Well, I’m pretty sure I’m about done with Hidden Valley. When I played here on New Year’s Day with caligolfer1031 I commented on the severe slopes around the course and my concern about my mobility be... Continue »

Well, I’m pretty sure I’m about done with Hidden Valley. When I played here on New Year’s Day with caligolfer1031 I commented on the severe slopes around the course and my concern about my mobility being able to deal with them. None of those things have changed – I was drawn back because I had a Costco certificate for HV (that I couldn’t use on NYD) and I certainly couldn’t let that get away (dummy!). I was joined by GKer sr714 for my final GK Cup 15 match, and GKer DeepSea14 joined us for a match with sr714. We had a sunny, warm and blustery afternoon at 12pm on Saturday, 6/27/20.

My unhappiness started early when HV told us that we could not take single carts, unlike every other course I’ve played over the past 2 months during this pandemic and with the rising COVID caseload in CA. I’m in a high-risk age group, but it was $20 extra for a single cart – VERY disappointing! No starter at the tee but we got off pretty much on time.

The first hole is brutal to start the round and sets the pace for the rest of the day. A couple years ago I was in a group that lost 8 balls on the hole – the group behind us must have been dreading the rest of the day. Starting with the first hole and continuing, fairway lies were spotty and inconsistent, and rough could be bare, bushy, or almost non-existent. I wasn’t in any traps, but playing partners complained and most traps looked like lightly groomed dirt. Sr714 had to drop from casual water in a greenside bunker on #16. Tees were very poor – almost all were torn up (we played White) and some were severely sloping to the rear of a right-handed golfer.

Greens for the most part were OK and the best part of the course. Generally good coverage and they held shots and rolled well. With the recent changes due to the pandemic it appears the course has slowed the greens down from what historically has been terrifying speed when going downhill – the green were much more puttable today, although downhill putts still required care.

The carts were pretty basic but did have a good GPS unit, which is useful with many of the blind shots encountered. But my cart had a problem with brakes – the emergency brake was hard to set, and even when set the cart would inch forward/backward on the steeper parking slopes, to the point where I just had to let it roll up against a curb before exiting.

As I said, the extreme slopes here all over the course are hard on my legs, and the resulting overall mode for me is stressful. I think I’ll pass on HV in the future – hopefully the course can address the conditioning and other issues going forward.

Played 6/27/20 in the noon time sun, on a breezy day near 90 degrees.
Had a GK cup match scheduled here and read prior reviews and understood what to expect. Target golf. I asked a guy taking off h... Continue »

Played 6/27/20 in the noon time sun, on a breezy day near 90 degrees.
Had a GK cup match scheduled here and read prior reviews and understood what to expect. Target golf. I asked a guy taking off his shoes sitting on his trunk how it was. "lost a lot of balls" I joined him in that endeavor.
Lousy high score day that I don't want to affect the review, but here goes.

Covid-19 protocol in effect with masks required in the common areas and pro-shop. No longer one cart per person but you could get a single for additional $20. Driving range is short and into a hill left of the pro-shop. Driver allowed into the large sand hill scrub brush at about 195 yards. Hit off mats. Restaurant / CH is separate and a distance from pro shop. Also awkward on the 9th hole as you have to back track after finishing 9 to get to the building. Practice green near first tee and this is away from pro shop across street and downhill from clubhouse. On the course.

Haven't heard of the designer Casey O'Callahan but he needed to squeeze some holes in some tight terrain challenges. Hench target golf and some ups and downs and sideways (doglegs) to get the holes in among-st environmentally sensitive areas creating forced carries. Short par 4's modest to long par 3's (number 5 200 yds #1 handicap from Wh/blue tees) Par 5 first turns right and uphill for 2nd shot over a ravine. Probably would be fun the second time around under non-GK cup pressure. I don't know and may never find out. I live too far away to repeat a round here.

Tees smallish and many unlevel and untidy (thin, bare spots) Fairways decent tight lies for the most part. Greens were furry medium to slow. If fast and rolled watch out they'd be treacherous , but this day not like that. Needed to strike uphill putts firm. A few bumps and wiggles. Bunkers are brown dirt machined with wet dirt with some puddling no rakes. No deep footprints made going in or out.

