal course that drains well after rain.

Played Sat. 2/15. Perfect weather, course is in ok winter shape, fairways mostly dormant, rough not really a factor. Sand traps were fairly pathetic, hard pan under the top inch of soft sand. Tee b... Continue »

Played Sat. 2/15. Perfect weather, course is in ok winter shape, fairways mostly dormant, rough not really a factor. Sand traps were fairly pathetic, hard pan under the top inch of soft sand. Tee boxes were pretty bad, not very level, but they had some decent grass on them and they were wide enough to find a flat lie just took a few extra minutes. Greens were pretty nice, they held shots very well, but they hadn't been mowed or rolled that morning, so they were real bumpy, but still rolled fairly fast. Greens were definitely the best part of the course. 19th hole is always awesome there, Jeff bartender was very friendly and we had good eggs benny. Paid 50$ which was barely worth it, but holiday weekend, what else could you expect. POP was decent as well, around 4 1/2 hours.