AgentBaldEagle

I have not been out here in a while. Greens, as always, lush. Fairways a lot more full than last time I was out. New tee box on 5 to cut the corner. Still major sprinkler repairs making for better and better conditions. Seems like saving the rough and non-course related areas for last. New sand added in over half the traps, I’d say. Had some fun taking photos of the hot air balloons in the distance.

If you get out first thing in the morning — you might catch the hot air balloons! At one point, they were so low I could hear the people talking!

Looks like they are fixing huge sprinkler problems from prior ownership neglect... looks like they are focusing on fairways first then they might get to the rough? Noticed 17 fairway has almost complete coverage. Hole 7 too. These are two holes that used to be thin-- but recently (even with 100 plus temperatures the last two months) there is a lot more consistent coverage. Greens are running pure (all the same across whole green/course) but on a speed scale, slower. Again, I think (my best guess) they have to keep them moist because of the super hot last couple months. If a "green" is supposed to be green, they nailed it! As the temperatures cool, it is likely fairways will get more coverage. Bunkers are "neglected" right now because there are no rakes (COVID) -- but even so, those who play here often will notice more sand has been added to a select few/popular traps (for example, hole 11 green side bunkers). I would recommend moving your ball for a good lie in the bunker or taking it out all together. Tee boxes are about 70% depending on where you are playing. Even though the course is on the shorter side, try playing up one tee box than you normally would. You will enjoy the course a lot more. Plus, I feel like the gold tee boxes have the worst coverage. Collars around green are beginning to match up with the line of palm trees that surround the green. They used to be about 3ft wife, but now 20-30 ft! Speeds up play and allows for more up and downs. This is getting long-- but this course never gets old. Every hole is different than the next. Look for the palm trees if you can't see the green. They surround all 18 holes.

Greens are prime right now. New sand added into a hand full of meaningful bunkers. Getting great coverage on fairways. Pond on 8 and 18 are full and flowing again. No rakes in traps b/c of COVID. Course recommends you play them as GUR. Not one hole like the other— every hole unique. Also unique pin placements every time. They have 6 different zones because of the incredible undulation on some of them. Tee boxes are just short of great. Don’t need to be long, just accurate and take into account the elevation changes. Fun! Makes you want to keep coming back til you master it!

... and better and better. If you played the course like me when it first opened (or have seen the lovely aerial photo from when it first opened on the website) and compared that to any other time in the past few years, you were probably very very very disappointed. However, now, if you compare the newly-opened photo to actual reality, it's not THAT off. Now let me be clear, I don't think the course will ever look like it did when it first opened, like never ever again-- that would mean dredging all the lakes, berms, cutting back tons of wildflowers/gress/weeds/etc... To be honest, as someone who played it when it first opened, I am liking the "grown-in" feel of it now. It feels more established and truly LINKS style. If you imagine this course sitting right up next to the coastline of Scotland, you would only see grass in the low/flat areas (aka fairways). On the higher ground mounds, you would see sand-- the wind would blow away any grass (aka "rough" or "OB"). If you know that is the style The Links at Summerly is going for, they almost have nailed it. Like others have mentioned, it is still not quite there, but it is closer to being a true LINKS style course than it ever has, even from when it was brand-new... better and better and better...

I have played this course many times and am never tired of it. Not one hole is like any other. Every green has just as much character. If you play it once, you will want to come play it again. So much character. The recent rain has helped with water in rough spots. Obviously in SoCal, way too much money to spend on water to keep the rough and waste areas green, so when it rains. It is nice to see these parts green once in a while! If you get out early enough, the Hot Air Balloons are right over head.

I played the course about a month after it opened in 2008-- loved it! I played it about once a year after that, seeing the difficulties they (and the rest of the golf industry) ran into with the near 5-10 year drought... BUT-- for the first time in 10 years, it looks like this course will once again be an incredible experience for any lover's of the game! They recently completely re-sodded 3 fairways and i hear that 3 more are in the plans. The owner is pouring a ton of money into the course, and I hope the community surrounding the course notices and responds by offering their green fees and vocal support. On the course, even though it is links style (and not supposed to have trees), there were a few new trees planted that will likely grow up and provide some much needed shade in some gathering spots (near greens/tee boxes where carts would park if you had to wait for the group in front of you...). i also loved the collars around the green-- nice touch. One thing we did see is a whole lot of rabbits eating the greens. We literally watched it happen in front of us. Not sure how to ::ethically:: solve that problem... SUMMARY: A year ago, I thought I played it for the last time-- 10 of 18 fairways were almost complete dirt. Yesterday, there were only 4-5 holes that were still "gone" but the rest was very enjoyable! There is HOPE for Summerly... Give it a try.

My grandparents-in-law live off of Hole 12 fairway. Over the past 10 years when we visit and are welcomed into their backyard, I have seen the transformation of the course. From brown fairways and hard greens, to mostly green again with plush greens. Obviously, the recent rains have helped, but other improvements are well on their way. Sand is slowly being added to multiple bunkers all over the course (though I wish I didn’t actually know this). Other improvements over the last few months: edging around the cart paths, improved driving range mats AND balls, punched greens have recovered nicely, roped off areas to prevent cart damage around greens, and it looks like major sprinkler repairs are in progress to set the course up well for the summer months. I am able to play the course often, and it doesn’t get boring. Always a challenge with the various pin placements that are possible with the multi-tiered greens. If you haven’t played it in a while, might be a good time to come back!