Rode the Blues this morning 12/21/2020 teeing off right at 10am and finishing right at 1pm for 3 hr POP. Wanted to thank Dan in the proshop and Ojai Valley Inn staff for getting me out and teeing me o... Continue »

Rode the Blues this morning 12/21/2020 teeing off right at 10am and finishing right at 1pm for 3 hr POP. Wanted to thank Dan in the proshop and Ojai Valley Inn staff for getting me out and teeing me off on the front nine(it was a back nine start today). I was waived through by a 4some on hole 13 and only had minor waiting the entire day. Weather was around 80 degrees with blue skies and no wind. Layout: Very cool knowing that you are hitting tee shots that Palmer, Floyd, Hogan, Trevino and some of the greats hit as this gem used to be a Champions tour stop and also hosted a match with Harry Vardon a long while ago. Place has a lot of history. The front nine has some tighter dog leg holes that I love and the back is somewhat more open. Up and down some hills with some great elevation changes where you get some great hang time on drives on 5, 10 and 13. Would never get bored playing this layout. Only negative is the back tee box on 18 is still closed so its a pretty straight forward drive rather than an awesome dog leg left. Greens: Wanted to start with the greens since 3 months or so ago they had issues with the greens. I am glad to report that there are no temporary greens and also glad to report that they were the highlight of the course! Rolling firm and nice and holding irons very nicely. Some of the greens had a minor top dressing that did not effect putts at all. I'm a stickler for nice greens and I am rating these a solid 8 out of 10. Fairways: Would call them semi-lush rated around a 7/10. Never had a bad lie. Not as green visually as some summer rounds out here but in good shape. Seems like the back nine fairways contained a little more lushness and overall grass. Tees: Mostly level and lush with just minor divot damage on the 3 par's. Rated 7/10 Bunkers: Was in greenside bunker on hole 5, 7 and 18 and all contained beautiful amount of sand easy to splash out of. No rakes in the bunkers. Rough: Rough was drier and thinner and played decent. Not long so just off the fairways lies were thinner but easy to hit out of. The usual summer kikuyu around the greens were still grabby but thinner. Rated 6.5/10 Would highly recommend a round out here for the quality of the greens, layout and peace and quiet. I will for sure be coming back for some more rounds out here.

Played in the 2-day SCGA Super Senior Championship at Ojai Valley Inn GC on Tues-Wed, 9/15-16/2020, teeing off before 8am both days and playing in warm, clear weather with little wind. This was my fir... Continue »

Played in the 2-day SCGA Super Senior Championship at Ojai Valley Inn GC on Tues-Wed, 9/15-16/2020, teeing off before 8am both days and playing in warm, clear weather with little wind. This was my first time playing at OVI and I was surprised by the amount of slope on the course, both on many individual holes and across the course, especially the western part of the course, where it looks like they built some the holes on the edge of a cliff! Repeated plays are definitely needed here to know the correct angles onto these fairways and into these smallish greens. Much of the lower course is surrounded by wild areas and we saw numerous deer and hawks during the rounds. We knew ahead of time that OVI had been having problems with their greens. Many of the greens showed repair efforts with replaced turf patches, and two holes (6 and 8) had small, temporary greens that were used during the competition while the main greens were being completely rebuilt. The temporary green on #6 was actually in better condition than most greens on the course, but was a small circle on a flat area in front of the main green. The temporary green on #8 was a real challenge, as there was almost no room for the course to work with in front of the original green in a narrow slot between the creekbed and a bordering cliff face. The temporary oval green was wedged into the narrowest area between the cart path on the right and the hazard on the left, and the poorer-quality temporary turf sloped quickly toward the hazard. Playing at less than 100 yards, this hole wound up being the 7th most difficult hole to par. Aside from the temporary greens, most of the greens showed visible damaged areas and there were many scattered bare spots. SCGA marked many of these as GUR and line-of-sight relief was allowed on the green. Players also had the option to take LOS relief from unmarked but damaged areas by playing a second ball, with validity to be determined later by SCGA. These greens are fairly small and the majority don’t have significant slopes or tiers – only a few holes have distinct tiering, with the par-5 #9 being the most obvious. Unaffected areas of the greens generally held shots and rolled pretty well at medium+ speeds, with alignment with the valley a prime determiner on speed and break. Fairway lies were generally good, although the all-kikuyu turf was often very pillowy. Rough along the fairways and in the upper plateau of the course had been allowed to grow and was damp and juicy. In the lower half of the course fairway lies could be thinner, tighter and drier, and so could the rough. Lower areas have tough angles that require multiple plays to fully be comfortable with, and there are many staked penalty areas to avoid and where offline shots can settle. Tees ranged in size but were mostly level and you had no problem finding a good spot. The tee area used on the par-3 #14 was a little mushy, with the kikuyu needing a tighter cut. Sand traps were uniformly maintained – we played lift and drop within 1 clublength due to the COVID restrictions in place (no rakes). Bunker sand was uniformly slightly damp and fairly thin over a packed, wet base. COVID restrictions in place with masks, self-serve bag drop, etc. We were each given our own cart with a Shark Experience GPS (essential for us first-timers!) that gives distance to the middle of the green. The facility is challenged with larger groups (we had 78 players going off on two tees with tee times 10 minutes apart) due to the very small area available in front of the shop/club storage (which is also a thru-road for staff and guests!), a small grass range with only 12 hitting areas, and a small combo chipping/putting green with about 8-10 flagsticks. Two other putting greens near the 10th tee had damage like the on-course greens and were closed. The range and putting green were well below the shop and were a long up/down hike for sore knees. Those darn seniors hit the ball a long way and I was generally the shortest guy in each of my foursomes. The wet kikuyu really restricts rollout here and there are several longer par-4s where you need a solid, longer drive to get in position to go to these smaller, raised greens. This quirky course is challenging and I think I’d score better after initial exposure and if I was hitting the ball better. With the small, fairly flat greens I did manage to make more putts in the 5-15 foot range over the 2 days than I usually expect to make – that saved my scores from being really atrocious! Recommended, but be aware of green conditions.

