I finally made it out to Cordevalle after a number of attempts to coordinate it. Played yesterday morning as the second group out. There was a frost delay so we had breakfast in the restaurant and i... Continue »

I finally made it out to Cordevalle after a number of attempts to coordinate it. Played yesterday morning as the second group out. There was a frost delay so we had breakfast in the restaurant and it was excellent. For a resort and private club, it was very quiet throughout with only a few groups going out after us. All staff were very friendly and it’s credit card only in the restaurant and pro shop. The pro shop is on the smaller side with an average amount of clothing options.

We opted for breakfast over range and warm up, so I’m not sure what the practice facility and driving range set up is like. On to the course conditions. As expected for a higher end place like this, everything was very nice. Of course with a ton of rain last week and plenty of sun this week, everything was very green and lush throughout. However, I get the feeling that they keep it that way regardless.

Greens rolled very smooth with no pitch marks to be found. Green complexes were that perfect blend of enough undulations to make it challenging but not overly tricked out to the point it’s ridiculous. I also noticed that the greens all took on different shapes and sizes. Some were smaller traditional round shape (like Del Monte and Pacific Grove) while others would be long and skinny or short and very wide. It definitely helped having a forecaddie who knew the greens on approach shots . Our Forecaddie was Felix who has been there 20 years and he was excellent with his reads. Also, all flags are white regardless of pin location. The first half dozen greens were very slow, but that was probably due to the cold and frost. Once the sun was out they sped up to a medium fast pace.

Fairways were bliss. Lush and a deep emerald green color throughout. Rough was thick enough to keep you honest but not overly penal. Tee boxes were excellent. All were level with great coverage. Even the shorter par 3’s were divot free. Bunkers were top notch as well. All bunkers (between us we were in numerous traps) had high quality fluffy sand.

As for the layout. That’s the one area I was a bit disappointed. The course is set in the foothills so it has some minor elevation changes which is great. Most fairways have ample landing area and there are a couple of water hazards on the course. The disappointment was that every hole was pretty much dead straight. Not a dog leg in sight. There were a couple of creeks to navigate but they didn’t really come into play. Only the longest of hitters would be forced to lay up off the tee on one and the other even the shortest of hitters could comfortably carry off the tee. The main defense on the course are the numerous fairway bunkers. Again, it was excellent conditions and a very enjoyable track, but lacked the “wow” factor for me. Maybe during a different time of year it comes alive. I traded a round at Spanish Bay to play and for a one time deal, I have no regrets. Would I do it again? That’s a tough question.

Checked off another one on the bucket list yesterday. ppark81 again splurged for a Rosewood room and I was able to tag along as a golf guest at CordeValle. This is definitely a high-end resort where t... Continue »

Checked off another one on the bucket list yesterday. ppark81 again splurged for a Rosewood room and I was able to tag along as a golf guest at CordeValle. This is definitely a high-end resort where they take care of you the moment you pull through the gates. Everyone is there to make sure you have what you need. We enjoyed a nice breakfast in the clubhouse and then teed off around 11:40. It was pretty busy out here and the member foursome ahead of us took their time with money obviously on the line, so we tried not to push and just enjoyed a relaxed round on a picture perfect winter afternoon. Our forecaddie, Quin, was great and quickly adapted to our games. He definitely knew the course well and was very helpful when needed.

I was really really impressed with the conditions. I had lowered my expectations knowing it's winter and it's also been pretty cold and wet up here. Apparently, I didn't need to lower my expectations because the course was fantastic on just about every level. Everything was lush, green and well-manicured. The tee boxes are like astroturf. The fairways were soft and didn't provide much roll-out, but I always had great lies and the ground underneath was never too wet or mushy. Plenty of big divots and a few fat shots, but most of the damage was user error! The rough was thick, lush and consistent. Enough to make you work, but not overly punitive.

The bunkers had beautiful white sand that was always perfectly raked. It wasn't quite as soft/deep as it looked, but great to play from once you adjusted to it. Greens were firm and rolling super smooth at medium speeds. They are actually getting ready to redo the turf on all their greens starting in April. The greens currently are bent with poa having invaded over the years, but they were still excellent surfaces. They expect it to take several months as they resod with a new bent hybrid that should be more resistant to the poa. They will have small temp greens in the fairways during the renovation. Be warned if you are shelling out big bucks to play here this summer!

Otherwise, this was just an incredible experience on an excellent course at a top-shelf and resort facility. I didn't think I would be blown away by the layout as much as I was, but I loved it. Rarely a dull moment and so many signature holes without anything feeling overly tricked out. Just what you want in a luxury resort course. Lots of perfectly placed old oak trees and creeks running throughout, framed by all the rolling hills, vineyards and beautiful scenery of this secluded little valley. The resort is not cheap and it's hard to justify that kind of price just to play the golf course, but the overall experience is definitely there to understand why it's a popular golf destination.