I know I just reviewed Alondra. But after having played it today since my last review the course has is even more dry and the greens are worse than before. They are slower and bumpy. There are strange... Continue »

I know I just reviewed Alondra. But after having played it today since my last review the course has is even more dry and the greens are worse than before. They are slower and bumpy. There are strangely, spots on the course where the grass has grown quite thick. The course in its usual pattern will probably be in nasty shape until we can get more rain.

On July 4th I went to practice and after hitting several chips realized how few people were teeing off. I took advantage and played instead of practice. The greens are still in good shape. The rest of... Continue »

On July 4th I went to practice and after hitting several chips realized how few people were teeing off. I took advantage and played instead of practice. The greens are still in good shape. The rest of the course is drying out. This is typical for July. I even saw cracks in the clay based soil. The July 4th festivities in the park were packed with people. The next day, today, I heard they might turn the golf course into an expanded from what there is now, park. If they do this public golf on a per capita basis would safe to say would be the worst in the nation. Seeing how crowded it was in the park, I see their point. But, to eliminate a revenue (even though it is down) producing facility would be a big mistake. Rancho Park and Los Verdes are still very crowded. Where would you go? Victoria, with its methane soaked fairways? Yeah right! Chester L Washington would turn into a Rancho Park. Weekday fees would soar to 45$ to walk. Keep Alondra open!!!!!

It's been 10+ years since I last played here, and will probably be at least that long until I return. While there is nothing really wrong or bad about the course, it's just not very exciting or inter... Continue »

It's been 10+ years since I last played here, and will probably be at least that long until I return. While there is nothing really wrong or bad about the course, it's just not very exciting or interesting. Combine that with marginal conditioning and typically slow pace of play.

The greens need to be rolled! The ball seems to have a mind of its own while it jiggles toward the hole. Slow greens allow you to slug the ball to help keep it on line, but that's not my preference when it comes to putting. I like fast greens ! Fairways were for the most part pretty good, with some bare areas and a few holes which it appeared they forgot to turn off the sprinklers last night, because there were puddles/casual water everywhere on them. Greenside bunkers were very thin with just a veneer of sand covering the hardpan. Tee boxes were OK, with some needing attention, but you could generally find a decent spot to put your peg in the ground.

6:36am tee time. I thought it would be horrible considering how many people were there when they opened the gate at 5:30, but it took just a tick under four hours, which is not my preferred pace, but way better than I expected. Truth is I had a decent time and enjoyed the round, but too far to drive to play here when there are so many better choices along the route.

Played Saturday.

Greens are in decent shape. Afternoon sun will affect roll as thatch get a bit bouncy but a well struck putt will ensure you reach the hole and keep the ball on-line long enough... Continue »

Played Saturday.

Greens are in decent shape. Afternoon sun will affect roll as thatch get a bit bouncy but a well struck putt will ensure you reach the hole and keep the ball on-line long enough to hit your putting line.

Thin lies EVERYWHERE. Left wrist was hurting towards end of round. No cushion underneath so had to change the way I hit the ball and started punching my shots to get by. Rough cut to same height of fairway with bare spots everywhere. Tee boxes were well groomed and level.

Bunkers both fairway and green-side is a mixed match of hard pan, harder pan and just plain concrete. Thin layer of dirt will fool you initially. Take your pick and think of shot as just a normal chip shot instead of trying to blast your ball out of the bunker; hoping to draw enough sand.

Pace of play because even on a Saturday after 11AM it's literally empty was a stunning 3 1/2 H and that was picking up a single here and there on my stroll though the course.

Had a confidence round at Alondra this weekend that didn't quite succeed in that department, but it was nice to see this very busy track in some decent shape as summer closes in soon.

No, it's not... Continue »

Had a confidence round at Alondra this weekend that didn't quite succeed in that department, but it was nice to see this very busy track in some decent shape as summer closes in soon.

No, it's not in great shape by any means. It's not even really in good shape. But it's in playable shape, and if you've played here a lot, you know that's about as good as it's going to get.

Greens on the front nine are still showing signs of aeration and were sanded, but the back nine were actually in pretty decent shape, but certainly on the slow side. Fairways have patches of green but still mostly yellow-ish, but playable. Bunkers are thin and annoying as you decide whether to try and take non-existent sand, or pick it clean. Rough is often more advantageous to hit from than the fairways, and the tee boxes are pretty much a wreck.

This will never be a destination course without a boatload of investment, but the current conditions are about as good as they might get for some time. Get out there if you want some straight-ahead, no frills golf to work off the rust.