Played here today (7/31) on a blistering 100 degree day with some of my partner's family. I was told right away by a member of the group that they checked GK and knew the front 9 greens would be tragi... Continue »

Played here today (7/31) on a blistering 100 degree day with some of my partner's family. I was told right away by a member of the group that they checked GK and knew the front 9 greens would be tragic (they absolutely were), but honestly they probably should have just shut down the front 9. Even with adequate pin placement, almost every hole on the front made you putt through what was described as "turf repair" but looked like a soccer pitch after a FIFA match; intermittent sod installed on certain greens, turf so chewed up a ball actually popped up 3 inches in the air after a quick putt, awful to the nth degree. What makes it worse is that they had the gall to charge full price (and people were actually okay paying it as the tee sheet was packed). Just not a good outing and a course that needs to take some serious time and TLC to get the greens back.

Tee boxes: Decent but nothing special. Plenty of boxes (blue tees) were slightly unlevel, enough to notice.

Fairways: Amazingly, they were fine compared to just about everything else. Good turf conditions, nice green color, decent roll. All you need.

Rough: Penal at times but nothing near Torrey-level. The waste/natural areas are far more penal, however you don't want to end up on either side of the fairway.

Bunkers: Decent to good shape. Sand here is mostly brown colored dirt-like sand, thankfully there was enough of it to try and get out of most bunkers.

Greens: See rant above. At least the back 9 had some (not all) decent greens that ran well but were nowhere near great.

ETC: Good power carts with Shark Experience. Facilities were mostly open (including pro shop) all with good COVID-19 precautions. Pace of play was 4.25 hours but we waited on every single shot as people were out hacking in the heat and the domino effect got everyone. As mentioned, best to wait perhaps another 3-5 weeks until the greens are decent before shelling out the money Ojai is charging.

I've been wanting to play the two Ojai courses for years now, and finally got the chance to scratch one itch this past weekend by visiting the fantastic Ojai Valley Inn course on Saturday. I got a dea... Continue »

I've been wanting to play the two Ojai courses for years now, and finally got the chance to scratch one itch this past weekend by visiting the fantastic Ojai Valley Inn course on Saturday. I got a deal through GolfMoose which was easy to set up and no problem at check-in.

I was paired with another single for our 8am tee time playing from the Blues. I'm happy to report that playing partner just signed up for GK and wrote his first review on this same course just now - great playing with you Sean! Neither of us had played here before but we had both watched some of the great videos the course put together to learn more about the layout and strategies to play each hole. And if you've never been here before, they definitely come in handy!

The front nine at OVI is quite varied terrain with lots of blind shots and a real premium on accuracy and correct distances to put yourself in any decent position for your approach shots. The par 3s are tight and super target-oriented, while the longer holes have designated landing areas and some barrancas to clear on some of them either at the tee or on approach.

The back nine is a much more traditional layout with some elevations, but it's much more forgiving than the front nine and gives you a chance to catch your breath ahead of the stunning 16th and 17th holes before a nice closing hole on 18 - if it wasn't shortened for an event that particular day. But as Sean wrote in his review - the par 3 16th is one of the most dramatic and beautiful tee shots you'll ever play, and it was an awesome feeling making par there.

In terms of course conditions in this rustic setting, it was far better than anticipated. The greens were absolutely spectacular. They rolled fast and true and held shots well. Nothing too gimmicky about them at all, which also holds true for the course layout, which was a concern pre-round. No, it's just a classic design that lets you feel the history as you move through the canyons and across the bridges and check out all the grandeur of the surrounding mountains. It's really a stunner.

