Golf Course Reviews
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A word to the wise... if you like rollercoasters this might be the right course for you. I'm not a fan of rollercoasters or courses that make a difficult game much more difficult. Black Gold has very friendly service and facilities and is well maintained. But this is a case of not having the right earth to put a golf course on. This one is laid over some rough, hilly terrain. This leads to some fairly extreme elevation changes and lots of blind shots. In addition, the architect seemed afraid of giving any impression of ease so even if you negotiate the many humps and dips and never-level lies, they have pot bunkers and barranca waiting for you. Once you make it to the green your trivails are not over. These quick, immaculate greens have plenty of slope and run-off to take a light-touch putt right off the green. The course is constantly scenic, with great expansive views—but you are also often playing down canyons of houses which adds a little anxiety to a wayward drive. Locals, who have played the course many times will be much more comfortable. But if this is your first time, bring extra balls and prepare to be punished. ALSO—note the slope ratings. You may often play Blue tees. The Whites are sloped at 125 here—and I'm not sure if that is accurate (should be a 2-3 points higher IMO). Play the Whites. If you normally play Whites, play the Gold. Don't kid yourself. The course won't.
14 Likes.
First class in every way. The staff is super pro and helpful. The practice facility is the best I've ever seen (played Pebble, Riv, Torrey). Course is challenging and requires thought and planning. Though the cart GPS is great, a range finder is also rec'd.
6 Likes.
I try to get up to Rustic as often as I can. It's a long drive for me—but so worth it. What I love about this course is the way the natural landscape is worked into the layout. There are many holes that require the golfer to think about their approach—not just blindly grab their driver and hit away. Some golfers don't want to have to think too hard—and this may not be the course for them. The semi-links design includes broad aprons on the greens, that allows many more approach options than a standard layout. There are always plenty of critters, from rabbits to road runners. Very relaxed atmosphere.
4 Likes.
I would encourage any golf fan to play this course. It's a unique layout that offers a nice variation from the usual affordable courses, where you automatically pull driver out for every non-par 3 hole. Beautiful environment. Lots of wild life. You'll love it.
1 Like.
Second time playing Sandpiper. LOVE it! Great, natural layout that works with the landscape. Beautiful, honest, no-gimmick holes. Some dramatic, seaside vistas. Some dramatic, challenging holes. Length would be a challenge for duffers but all others owe it to themselves to play here at least once!
0 Likes.
Beautiful scenery. Great customer service. Reasonable rates. Questionable layout. Too many holes with substantial elevation changes and blind shots. Fairways are narrow. More sand than needed. My advice to course management: If your customer base is single-handicappers then leave it as-is. If the golfers are more mainstream, then I suggest removing some bunkers, cut some trees and move some tees to allow a view of the fairway/green. Locals may love the quirky challenge but I expect many visitors are like me. Too much challenge to decide where and what to hit—constantly. Smooth it out and simplify—please!
0 Likes.
Much better! I have played here many times, with a regular group. The course used to be pretty tired. But the new front nine is really great. It's a modern layout with a good level of challenge to the greens complexes. They've also added some length to the middle par fours. It's still easy to get on this course during the day, as a single. If they can afford to re-work the back nine, to match it will be a gem in the South Bay.
0 Likes.
Played in Sept to get the last of the Summer rate. Very nice folks, except the counter man at the Pro Shop. Course was in very good shape. Lots of water! The problem is, yiou can't see a lot of it until you get over the little humps and hills. REALLY check your GPS image before teeing off on each hole! The GPS seemed a little inaccurate compared with the card or posted yardages. Trap sand was a strange consistency. Fluffy and wet at the same time. A consistent course design characteristic is to create a lot of terrain mounding and elevation change in the 100 yards in front of the green. I recommend hitting to the 100 rather than dumping a full driver or approach shot up near the green.
0 Likes.
Very nice 9 holes. Not a 'baby" course. It's a good, legitimate 9, with real par fives and a particularly challenging long, no-peak par 3. There's not a lot of sand but don't let that lull you into thinking you can over-power it. You've still got to make good golf shots. The greens are particularly good, with challenging breaks and large size. Was very windy in the PM, which I guess is common. Great after-work 9!
1 Like.
I played this course because our regular course is being renovated. I wouldn't play here again, by choice. William Bell seems to have laid out every muni in S. Cal. I don't think his designs work today. The course is in very good condition, but there was not enough land to lay out a real 18 hole course. So Bell had to resort to tricks and gimmicks. There are two or three lay-up par 4s, where you use 8-7 iron off the tee because the landing area in front of the greens is a pond. This is entertaining once in a round. The greens are often elevated and crowned so a good pitch or chip catches the downhill slope on the far side and rolls off. Once again, OK once or twice in a round—but not consistently. Overall, the layout feels cramped, with a fair amount of cross-fairway golfing. Add the higher cost and it doesn't add up.
1 Like.
Spectacular! If you wanted to play a classic California costal course, this is it. Even though only about half the holes include views of the ocean the inland holes are still beautiful, well-crafted layouts. I played the up (silver) tees (10 handicap). The length, from the back tees, is only for truly advanced players. Don't let your macho get the better of you. Changes in elevation and hole layout require really thoughtful club and swing selection. Wind is a definite factor, at least in the afternoon, when I played (Twilight rate). Before you waste a truly ridiculous amount of money at an ocean-side gimmick like Trump National, get in the car and play Sandpiper.
0 Likes.
Alondra's basic layout is good and challenging. But the maintenance of the course is poor. There is virtually no differentiation between the fairway and the rough. There is virtually no rough. The fairways include a wild variety of weeds and grasses. Sometimes they mow. The bunkers have a dense, dark stone dust (not sand) in them. When they're wet they're like cement. There is little style to the course grounds. Lakewood is at a whole level higher of quality for about the same fee. Alondra deserves better oversight and upkeep. I wish the County would pay attention to the poor maintenance.
0 Likes.
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