Not a fan of the layout, conditions less than $$ expectation.

I'm sure this course has a fit in the local scene as there was plenty of laughter from the patio as we made the turn. For me a quirky design on a bad day. However if it was a decent round I think my review and rating would be equal.

Respectfully submitted

PS I did make a 3 on the Par 4 18th to take the Birdie Chain for a 460 mile ride north. My bright spot of the day.

First off on an overcast morning. Check in was smooth and efficient. Jordan in the pro shop was pleasant and it was nice that he was early so we could get out a few minutes prior to our tee time.

... Continue »

First off on an overcast morning. Check in was smooth and efficient. Jordan in the pro shop was pleasant and it was nice that he was early so we could get out a few minutes prior to our tee time.

I was disappointed in the greens. I'll admit that we had a number of greens which were not yet mowed because we frequently got ahead of the mowers, but even those which had been cut were much slower than normal and not very true. Ball seemed to wiggle enroute to the cup. Fairways were decent, soe having some dry spots, but generally OK. Tee boxes were not good. Many were not level, some with heavy divot damage. Greenside bunkers were a frequently flooded, or were so compacted, it was like mud. There was sand there, it just needs to be maintained.

This is a tough golf course from the tips, particularly for this senior, but the visuals are so worth the struggle. But I must admit that the tee shots on #2 , #5, #6, & #11 require everything I have to manage the hole. Time to "play it forward"

Played yesterday. It was a hot grueling 5 hour round. Started at the tee box with with no starter moving groups along. Started to stack up at the 4th hole by three groups. Waited at almost every te... Continue »

Played yesterday. It was a hot grueling 5 hour round. Started at the tee box with with no starter moving groups along. Started to stack up at the 4th hole by three groups. Waited at almost every tee.

No face mask needed and no single carts afforded for our group.

The course is starting to see some dry areas due to the heat. Some of the greens are showing browning especially on the edges. The rest of the course is decent.

We had two foursomes at HV on 5/13 – 7:20 and 7:28. Got off about 30 minutes late because of a good crowd wanting to get out and play. They have a person organizing everything before you can check i... Continue »

We had two foursomes at HV on 5/13 – 7:20 and 7:28. Got off about 30 minutes late because of a good crowd wanting to get out and play. They have a person organizing everything before you can check in. Well controlled however, Riverside County has eased off on the covid 19 protocols and Hidden Valley has followed along. No masks required, two to a cart unless you feel uncomfortable riding with a partner. Wasn’t feeling real good about this but with some hesitance, I did ride with a partner but wore my mask anyway and brought plenty of alcohol wipes and sanitizer. Credit card only to pay but they were having problems with the card connecting. Took a while.

The previous review from Abbacat was spot on. Fairways were in really good shape but am I seeing Kikuyu growing in there? Never seen that before. They were cut down and lush but noticed not a lot of roll out. Tee boxes were fine. Lush actually but some of them were becoming invaded with Kikuyu as well. Bunkers were like concrete. Don’t go in them. The rough was cut down so it wasn’t a real factor.

The greens were nice and lush but were really grainy. Medium speed but heavy poa and have seen the greens a lot faster. They took out the foam inserts in the cups and put in some metal devices in there which does the same thing.

We had a good time out there on a beautiful day despite it all. Finished in just over 4 hours.

Played today with my friends Ed and Christal and their friend Craig. We were all so excited to be able to get out and play. All precautions are being taken – mandatory masks, one- way route through t... Continue »

Played today with my friends Ed and Christal and their friend Craig. We were all so excited to be able to get out and play. All precautions are being taken – mandatory masks, one- way route through the clubhouse, single rider carts unless from same household, no water, washers or rakes on the course.

