Second time playing Bear Creek GC (7/25) and running a Golf Moose / Greenskeeper.org outing here. Great job by their staff having everything prepared and organized for us.

Played with rgm2525, mar... Continue »

Second time playing Bear Creek GC (7/25) and running a Golf Moose / Greenskeeper.org outing here. Great job by their staff having everything prepared and organized for us.

Played with rgm2525, mark_6m and sparky14. Golf course was in great shape and much better than when we played it in February. This is a summer turf course for sure as they don’t overseed. Greens in super shape, not as fast and smooth as our February outing but holding shots much better and still rolling well which enhanced their playability/enjoyment. Fairways lush, mostly green bermunda turf which was a pleasure to hit off. Bunkers all had quality sand and well groomed. Tee boxes lush, groomed and played real nice.

I’m a big fan of this layout. Check out the photos. Excellent challenging tee shots with attractive sight lines. Most tee shot and approach shots, as with all Nicklaus designs favor a left to right ball slight. However they can still be played with a draw which I love. Greens are all very well guarded by bunkers and lateral hazards. Once on the greens most have multiple tiers and severe undulations. Excellent green complex designs that reward strong approach shot play, short game and putting skills. Never a boring or dull moment playing this course.

Don’t miss an opportunity to play this exclusive club. Highly Recommended.

Enjoyed an excellent GK / GM Outing at the Bear. Jack really outdid himself with this one!


I can best describe Bear Creek GC as a fun Players Course. BCGC is a mature very well-designed course t... Continue »

Enjoyed an excellent GK / GM Outing at the Bear. Jack really outdid himself with this one!


I can best describe Bear Creek GC as a fun Players Course. BCGC is a mature very well-designed course that places premium on accuracy off the tee and into greens. The course features a clear definition between its mid-sized fairways and greens, and rough areas; there is well placed bunkering on all fairways and proximate to greens, along with some strategic trees and water hazards, all being punitive to wayward golf shots, but still a treat for the eyes.


The course is generally flat but does offer elevation changes from tee to fairway and green, on many holes, along with some great views of localized mountains and housing. The course plays like a true Championship Style layout. If you miss your mark, you will be punished by Jack’s design. The course played its yardage for the most part, and I emphasize this is a Ball Striker’s Delight, without being a target layout in any way.


The course was very well manicured and in above-average condition. The course layout is rated a 5 out of 5, conditions are rated a 4.5 out of 5. I note the following:


Tee Boxes: Level and lush, no damage. Above average condition.

Fairways: Green at times tight. Above average condition.

Greens: Green, medium-fast in speed, with medium softness. Noted a bit longer and slower than in the past. Speed at about a 10.5. No damage observed. Excellent condition.

Sand: Well maintained and medium to soft in texture. Above average condition.

Rough: Well defined from the fairway and green collars but not too overgrown, about 2 – 4 inches. Very grabby at times. Above average condition.

Waste Areas: Observed on various holes and did not offer much opportunity of recovery due to the overgrown nature. Above average.

Driving Range: The range is excellent, hitting off mats or a tight grass surface. Situated on a flat section of the facility and hitting into a grassland with green markers at 100, 150, 200, 225, and 250 yards. Range ran out at about 275ish. Range balls were your typical ranger, generally in good condition

Practice Putting Green: Ample and very well maintained. Surface speed was consistent with the the course greens.

Chipping Green: Also ample and very well maintained. Several pins noted to work on the short-game, along with sand bunkering.

POP: 4.75 hours – No wait was encountered on any hole. We were slowed down a bit due to the cart path only rule requirement of the day, which did not bother me.


This track truly is a masterpiece. Its layout is spectacular, and the use of the topography and land could not be better. If looking to join a quality golf club with the emphasis on Player’s Type Golf Course, this is a great one to be a part of.

Really enjoyed this course and certainly wish I could play it more often. If I lived closer, this would be a club I would consider joining. I fully endorse playing this track when given the opportunity. Very much looking forward to my next visit here.

Thank you Johnny, and GK for this outing!

