Getting older does not translate into getting smarter ! My last time playing here in April 2017, I indicated that I had not played here prior to that since 1984, and it would probably be another 33 y... Continue »

Getting older does not translate into getting smarter ! My last time playing here in April 2017, I indicated that I had not played here prior to that since 1984, and it would probably be another 33 years until I returned. I should have taken my own advice. Where to begin ?

When I called to make the first time out last Thursday and inquired about rates, the guy in the shop mentioned if I go on line I could secure a better rate through groupon or similar, so that's what I did. Arrived early for my 6:00am tee time, but of course they were late to open and then advised they were no longer accepting groupons effective 7/1/20. (After I'd called the shop? So paid the full rake rate. (Another mistake by me)

The front nine was totally fogged in, zero visibility. Not 25 yards. For those of you who may have played here understand that even in the best conditions, the site lines are very questionable. As for the course, it is a mess. Just so scruffy and ill-kept. While greens in all fairness were decent, by far the best part of the course, the rest of the course was awful. There is not even a pretense of trying to maintain the bunkers. Cart paths are a series of broken concrete adjacent to bare dirt areas with huge holes. As for the rough, it was a mix of dirt, stones, 6 inch tall grass, and so on.

Needless to say this was not the best golf experience I have known. This time I swear it will be at least 33 more years until I return, because by then, being well over 100 years old, what mental faculties I may still retain, I suspect will be insufficient for me to make sound life choices.

Played here 2/15 with a 10:30am start, quiet so got out early and didn’t see many people!
Where to start reviewing the course, well the greens were really good and the tees were mainly flat with som... Continue »

Played here 2/15 with a 10:30am start, quiet so got out early and didn’t see many people!
Where to start reviewing the course, well the greens were really good and the tees were mainly flat with some bare patches.
Sadly the rest is a sad story, fairways a mix of dormant, tufts and bare. There is no rough, after the fairway ends is just hard pan so if your shot goes there...goodbye. Traps were either wet or solid, or on occasions both.
The track could be attractive and challenging, but given where it is I can’t see anybody putting the necessary improvements in to make it playable, sad really.
Also 32/38 Par with 3 Par 5’s in a row to start the back 9.

Played early Saturday morning in a light drizzle finishing in under four hours. I had played the original Hidden Meadows and Meadow Lake course here many times before the turf destruction renamed thi... Continue »

Played early Saturday morning in a light drizzle finishing in under four hours. I had played the original Hidden Meadows and Meadow Lake course here many times before the turf destruction renamed this place Boulder Oaks. The name sadly is the best thing it has going for it now. The staff was friendly and helpful once you located the pro shop. The vibe there was more like visiting a liquor store. The carts have plenty of pep but lack a wind/rain shield! The tee boxes were okay to thin and shaggy with most being level. The fairways were in sad shape with all kinds of grasses, bare spots and rodent holes/mounds. The dirt traps were filled with just that dirt, grass , pebbles and rocks. The rough ranged from a few inches of clover to two feet of weeds! We found the greens to definitely be the highlight of the course, or maybe it was the carts? Anyway the greens were pretty firm and rolled quite slow. Most of the greens have break to them some quite a bit. This used to be such a nice challenging picturesque course to play. Sadly now I cannot recommend this place to anyone.

Quite possibly the worst golf experience in my entire life.
Avoid at all costs the new layout is horrendous and really really weird.
The whole course is gravel and crushed granite paths twisting amo... Continue »

Quite possibly the worst golf experience in my entire life.
Avoid at all costs the new layout is horrendous and really really weird.
The whole course is gravel and crushed granite paths twisting among old cart-paths and washed out landscaping. I really don't get what the redesign is trying to do??? Just 1000% bad.

Early morning 4 1/2 round on a marginal conditioned course. I have played this course for over thirty years from the Hidden Meadows and Meadow Lake times of yesteryear. This was my first time playin... Continue »

Early morning 4 1/2 round on a marginal conditioned course. I have played this course for over thirty years from the Hidden Meadows and Meadow Lake times of yesteryear. This was my first time playing the shortened new layout and not sure that I'm really a fan. The first few holes always seemed to slow down a round and did today. The tee boxes were in pretty good shape with a few being a little thin on coverage. They do have divot mix on the markers which is a great idea, especially when used by the golfers. The fairway conditions varied from thin to great depending on which hole you were playing. There is really no rough with the turf reduction - but plenty of bark and granite outside of that along all of the fairways. Many of the fairways were narrow before and seem to be narrower yet now. The traps were in sorry to okay condition with a couple having good sand and others being not more than mud puddles! The greens are definitely the best part of the course and all were in pretty good shape. You could see the greens had been plugged sometime ago but were very firm still and did not hold shots well at all. The greens are pretty flat with the exception of a couple that had some different elevations on them. The staff was great and the food in the remodeled bar/restaurant was fair at a fair price. The discounted green fees available make it worth a go - just keep it in the fairway!!

