I joined Nickesquire for two days of golf on the Mountain course. Beforehand, he told me the course was in good, but not great shape. My first impression was “if this in only ‘good’, then when it’s ‘g... Continue »

I joined Nickesquire for two days of golf on the Mountain course. Beforehand, he told me the course was in good, but not great shape. My first impression was “if this in only ‘good’, then when it’s ‘great’ it must be absolutely stunning!” The staff in the pro-shop, member’s grill, and starter, were all very friendly and welcoming. We headed right out to play, starting on the 10th hole. The fairways were just the way I like them- short enough to get lots of roll, but enough cushion for me to hit irons decently. I was in a few bunkers. The sand was good and I managed ok. The rough varied from short and easy to chip from, to thick, deep and definitely not easy. The greens. Oh my. Without Nick’s assistance, I wouldn’t have had the slightest chance of making a putt. They were lightning fast, and broke in directions I couldn’t have predicted. On many of them I was coached to not land any further than the front of the green as the ball was going to take off running. And that it did! On the front there are some big elevation changes with incredible views. One hole had a tough hike up to the back tees but it was well worth it for the photo. There were a few holes on the course that seemed somewhat familiar. Upon learning it is a Fazio design it made sense as I realized I was getting a Ram’s Hill vibe. I really enjoyed all the mounds and swales even though that’s where the really challenging rough was. The 2,000 ft elevation in the area was great for the extra yardage I got, especially with my driver. The first day I played from the first set of tees. I shot 90 with 6 pars. That was really exciting. The second day, just for grins and giggles I played from the next set. Being my third day in row playing, I was tired and the extra yardage and difficulty was too much to even keep score. It was still a lot of fun, though. We took a cart tour of the Canyon course which is closed for overseeding. It looks very different than the Mountain course and it really appealed to me. I definitely will return to play that one. My thanks again, to Nick. I had a great time!

Rode the Greens (6537/71.3/137) with Abbacat 10/1 and 10/2. POP rarely an issue, and the weather was nice, low 90's both days. Ventana currently down to 18 holes. Canyon course currently closed for ov... Continue »

Rode the Greens (6537/71.3/137) with Abbacat 10/1 and 10/2. POP rarely an issue, and the weather was nice, low 90's both days. Ventana currently down to 18 holes. Canyon course currently closed for over seeding and will reopen 10/9. Tees mostly lush/level but are less maintained than normal. Fairways are lush and play firm. Still maintained a little higher than in prime season, which lessens the roll. Bermuda rough is lush, thick and often penal. Greenside sand traps nicely maintained with plenty of thick, soft white sand. Fairway bunkers firmer and not as well maintained. Large Bermuda greens are firm with few ball marks. Smooth and they are rolling really nice again. Fazio layout that is tough but still fun to play. Only two holes with water but native hazard areas on both sides of most holes make this a penal course if you stray. You can have almost no forced carries or forces carries on every hole on your tee shots, depending on tee selection. More holes play downhill than uphill. Numerous greens run away from the golfer, which creates challenges when they speed them up. Nice GPS on the carts. Excellent all grass practice area that includes multiple chipping and putting greens. Friendly customer service is always present here. On course services only on weekends in high season, but snack shop @ the turn and a nice restaurant onsite. Recommended.

Rode the Greens (6537/71.3/137) in less than 3H. 100, clear and calm. Fazio layout that is fun to play. Only a few holes with water but native hazard areas on both sides of most holes make this a pena... Continue »

