Went out Friday 11/8 @1:25 as a single joining another single and twosome. Played the whites. Teeing grounds are not problem here. The fairways, even when the coverage is good, tend to be a riot of various grass colors, patterns and species that can still offer a good hitting surface. Currently it tends towards tight grass areas mixed in with stretches resembling dried river bottom with little matting and the odd dirt stretch. A poster child for muni golf. Despite that, and the fact that I may have moved my ball in the fairway at least once to get some grass under it, most of the time I didn't find it an issue and the lies were playable. But then, I have a shallow swing with little divot. So now you are forewarned, although there is the bonus of some extra rollout if you play here. I have long passed from "easy" to flat out "golf slut", so I was OK with it and enjoyed the round as far as we got. Rough was short and not a factor, and I missed the bunkers so no comment there. Greens were actually in pretty good shape and reasonably quick. The real drawback for me was that the pace was slow — we were on a five hour pace with under 4.5 hrs of light. We managed to get through the 14th before knocking off. I don't get over here often so I can't say I'll be back soon, but would still play it again without much hesitation but also without any illusions. So not necessarily a recommendation, but a nod to golfers like me who are willing to happily play a little dirty.


Epilogue: The others were in carts and departed as I started hoofing back from the 14th in the gloom. Checked my bag and confirmed i had working glow balls, so angled over to the 18th to play my way in what was now complete dark. Making out enough silhouette to know where the middle of the fairway was, a decent driver and two 5-woods left me somewhere in the right rough about 100 yds out, under an overhanging tree. The distance was a pure guess, the green location was suggested by some glare from lights near the clubhouse and the pin was invisible. Fourth shot was a punched five iron that rolled nicely and settled in what seemed like the front of the green, with the hope of being on. The glowing ball was easy to see but I had to get to within about ten feet to even see the red pin — and my ball a foot from the cup. Knocked it in for one of the more unexpected pars I've ever scored. A little thrill/satisfaction as compensation for the holes I didn't get to play.

Got out for a 1:00 Friday start as a twosome plus a twosome all riding and playing the whites. Hadn't been out to MM for a while and really enjoyed it despite my erratic play and a poor score. Teeing grounds were consistently level and in good shape throughout. Fairways had some thin patches and heavy divots scattered about but the predominant conditions were good — green hitting surface, more tight than lush. The rough was generally green, pretty consistent and not overly punitive, but enough to factor in and impact your shot. There are wilder areas to impact or lose your ball if far enough off line. I was in a few bunkers and I found them as good as any I've played in a while. They had a rough textured surface but, barring the odd footprint, actually had a nice give to them. The green surrounds set up well for the short shots and I particularly enjoyed the greens on the day. They were clean with interesting and challenging nuances, but I especially enjoyed the speed. Definitely quick and demanding some touch, they didn't go over the line to stupid/twitchy fast. Really enjoyed them as a fair challenge.

My guess on pace is under 4.5 hrs. We were mostly out of touch with the forward group, only waiting on one par three, and the group behind never caught us, so we were in a comfortable zone/pace. Set on its own high point, the elevation changes within the course make for interesting play and provide plenty of inspiring views of the San Gabriels and surrounding lowlands. It gives this public access course a special dimension and late afternoon light makes it more dramatic. The range and practice green are well maintained, the latter matching the course speed. The service is efficient and polite and the dining facilities are extensive with a large wedding going off as we finished. Definitely recommended, we both decided we need to play here a bit more often.

Got out Friday 10/25 as a twosome joining a twosome on a 11:50 tee time my buddy booked earlier in the week. The short story is that all the tees are still moved up forward of the regular tee boxes throughout the course. The customer service here is usually very good, but neither my buddy nor I recall any mention of the adjusted tees when we checked in. It was the regular price so it should have been made clear. 24hourgolf had called out this situation in a previous review, but I had forgotten and didn't think to check GK since the time was already booked. The closed tees look good so I'm only guessing they will be available fairly soon. I accepted it for what it was t get a casual round in, but I recommend calling ahead or waiting until you see an updated review. Otherwise, the course conditions were OK but a little below par relative to what I usually find here. Know before you go.