Also played in the GolfMoose outing on 7/25, paired up with JohnnyGK, Ron rgm2525, and Mark mark_6m - always a great group of guys to play with.

I've played Bear Creek maybe 10 times, and it is one... Continue »

Also played in the GolfMoose outing on 7/25, paired up with JohnnyGK, Ron rgm2525, and Mark mark_6m - always a great group of guys to play with.

I've played Bear Creek maybe 10 times, and it is one of my favorites. Yesterday did not change that opinion at all. This was the first time that I had seen the greens grown out for summer, and the usually treacherous greens were actually playable for once.

Conditions were very good, better than I expected for a late July round here. The only complaint I have is that the low spots in bunkers are low on sand, and you'll bounce off the hard bottom. As long as you weren't in the bottom, they were fine.

Otherwise, greens were excellent and medium speed. Tees were really nice. Rough was a bit thicker than I expected. Better conditions than most courses these days.

Thanks again to Johnny and Moose for setting this up, it was a very fun day. Highly recommended if you have a chance to play here.

I'd like to begin by thanking Johnny for setting this up. I know how much effort he puts out and it is very much appreciated. I had not played Bear Creek in 16 years, so was excited to return. I admit... Continue »

I'd like to begin by thanking Johnny for setting this up. I know how much effort he puts out and it is very much appreciated. I had not played Bear Creek in 16 years, so was excited to return. I admit that I did not have as much recollection of the holes as I expected.

When it was announced at the last moment that it was carts on path, I was disappointed but tried to be understanding. As I played the course, there was NO reason why carts should not have been permitted on the fairways! I spoke with a number of other players, and they were totally in agreement. Given the temperatures, the width of the fairways and the fact that drinking water availability was almost totally absent, this was unacceptable. (The few drinking stations I ran into were out of water) I understand when a water main ruptures and the fairways are flooded, but simply because they were dry to restrict carts was a poor decision.

I was not as impressed with course as much as I remembered it. The fairways were super generous (Which only made the CPO decision that much more difficult and time consuming) The greens were not quick. Because I don't think I hit one shot into them, I can't say how receptive they were. Fairways were brown but played just fine. Otherwise, the course was OK.

I play all my golf super early and rarely experience the heat and a five-hour round. Perhaps because of a bad back, which made the CPO more difficult that it would otherwise have been, it was a struggle for me, so I suspect I was not the best company for my playing partners, for which I do apologize.

Played in the Golfmoose outing on a warm and windy Monday. The staff was friendly and helpful. The practice facilities are well kept and small but sufficient. The carts were nice but lacked any gps... Continue »

Played in the Golfmoose outing on a warm and windy Monday. The staff was friendly and helpful. The practice facilities are well kept and small but sufficient. The carts were nice but lacked any gps, which I guess on a private course the members should know the hazards and yardages? Our group sent off on the 15th hole - so it made the layout a little odd. The layout is odd and somewhat confusing as you need to cut through the parking lot to find the back nine. The tee boxes were all level but most were a little thin and dry. The rough was no where to be found or was invisible. The fairways (or dry and dormant turf) were in very sad shape for a private country club. Most holes were extremely dry and roll out was maxed out on a few where your drives ended up in the hazards. The traps were many but were in excellent shape and very well groomed with good sand. The greens were super quick but rolled true with subtle breaks. The well struck shots into most greens did not hold very well with plenty or roll out. Several fairways had been dyed green but the turf was still almost no existent. I can't see myself spending the money to join if I lived in this private gated community.

Played 2-9-22 afternoon with Jim, John, and Blake getting around in a little over 4 1/2 hours with minimal waiting. Golf course is mostly dormant right now but still very playable. Tee boxes were in d... Continue »

Played 2-9-22 afternoon with Jim, John, and Blake getting around in a little over 4 1/2 hours with minimal waiting. Golf course is mostly dormant right now but still very playable. Tee boxes were in decent shape, mostly level with some divot damage on par threes. Fairways were dormant but painted green for looks, a lot of roll out with lies that were thin but still okay to hit from. Rough was thin and dry along fairways and around greens with some over watered soft spots in some areas. Sand traps were in nice shape with a good layer of sand and fairly easy to hit from. Greens were in really good condition firm and fast on putts and chips, but still holding on full approach shots.

