Late review after a round last Friday, about 7:30 am tee off. Walked from the blue tees with two riders and another walker. Not a quick round but the back nine was faster than the front and we finished in less than 4.5 hours. Snack bar was open when we made the turn.

The course was still wet in places from the rain last Tuesday but much better than when I played in January. For whatever reason there was still a moisture problem from the restroom building next to the 13th tee extending into the fairway, including a buildup of water on the cart path. The fairways were good if a little shaggy for this time of year. The sand traps were lousy, wet mud for the most part. The greens were pretty quick and held shots well. There were some difficult putts out there considering the speed and slope.

The course is playable but playing longer than usual. I would give it a few days to dry out but worth the play considering the cost.

Played Tuesday, February 10, before 7:00 am. We were a five some, all walking, in the third group out. We played in 1.5 hours for the 9 holes with little or no waiting on the group on front of us. Little amenities at the course at present with no restaurant in operation. Three net bays for warm up, a nice sized practice green and small chipping area.

The course is in good shape. Lush fairways and greens for the most part. There was little sand in the one bunker I was in but others found adequate sand in other bunkers. The tees were not always level but were okay. The greens were nice, running at a decently fast speed. High side of medium speed.

Nice way to start the day.

Played early on Super Bowl Sunday, second group off. There were four of us, all walking. We played in 3:55 which is pretty good. A beverage cart caught us on the 15th green, the first time I have seen that at Rancho. Nice feature considering there is usually nothing available for the early morning crowd. The food truck was not at its place behind the driving range when we finished. There were tables set up next to the putting green where they had a bar at one time; maybe they are doing food there.

The course generally is in nice shape.. The warmer weather really has it greening up for a winter morning. The greens were pretty good although there are a few with some of the problems noted by Roarksown1 in his December review. #2 was especially bad. The practice green was also rough. The greens on the course were better.

Just a gorgeous morning at Rancho.

Hard to believe no reviews for this course since October. I played yesterday, January 28, around 7:00 am. Almost exactly 4 hours POP with three riders (one was 80 years old) and I was walking. The place was busy but the service as always was great (shoutout to Patrick for smooth and professional processing of the busy morning crowd).

The course is in nice shape right now. The fairways are green with pretty consistent coverage. The rough is mainly cut down although there are a few areas where they have allowed it to grow and is an almost automatic lost ball - the lower part of the hill to the left of the second green and the top of the slope on 13 are two examples. The clover is up in some areas between holes also, making finding balls difficult. Tee boxes were nice. Enough sand in the bunkers.

The greens are outstanding and lightening fast. They are actually slowed down a little from what they were two weeks ago and a little softer but still plenty quick. On the par 3 5th green, the hole was placed at the top of the slope on the back left side. Borderline unfair considering the speed - we had a couple of balls roll back down several feet after almost stopping near the hole and one guy had an 8' comebacker after missing his 3' par putt. Otherwise, the greens were a solid test.

The course is not without its blemishes but it is in far better condition than it was in the summer and early fall.

Played today before 7:00, second tee time. 3:45 POP with four players walking, just great at this course. The rough was cut down generally although we had to look for balls at time. The course was in good shape, especially the greens. One of us had played Wilson last week or so and said that the greens were much better. Overally, a great experience on a beautiful day in LA.

Walked from the white tees today with the grandson, teeing off just before 8:00 am. The range was closed in the morning but was open when we were finishing. They sent us out as a twosome. It was a slow day, with us finishing in 4:50. Part of that was because it was cart path only for carts. The course was crowded. It looked like the ladies' club was teeing off at 8:00 am and was still sending groups out when we made the turn 2.5 hours later. There were three groups waiting on tee on the par three third when we made the turn, so it was probably slower after us.

The course was as wet as I have ever seen it, even though it had been several days since the last rain. The fairways were really shaggy at the start but they were mowing them around us. One problem was that some of the fairways were still flooded in part so they cannot mow them entirely. The right side of the #9 in the landing area and the left side of the #18 beyond the cross bunker were two examples. There was evidence of a flood from the restroom building next to the 13th tee extending about 150 yards diagonal down the hole and ending in the middle of the fairway. There was still water pooling in that fairway. As would be expected, the rough was gnarly and wet. We had to search hard to find our balls and the grandson lost a couple. The bunkers are in bad shape with erosion areas in some and pools of water in others. I hit out of one and it was hard pan.

The good news was the tees were okay and the greens were great. The greens were quite quick and running smooth. Even with the damp conditions, I found the course playable. I was only in bad conditions off the tee a couple of times. We did not need to play lift and clean. I had a good time. That said, I would give the course a few days to dry out though if I had a choice where to play.

Played on Wednesday, November 12, before 7:00 am. The course was crowded but we still managed to get around in just over 4 hours. There was a marshal out early which was appreciated. No cart service and the on course snack stand was not open.

The course was in great shape. The rough was cut down in most places but it was fairly lush anyway. The fairways were very nice although there were some bare spots. A few of the tee boxes were not in level areas but they were generally good (#18 not so much). The greens were outstanding. Fast and smooth, they were a joy to putt on. The front right pin position on #1 was devilish considering the speed.

I always like coming to ElDo but it is especially nice with the conditions so good. I used to play here regularly and was able to say hi to one of the regulars from 20 years ago. If I were a Long Beach resident I would be out here all the time also. Recommended.