The course conditions were mixed. The fairways were great- lush, green and thick, complete with mower stripes. The tee boxes were level, though a few needed mowing. The bunkers were horrible. There wasn’t much sand (dirt) but many had large puddles filled with thousands (no exaggeration) of polly wogs. That was interesting! The greens were beautiful to look at– completely green and free of ball marks, but the grass was sprouting and the speed was slow as molasses. The cups had foam inserts that allowed the ball to drop just enough to know that the putt was truly successful. The rough was short and easy to hit from.

Playing while wearing a mask is not fun, especially in 99 degree heat. Holes 14 and 15 are cart path only (no ropes indicating so- just the cart stopping short enough to risk whiplash.) The heat got to me a bit on those holes and I did have to lose the mask for a few minutes. Happily, though, I played really well, beating my previous course best score.
I’m sure we will have to golf with these restrictions for a while, which is ok. I’m just so happy to be out there. I think, though, as long as the weather is this hot, I’ll look for a course with some shade!

Went out to Hidden Valley on 3/12 as a group of 2 foursomes beginning at 8:00. We heard the rain was going to hit us around noon so we were able to get out a bit earlier at around 7:30. We did just b... Continue »

Went out to Hidden Valley on 3/12 as a group of 2 foursomes beginning at 8:00. We heard the rain was going to hit us around noon so we were able to get out a bit earlier at around 7:30. We did just beat the rain as it hit us on 18. Still had some light rain off and on throughout the day but nothing very hard and got around in just about over 4.5 hours. I thought we would were going to have cart path only because of the week’s rain but the starter said nope, 90 degrees. A couple of holes are CPO but they have always been; areas where they are thin with grass. Overall however this course is very good condition. Except for a couple of holes, the fairways had excellent coverage. I was impressed. If you got a bad lie, it was just a tight lie but not hard pan. The rough was not thick and was playable. I wasn’t in any bunkers but some of my playing partners were and they report they were very hard and I could see they were pretty yet. Tee boxes have been over seeded and was growing in nicely. The greens were very good shape. Not real fast but rolling true ( I have seen them much faster here). Some of the greens have some major breaks in them so pin placement is good to know here. I have always enjoyed playing here. It’s a real challenge with all of the hills and elevation changes. Turned out a couple of my playing partners have never played here so I became coach and tour guide advising on where to hit it. It definitely helps to play here a couple of times as it is tricked up a bit. The views are incredible from the higher elevations. No deals on the tee times so we got the weekday rate of $45. There are some better deals on their website however. I am definitely coming back.

Hadn't played the "Valley" in some time as some folks told me it wasn't in great shape. It was pretty good today. My partner and I were first off at 6:45 am as it was going to be a hot day. Plenty of ... Continue »

Hadn't played the "Valley" in some time as some folks told me it wasn't in great shape. It was pretty good today. My partner and I were first off at 6:45 am as it was going to be a hot day. Plenty of roll out on the Fairway's from the get go. Mowed too low for me. Way too many tight lies. Greens were pretty smooth and hadn't been mowed so they were kinda slow which wasn't a problem. Traps were horrible. Mostly hard dirt or mud. Maybe slowly get some new sand for these things. Price was in the Ballpark for a senior rate. Very good customer service. I think this will be back in our winter rotation.

Played here Sunday 2/23/20 with a 10:40 tee time. My friend and I were paired up with an older couple. Round was slow... 5 hours. They said they had 178 golfers for the day. Cart broke down on hole #9... Continue »

Played here Sunday 2/23/20 with a 10:40 tee time. My friend and I were paired up with an older couple. Round was slow... 5 hours. They said they had 178 golfers for the day. Cart broke down on hole #9 for us. Two rounds in a row our cart has broken down! UGH! Love the layout of this course. Challenging if you've never played there before. This was our 15th time playing the course. Staff was friendly and saw the cart girl twice.
Greens- 8/10- good speed and breaks
fairways- 7/10- except the over watered hole #9 fairway everything was real nice
rough- 8/10- definitely penalty worthy. Longer about 1.5 inches
Tee Boxes- 9/10 Great coverage, level and green.
Sand- 4/10 not much coverage, extremely hard packed and almost impossible to get out of unless you scold it out. frustrating.
water- no smell and looked clean