Rode the Greens (6537/71.3/137) in less than 3H. 100, clear and calm. Fazio layout that is fun to play. Only a few holes with water but native hazard areas on both sides of most holes make this a penal course if you stray. Depending on tee selection, there can be almost no forced carries or forces carries on every hole on your tee shots. More holes play downhill than uphill. Numerous greens run away from the golfer, which creates challenges when they speed them up. Tees mostly lush/level but are less maintained than normal. Scruffy is my adjective for the way they keep the tees this time of year. Fairways are lush and play firm. They are cutting them down so that you can again roll down hills instead of stopping. Which is often more bad than good here. Bermuda rough is lush, thick and often penal. Greenside sand traps nicely maintained with plenty of thick, soft white sand. Fairway bunkers firmer and not as well maintained. Large Bermuda greens are firm with few ball marks. Smooth and they have cut they down recently, speed back up to medium fast. Getting to where once the fringes are mowed tight again, aggressive putts toward the front may end up 20 yards down the hill off the green on numerous holes. Nice GPS on the carts. Excellent all grass practice area that includes multiple chipping and putting greens. Friendly customer service is always very good here. On course services only on weekends in high season, but snack shop @ the turn and a nice restaurant onsite. Recommended.

Rode the Greens (6537/71.3/137) in around 3H. 95, clear and calm.

Tees mostly lush/level but are less maintained than normal.

Fairways are lush and maintained higher than normal. Plays firm, b... Continue »

Rode the Greens (6537/71.3/137) in around 3H. 95, clear and calm.

Tees mostly lush/level but are less maintained than normal.

Fairways are lush and maintained higher than normal. Plays firm, but much less roll than normal.

Bermuda rough is lush, thick and usually penal.

Greenside sand traps nicely maintained with plenty of thick, soft white sand. Fairway bunkers firmer and not as well maintained.

Large Bermuda greens are firm with few ball marks. Smooth but maintained higher than normal, medium slow speed.

Nice GPS on the carts. Excellent all grass practice area that includes multiple chipping and putting greens. Friendly customer service is always very good here. On course services only on weekends in high season, but snack shop @ the turn and a nice restaurant onsite. Fazio layout that is fun to play. Only a few holes with water but native hazard areas on both sides of most holes make this a penal course if not straight. Depending on tee choice, many forced carries. More holes play downhill than uphill and some greens run away from the golfer. Recommended.

Rode the Greens (6537/71.3/137) playing behind a H.S. golf match who were walking. 105 and clear made it nice to find shade while I watched the H.S. kids play. Playing multiple balls made the wait oka... Continue »

Rode the Greens (6537/71.3/137) playing behind a H.S. golf match who were walking. 105 and clear made it nice to find shade while I watched the H.S. kids play. Playing multiple balls made the wait okay and watching the kids play brought back great memories. Fazio layout that is fun to play. Depending on tee choice, many forced carries. More holes play downhill than uphill and numerous greens run away from the golfer. Only a few holes with water but native hazard areas on both sides of many holes make this a penal layout if not straight. Tees lush/level but are furry. Better have very long tees! Not bad but definitely less maintained than normal. Fairways are lush and also higher than usual, decreasing the roll. Bermuda rough is thick and can be penal. Greenside sand traps nicely maintained with plenty of thick, soft white sand. Fairway bunkers firmer and less maintained. Large Bermuda greens are firm with few ball marks. Letting them grow longer in the summer makes them bumpier and definitely slower. Nice GPS on the carts. Excellent all grass practice area that includes multiple chipping and putting greens. Friendly customer service is always very good here. On course services only on weekends in high season, but snack shop @ the turn and a nice restaurant onsite. Not pristine, but still recommended.

Rode the Greens (6537/71.3/137) in around 3.5H. 108, breezy and partly cloudy. It was still HOT! Fazio layout that is fun to play. Only a few holes with water but native hazard areas on both sides of... Continue »

Rode the Greens (6537/71.3/137) in around 3.5H. 108, breezy and partly cloudy. It was still HOT! Fazio layout that is fun to play. Only a few holes with water but native hazard areas on both sides of most holes make this a penal course if not straight. Depending on tee choice, many forced carries. More holes play downhill than uphill and some greens run away from the golfer. Tees mostly lush/level but are less maintained than normal. Fairways are getting many brown spots. Firm with lots of roll. Still okay to play from, but do not look emerald green like normal in low season. Bermuda rough mostly mowed down and not overly penal. Greenside sand traps nicely maintained with plenty of thick, soft white sand. Fairway bunkers firmer and not as well maintained. Large Bermuda greens are firm with few ball marks. Recently top dressed. Smooth and medium speed, they are what I would call "Summer slow". Nice GPS on the carts. Excellent all grass practice area that includes multiple chipping and putting greens. Friendly customer service is always very good here. On course services only on weekends in high season, but snack shop @ the turn and a nice restaurant onsite. Recommended.

