It was a real treat to play this course for the first time ever. I normally would not travel this far to play golf, but the invite was too good to pass up.
This is a real golf course! What I mea... Continue »

It was a real treat to play this course for the first time ever. I normally would not travel this far to play golf, but the invite was too good to pass up.
This is a real golf course! What I mean is, you had better be ready for some long tough holes. The views from some of the tee boxes are spectacular. The layout is fun, and not boring at all. Each hole was in it's own a different experience, from the way it looked from the tee, sometimes very intimidating, whether it be a slew of traps right in the center of your landing area, are a sea of lakes left and right, with wind that comes into play on a lot of the holes.
Overall the fairways were ample wide enough, but a good tee shot is necessary to even come close to getting home in regulation. The greens were very nice. The bent grass was very true and rolled quite good. The rough was not too penalizing, but enough to make you wish you had made a better shot.
I will play this course again. There were a few shots left out there that need to be redeemed! If I lived anywhere near this course I would play it frequently. Job well done to the staff at this course. A much appreciated golf outing.

All 18 holes are open now. My only complaint is that the greens weren't all that great, even considering they were just plugged. Other than that this was a fun course. Less water play than the Vinyar... Continue »

All 18 holes are open now. My only complaint is that the greens weren't all that great, even considering they were just plugged. Other than that this was a fun course. Less water play than the Vinyard course. The back nine had some cool challenges. Pace was quick and the round was fun!

I really enjoyed this "new" course. The layout was really nice and the course was in great condition. The greens were somewhat slow, but smooth. The weather was perfect with not too much wind and s... Continue »

I really enjoyed this "new" course. The layout was really nice and the course was in great condition. The greens were somewhat slow, but smooth. The weather was perfect with not too much wind and sun. My only "problem" is #13. It is a long par-4 with a very small landing area and a very hard second shot. There's water on both the left and right which makes it kind of a "Mickey Mouse" hole. However, this is very small complaint on a very nice course that I was pleasantly surprised about.

Thanks to Susan @ River Ridge for allowing a 4some of GKJrs to come out and sample a spicy new entree and to JohnnyGK, Cheeseburger & Thingstodo for a great afternoon..

First off, excellent change... Continue »

Thanks to Susan @ River Ridge for allowing a 4some of GKJrs to come out and sample a spicy new entree and to JohnnyGK, Cheeseburger & Thingstodo for a great afternoon..

First off, excellent changes to the 4 old Vineyard holes that were closed/renovated and are now part of this 18. #1 is now a much better hole wiyh a reconfigured fairway and additional fairway bunkers dowb the mniddle creating a split fairway. #2 the tees were moved left and a new green added behind the old green. For character, the contour of the old green is still visible for those that played the old hole. #17 is now a REAL par 3 playing over 200 yards from the back tees from a elevated tee rather than 140 yards from down in the valley. #18 is still a scoreable/reachable poar 5, but it's app. 15 yards longer and they appear to have added more traps down the dogfleg, but at least it's no longer OB right.

Having never played the other 14 holes, these were a treat. #14 is potentially one of the harder par 4's under 425 yards anywhere with OB left, & water right on your tee shot and water left & right on your 2nd shot, usually playing into the teeth of the wind.

Overall, an excellent layout with five par 5's and five par 3's. Three of the par 5's are not really birdie holes on a first impression even for longer hitters because of OB & water lurking all around just waiting to scribble in a 7/8 on your scorecard.

Sand traps were in exceptional shape, tees/fairways were lush & well maintained, the greens were nice overall even if a tad slow.
I rarely rate a course in this range but GREAT!!!! is the descriptive term I'd use.

Just got home from an afternoon round on the Lakes Course. Played with JohnnyGK, thingstodo and nickesquire1. Truly a memorable experience, and I sure don't mean the way I played. Bleeeacccch! :-P... Continue »

Just got home from an afternoon round on the Lakes Course. Played with JohnnyGK, thingstodo and nickesquire1. Truly a memorable experience, and I sure don't mean the way I played. Bleeeacccch! :-P

But the golf course itself: awesome. Really a special track, from the challenging layout, to the variety of holes, and the overall conditions from tee-to-green...simply OUTSTANDING! Tee-boxes were as good as any I've seen, anywhere. Fairways lush and green with a nice new growth of winter ryegrass takeing hold very nicely. The greens were receptive but firm, pretty fast downhill (you will score better if you stay below the hole!) and not all tricked-up. What you see is what you get. Oh...on #2 there is a bit of a false-front to the right side of the green...opposite the bunker. Don't get fooled. (Yeah...I did)

The par-fives are birdieable. The par-fours are honest ones. There is a pretty good variety to the par-threes.

All in all...certainly worth the drive. I'm in Pasadena, and I'll certainly be back!!

I played this course a few years ago when it was just the 9 holes and always thought once they put the back 9 in that it would be a really nice course.

Fast forward to yesterday (09/03/08) and boy ... Continue »

I played this course a few years ago when it was just the 9 holes and always thought once they put the back 9 in that it would be a really nice course.

Fast forward to yesterday (09/03/08) and boy was I impressed with what they have done. This far exceeded my expectations. What a course, with holes 2, 3, and 4 rivaling any course in Ventua County. Great job!

Played August 24rd [whites] and 31st [blues]. This course is definitely in my rotation and will quickly become a favorite of locals. Worth a drive to play- the weekend fees are very reasonable [we’ve ... Continue »

Played August 24rd [whites] and 31st [blues]. This course is definitely in my rotation and will quickly become a favorite of locals. Worth a drive to play- the weekend fees are very reasonable [we’ve heard rumors the rates will go up]. Played the course often enough when it was 2x9’s- even then we liked it. The new holes are imaginative and challenging- you must stay focused at the Lakes at every hole. Miss and a big score awaits. Objectively speaking, the course is a 6-7 in my book and far outstrips Vineyard because:
- All the fairways have the same Bermuda hybrid grass. Spongy and yield a great lie.
- All the greens are bent grass and give the grainy, speedy challenges bent grass does.
- The rough and sand are very consistent. Good use of fescue grass on certain holes.
I try to throw a few tips up but to reiterate: hats off to River Ridge for designing some really creative holes. You will not get a break until #10- the only really ‘easy’ holes are that + #15.
#’s 12 and 13 are a genuine ‘Amen Corner’ and turn what used to be the ‘easy’ #1/10 at the old 9 into a difficult hole. All holes up on ‘Methane Mtn’ are terrific, and of course once the wind is up the Lakes become a completely different course.
As reference, for quality of play, especially from the tips, the Lakes are tougher and less forgiving than Olivas. VC golfers have it made: between River Ridge, Olivas, BV, and Mtn View we don’t have to drive very far to find 5 courses that offer completely different style layouts for very reasonable cost.

Played today, Aug. 26, as a last hoorah for the summer and loved the new course. The design team did a great job with the course. The ocean breeze created a challenge but it was still playing fair. gr... Continue »

Played today, Aug. 26, as a last hoorah for the summer and loved the new course. The design team did a great job with the course. The ocean breeze created a challenge but it was still playing fair. greens were in great shape and ran very true. Customer service was great and the marshalls were everywhere making sure we enjoyed our round. Would definitely recommend and will definitely be back. Maybe for 36 in a day?