Fairways were in very good shape with only the limited amount of thin areas. The rough was pretty significant but did not wreak too much havoc with shots played out of it. Tee boxes were mostly in good shape with some wear and tear, and I was in around six or seven bunkers but never had any issues getting out of the sand. It was not the white, fluffy stuff, but perfectly playable and suited to this course's more rustic style.

Staff was incredibly helpful and on top of things. There is a significant distance between where you park and the starter/golf shop, but they will come pick you up when you park and shuttle you back. The range is also pretty easy to navigate and is ample for your needs. They do give you a bag of balls with your greens fee to warm up.

So what else is there to say? I love this place and really can't wait to get back up here and play another round with more course knowledge and hopefully a not-so-sore back this time around. Ojai Valley Inn is a destination course without a doubt and a true treat to play.

First time up there. Played 36 holes, which ended up being 42 holes (more later) via underpar promo. Tee'd off at 8 am for first round. Walked the course for first 18. Not a bad walk but not easy. T... Continue »

First time up there. Played 36 holes, which ended up being 42 holes (more later) via underpar promo. Tee'd off at 8 am for first round. Walked the course for first 18. Not a bad walk but not easy. There are a ton of hills off the bat. Levels out but if you aren't typically a walker or in decent shape, it could be a pain. Makes for a really good workout. Played 18 in 3:30 +/-, though it was a twosome. Course was in perfect shape. Lot's of slopes. Greens rolled pure, were soft and fast. Not target golf but the first 9 has several blind tee shots, so know where you are going. The hotel / golf course website has flyovers of every hole. Worth watching before hand. Lots of false fronts. Greenskeeper must have had a bad night as the pins were all flirting with that front. Saw several putts roll back down into the fairway all day long. After lunch 2nd round started on the 13th hole as the course was a little jammed up later in the day. Still not bad. Ended up playing 13th-18th twice on the second round. Played as 4 singles with 4 carts, which was a first for me but an extremely fun and fast experience. Staff was friendly and excellent. Entire property and Hotel is beautiful. Burger at bar was great for lunch. I've played LACC North several times and you get that same historic George C Thomas feeling. Some absolutely incredible views. The par 3 16th is one of the most beautiful holes I have ever seen. Elevated tee. 10 bunkers in the front. If you go left right or long, you're OB. Mountains in the back. Only issue with course is the 18th hole. Originally back tees were next to the 17th green. You's hit over a barranca to a dog leg left. However a new private event wedding venue was recently built on the right/ long side of the fairway and the venue was pelted with balls. They reconfigured it had the tee's back so you wouldn't hit at the venue, but as mentioned was on the right side of fairway. So slicers were still hitting the venue. To combat this they moved the tees way up. Makes for a anticlimactic 18th. Plays as a 300 yard Par 4 with a valley in the middle. If you are a bomber you can easily drive the green. Spoke to staff about it. They recently had an architect out there to begin the process of redesigning it. WAG's from Staff include plans to reroute hole, make it longer in a different direction, perhaps fill the valley with a hazard. Time will tell. All in all was a great experience. Will be back to play soon.

Played here yesterday (2/1) on a warm but beautiful start to February as part of the Gold Coast Golf Association non-tournament outing. Garth, the club president, was able to reserve a slot of primer ... Continue »

Played here yesterday (2/1) on a warm but beautiful start to February as part of the Gold Coast Golf Association non-tournament outing. Garth, the club president, was able to reserve a slot of primer tee times for a very reasonable and discounted price and we were able to get around in a shade over 4 hours, making for a very enjoyable round. Third time playing here and I am starting to really enjoy the short, but fun layout. Conditions were great and I highly recommend anyone who hasn't been here to come on out. Tee boxes: Perhaps the weakest part of the conditions today, however they were still more than manageable. It was really a handful of tees were chewed up, but I believe that to be due to so many people playing the tips here. Fairways: Excellent condition with no bad lies for me. The grass was cut nice enough to both allow the ball to sit up on occasion, and get a good amount of roll (especially as the day progressed and temps soared). Rough: There were areas (#7 greenside) that were as bad as Torrey with same grass type and length. My partner spent countless minutes looking for errant shots and I could see why. The other native areas are just as bad, but the traditional rough killed today. Bunkers: Was only in one but I was able to get out okay so that tells me there was enough sand. The sand here is very fine but not the pearly white fluff in every bunker. Finely manicured and plenty of rakes. Greens: Devilishly fast. Putts were hard to sink all day as the greens were rolled to mirror the felt on a pool table. Many breaks were impossible to read and even with smaller greens, they were challenging. Few visible divots added to the enjoyment. ETC: Staff here is always friendly from valets to all the workers you see being shuttled back and forth. Layout as mentioned is short but don't let that fool you. The areas around the 10th and 13th tee boxes are beautiful with guests walking the grounds and serving as an audience surrounded by large trees and fire pits around. The ONLY real sad part of the day is that the 18th hole has again been shorted to less than 300 yards after the main back tees have permanently been shut down and the what was the old white tee boxes abandoned with the renovation/greater use of the farmhouse for events (it did/does get peppered regularly by errant drives) but it really makes for a sad ending as it turns the hole from a crafty two shot-er to a benign little driveable par 4 with almost no challenge. Still recommend!

