this is a great course. Very challenging but it's a beautiful course.

this is a great course. Very challenging but it's a beautiful course.

Played here on Monday 6-12 am. When we arrived the bag man took our clubs and put them straight on the cart and told us they'd be waiting for us at the back of the clubhouse after we checked in. The... Continue »

Played here on Monday 6-12 am. When we arrived the bag man took our clubs and put them straight on the cart and told us they'd be waiting for us at the back of the clubhouse after we checked in. The ladies working the checkin at the pro shop were very pleasant and gave us a full breakdown for our round for the day. We went to the range which is equipped with trackman technology (did not take advantage of that since wee were teeing off soon and I did not want to download the app to use it) My buddy and I lucked out and got to go out as a 2some since the other 2 in our group had canceled their round. As for the course, the greens were less than desirable, very slow (about an 8.5). Some areas of the green were burnt up and even roped off (which was considered GIR) The fairways were firm and in good shape, as was the rough. The tee boxes were flat and in good shape. We were stuck behind a slow 4some that we had to wait behind for on approach shots, but could never catch up to them to pass (front 9 played at 2.5 hrs) They stopped for drinks at the turn and we decided to skip the turn and go straight to 10 . In total we ended up finishing up the round in just 4 hrs with a back 9 time of 1hr 45 min. After the round I took a shower in the club house and when I was done and went to tip the bag man, the 4some was just coming off of 18 (almost 40min after we finished) For it being summer conditions, I would say it was a great deal at $55 and can definitely see why they can charge what they do during the "season" I can't wait to go back and play again and hopefully play the Stadium course next time. On a side note, the stadium course is going to be going under renovation soon according to the starters, the greens are in horrible shape based on the photos he showed me and he said that hopefully it will be ready for the beginning og the season in Sept. Overall rating for the day would be an 8.5 (definitely higher if the greens were in better shape)

Played here today at 1:03 with a TeeOff.com "Deal" time for about $55. I think I nabbed it before they realized it was Memorial Day, because later in the week additional tee times (later in the day) w... Continue »

Played here today at 1:03 with a TeeOff.com "Deal" time for about $55. I think I nabbed it before they realized it was Memorial Day, because later in the week additional tee times (later in the day) were around $91. Paired with a nice couple from Carlsbad. Started right on time and pace was good early but slowed considerably after a few holes. Total time on course was around 4:45/4:50.

Conditions are mostly good. The practice green is about halfway baked out and halfway good, and the greens on the course were similar, but oddly they rolled pretty good. (The starter said they're closing Stadium on Wednesday until mid-July because the greens are totally gone. He had no answer when I asked how they plan to get the greens back in shape right when summer temps hit.) They are medium speed (slow uphill but can get fast downhill) and medium firmness, mostly smooth. Fairways had good coverage and were mostly really nice. Rough is semi-thick bermuda that was about 3 inches deep at the most penal. Blue tee boxes were really nice on the front nine and then much more spotty (and some aerated) on the back nine. I was in several bunkers and they were well maintained with a thin layer on top of a firmer base.

Overall, the course is pretty good for early summer, but it's still spring for another few weeks, so I'm sure there are many better maintained options in the area right now. (The couple I played with also played both courses at Mountain Vista over the weekend and said they're in great shape.)

Played Dec. 10, 10:12 tee time. First time playing this course. Conditions were pretty good, greens were in very good condition, firm and fast but would hold a shot. Fairways were good, I thought m... Continue »

Played Dec. 10, 10:12 tee time. First time playing this course. Conditions were pretty good, greens were in very good condition, firm and fast but would hold a shot. Fairways were good, I thought more "lush" than the Stadium course (played on Dec. 7). rough was good, 2 cuts of rough. I think the fairways were more "level" and fairer than Stadium (again Ron will disagree) Down side of our round there was FIVE HOUR round with a morning tee time...to me that is totally unacceptable. We spoke to the marshal on at least 4 occasions about the pace of play, said he couldn't do much about it....if so why have a marshall at all? I enjoyed the course but hated the pace of play.....as a result not sure I'd play again.

Played here 10/2, just 9 days before they close for fall maintenance, with GK member Kassper7 on a 10:30am tee time, under muggy and hot conditions. I had only played here once before in Feb. 2020 rig... Continue »

Played here 10/2, just 9 days before they close for fall maintenance, with GK member Kassper7 on a 10:30am tee time, under muggy and hot conditions. I had only played here once before in Feb. 2020 right before the pandemic and that day conditions (both on the course as well as the weather) left something to be desired. Unfortunately this day was much of the same, though I at least knew what to expect with it being so close to fall aerification. The course can really kick one down and I did not play well; until next time old foe.

Tee boxes: Decent from the white tees, however like everything else on the course; dried out, visually losing its appeal, but nothing terribly awful it affected play.

Fairways: Perhaps the best part of the round, they were still at least somewhat green. The roll was fair and lies were actually good.

Rough: Not a ton of rough to speak of, but what is on the course stopped the ball enough.

Sand: Was in a few bunkers but the sand was best described as decent. There's enough in the bunkers to get out with a good shot, but the sand wasn't very fluffy, though I doubt it ever is.

Greens: About 80% of the way to where they need to be before they are truly dried out and ready for maintenance. They rolled decent enough and these ARE Nicklaus' designed so get ready for shelves, mounds, and roller coaster moves on the greens.