Friday 9/20, 2:15, me and a buddy tee off from the whites with two singles taking the blues. As SA goes, overall conditions are good and recommended with a few notes. Fairways are mostly in good shape but on a couple of holes on the back nine, there are sections roped off where they are repairing/replacing the sod — the 13th and 14th, if I recall correctly. If you hit into the GUR, take your drop and move on as there is plenty of available non-GUR fairway and I didn't see it as a big issue. It is good to see the attention to improving/maintaining the conditions. Bunkers have a thinner layer of soft sand over a firmer base — balls tended to sit up. Greens were not pristine but had no serious issues, ran pretty true at a good medium/quick pace and were fine and fair by my standards. Busy Friday meant a sluggish pace, we got around in something like 4:45 and were probably the second to last group to have enough light left to comfortably finish.

Went out today 9/17 with an old friend who works part time at this course and two of his buddies with about a 10:30 start. After not playing this course in probably at least 25 years, this is the third time I've played it with my friend in the last several months. With enough contour to be visually pleasing it is pretty level overall and a good walking course. It has its challenges but is open enough to encourage optimism and feels playable with options to go high or low on approach. Two played from the blues and two of us from the whites, and I don't recall any teeing issues all day as to coverage and being pretty level. Good start. The fairways here are generally a little wider, tighter lies and a fair amount of roll with bit of a links feel about them. They were in good shape. Rough was mostly not too punitive. I was in a few bunkers and they ranged from firm-ish but clean and playable to damp, to the point of almost mud — I observed much more good than bad from a distance. Green surrounds were good for short game but could be on the tight side. I putt from off the green numerous times. The greens themselves are in pretty nice shape with a frisky pace, as munis go.

The course was busier than usual with a sluggish, but mostly steady pace to the tune of about 4.5 hours. Food in the cafe afterward was decent. Based on conditions and playability, definitely recommended.

The second of two rounds with my NY visitor was, again, at a course I enjoy but hadn't played in a good while, teeing off at 11:20 on Saturday, 8/3 with a pleasant young couple. Not Rustic Canyon but solid muni conditions. Teeing grounds all good, nice coverage on the fairways, rough was generally playable just off the fairway but definitely stretches and sections that were thicker and grabby in the mix as you moved off. Bunkers looked OK but I missed them and can't comment accurately. Green surrounds were good for short game and the greens themselves were in good shape, ran nicely, but not quite as quick as the fast practice green — enjoyable to putt on. The temps were up from our previous round but do-able in a cart. Pace was a reasonably steady five hours. Something classic about the Griffith Park complexes that I really enjoy, I wasn't disappointed. Recommended.

As an aside, the difficulty in getting reservations in the city system, particularly on weekends, was the reason I hadn't been to Harding in a while. I wasn't even trying. For this round I did the usual ready at 6:00 am on-the-dot first available booking day, and secured the time despite my fumbling. Don't know if the new deposit requirement is making the difference, but it seemed a little more forgiving this time rather than being immediately shut out if you didn't nail a time in thirty seconds. A little encouraging.

This is late, but will be brief. My buddy visiting from NY and I got out last Thursday, 8/1, for an 11:20 start with two senior locals who were good company. I hadn't been here in a good while and it was nice to get back. All around conditions were solid and consistent from tee to green. Bunkers, rough and beyond can vary and get wild depending on how far you go — anything from sitting on dirt/sand to short grass to instantly lost in thick stuff. It's Rustic. The greens were reasonably quick and clean, but not as touchy fast as they can be. While warm with only light breeze at best, it wasn't the hottest of the week and we got lucky on the back nine with a high cloud cover that dialed back the sun and made it fairly pleasant — really all we could have hoped for. Pace was a little sluggish at around five hours but mostly steady. Recommended.

