We played there 11/7/2017. This was formerly a great track. It was in terrible condition. The putting green had bare spots, but worse was the shaggy condition. There were places throughout the course ... Continue »

We played there 11/7/2017. This was formerly a great track. It was in terrible condition. The putting green had bare spots, but worse was the shaggy condition. There were places throughout the course where rye grass seed had been scattered but not covered. Obviously it will not germinate. A sad failing and a course not worth playing.

Played 10 October 2017. Greens and tee boxes were good. However fairways, aprons and rough were very bad....very hard, lacked grass or some area's were muddy. I've always liked this course, but will n... Continue »

Played 10 October 2017. Greens and tee boxes were good. However fairways, aprons and rough were very bad....very hard, lacked grass or some area's were muddy. I've always liked this course, but will not return.

Played yesterday, 10-2-17, taking advantage of the birthday deal, which is only a $20 cart fee. The offer is good up to a week before or after your birthday. The gentleman in the pro shop was very fri... Continue »

Played yesterday, 10-2-17, taking advantage of the birthday deal, which is only a $20 cart fee. The offer is good up to a week before or after your birthday. The gentleman in the pro shop was very friendly and gave me some range balls too. The range, unfortunately, was in the worst shape I’ve seen it. There were only 7 stalls open with very little grass from which to hit. I had a 9:40am tee time, was paired with two very nice ladies and we started right on time.

There are separate fleets of carts for members and the general public. Member carts have coolers and club/ball washers. The public’s carts have only the coolers. There are no ball washers on the course so I ended up wetting my towel in the cooler for cleaning.

The course conditions were pretty good. The fairways were equal parts brown and green, but full, cushioned coverage throughout. The greens were smooth and fast with fewer ball marks than I’d expect with how soft they were. The bunkers that I was in all had nice sand but a couple of them were very wet. The forward tee boxes were ok, some level, some not, but not too many divots.

This course is a lot of fun. There is so much variety of holes with doglegs, big elevation changes and a super fun par 3 with a bunker in the middle of the green. My one goal this round was to not let #9 beat me up. It did, just not as painfully as last time.
The front nine moved very quickly but the back was jammed up so we waited a lot. Still, we finished in just under 4 hours. I very much enjoy this course and definitely recommend it.

This was the first time back here in a few years. The staff is very friendly and helpful and the facility is nice. Usually I don't visit the driving range, but today we did - nothing to get very exc... Continue »

This was the first time back here in a few years. The staff is very friendly and helpful and the facility is nice. Usually I don't visit the driving range, but today we did - nothing to get very excited about for a course that was once private. The layout on the front nine is somewhat confusing with no flow to the design? The tees were in fairly good shape but a few were a little shaggy and beat up. The fairways were passable for the most part with many thin dry spots that would provide good roll if the ball stayed on them. The rough was a mix of grasses - thin in spots and thicker on other holes. The traps looked to be hard packed, but were actually pretty soft and were well groomed. Most of the greens were covered with ball marks in need of repair! Lazy inconsiderate golfers!! The greens held shots well, but most were somewhat bumpy and had varying speeds throughout the round. The views and scenery in and around this course are great. The rack rates are maybe a little high for the conditions the course are in right now. I really enjoy the course just wish the conditions were a step above.

Played the Golf Club of California Friday 8/12/2017 on GK Guru outing. Arrived at 10:15am for an 11:30am tee time. Applied sun screen on a beautiful sunny 84 degree afternoon. Checked in at the pro sh... Continue »