Finally getting around to posting my review from an enormously fun GK Guru round on Wednesday at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta. The round was also a preview round where I get a chance to discuss ou... Continue »

Finally getting around to posting my review from an enormously fun GK Guru round on Wednesday at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta. The round was also a preview round where I get a chance to discuss outing details ahead of time at host clubs of our Golf Moose / Greenskeeper.org Private Course outings.

Fantastic Jack Nicklaus Signature layout that utilizes elements of the local natural terrain, such as hills, slopes, oak trees, boulders with some classic Jack water features and of course those slender, very undulating slick greens. Miss an approach on the short side, be prepared to be punished with a very difficult pitch shot.

The golf course was still in dormant winter condition as they don’t overseed. Thin, mostly firm Bermuda fairways, rough and green complexes. However I expect within a couple weeks with this warm weather waking up the Bermuda turf the golf course will get significantly more green and lush. Tee boxes in good shape with moderate divot damage. Bunkers were outstanding. White beautiful sand. Greens fantastic. Firm, fast and smooth.

Every staff member I encountered was very friendly an professional. The staging area is perfect for a large outing with a big driving range, practice putting green, clubhouse and golf cart parking all centrally located. I’m looking very forward to running a GM-GK PC Outing there on 2/28 and expect everyone to enjoy the experience.

I posted a few photos. Again the course is winter dormant so not too many pretty shots but still gives a good look at the feel of the layout.

I’d love to play out there again in Spring/Summer or Fall when the warm weather turf is awake.

Still, Highly Recommended.

I played yesterday in the Guru outing with Gary, Marvin and Steve It was great seeing everyone else too. What a nice day. The staff was friendly and welcoming. I hit a few on the range and putting gre... Continue »

I played yesterday in the Guru outing with Gary, Marvin and Steve It was great seeing everyone else too. What a nice day. The staff was friendly and welcoming. I hit a few on the range and putting green. If the on-course greens were to be that slick, I knew I’d be in for an adventure. I definitely should have tried the practice bunker….

The short, dry dormant grass of the fairways isn’t my favorite, but the extra roll out is always helpful. I found a few bunkers. The beautiful white, heavy sand here really gave me some trouble. The greens were great- smooth and fast.

I played from the red tees. There were several holes where the tee boxes were just small mounds with the markers only about 5 or 6 feet apart. They were not all level and had lots of divots. Being so small there wasn’t much choice of where to place the tee. It wasn’t really a problem, but I thought it was odd.

I enjoyed the layout very much. Such a variety of holes and there were so many really fun ones. I would love to play here again when the grass is green. I bet it would be just beautiful. Thank you, Johnny and Bear Creek for a wonderful time.

Played yesterday with the gurus on what was a delightfully pleasant day with the winds gusting between 1-2 clubs and enough to crack your lips by the end of the round. Played with John, Jim and Ron w... Continue »

Played yesterday with the gurus on what was a delightfully pleasant day with the winds gusting between 1-2 clubs and enough to crack your lips by the end of the round. Played with John, Jim and Ron which made for an excellent all around day. Staff was excellent at all points, and the facilities are pretty nice especially the ease of the practice facility layout in relation to the clubhouse. I thought the conditions were good for the area and winter, with the greens being the highlight and the fairways the lowlight. To be quite honest, I was a bit disappointed in the lack of overseed at a private facility such as this but what do I know. Not too much to add to the previous reviews, other than I found the green complexes to be very unique with some crazy possible pin locations. The layout is interesting and varied, with the majority of my favorite holes coming on the back with 16 being the standout. They also have a statue of Jack high above the 9th fairway on the left which is preposterous as Jack played a fade. Would love to return when lush in the spring/summer. Recommended if you can snag an invite or play in an event.