Played 12/12/17 2 pm $16.5 POP 3:10 Working down the street so I brought my clubs to work and stopped by on the way home. They changed the routing back to how it was originally. They've re-installed ... Continue »

Played 12/12/17 2 pm $16.5 POP 3:10 Working down the street so I brought my clubs to work and stopped by on the way home. They changed the routing back to how it was originally. They've re-installed a driving range. The first Tee is back to just above the practice green and left of the 18th. What had been the first hole is now the 12th and they moved it out of the old driving range area. Now it is where the old 13th used to Tee off from. A big dog leg left par 5. The conditions were decent. Some of the greens showed some damage and didn't look that great, but most looked good. Did not hold lines very well, but receptive and a good pace of medium. Fairway's were in pretty good shape with good coverage and mostly green and fairly lush. Thin spots mixed through out. Some traps were very poor others were in good shape. A fun course to spend some time on and if you get a good deal a good way to spend some outdoor time. $16 for 18 and a cart on a Tuesday afternoon?? Sign me up !!

Just spoke to the course and they told me they are punching greens on Monday October 9th

Just spoke to the course and they told me they are punching greens on Monday October 9th

Played a double feature on 7/4/17

On my first go around, I picked up a $17 hot deal on GolfNow. Paired up with Jeff and Maggie on one, then added Phil on the fifth. Played from the blues this round... Continue »

Played a double feature on 7/4/17

On my first go around, I picked up a $17 hot deal on GolfNow. Paired up with Jeff and Maggie on one, then added Phil on the fifth. Played from the blues this round on 4's and 5's but the blacks on the 3's. Paced about 4:30, a little slow but because the course was open and we were enjoying ourselves. My second trip was a replay/twilight rate and Phil joined for another 18. We played in 3:45 from the tips, really stretching the back nine. Do not be fooled by the short length of the blue tees, nearly every hole has some to moderate elevation change that will question your club selection. The geography apexes on the par-3 6th with an elevation drop that will take two full clubs of your tee shot.

For now, the greens are in great shape. They are true and smooth, rolling moderate-fast (stimp 10.5-11?) but have some ball mark damage on a few holes. The greens vary in difficulty with some nearly flat greens to quadruple tiered greens (number 3). Many greens have distinct sections requiring accuracy from 125 and in. If you're playing the blues, the long ball is almost unnecessary because of the shorter distance and target golf style. The flat stick is where you will save your strokes, so having spin control on your approach from the fairway is key to posting a low round. Playing tips? Better bring your straightest ball.

The fairways are in green and in great shape with minor thinning, probably due to the warmer, drier weather. If you hit the fairway, you will have a great lie. The striped fairways are a classy touch and increase the visual quality of the course. Props to the greenskeeper!

Thick, sticky, long, grab-your-hosel rough, and I love it! If the tiered greens challenge your short game, then the rough will multiply it. They have let it grow wild! Miss the fairway? Club decelerating rough lines the fairways and will grab your ball off the tee, which is helpful because rolling into the native areas can lead to lost shots.

The bunkers are the only disappointment on the course. Many bunkers had enough sand to splash the ball but several bunkers were nearly hardpan. My biggest grievance is, like the rough, I feel bunkers act as a non-penalty hazard for errant shots that hold your ball "in-play", preventing further penalty. A ball flying into these bunkers tends to skip out, often into the native area or lateral hazard/OB.

The renovation includes several tee box additions providing variety in distance and shot angle from each tee. They are flat, lush, and green with the usual damage for par-3's and short par 4's. If you want to make the game interesting, play a random tee box on each hole.

The course seems to improve with every round, and I am looking forward to the completed renovation.

6/21 using GSC $40 2some from the blacks--tees level with good cover some par 3s with the small boxes are pretty chewed up but most of the divots are filled. Bunkers are groomed but due to the wateri... Continue »

6/21 using GSC $40 2some from the blacks--tees level with good cover some par 3s with the small boxes are pretty chewed up but most of the divots are filled. Bunkers are groomed but due to the watering most are pretty wet by observation--managed to stay out today, thankfully.
Fairways somewhat mixed there is really good grass for the most part, tightly mowed green and lush--some patches of thin or bare which again did not come into play so I had good lies everywhere in the fairway--also quite a few unfilled divots--a shame really considering how much water and effort is being put into upgrading the conditions.
There is ROUGH thick and deep 2-4 inches along the fairways and around the greens--punitive and demanding--beyond the rough and often between the tee and the fairway is the decomposed granite--best advise ever--stay in the fairway!!
Greens have gotten really good much smoother firm but receptive medium to medium fast and fairly consistent--often more slope than I was able to determine so getting the speed and recognizing the subtle breaks at the hole kept me confused most of the day.
Friendly staff--golfer oriented--under 3 1/2 POP even with a couple of searches involved and the kindness of a 4some who waited after finishing #5 to let us through(that was the 1st time we had to wait while they were on the green-so they were very thoughtful)
Scenic layout with some nice vistas--generally a good variety of holes though many of the par 3s are about the same yardage 160-170 but pin placement can definitely factor into shot election.
This course has adventure written into it--somewhat off the beaten path--plays a lot harder than the yardage indicates and can be downright frustrating with the blind shots and the need to locate and hit your intended target if you can see it(as if that would help)--keep it in play =fun-- don't=anguish. Some good deals available so worth trying.