Played the Golf Club of California Friday 8/12/2017 on GK Guru outing. Arrived at 10:15am for an 11:30am tee time. Applied sun screen on a beautiful sunny 84 degree afternoon. Checked in at the pro shop, very welcoming, picked up my cart key, range ball number, and was given a copy of the guide book. The guide book, essentially a yardage book with playing tips for each hole, it was very helpful. The Golf Club of California was originally built as a member’s only club and it shows in the elegant design of the club house, pro shop and cozy parking lot. In addition to members guests, the club now allows a limited number of non-member players the opportunity to enjoy this visually appealing layout. The carts for the visiting golfer are very basic; they are equipped with ice chests which were pre-filled with ice. The carts are not equipped with GPS or ball washers. Member carts feature great seating, trash container, ice chests, ball washers. This is apparently why there is no ball washers on the course, and few trash cans. The driving range is out near the entrance to the club on the way from the second to the third hole. The range features grass hitting areas that were a little drier and sandier than the tee boxes I found on the course. However the grass in the range has dried out much like some areas of the course, and provided a good feel for roll-out. The practice green is next to the starter for the first tee, and at first I was surprised to see the surface of the practice green with some burned out, and dry areas. The green features a number of contours, levels, and are ringed by deep rough on undulating hills very representative of what you will find around the greens. Despite featuring dry spots and brown patches, the greens roll true and quick. The starter and I talked for a while well I waited to see if any other Guru’s would join me. Wonderful guy, so much so that I teed off 10 minutes late going off at 11:40, as a single following a threesome that had tee’s off at 11:10. Course was very quiet although I was told there would be a large group arriving at 2pm and the course would be full. Having been struggling with my game as I learn the distances of my new clubs out of different lies I chose to play the white tee’s. From the whites the course plays 6082 (6256 adjusted) vs. 6502 yards (6668 adjusted) from the blues. Built on a hillside and canyon complex the course features numerous elevation changes, often from a high tee box, to a low sloping fairways back to an elevated green, often with a false front, tiered surface, at times into gusting winds. Tee boxes were lush, level, but appear to have been recently aerated, which was noticeable only when placing my tee into the ground. There was very little divot damage. Many of the tees feature narrow chutes that have to be negotiated, well carrying waste areas. OB in some directions and protected wild life areas in others. There are numerous fairway bunkers looking to gobble up errant drives. I found my laser range finder invaluable off the tee. The view of the surrounding hillsides, orchards, and vineyards from the 7th tee are beautiful. Fairways were a mixture of various hues of brown and gold grass, almost as they were reflecting the adjacent hill sides, along with deep green. The greens crew was active around the course spot watering and hand trimming. They were very good at making way for me as I played. Well I was not told of any cart restrictions on the fairways, entry and exit areas were well marked and large sections roped off to minimize impact of carts on the fairways. I had cart access in every area where my ball was so this was not an issue. The fairways were dry leading to better than average rollout on shots, and I took advantage to scare several bunkers I thought were out of range. The golfer has to account for clubbing up or down for slope, as well as run out from the dry fairways. The exception was hole 6 which featured a very swampy section of fairway. As noted earlier many fairways slope from one direction to the other. Trees and terrain make the second shot from a misplaced tee shot even in the fairway difficult. This is where the tips in the guide book are very helpful. [The guide book is free, ask for one]. The fairway on #9 is a perfect example of the complexities of the course. The tee faces an area out of bounds in range to most golfers off the tee, turning right the fairway narrows, and then widens. For a second shot to the hole, the ball needs to be dead center between 100 and 150 out. There is a small narrow corridor between very tall trees right and left that guard the green. The hole is on an elevated green which requires an extra club, shots hit short will roll off the green down to the valley requiring as much as 35 yard pitch up hill. Shots that aren’t in line with the opening will be blind, and need to be highly elevated, low shots will disappear in the trees and bramble. Fairway bunkers play a big role on this course, and vary in design from flat with low lips that offer a chance to recover, to deep bunkers with steep faces, blocked by trees or hill from advancing the ball, or that require a wedge to get out of. Sand was firm, good quality, well raked, and very playable. Rough. The first cut was of rough was very uniform, I would estimate 1 inch, and lush, green frequently even where the fairway was not. The second cut was far deeper, and invariably growing against me whenever I was there especially if downhill. Greenside bunkers were dry, fluffy, frequently steep faces filled with quality sand. Overall prior golfers had left the bunkers well raked. Greenside bunkers are the courses second layer of defense after the unusual angles and narrowness of the greens with some pin placements. The exception is the par 3 seventh hole which after greeting the golfer with a beautiful hill top view give him/her a steep downhill shot into a green protected with a tree and brush lined hill immediately behind, and a large pot bunker dead in the middle of the green. Pucker factor is high on this one if the wind is blowing. Greens look like they are struggling, however they are playing pure and true. Roll is excellent. The greens feature irregular shapes, narrow constrictions, tiers, false fronts, and edges that will send a ball into the rough. For my round there were a number of forward or tucked flag locations that made going for the flag or slightly past necessary to have a chance to putt out. The greens on the front nine played fast, the back nine was medium fast. As has been noted by other reviews at different courses there seems to be a dearth of green care by our fellow golfers. The 5th hole and 16th seemed to have suffered a little more than the rest. It’s a shame that anyone would treat a course in this way. Pace of play was right around 4.5 hours. I caught the threesome I was playing behind by the 8th hole; they were playing behind a foursome. I ended up joining them on the 12th hole, as I was being chased by twosome behind me from the 10th hole on. Well I had waited to tee off on several holes; I never felt the pace was slow. This may have been a factor of the heat, that required pacing myself. Amenities - The club house features a water and ice dispenser, with large Styrofoam cups for the golfer before heading out. The on course comfort stations were well placed, clean and featured drinking fountains. I saw one drink jug with cups. The beverage cart came by three times during my round, each time personally stopping to see if there was anything I wanted, very pleasant, very course aware. The snack bar (Grill) is available at the turn as would be expected. I chose to have a hot dog. My server was very nice. Price was $6 for a dog and chips. The Dog was OK; I typically take onions and relish. There was no onion available. As my round concluded the starter who was now preparing to go out and play inquired about my round, again really enjoyed talking with him. As is common for a private club, there were attendants at the conclusion of play to clean your clubs and take your bag if you wanted. This is a truly fun course to play, and everyone I encountered was gracious. Despite the drive from Mission Viejo, I love playing this course. Given a choice between the three San Diego area courses I have played recently this would be my first choice, nestled in a residential area there is very little highway noise, little aircraft noise, though there was the occasional music emanating from the homes surrounding the course. I played 3 and 4 to a praise and worship song, 11 and 12 to soft jazz, 17 and 18 to an instrumental version of Sounds of Silence. Fortunately there are often coupons in the GK Store for this course. Look forward to bring my best friend out here play. I very much hope you will give it a chance as well.

