Course is nice and green. Greens were very very quick. Bunkers were good except for the ones that had standing water.

Course is nice and green. Greens were very very quick. Bunkers were good except for the ones that had standing water.

Played Friday Jan 3rd at 7am. Starter was very friendly and this is important to get off on a good note. Tee boxes were all level, but rather hard and dry compared to the rest of the course. Fairways ... Continue »

Played Friday Jan 3rd at 7am. Starter was very friendly and this is important to get off on a good note. Tee boxes were all level, but rather hard and dry compared to the rest of the course. Fairways were cut short, dry in some spots and very soggy and muddy in others, you couldn't get a feel of when the ball would roll out or plug. Sand traps were a mess, I wasn't in any but my playing partners were and there were at least 20 traps with very deep standing water, you actually saw splashes when the ball landed in these traps. The rough that was next to the fairways was not real long and was playable. The greens rolled nice but were way too fast for the amount of slope these greens have, very few ball marks needed to be repaired when hitting the greens. Many times on multiple holes when putting down hill to the flag, the ball rolled off the green to a collection area or actually into a trap (hole 17) and these putts were barely touched. Many many putts would roll 6 to 10 feet past the hole. POP was ok at 409.

Started the new year with a thud at Hidden Valley at 840 am on 1/1/20 with GKer caligolfer1031. Looking at my previous reviews at HV, I didn’t realize until today that I had started the new year there... Continue »

Started the new year with a thud at Hidden Valley at 840 am on 1/1/20 with GKer caligolfer1031. Looking at my previous reviews at HV, I didn’t realize until today that I had started the new year there 3 of the past 4 years. There are a lot of fun holes here, but I have to say that declining conditions, and my ongoing knee problems, make it unlikely that I’ll be coming back again soon. Greg’s review says everything I wanted to say. The sign at the entry touts HV as the NGCOA Course of the Year in 2010-2011 – apparently, after that award the course stopped putting any more money into improving the course. Water in the bunkers, after no rain, only means that overwatering is draining into the bunkers and staying there, and the course is doing nothing about it. Not that bunker conditions would be good anyway – as Greg noted, “dry” bunkers had no sand atop the mud base. Every fairway and rough lie was a crapshoot. The only level tee was #18 (white tees). Greens can’t be kept this fast if any putt from above the hole results in 8-12 feet (or more!) coming back – all that means is slow play and frustrated golfers. Positives – VISAGE GPS was interactive and helpful. The cart had a ball washer/club cleaner. I tried to kill myself when I slipped and sprawled on the steep cart path next to the 10th green. There’s lots of up-and-down walking required here on some steep terrain. Cart path damage and neglect is another area where HV has walked away. There was apparently plenty of money for a multi-month renovation of the restaurant that moved the pro shop to the adjacent building, but I don’t see anything going into the course. I can’t recommend HV under these conditions.

Played Hidden Valley for the first time on 1/1/20 and may be the last (but never say never). Joined dconnally and a single that joined us, for a mostly pleasent day. Even though the reviews were harsh... Continue »

Played Hidden Valley for the first time on 1/1/20 and may be the last (but never say never). Joined dconnally and a single that joined us, for a mostly pleasent day. Even though the reviews were harsh, I came into the day with an open mind. Playing the first hole was a good representation of what the day would hold. We all played the white tees because I am not a very long hitter, but the other two in the group could have played from the blues. From the blues the course is a different kind of beast. Conditions left a lot to be desired. Tees - Chewed up and not level. I know the course is in the hills, but the tees need to be redone so that flat areas can be found. Fairways. Never know what your lie will be, any where from hardpan to sitting nicely on green grass. There are many areas of dormant grass to be found, but it is still a little thin, but not bad. Mud was a big factor in a lot of the fairways. Rough - short grass and hardpan, mud here too. Bunkers - Never have I seen such a bad collection of bunkers in my life. Most are filled with water and should be considered small ponds and not bunkers. Dave lost a ball on the first hole after his ball "splashed" into a bunker on his second shot. The ball was never found. On the back nine, I forget which hole, Dave was pulling something out of the fairway bunker, or pond, and it turned out to be a whole windshield from a golf cart. For all we know there could be a whole cart in their too with Jimmy Hoffa in the passenger seat. There are a couple of bunkers on the course with no water, but they are just dirt and not raked at all. Hidden Valley should be ashamed of these conditions. Greens - Best part of the course. They rolled nice with a medium/fast speed. The felt soft as you could leave spike marks, but the greens did not hold shots very well. Ball marks were found on the greens. Downhill putts and chips just don't stop. I think it's number 17, the green is just not fair, cant stop a ball anywhere near the hole. Everything funnels to the bottom left portion and the flag was upper right. Also during the round I noticed odd 2 foot stripes across the greens and it looked like the mower may be having problems, until I looks at my right hand and noticed that my finger were turning a little moldy, but taking a closer look, it was the greens, they had been painted. Only had interaction with tthree staff members all day, the guy in the shop, the starter and we saw the beverage cart girl one during the round. I have to say that I came away a little disappointed and may never make the trek here again. I am thankful for Dave and Troy as they made this day enjoyable.

