First group out at 6 am on Sat. 3/7/09 - finished by 9:50. This is a really interesting layout for an LA County course and a great deal at $33 to walk on the weekend. There are some tight holes and a lot of elevation changes - good variety and fairly challenging given the short length. However, today it was in pretty average shape. The blue tee boxes were in bad shape and many bunkers were unraked. Fairways, rough, and greens were better but not spectacular. The 13th hole, 213 yard par 3, over the hillside is truly a great hole - one of the best in the Southland.

Played Santa Anita morning of 2/8/09. Rained off and on but the course held up OK - the pushed up greens were still firm. This is a great track for the money and has a lot of classic design elements that you don't often see in a muni. The fairways are wide but you have to think about your approach shots or else risk a tricky chip. Always a fun round.

Played La Mirada on 1/31/09 for the first time. I had avoided coming here before because I had heard it gets crowded and usually has a "Fair" rating on this website. Well, crowded it was but I was pleasantly surprised by the course. Fairways and rough were definitely decent for winter and the greens were very good - mostly smooth and a little fast if you are not careful. This is not a difficult course by any means, but the rolling terrain keeps it interesting. I especially enjoyed the 6 par 3's of various lengths - some uphill, some down. If you can tolerate fivesomes and a 5 hour round, the golf itself is fun and good for your ego.

Played the North course on 4/20. Wonderful course in great shape. It is pricey, but if you are willing to spend $235 on a round of golf, then this is a good place to do it. Tom Fazio at his best, very fair course. Customer service and clubhouse facilities are top notch.

Played Alondra in the wind on 3/15. The course is fair shape. Greens are small and on the slow side. No real definition between the fairways and rough. There are lots of concrete drainage ditches throughout the course that are unsightly. Not an exciting course.

Teed off at 7 am on March 1. Course is a little wet and soft. Fairways are thin and greens are a little slow. Winter conditions aside, this is a fun executive course that is a good choice for less skilled players. Cheap too.

Balboa is not in great shape right now even considering the winter conditions. The greens have grass at least but are quite slow. The tee boxes, fairways, and rough are very inconsistent, divot-laden, and thin. The new par 5's are open, #3 and 12, and they seem to be decent additions. The new greens have more contour than the other 16, but not so much that they are out of place. I'm not sure what course management's obsession with par 72 is, but in this case, the holes they replaced were not especially memorable. Balboa should actually play easier in relation to par with the new additions.

Played nine holes after work on 2/21. Finished in 90 minutes for $6.50 - great deal. This is a fun little course to work on your game if you are short of time, although it does slow up considerably on the weekends. Built on hilly terrain, its a good collection of downhill holes (#1, 2, 4, 5, 8) where distance control is key with the irons and a couple of uphill par 5's (#6, 9) that are short enough to be conquered in two by anyone with reasonable power. Current course conditions are about average for the region this time of year. Eaton Canyon is always a fun way to spend a couple hours.

This course is the definition of "looks easy, plays hard". It's extremely short (5600 yds from tips) and full of drivable par 4's and short par 5's. However, big danger lurks everywhere ready to penalize a wayward shot - barrancas, hillside brush and LOTS of O.B. Part of the difficulty is that the course is built on a mountain, so you have to navigate a minefield of hazards from a variety of uneven lies. Keep your ego (and driver) in check, hit it where you can find it and you will be OK. Also, watch out for several very long and tough par 3's (#7, #17) that don't seem to fit in with the short par 4's and 5's. Pars are well earned there.

Course conditions: Played 2/18 and conditions were average. The tee boxes are always a mess here - uneven and shaggy. There is construction related to the new clubhouse but it doesn't impact the actual golf course. The tiny greens are in decent shape if you can find them.

I like this layout but the greens are a little slow/grainy/bumpy right now. Everything else is in OK shape for this time of year.

Santa Anita is a fun, well-designed course that is well worth the green fee anytime of year. The architect made the most of an average tract of land by providing many interesting green complexes with elevated, canted putting surfaces and strategic bunker placement. There are a wide variety of holes and you need to use every club in the bag. While not a difficult course, you have to think on every approach shot - especially when the greens are as firm as they are right now. Recent course conditions are less than perfect but still very nice. Caution: the course does get very crowded and for good reason.

Played Harding morning of 2/2/08, teed off at 7 am - cold! This is the easier of Griffith Park's two tracks, and it is currently a little shabby under winter conditions. Luckily the greens are decent, but the fairways and rough are thin and patchy. The layout is OK, only a few hard holes out there. I think Harding is worth the $31 to walk if you get out early and cruise around in 4 hours like we did today. Not as much fun if you tee off later when it backs up.