Taking advantage of Senior Wednesday special. Although I had just played here last month, since I enjoy this course so much and the staff is always so fantastic and accommodating, decided to return.... Continue »

Taking advantage of Senior Wednesday special. Although I had just played here last month, since I enjoy this course so much and the staff is always so fantastic and accommodating, decided to return.

Not much change over the past month. The first green appears to have made improvement. Some thin areas in some fairways, but still plenty of coverage. Overall the course is in nice shape and a pleasure to play. I wish all golf courses were run as efficiently as this course

Played today @ 8:20am as 5some and finished in 4 hrs. No one in front all day and 2some behine us waited on few approach but I guess they were ok with the pace as they never pushed. First time playi... Continue »

Played today @ 8:20am as 5some and finished in 4 hrs. No one in front all day and 2some behine us waited on few approach but I guess they were ok with the pace as they never pushed. First time playing here and really liked it, especially the back 9. Other than the already mentioned #1 green, all greens were very receptive, rolled nice at about medium speed. Fairways had mostly good coverage but I wouldn't call it lush and the rough were pretty spotty. Overall I get the sense that they are using water wisely and definitely not overwatering the rough areas. Found many greenside bunkers today and they all had good sand but mostly wet from morning dew.
Overall impression is similar to the Santa Barbara area course which are secluded but somewhat on the brownish green side.
Will definitely play again, recommended.

One of my favorite courses to play, for a number of reasons. The course just seems to "fit my eye" I find the holes to be interesting and provide enough of a challenge to test my skills. (Except for ... Continue »

One of my favorite courses to play, for a number of reasons. The course just seems to "fit my eye" I find the holes to be interesting and provide enough of a challenge to test my skills. (Except for # 6, which I simply can not figure out how to play. It seems to play a ton longer than the listed yardage??. I have yet to hit this green in regulation?) There are nice visuals, birdie holes, good mix of holes and variety of shots required to play here.

Course is in overall very good condition. Greens are very nice, except for #1, which they are working on. Greenside bunkers had lots of well groomed sand. (I was in a lot of bunkers today and they were all good) Staff is fantastic, always accommodating. They allowed me to get off first and I was finished by 8:15. Beat the heat !

If I lived closer, I'd play a lot more often

6/5 using groupon $80 2some after 20% discount(range balls included) smooth easy check in warmed up and off right on time at 840 on an overcast but comfortable am--following asome with just occasiona... Continue »

6/5 using groupon $80 2some after 20% discount(range balls included) smooth easy check in warmed up and off right on time at 840 on an overcast but comfortable am--following asome with just occasional waiting for a POP of 415.
Tees level and in good shape. All 6 of the greenside bunkers I encountered were freshly groomed having deep generally heavy sand which should have been quite playable if I could handle the longish bunker shot.
Fairways were lush closely mowed firm yet having really good cushion--the rye has died off allowing the bemuda to really flourish providing excellent lies. Rough is cut to about 1-2 inches and playable. Some longer/juicier areas around the greens.
Greens were firm but receptive did not appear to have been mowed today as evidenced by the poa "bloom"--none the less they rolled smoothly at medium speed becoming quicker as the day progressed.
Tranquil scenic serene setting that has a well maintained golf course with a good variety of challenging holes--#5 par 3 with the hidden green(assured by staff after the round that the crew was tasked with cutting the reeds this very day)--#6 a long grinding UP hill par5--#7 par 3 with sand trap in the middle and today pin in the back right--just to name a few.
Good course for the value especially if you can get a deal for $50 or below. Bring a GPS or range finder--the 150 is consistently marked but other distances are often hard to locate.