I have played this course a number of times. Over the last three years this course has gone from 4 star rating to a rating of less than 1. The course is very wet, areas that should be marked as ground... Continue »

I have played this course a number of times. Over the last three years this course has gone from 4 star rating to a rating of less than 1. The course is very wet, areas that should be marked as ground under repair are not. The greens are 100% inconsistent. Play is very slow. No Marshalls on course. I play 3 or 4 times a week at other courses and this course maybe reasonable with Costco coupon but my friends and I that played here in Mid November could not be paid to play here. I never want to see any course close but if I had to pick a course to close, this would be it. The SCGA should review this course and remove from recommended SCGA courses. The bunkers may have sand but not any this year, so many rocks you can damage a club if foolish to try and use. Be careful of your rotator cuff if you try to use sand traps.

Played here 11/16/19 with a 6:10 am tee time with a friend. We were paired with another 2 some. The first group out in front of us (6:00 am) was the slowest foursome ever! The marshall ended up making... Continue »

Played here 11/16/19 with a 6:10 am tee time with a friend. We were paired with another 2 some. The first group out in front of us (6:00 am) was the slowest foursome ever! The marshall ended up making them skip hole 3 & 4 because they were so slow. Pace of play after hole 3 was great at 4 hours. Greens were great and clean and smooth, fairways were green with some a little over watered. I think Hole #1 needs to be cart path only. Rough was good and not too long. Sand was a little thin with several sand traps on hole #2 being GUR. Staff was friendly and cart girl Ashton was very sweet and nice. We had a great time! Course is worth playing for 0 -$ 80 but nothing more.

Played today after reading last review, I was expecting the same conditions. Unfortunately it wasn't that great. We also started 20 minutes behind our start time as several groups were already waiti... Continue »

Played today after reading last review, I was expecting the same conditions. Unfortunately it wasn't that great. We also started 20 minutes behind our start time as several groups were already waiting on the 1st tee past our assigned time. POP was close to 5 hours. Greens 13, 14, 15 were recently punched and still had visible holes and sand on the greens. Hole 16 a Par 3 the area surrounding it was over saturated and hitting your ball short it sunk into the fairway, you could barely walk on it as you sank into the turf. Majority of the bunkers had no sand and had standing water in it. The other parts of the course were good. Starter was friendly and funny.

Played there this morning 10/21/19. From the recent review I was expecting gloom and doom! To my surprise the course was in great shape, one tee box was just planted maybe a week ago but was level. On... Continue »

Played there this morning 10/21/19. From the recent review I was expecting gloom and doom! To my surprise the course was in great shape, one tee box was just planted maybe a week ago but was level. One green, I think #9 had some dead patches on the green,otherwise the rest of the greens where flat and fast. Is this a tuff course, no arguement there it loves to eat balls that are not struck well. The bunkers are dirt, always have been and most likely will always be, the wind blows in this area and any sand just blows away. One of my favorite tracks. Fairways and ruff cut close just a few holes with a few bare spots.

Played HV early on 10/14. Agree with recent reviews, HV is not in good condition right now. It is still a layout that I really enjoy playing, so I am still going to give this a mild recommendation.

... Continue »

Played HV early on 10/14. Agree with recent reviews, HV is not in good condition right now. It is still a layout that I really enjoy playing, so I am still going to give this a mild recommendation.

Greens are generally OK. There are several bare spots on several greens, although I can only remember actually having one affect a putt. Otherwise, putts rolled smooth for me. Greens were very receptive.

Tee boxes are rough in many spots. You might need the full two clublengths back to find a decent spot, and some of the tee placements don't allow you to go back at all. Fairways are generally ok, a few bad spots here and there, but lies were mostly decent. Rough is hit and miss.

I was not in a bunker, but they looked like they had been watered and not raked. I suspect they would be tough to play out of for the most part.

All the negatives aside, I still thoroughly enjoyed playing HV today. Hopefully conditions improve over the wet season.