ALERT: (Projected Aeration Alert)
Will be aerating the greens 9/8 & 9/9.
* Please note that although we put a great amount of effort into forecasting course maintenance, we still recommend you contact the golf course to confirm this information.
Rio Hondo is a public facility located in the heart of Downey. Long thought of as a mundane and unremarkable public layout, Rio Hondo was renovated and the layout completely redone in 1994. Though I cannot speak directly to the changes made at the time, I can report for those of you who haven't seen the course in the last decade that much of what was changed included the addition of mounding and several large water features.
Originally built in 1924, Rio Hondo features fairways lined by mature trees that have likely been there for most of the course's life and pinch the landing areas to bring a pleasant influx of strategy to a generally flat layout. The front nine features both back-to-back par 5s and back-to-back par 3s, the latter of which are an absolute nightmare for pace of play. The inward nine, weighing in at nearly 400 yards shorter than the outward, closes with an excellent trio of finishing holes. The 16th is an excellent short par 4 with a good deal of bite should your second shot even think about going left. The 17th is a visually appealing par 3 with a nicely contoured green, and is one of the more insulated tee shots on the course as the teeing ground is set into a mound and surrounded by trees. The 18th is one of the longer par 4s on the course and it bends gently to the right around the driving range.
While the course itself is certainly a passable layout with some fun, challenging, and interesting holes, the things that encroach upon the golf demand mention. First, the course lies directly beneath the final approach flight path for LAX, and the planes flying overhead, though not oppressive, might make you think twice about pulling the trigger if you're standing over the ball. Soaring electrical towers border several holes on the back nine, and the driving range has a fence around it that towers over the course and can be seen from miles.
Turf-wise, Rio Hondo is makes a strong case in the municipal competition. The fairways are a great change from the So. Cal. norm - the fairways are firm, tight, and fast in many areas. The greens are generally true, thought a bit slower than I'd like. I wouldn't sacrifice the true-ness of these greens for an extra bit of speed, though. The rough was hit or miss, especially when you get beneath the trees (as thick as they as they are, it's difficult for any turf to grow).
For those of you that are looking for a weekend tee time, be warned that the Rio Hondo Men's club plays from sun-up to 9am, and often times there are tournaments immediately following. I can understand the desire to make a guaranteed buck, but as a weekend golfer, it becomes difficult to find a game when the first open time is at 11am, and the molasses pace of play demands that you start by 1130 or 12 if you want to finish by dark in the winter.
Rio Hondo is not a perfect facility, but for the price they ask, one would be foolish to expect anything close to perfection. The layout is solid - you'll get a few chances to hit some heroic shots, the 16-17-18 finish is strong, and the conditions are adequate. One must be prepared to contend with the periodic jet engines, the buzzing of power lines, and the vistas of fencing and single-family homes. It's not much of a "stop and smell the roses" course, but when considered in comparison to the alternatives within 20 minutes of downtown LA for under $50.00 on the weekend, Rio Hondo does quite well (and this is said without yet mentioning the absolutely stunning clubhouse, recently completed in it's new-millenium splendor..walking into it you'd think you were at a $100+ per round facility, and the pro shop is one that just about every other course in the area should envy. Assuming the course conditions stay firm and tight in the fairways, and the greens remain mostly true, I for one consider Rio Hondo one of the better deals (of courses that you can actually get on for a weekend game - see: Los Verdes and Rancho Park) in LA county.