Out 1:30, 7/17 as a twosome joined by a single. I like this course but rarely get out to play here, so it was a nice treat for a mid-week round. Conditions are very good. No problems with the teeing grounds to start. Fairways were more consistently grown in with some cushion than any I've played in a while. They set up well. Where grass, the rough was well grown in and the ball could sit down bit and cost you. Otherwise there are extensive areas of wood chips and some bare spots to contend with. I was happy to miss the bunkers here, which are dramatically shaped, tending to be deep and nasty. The sand seemed fine but I observed a lack of follow-up raking that left a fair amount of footprints — lazy or PO'd golfers not cleaning up. Green surrounds were good for short game and the greens were very nice. They didn't give up pitch marks easily but neither did they seem overly firm. Reasonably quick but not as fast as the previous review. Some of the greens a have a lot of slope and too fast could get stupid quickly, so I found them challenging but very fair.

Pace was about 4.5 hours and we had smoke and ash blowing our way for about an hour due to the Newbury fire before they knocked it down. I usually walk but this course has enough hills I rode for a change. Props to the middle-aged single with us who walked with his cart, but he was obviously beat up by the end. The course is in very nice shape with an interesting variety of challenges. Definitely recommended.

Ran over to get a quick nine in Thursday, 7/11 @3:00, because the heat had backed off from the previous day's high. Course conditions overall are as per usual with one exception. They are resting the tee boxes and markers are almost all bunched well forward or occasionally off to a side. Otherwise the fairways are good, greens ran medium and gave up pitch marks easily and the bunker I was in had pretty decent sand although they all need raking. More interesting and challenging than your usual nine-holer, I always enjoy coming here for a change of pace. Also got to hear music floating over from the Greek most of the round.

Teed off Friday 6/28 as a twosome joined by a single around 11:50. This place is reviewed often enough so I'll be brief. Overall good conditions. The bunkers tend to be firm, sometimes bordering on hard. The rough is good, mostly not too severe but definitely thicker in some places than usual. The greens had a nice level of quickness to them and mostly performed well. The exceptions were a few greens, starting with the sixth, that had some kind of blight on at least a portion, but was mostly avoidable when present. Due to an underlying softness, the greens generally had an uncharacteristic amount of pitch mark scarring and sometimes required repair work on your line. Mostly cosmetic, they were still enjoyable to putt on. Anything not specifically mentioned, (tees, fairways, etc.) were all good. Busy and seeming to start out a little slow, we actually got around in a little over four hours. Atypical minor issues aside, it was quite enjoyable.

Played Friday, 6/7 as a twosome joining a young couple, teeing off from the whites @1:00. I usually find the conditions here as good or better than most munis and it held true. There are some tee boxes with a bit of tilt to them but nothing too bad and most are level. Coverage around the course for both fairways and rough is pretty consistently green, with the fairways cut to a nice length and rough being generally playable. I was in one bunker, the ball sat on the surface although the sand was not actually overly firm. Sand quality is OK. The green surrounds presented well for short game and the greens ran a quick end of medium with minimum marks and a good surface.

The course was busy and we got around in about five hours that didn't seem quite that long due to the mostly steady pace. A steady 1-club breeze through the day that kept it from getting overly warm. There was woman in charge of organizing the carts and starts that would have put us out immediately if we hadn't wanted to hit warmup and stick to our original time. She was working hard all day to keep everything moving, which was nice to see and she deserves props. This was our first look at the new clubhouse. Good to see it up and running. Aesthetically, I found the interior a bit cold, but the food and golf services were all operating smoothly. The course has a couple of quirky holes (which I don't mind) but is a mostly solid layout is set in a very scenic foothill setting. Definitely recommended.

Out Friday with a buddy and a single for a 1:33 start, teeing up on the whites. Pretty good experience overall and the course is in good shape. Teeing grounds are mostly level and more green than not, with a few minor exceptions. Fairways are in good shape. Rough varies from lush to thinner to some dirt areas but is much more good than not. I only hit one bunker which was firm-ish but good. Mostly I found good lies in the green surrounds for short game and the greens are in nice shape, running the quick side of medium, firm and generally resistant to pitch marks.

For a Friday afternoon most surprising was the pace. We got around in a leisurely 4.5 hrs, with only brief delays on a couple of par 3's, otherwise mostly open shots ahead and never pressed from behind. Kudos to the mixed foursome ahead of us who moved efficiently when not impeded from the front. Service here is friendly enough and they seem to run it pretty efficiently. Recommended.