For years this course was the premiere course in the High Desert, with a remarkable history. A decade or so ago the city recreation department took control and there has been a downhill slide ever si... Continue »

For years this course was the premiere course in the High Desert, with a remarkable history. A decade or so ago the city recreation department took control and there has been a downhill slide ever since. Dozen upon dozens of ground squirrel holes are scattered throughout the course. Sand bunkers are often hard and full of weeds. In many areas the grass has died or is dying, the fairway haven't been punched for years. There are numerous dead or dying trees trees, trimmings and debris is piled up in many areas just off the fairways, the fairways and greens are not mowed consistently or expertly. What this course badly needs is a course management team that knows how to maintain a course, not just treat it like a city park. It's Sad to think that the city seems to be intentionally letting the course go.

Played 10-15-16. Played here for the first time in a number of years. The last time I played this course it was so bad I said I would never come back. I have been hearing good things about the course ... Continue »

Played 10-15-16. Played here for the first time in a number of years. The last time I played this course it was so bad I said I would never come back. I have been hearing good things about the course so decided to check it out. The improvements are substantial. The fairways are lush and smooth. The rough is not too tough. The bunkers still could use some work but the greens were excellent. Held well and rolled nice. Good speed but not fast. A tough and challenging course will test you. Look forward to another round here.

Well, it's getting a bit chilly and that means the High Desert is not the best place for golf in the early a.m. That said, Hesperia is trying their best to keep up the maintenance on the course. Unfor... Continue »

Well, it's getting a bit chilly and that means the High Desert is not the best place for golf in the early a.m. That said, Hesperia is trying their best to keep up the maintenance on the course. Unfortunately, due to being short staffed this fall and a major turnover in staff, the greens were not aerified. This has left them in somewhat poor shape.

Hopefully they hold up this winter and with the cold the firmness is isn't affected as much. The rough is long but manageable. The fairways are the same. As in previous reviews, it ain't Torrey Pines, but it is still the best challenge from the tips at a little over 7000 yards in the High Desert.

The staff is always pleasant and accommodating. They too have suffered a big turnover so we have a number of noobs in the pro shop.

They're giving it the best they've got, but IMHO still fall a little short, but for $175 a month with cart for all of the golf you can handle, I can overlook a few of the shortcomings. If you want to come out on a weekday it's $17 to sample the course, and $10 more on the weekend w/cart.

Hope it's helpful!

Dan ...

O.k. Greens were aerated and are now mostly recovered. They are running 10.2 according to my stimp meter. New sharpened reels on the mowers have helped this tremendously as they were running a paltry ... Continue »

O.k. Greens were aerated and are now mostly recovered. They are running 10.2 according to my stimp meter. New sharpened reels on the mowers have helped this tremendously as they were running a paltry 6.5-7.5 a few weeks ago. There's been some changes in management and it seems that there's work getting done. If this place can get it together, we're going to have our gem back, so fingers are crossed. Still the most challenging course in the High Desert and the best bang for the buck. Don't expect any cart service, starters or marshals, that's still something they haven't figured out yet. POP is less than 4 hours if you get out early. Can approach 4.5-5 after noon. Come and play, test your mettle from the tips at 7004 yds. See ya on the course!

O.k. So it looks like it has been awhile since anyone has updated this course so I'll bring you up to date.

First and foremost, the Parks and Recs for Hesperia have finally settled on a 5 year plus... Continue »

O.k. So it looks like it has been awhile since anyone has updated this course so I'll bring you up to date.

First and foremost, the Parks and Recs for Hesperia have finally settled on a 5 year plus contract with the city to operate the course. This may be a big plus, but we will wait and see.

I play this course many times a week and skins on the weekend so I see it in every form it has.

Lately, while the minimal staff that is operating the course does their best, they are not very organized and sorely understaffed.

The fairways and rough are usually long on some but not all holes. The greens usually stimp in the 8-9 range (I built my own stimp meter). They will vary from hole to hole which drives me nuts, but adjustment is part of the game!

The pro shop is well stocked and the staff there and in the bar are very friendly and go out of their way to help.

The course is, and always will be, the best challenge from the tips in the High Desert bar none.

If you are looking for a Goose Creek or Sierra Lakes (when it's well groomed) you will be disappointed.

I volunteer quite a few hours at this course trying to help the maintenance staff keep up. There are a number of locals that are doing this and we are regularly telling the staff what needs improvement.

Since the departure of the Donovan Brothers Managment, the course has been in better, but not the best shape it could be.

Come test your mettle on the tee-box we volunteers resurrected on the 12 hole where Arnold Palmer lost a match playing from. It's a daunting 238 yds over a (now dry) water hazard to an unbunkered green. Par is a challenge there.

In all fairness to this and all of the other courses, the state mandated water conservation has impacted the "greenness" of this course as it has others.

