Played 2/4/12.
What an experience! First off for the amount of traffic that visits the casino you might think you would have some difficulties navigating your way to the course. This is not the case... Continue »

Played 2/4/12.
What an experience! First off for the amount of traffic that visits the casino you might think you would have some difficulties navigating your way to the course. This is not the case what so ever. Plenty of signs were out for street view and multiple signs in the parking lot directing you to exactly where you want to go. Got to the parking lot and by the time we parked and opened the trunk a cart attendant was right there to load the clubs up on the cart. They do not rush you though and made sure we had everything on the cart before they took it down to the starting area. We were then greeted at the front door and the door was opened for us into an extremely clean and beautiful clubhouse. As for checking in I had booked a foursome under the 2 for $159 deal they had going on mentioned here by the way. The tee time was made over the phone and I metioned the deal and even though they acknowledged the deal since it was all verbal I was a little nervous checking in hoping everything would go over smooth and it definitely did. On to the restrooms......haha, I know many courses have nice facilities and restrooms but the second you start washing your hands you might notice once you put your hands under the sensor the water comes out at the PERFECT tempurature not a important detail but one I felt deserved some mentioning since someone had to come up with the idea.

Now out to the cart, greeted once again by a couple cart attenedants and they walked us to our cart where you notice the very nice and large gps screen on the cart. Check in with the starter and he shows you the way to the practice facilities, snack bar and 1st tee box. Up to the range and balls are stacked in pyramids and spaced out plenty to feel comfortable. Range grass was very lush and there were a few different green targets to hit to. Chipping area consisits of 2 greens, a couple soft sand bunkers and plenty of practice balls to keep you busy for hours. Practice green is large and perfectly represented the speed of the greens on the course. Also had a breakfast burrito with bacon before the round and I swear this was one of the best things I have ever eaten in my entire life. I highly recommend.

Ready and excited to move on to the course the first tee box you are greeted with a perfectly green and striped fairway and a huge bunker on the right with the Pechanga logo made out of grass inside of the bunker. I was "lucky" enough to land in the sand right off the bat and it was perfect and soft even for a fairway bunker. Most of the greens on the front 9 were fairly large but were either wide and shallow or skinny and deep and were firm and fast, all in great shape. The front 9 is played up against/on the hills and has some minor to MAJOR elevation changes including the 175 foot drop with a forced carry on the 6th hole from the tee box to the fairway with an amazing view of most of Temecula and the winery mansions. Front 9 had a perfect mix of holes each unique in its own way and were all perfectly maintained.

We called in our lunch orders on the 9th tee box and all the food was ready the second we were finished with the front 9. As we were getting the food the starter also made sure our cart ice chests had new cold water bottles in them. 10 and 11 were a great start to the back 9 but from there to 15 the course lost a little of its flair to me. It wasn't as well maintained with a few bare spots in the fairway and rough which were non existent on the front. The layout was totally different than the front but still lots of fun. 16 reminded me of the 18th hole at tpc sawgrass with the fairway curving left around water, 17 is a climb back up the hill giving a great view of the casino and a very tough and gorgeous par 3. I might even go as far as saying nicer than 14 at Oak Quarry. 18 is a perfect way to end a round teeing off another hill with about a 100 foot drop to what seems like a narrow fairway from up top. The green on 18 is a little bit overkill though with possibly the biggest undulating green in the counrty and a suface as hard as a rock. It makes the 15th green at eagle glen look like nothing. I hit a wedge in high and perfect about 5 feet in front of the pin and the ball just released and down the hill it went. I'm pretty sure their goal was to have everyone end up in that little valley but it was still fun getting a solid 2 putt out of there.

After the round 2 more cart attendants waited and cleaned our clubs and then we drove the carts out to the car where another cart attendant was there to unload the bags off the cart and take the cart back. We went back to the clubhouse for a drink and relaxed for a bit while looking out at the course. Everything was also reasonably priced for what you get. Overall experience was outstanding and for $79.50 each with the deal is unbeatable. However I'm not sure I would be back at full price unless $200+ dollars won't dent your bank account. I'm very glad I can now cross this off my bucket list and if you haven't played there yet then all I can say now is you won't be dissapointed.

Journey at Pechanga Course Review
Temecula California Golf Course Reviews