Doris and play with friends from LA Golf Singles where we meet and play twice a year. Parking is difficult as the lot is hundreds of yards from the clubhouse. A shuttle will be by if you’re patient bu... Continue »

Doris and play with friends from LA Golf Singles where we meet and play twice a year. Parking is difficult as the lot is hundreds of yards from the clubhouse. A shuttle will be by if you’re patient but they encourage their “stay and play.” We did enjoy the day with old friends and a great dinner.

Played here 10/20 with my girlfriend's father on a GolfNow Hot Deal for ~$75 on what was originally a 12:50PM tee time. There was lots to unpack from this round which I will save for my ETC section. T... Continue »

Played here 10/20 with my girlfriend's father on a GolfNow Hot Deal for ~$75 on what was originally a 12:50PM tee time. There was lots to unpack from this round which I will save for my ETC section. The review of the actual course is as follows: Tee boxes: The weakest part of the course today and that's really not saying much as they were fairly playable, sans a couple of holes that were more than beat up. I imagine with this course being so short that the blue tee boxes get a massive amount of play and the latter tee times will always suffer. Outside of those that were mangled a bit, the rest had enough land to try and find good footing. Fairways: Good shape. They were still green and had good coverage. I didn't find a single bad lie all day and the carts had a good amount of mix available so golfers must have been on it today. Roll was also more than fair since we played on a day where the sun baked the fairway turf quite a bit. Rough: Pretty penal on certain holes. It was never Torrey length, but it had teeth. The natural landscape of the land certainly was more penal than the rough but you still had to be careful no to spray your drives. Bunkers: Was in a handful today and they had enough sand (not pear white nor beach sand, something in between). People seemed to rake up and leave them in good shape, which would mean my bad sand play today was all on me. Greens: The highlight of the round. They were green, fast, and had some tricky breaks to them. I distinctly remember the breaks on hole 8 really got me even when they didn't look at all complicated. A few ball marks left unrepaired by those ahead of us, but what can you do other than fix them. ETC: Showed up to the course around 12:05PM and decided to skip the valet this time. This property (resort) really isn't set up for this so keep this in mind, as spots in the lot for non-valet are very limited. We also walked our clubs over to the golf shop as no carts stopped to offer us a ride, they seemed far more interested in shuttling employees (rightfully so) and other guests to/from. It's a haul if you aren't ready for it so also prepare for this. Once at the starter, around 12:20 he allowed us to tee off immediately, giving the impression the course was wide open, but this was far from true. In fact, the course was nothing but twosomes so I think the starter sent out anyone who showed up and said "go." Although the round was roughly 4.5 hours, it felt endless and we literally waited on every hole and nearly every shot. This made rhythm something hard to obtain. The cart attendant also never came around to our group. I'm not kidding when I say she looked over at us from the next hole and went around us! Layout is fun but also being so short, sets up for lots of holes with forced waits so be prepared for that. Overall, it is still a wonderful setting for golf and any price under $80 warrants a visit.

Took the hour drive from SCV to Ojai yesterday afternoon. Rode the blues with my soon to be pro 13 year old soon, however yesterday was not his day as the golf gods don’t like when you pout. There are... Continue »

Took the hour drive from SCV to Ojai yesterday afternoon. Rode the blues with my soon to be pro 13 year old soon, however yesterday was not his day as the golf gods don’t like when you pout. There are a lot of birdies out there if you can let the double go. If you can’t they will enjoy watching you suffer. On to the course.......

The course is in almost perfect condition. Greens have healed from recent aeration. They were rolling true, medium fast. Close to the best of the year. Bunkers were also close to perfection. So good I was dropping balls in them to practice due to the fact that no one was around and the junior pro was in the cart pouting lol. Fairways were lush as usual, however they are my favorite kykui and that’s a weed so it doesn’t take much. The only flaw was the tee boxes, a couple needed a trim. Tee boxes here are hit and miss, some fluffy, unlevel kykui, others flat grass. Customer service is always fantastic. Playing here is like being transported back in time where everything slows down. Worth the drive from SCV. GolfNow offers the hot deals which can’t be beat and the $10 replay is a no brainer. Carts have the shark experience which is great if you have a pouty partner. I highly recommend it.