The city has just begun a water reclamation project that will feed the golf course in ~2 years. All of the ponds will be filled once again and the fairways and greens should be coming back. The volunteers and members have contributed hundreds of dollars and numerous hours to reestablish the trees that were lost to the Bark Beetle and the snow a few years ago.

With all of that said, this is still the best bargain going for the challenge and if the maintenance staff can be augmented with enough people to keep up on the maintenance, this place can once again be a tough track to conquer.

In the meantime, you can be a member for ~$125 and month walking and ~$175 with a cart. Family membership is ~$225 with cart. Weekend rates are $27-32 and if you visit the Hesperia Parks and Rec homepage they have monthly specials. Put your name on their email list and you will get them each month.

I hope this helps folks and will give those looking for a challenge the desire to give it a go at least once.

If anyone has any questions or comments/corrections, please feel free to email me.

Dan...

Played 8/4. It's August and Hesperia CC is as green and lush as I've ever seen it. There were very few brown spots. The tees, fairway, rough, and greens were all in nice shape. I've seen a lot of brow... Continue »

Played 8/4. It's August and Hesperia CC is as green and lush as I've ever seen it. There were very few brown spots. The tees, fairway, rough, and greens were all in nice shape. I've seen a lot of brown courses out there; it was nice to see some green.

It is a pretty cool thing to play a course who's routing has hardly changed since the time that Palmer and Player played it. It used to be on the tour many moons ago and you can definitely see by it's... Continue »

It is a pretty cool thing to play a course who's routing has hardly changed since the time that Palmer and Player played it. It used to be on the tour many moons ago and you can definitely see by it's length and course design that this was a tour level design. Unfortunately, the conditions are no longer tour quality. The City of Hesperia now operates this place and what you now get is a bit of mid level municipal course upkeep. Decent tee boxes, ok fairways, good greens. It's the devil in the details though that prove disappointing. The landscaping is poor, the clubhouse is .....meh. I remember playing here years ago when there was still a swimming pool, the ponds had water and the course was cared for so it is a shame because in this old body beats the heart of a champion. It is a long and challenging course and definitely a test for anyone. I would suggest walking this course and the rates are dirt cheap. If you close your eyes as you walk up number 18, a brute of a hole with little margin for error from the back tees, you can see to your left next to the green an apartment complex that was obviously the old hotel and you can imagine what it may have been like with perfect conditions, a cheering crowd, a mid-century clubhouse looking it's best and all that cigarette smoke rising from the galleries. It was probably quite a sight ....... but it isn't anymore. For the fee it is a good deal but if you're driving up from the lowlands, it just isn't worth the trip right now. Municipal governments have a hard time as it is with their finances and this place would need a good size cash infusion that I just don't see coming down the pike. I think it is what it is and will be what it is for the foreseeable future.

Played here 12/15/13 @ 9:44am as a twosome. For some reason I thought the rate was going to be $38 but was pleasantly surprised when I found out it was only $27. Got out only a few minutes late due to... Continue »

Played here 12/15/13 @ 9:44am as a twosome. For some reason I thought the rate was going to be $38 but was pleasantly surprised when I found out it was only $27. Got out only a few minutes late due to two foursome's teeing off kind of slow and their pace from then on was exactly that. Waited on every shot but one foursome did let us play through by the 7th hole. We were able to quickly tee off on the hole after that and then it was back to waiting behind the other foursome. It was pretty slow going until about the 13th hole but then they sped it up to a decent pace. Overall round time was about 4-1/2 hours.

Course itself is not in very good shape nor do I think it ever is no matter the time of year. Rough and fairways are extremely inconsistent with a mixture of different grasses and plenty of dirt in the fairways and rough. Most of the dirt areas are where the wash winds through the course and most likely floods those areas during big storms. Bunkers were really hard with a tiny layer of hard "groomed" sand on top, kind of like a baseball field. Tee boxes uneven and thin. Greens were in pretty good shape and rolling at a decent speed however there were some small rocks from the bunkers and leaves from the tree's so you had to try to clean up your line on almost every putt. With all the condition issues I do still enjoy this layout. They give you a few doglegs, a few straight forward easy holes and all the holes are tree lined which can get you into plenty of trouble if you stray too far away from the fairway. We had great weather and for that rate of $27 I would say it was worth it but nothing I am rushing back to play.

Played 9/22. Green fee was $27 with cart. I though the course was in fine condition. The greens were smooth and true, rolled nice, medium fast. The fairways were mostly lush but a little wet. The roug... Continue »

Played 9/22. Green fee was $27 with cart. I though the course was in fine condition. The greens were smooth and true, rolled nice, medium fast. The fairways were mostly lush but a little wet. The rough was nasty thick in some areas. I really enjoyed this course and would definitely play again. I will add this is an old PGA course and if you do not control your driver, you will have a long day due to mature trees that line the fairways.