played this course for the first time today...was in the first group off this morning...ran into some fog, which made it even harder to know where to hit it...if you've never played this course, make ... Continue »

played this course for the first time today...was in the first group off this morning...ran into some fog, which made it even harder to know where to hit it...if you've never played this course, make sure you go with someone who has played it before

playing conditions - pretty good...tee boxes are in excellent shape...greens are firm and FAST...as a matter of fact, these greens are some of the fastest ive ever putted on...like cheeseburger said below, stay below the hole...if youre putting from above the hill, youre screwed...managed to avoid the sand my entire round, so cant comment on it...fairways are not lush, but not thin...and some are better than others....the fairway on hole 6 was pretty torn up, but the rest are in decent shape

as for the layout...this course is very challenging...virtually every hole has forced carries...some of up to 200 yards from the blues...tons of elevation changes...well guarded greens...you're not going to find even one of your typical "muni" holes here...in short, you need to have a solid all around game, or you'll lose balls here all day

one last note...there are some stunning and/or intimidating views on this course....holes 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 are just stunning

p.s. if youre a heavy set guy, share a cart with a lighter guy, or your cart will die going up all the hills

first time to play here and was very challenged by the greens. very good conditions, staff very nice. will be back very soon for better score.

first time to play here and was very challenged by the greens. very good conditions, staff very nice. will be back very soon for better score.

Played yesterday morning. Walked on as a single. Played a leisurely round (thanks to the nice couple who pulled over and let me play-through on number 8!! Ended up waiting on #12 and the single beh... Continue »

Played yesterday morning. Walked on as a single. Played a leisurely round (thanks to the nice couple who pulled over and let me play-through on number 8!! Ended up waiting on #12 and the single behind me joined up with me...played slow after that - big back-up behind a group of four idiots playing from the black-tees!! Still finished in 3.5 hours!) on a much-improved Hidden Valley course. The greens were fast!! Scary-fast! "You don't wanna be above the hole" fast. As a matter of fact...#17 is still a joke. There is no way to stop the ball anywhere near the cup when placed where it was yesterday. The fairways were green and fairly thick...not "lush' - but not bad. I was only in ONE bunker all day...on #18. I can't call it a "sand trap" because there was not a grain of true sand in it!! It was a "dirt trap". Current rating is about right. Could be better. Could be (and has been) MUCH worse. A very pleasant experience overall. The staff is first-rate and the club sandwich is awesome! Hidden Valley is back in rotation!!

The greens were very nice, betterthan I remember! Since I played the "tips", most of those tees were still not recovered from the overseeding. The fairways were soaked, so the course played even longe... Continue »

The greens were very nice, betterthan I remember! Since I played the "tips", most of those tees were still not recovered from the overseeding. The fairways were soaked, so the course played even longer than normal. From the black tees, this course is actually more than I can handle, but those tees visually a lot of fun to play.

Played on 10/22 7:30 tee time. Not too many players were out this morning which was good because one of our 4some got stuck in traffic. Course was in very good shape, they had just finished overseedin... Continue »

Played on 10/22 7:30 tee time. Not too many players were out this morning which was good because one of our 4some got stuck in traffic. Course was in very good shape, they had just finished overseeding, but there were no restrictions on driving onto the fairways. Staff was friendly and accomodating. Coffee shop was not open yet. Tee boxes were OK, not many divots. Fairways were lush and had some run very few divots, due to few players on the course this early. Greens were fast but ran true, the pins were set up on difficult positions, most were on crowns or on downslope (US Open type setup, very difficult). The bunkers were hard packed dirt mostly, caused club to bounce and chunk a couple of shots, and not just mine. Finished in 3hr50min. Would rate it about 6.5 (7 if bunkers had sand).

Awesome views! But be warned this is an extremely difficult course. Not for beginners. You will lose a lot of balls

Awesome views! But be warned this is an extremely difficult course. Not for beginners. You will lose a lot of balls

I thought this course looked and played pretty well. Went out yesterday at 11:45 and was done by 3. The course itself has some great views, and a couple of tough uphill holes. I will come back and pla... Continue »

I thought this course looked and played pretty well. Went out yesterday at 11:45 and was done by 3. The course itself has some great views, and a couple of tough uphill holes. I will come back and play again soon.

The headline for this review should be: "Well, it was better than working!"

Not much to say about the conditions at Hidden Valley. It had rained a bit last night, so - the greens held all shots we... Continue »

The headline for this review should be: "Well, it was better than working!"

Not much to say about the conditions at Hidden Valley. It had rained a bit last night, so - the greens held all shots well. But they were lumpy and varied widely on both their speed and consistency. Some had spots of fungus. #8 looks like it needs a doctor.

Some of the fairways were really nice and lush. Others, unfortunately, were disaster areas of bare dirt and a few sparse weeds. A few fairways were roped-off, making it cart-path only.

The "sand" traps are mis-named. They are "muddy pits, full of wet dirt. So, stay our of them.

I'll cut them some slack, though....with the heat we had and the time of year...it's about as good as we can expect.

Some of the pin-placements were a joke.

Note: #10. I hit right next to the hole, about 2' above it and a bit to the right....my ball stopped...I took my eye off it for a second...next thing I know my ball has rolled 30+ feet and off the front of the green onto the fairway. That's just nonsense....

#17 was similar. My playing partner had an uphill putt of 4' that "died" about 4" short. His ball stopped...and then rolled backwards to 5'. Come ON!!! Somebody who actually PLAYS this course has to go out and check these pin placements!!

Some of the tee boxes were off-level and one even had a hole deep enough to sprain an ankle badly!

Oh. My golf cart (#19, BTW) died on the 14th hole. Thank goodness my buddy's cart had a tow-bar and he towed me aroun for the last five holes.

4.0 hours. Great pace. There was nobody out there!

Like I said....it was better than working!

This course is in very good condition. Some of the holes were roped off, but mostly open. Very few "brown spots" Greens were a little slow but true. The new mangement seems to be working as there were... Continue »

This course is in very good condition. Some of the holes were roped off, but mostly open. Very few "brown spots" Greens were a little slow but true. The new mangement seems to be working as there were many workers throughout the course improving it. Would reccomend it highly. Accuracy is in important playing this course. Course mangement is a must.