This is to give a heads-up to my fellow GKers. I played there this morning early and found that they're punching and sanding the back nine greens today. There is a small temporary green cut in the f... Continue »

This is to give a heads-up to my fellow GKers. I played there this morning early and found that they're punching and sanding the back nine greens today. There is a small temporary green cut in the fairway considerably short of the regular greens on each hole. The front nine greens were in very good shape, probably the best I've seen them in a long while. I asked but the staff didn't know when they'll be punching the front next. It's too bad that they couldn't just leave them alone as they are... The condition of the rest of the course, i.e., fairways, rough, bunkers, etc., is basically the same as reported in previous reviews for this course.

Nothing worse than a confidence round at a place like Alondra that fails to actually end up building any confidence, but wet, muddy and thin conditions on Sunday did not help out in the least. Played ... Continue »

Nothing worse than a confidence round at a place like Alondra that fails to actually end up building any confidence, but wet, muddy and thin conditions on Sunday did not help out in the least. Played the blue tees walking with three friends and a 10:40am tee time. Course was fairly empty and it was more or less smooth sailing and we even let a twosome play through at the 8th hole.

Again, rather poor conditions overall at Alondra, but the greens were actually in pretty good shape. A few had some signs of damage but they rolled pretty nicely and at medium-fast speed, and held shots well even after the moisture had worn off by early afternoon.

Rest of the conditions were not quite as solid. Thin fairways rule the day here but you'll occasionally find a nice patch of grass. More often than not though you'll need to be picking the ball clean. Not really fair to assess the bunkers with all the standing water in them from the rain, but the dried out ones were no great shakes. Tee boxes very poor and need lots of re-seeding or something. Rough was not penal and often a relief from the thin in the fairways.

POP was around five hours but that was because we were playing for a bet and all putts counted, so completely our fault. Weather held up nicely luckily as well. No cart service all day but not something one usually expects at Alondra anyway. Flat course, some long holes to challenge, but mostly straight up and down with few exceptions. I've seen Alondra better. But I've also seen it worse.

First time playing today on Saturday, 12/29 with a tee time around 11 am. POP was around 4 3/4 hours to play 18. It was a little slow today. We had to wait on every hole. We were a twosome behind ... Continue »

First time playing today on Saturday, 12/29 with a tee time around 11 am. POP was around 4 3/4 hours to play 18. It was a little slow today. We had to wait on every hole. We were a twosome behind a fivesome.

It's a flat course. A lot of people were walking today. There's a lot of bunkers here on this course. Definitely bring your sand play here. The fairways were looking a little thin in a lot of spots. A lot of times we were hitting off bare lies. There's enough grass coverage on the fairways that you can still play. Some spots on the fairways were wet, a little muddy in spots and casual water here and there. The tee boxes were fairly level with good coverage. The bunkers were a little thin and some were muddy. The greens were overall in decent shape. Some were a little bumpy but the balls seems to roll pretty good.

Weather was a lot nicer than the valley today. Not very windy but the afternoon winds came up. There's a snack bar/restaurant and there's a driving range and a short game area here. Will be back to play again.

Played today with holiday twilight rates, walking.

The course was EMPTY. It took me 4 holes to finally catch the twosome. After that it was slow going.

Greens were surprisingly good. They k... Continue »

Played today with holiday twilight rates, walking.

The course was EMPTY. It took me 4 holes to finally catch the twosome. After that it was slow going.

Greens were surprisingly good. They kept their line, rolled with medium speed. There were a few holes with some sort of fungus but it appears they were treated and the greens are healing. Fairways still a mix of decent to thin lies but they are working on sections so at least there is some headway there. And did I mention the greens were somewhat decent? That was a nice surprise.

Bunkers had a decent amount of sand. Not fluffy but with enough sand to get a club under the ball. I was in 4 bunkers today so I can vouch for at least 4 of them. Tee boxes were flat.

As I said it was slow going after about 4 holes. Being a walking single I was constantly waiting on shots as it was backed up after 4 and the group ahead just plain ignored me LOL. Just a friendly word of advice, if you have to wait on your shots because of the group ahead why not ask the group behind to join you? You could get the spacing you need so you won't have to wait on every single shot. Just saying.

It's getting darker faster and I finished in the dark but hey it was golf; the conditions were decent, and I was striking the ball well and the greens were easy enough to read and predict. I suppose that is the biggest takeaway here. I chose my spots and hit them on the greens so if I missed it was operator error and not the greens' fault.