zack12454

Booked during WM Phoenix Open tournament week, best available was 1:40 pm start. Fantastic layout, course was in great shape, got there at noon to enjoy a nice lunch in the Grill. Staff was friendly and helpful. Afterwards headed to the range. Practice area was small and very busy- that was a warning sign. Starter got us off on time, but except for a cart girl, that’s the only staff we saw until dark. Play was very, very slow and we only finished 16 holes. A disapoijtng end to a very nice day.

Now I know why there were prime tee times on WMPO Friday when all other courses were booked. To be fair, the layout is challenging; it's a hilly golf course with plenty of water and sand traps to test your skills. The fairways and greens are in good shape and there is a lot of contours to take into consideration when reading putts. On the negative side the sand traps are dirt and in bad shape. The rough is mostly rock filled waste areas that will chew up your club if you try to hit from them (we played a free drop to any close patch of grass). Also, for some reason, there is standing water/ mud everywhere - not sure why you would want to water desert. The one cart staffer we encountered was a clueless millennial more content to listen to music on his headphones than to be of any help to us players. Not a lasting impression to be left with. Will avoid this course in the future.

Doesn't look like much from the highway, build on a landfill, but this muni surprised me with its fun course layout and tremendously undulating and challenging greens. Tees and greens were in excellent shape, fairways were a little thin and the rough was hibernating - expect this to be more lush come springtime. Trees lining most fairways and always trouble if your go left or right. Great value for the money. Not much on amenities, so don't expect a country club atmosphere. Gas golf carts sounds like Disney Autopia circa 1965.

OK, let me start out this review with a couple of prefacing remarks. 1) I played La Quinta - Dunes the day before, so I am comparing the Marriott with this spectacular Pete Dye designed track. 2) I putted very, very poorly at the Marriott, so maybe it’s just me and not the course. Having said that:

Played the Palms course and found it to be long, relatively flat, and more wide open than I thought with lots and lots of water everywhere. Where there weren’t water hazards there were traps. The course winds through the condos on the property so you’re getting people watching you from their balconies. Big thumbs up for the cart on-board GPS system, which helped identify sand and water hidden from tee box and fairway view and kept me from getting lost among the buildings. Gotta hit the ball straight to score well here, but most fairways are forgiving if you miss the first cut. Water, sand, or both protect all the par-3s. Fairways were in OK shape, second cut rough was long and foreboding (probably from having too many balls go into a patio), but my real gripe is about the greens. They had been punched recently and were heavily sanded. Multiple levels on almost all the greens make it hard enough but the sand and the punched holes really affected the ball. Now I know why the deal on Golf Now was $39 with cart, but someone somewhere should have mentioned that the greens were messed up. Nothing on the website, nothing mentioned in the pro shop at check in, nothing mentioned at the starter before the round. No sign anywhere, nada, nothing. Somehow I think that’s wrong and with all the choices to play in the desert area, I really wish I knew about that before getting onto the first tee. Anyway, that aside, if the greens were in better shape, it would have been a great value for the money. As it was, it was a fun day on a reasonably challenging layout, punctuated by crummy putting greens.

Really enjoyed playing this golf course. Staff was friendly, practice areas were good, facilities were top notch and even better if you are a member. Saw the on-course cart girl drive by us four times in 18 holes, which is nice especially on a weekday. Greens are amazingly fast an in great shape. Rough is hibernating, so not terribly grabby. As with others who have commented on the Golf Club of California, the only knock I have is that there are not many yardage landmarks on the course, so bring your GPS to keep from guessing about distances.

Played the Mountain course, excellent condition except for the greens which were disappointedly soft, spongy, and in need of a roll and a mow. Sand traps could have used a bit more sand in them. Fair test of golf in a gorgeous setting. Clubhouse and amenities were first rate. Friendly staff. Showers and lockers available. Hot as heck but, hey, its the desert. I would definitely return!

Good value for the money. Course usually in better shape but the greens just got punched and half the fairways on Presido side have been aerated. Expect these conditions for the next month.