Rode the Greens (6537/71.3/137) in less than 4H. 90, breezy and partly cloudy. comfortable.

Tees mostly lush/level but have a lot more divots than normal.

Fairways are getting many brown spots... Continue »

Rode the Greens (6537/71.3/137) in less than 4H. 90, breezy and partly cloudy. comfortable.

Tees mostly lush/level but have a lot more divots than normal.

Fairways are getting many brown spots. Firm with lots of roll. Still good to play from, but do not look emerald green like normal.

Bermuda rough mostly mowed down.

Greenside sand traps nicely maintained with plenty of thick, soft white sand. Fairway bunkers firmer and not as well maintained.

Large Bermuda greens are firm and getting better by the day. Smooth and medium fast.

Excellent all grass practice area that includes multiple chipping and putting greens. Nice GPS on the carts. Very friendly customer service is always top notch here. On course services only on weekends in high season, but snack shop @ the turn and a nice restaurant onsite. Fazio layout that is fun to play. Only a few holes with water but native hazard areas on both sides of more holes than not. Depending on tee choice, many forced carries. More holes play downhill than uphill and some greens run away from the golfer. Recommended.

Rode the Greens (6537/71.3/137) in less than 4H. 95 with little wind and humidity was actually quite comfortable.

Fazio layout that is fun to play. Featuring little water but native hazard areas on... Continue »

Rode the Greens (6537/71.3/137) in less than 4H. 95 with little wind and humidity was actually quite comfortable.

Fazio layout that is fun to play. Featuring little water but native hazard areas on both sides of more holes than not. Depending on tee choice, many forced carries. More holes play downhill than uphill and some greens run away from the golfer.

Tees lush/level with a few brown spots. However, with a skeleton summer staff, they do not manage the divots nearly as well as high season.

Fairways nice to play from. Cut tight with a few brown spots, firm with lots of roll.

Bermuda rough getting thicker and can be punitive even a few inches off many fairways and greens.

Greenside sand traps nicely maintained with plenty of thick, soft white sand. Fairway bunkers firmer and not as well maintained.

Large Bermuda greens are firm and rolling nicely again. Smooth and medium fast.

Excellent all grass practice area that includes multiple chipping and putting greens. Nice GPS on the carts. Very friendly customer service is always top notch here. On course services only on weekends in high season, but snack shop @ the turn and a nice restaurant onsite. Recommended.

Rode the Greens (6537/71.3/137) in less than 4H. Weather has been great, 90ish with low humidity most days.

Tees very lush/level with few divots.

Fairways are excellent to play from. Lush and... Continue »

Rode the Greens (6537/71.3/137) in less than 4H. Weather has been great, 90ish with low humidity most days.

Tees very lush/level with few divots.

Fairways are excellent to play from. Lush and firm with lots of roll.

Roughly mostly Bermuda still mixed with winter Rye. Thick and can be punitive even a few inches off many fairways and greens.

Greenside sand traps nicely maintained with plenty of thick, soft white sand. Fairway bunkers firmer.

Large Bermuda greens are firm and still recovering from spring maintenance. Probably 2 more weeks until they are smooth and roll well again.

Excellent all grass practice area that includes multiple chipping and putting greens. Nice GPS on the carts. Fun Fazio layout that features native hazard areas on both sides of more holes than not. Depending on tee choice, forced carries as well. More holes play downhill than uphill and some greens run away from you. Very friendly customer service is always top notch here. On course services only on weekends in high season, but snack shop @ the turn and a nice restaurant onsite. Recommended.