Played today in the Golf Moose/Vivid/GK outing at Western Hills Country Club. Nice facility in the Chino Hills area of Carbon Canyon. Had a breakfast burrito in the bar before the round and it was very good. Friendly staff and well run event. The pace of play was okay at 4:45 considering how long shot gun starts usually take. My group played the white tees, listed at 6400 yards and a 128 slope.

The course has quite a few elevation changes. Interesting layout and tricky figuring out the right club on a first visit. The 13th hole is being redone and was closed. They converted the par 5 15th into a short (255 years today) par four 15A and a long par three (200 yards) 15B. Interesting that what I can only assume is a temporary par 4 green for 15A was a nice green that rolled identical to the other greens on the course. Very nice!

The course was in great condition. Beautiful fairways, lush rough and nice tees. Really lush conditions throughout. The greens looked like they were recovering from aeration sometime in the past but they rolled well at a fast speed. There were some wobbles but overall the ball, for good or ill, went where you sent it. It would take a couple of rounds to figure out the greens; there were some difficult reads. Both 1 and 10 had front pin positions which were border line unfair but otherwise they were tough but fair.

I liked the course a lot. It exceeded my expectations in terms of concourse conditions and there were no issues with regard to services or facilities. It is definitely a course I would like to play again.

Played Wednesday, October 29, in the early morning. Walked the Blue tees with a twosome and another single. Nice pace of play at less than 4 hours.

The course was quite wet. There was a heat alert for the day so it likely was because of that, but it made the course play longer. The bunkers suffered the most from that with some water pooling at the bottoms of a couple and heavy, wet sand in most. The fairways were good with some bare spots. Rough was a factor with some thick areas capable of hiding balls. On 18, I did not see the ball after my second shot until I was within 10 feet of it. The greens were still recovering from aeration earlier this month but they were running at nice speed and were pretty firm. Quite a few bumps still though.

The greens should be completely healed within two weeks although the course is playable now and I may be back before then.

Played on Wednesday, October 8 around 9:00 am. POP was around 4.5 hours. Not great but not unexpected either. Busy day but the staff was courteous.

The course is in better shape. It is getting more water and the fairways were greened up. Nice to see. They were placing new sand in the green side bunker as we finished #9 and we noticed there was new sand at #18 also. The greens were good. Fast side of medium. Overall, the course is improved over what it has been for the last few months.

I am cautiously optimistic that the course is coming back to where it should be. I had a good time.

Played Sunday, October 5, around 7:00 am. Started late after they put a gap group in front of us and they were a hole behind after one hole. About the 5th hole though, they took off and started playing at a good pace. It was like a tag team and a group that had an interest in pace substituted in. Ended up being a 4 hour pace. Snack shack was open when I we went by after the 2nd hole, nice to see as it was not open early the last couple of times I played here. I made sure to buy something when we made the turn to give positive reinforcement for the good behavior.

I knew from Greenskeeper that they had punched the greens on Monday and Tuesday. It was a heavy punch. Interestingly, the greens were still pretty firm. Lots of hops and change of direction to the putts. I thought they were faster than the practice green. The fairways were pretty tight, almost winter like condition with some bare spots (looking at you #16). There is quite a bit of lush rough but also some areas with bare spots. I had a couple of nasty lies, on dirt between clumps of grass. The bunkers were also a mixed bag including several that had insufficient sand. I was in one fairway bunker (#13) where a heavy rake job left me with a teed up lie. I lost no yardage on the shot, ending up in the back bunker that had less sand than the fairway one. At least this time here I did not end up near one of the crazy steep edges they bunkers have (last time here I had to play a bunker shot on my knees outside the bunker, lunging down at the ball). The tees were lush and level.

Overall, not as good tee to green as I have seen it and the aerated greens are what you would expect from the large punch. I enjoy Lakewood but I may delay my return until the greens heal.

Played Sky Creek on Saturday, September 27 about 8:40m am. A Robert Trent Jones, Jr. designed course in a DFW suburb, it was recommended to me earlier this year by some guys I played with at another area course. Pricey, but I walked away thinking that the course was worth the $135 rack rate ($146 with tax). Rode with a threesome, father, son and son-in-law. Fun group. Nice service throughout. The starter's area had snacks and a water station. The GPS in the gas powered carts notified us several times we were falling behind (sad but true) and there was a marshal looming at times but not interacting as we were obviously trying to catch up. 4.5 hours POP.

The course is beautiful. Hard to believe it is in a densely populated area. There are some homes around it but they are set well back and for the most part unobtrusive. There are creeks and gullies throughout and a lake near the clubhouse holes. The first hole was about 385 yards from the green tees we played (6367 yards) with a gully about 240 yards out, so a lay up for me. At least a couple of par fives required a lay up including one I hit a great drive but was left with about 205 yards of complete carry to a forward pin tucked into an area on the brink of the gully. Many of the greens were raised with punitive drop offs to the sides. There were also small areas where pins were placed requiring risk/reward decisions on approach shots. I really appreciated the lay out.

The course was well conditioned especially considering the amount of play it gets. Bermuda rough and fairways were generally lush. The rough was thick enough to be punitive but we did not lose any balls in it. The sand was generally good although of the three I was in, two were had firm, really nice hitting surfaces that were representative of the other bunkers while the other in the green side bunker on 18 was loose and almost beach sand in consistency. The greens were really nice although they were tough for this out of stater to read. Tough putting day. Quite a few birdie looks with only pars to show for it. Down grain they were running about 11. There were some dirt, hard pan areas under the trees and in the rough.

The course is well worth a try if you are in the area and looking for an upscale course. There are nice courses faround here that cost less but I think Sky Creek provides value for the rate. I plan to play it again when back in the area.