ETC: PGA West runs things well. Bag drop, clubhouse, restaurant, all are good. I'll be honest, green fee THIS close to closing could really stand to be about 25% less but I know golf is thriving and it showed as even in Oct. the place was booked solid and it took over 5 hours to play. Not a fan of courses that are this packed and let twosomes go out one after another, but saw plenty of it. Carts and GPS nice. Range and practice area available. Would love to play here during prime conditions to see it at its peak.

Rode the Blues (6522/72.2/134) in slightly over 3.5 twilight on a GN Hot Deal. Played with Steve, hilarious guy to be matched up with. 112, sunny and humid made the conditions uncomfortable. We were b... Continue »

Rode the Blues (6522/72.2/134) in slightly over 3.5 twilight on a GN Hot Deal. Played with Steve, hilarious guy to be matched up with. 112, sunny and humid made the conditions uncomfortable. We were behind a 4some that had no intention of letting us play through. So Steve stopped, got drinks and we sat in the shade and talked until they were well ahead so we could play w/o waiting on every shot. The course was not busy. Bermuda tees had decent coverage and were good to play from. Bermuda fairways were semi lush and nice to play from. Bermuda primary rough was mowed low but still thick with good coverage. Plentiful sand traps had decent sand but were too thin. Bermuda greens were very firm and consistent from green to green. I expected them to be so/so late in the summer. Wrong! These were some of the smoothest Bermuda greens I have ever putted on and medium fast. Very nice! Nicklaus Tournament features mounds along the sides of fairways, large/deep bunkers, several split fairways and expansive sand waste bunkers. Raised greens where irons barely off line or short can be in collection areas where the green is well above the golfer. Very good customer service from everyone. Plenty of water stations on the course and bottled water provided. Good GPS on the carts. The cart gal was out making the rounds numerous times. Nice all grass range and a new putting green since I last played here close to Nicklaus Tournament #1 tee. Recommended.

Played here 7/21 with a 9:00am tee time. What can I say.... it was HOT..... I don't think the Devil himself would have played. 117 degrees when we finished and 107 when we tee'd off. However, course w... Continue »

Played here 7/21 with a 9:00am tee time. What can I say.... it was HOT..... I don't think the Devil himself would have played. 117 degrees when we finished and 107 when we tee'd off. However, course was in fantastic shape as can be expected.
Greens- 9/10 didnt hold balls too great but were firm and natural
fairways- 9/10 A few dry spots on hole #9 due to the summer heat but all the other fairways were green and lush
rough- 10/10 penalizing yet playable
sand- 6/10 a lot must have been blown out being in the desert. Was in 2 traps and they were pretty rocky.
water- 7/10 Hole 18 stunk a bit...
tee boxes- 7/10 some damage on the first par 3 and a lot of damage on hole 9 blue white combo tee.

POP was 4.5 hours. Would have been fast but we had to stop 3 times for drinks in the heat. Cart girl came by 3 times. Staff was very friendly and loaded bags on carts for us. Was able to play for $67

Play day: 07/25/21 10:21am
The weather was cloudy/overcast sun occasionally showing. Thunder from a distant east, and the temps never got to triple digits. Slight breeze felt good.

The more I ge... Continue »

Play day: 07/25/21 10:21am
The weather was cloudy/overcast sun occasionally showing. Thunder from a distant east, and the temps never got to triple digits. Slight breeze felt good.

The more I get to play the course the tougher it gets for me- remembering all the "don't go there" area/spot. But then the more I appreciate its very cool and strategic design by the master himself Jack Nicklaus. We've all enjoyed a great match here while respecting as well as challenging risk and rewards the hole would give us.

The middle of summer conditions are to be expected, however, the greens here are still smooth.. well some bumps here and there. The firm greens condition makes it tough to get close and the back pins were easier to get close to- or get short sided in the back :-)

One good thing about it is that the fairways were also firm, and the ball ran pretty good. Careful on the shorter fairways. The bunkers had plenty of sand and it was good. The roughs weren't much of a factor- 2-3 inches and they were lush.

Some grass around the greens are starting to go away and spots shows barren but not to a point of unplayable at all. There was work going on the #9 and #18 green. The fringe had been taken out and it looks like it's going to be replaced (I know late this season, but that's what it appear to be). It also looks like they're testing out their technique on drying out the rough for the next season as it shows spots where they've tested it. It's going to be an amazing look when the new season comes in.

That's all I have and time for, but just to say it again, This course just excites me more than any other course in the immediate area. I would give it a high 6.8 rating at this time.

Oh, Staff were all very nice and helpful and the beverage cart came around a few times.

Looking forward to my next visit here.

Ciao!

Got out to the Nicklaus tournament course today for the first time in probably 6-7 years. I played the stadium course last year around the tournament time and it was absolutely pristine so I was expec... Continue »

Got out to the Nicklaus tournament course today for the first time in probably 6-7 years. I played the stadium course last year around the tournament time and it was absolutely pristine so I was expecting that level of conditioning but was let down.

The design and layout of the course I thought was great, big drop offs on the sides of fairways, angled greens put a premium on placement off the tee. A lot of big deep bunkers out here and good mix of water holes. I’d say I like the layout here more than the stadium course.

As for conditions, the tee boxes were pristine all day pretty much perfect. The fairways look good from afar but definitely more thin spots than I’d expect this close to the tournament looks like the overseed didn’t come in perfectly, also looked like fairways could use a little mow not sure what day they do that might have just caught the wrong day. The bunker are okay not great looking visually and could use some more sand but not horrible. The greens, we were told, were brand new remodeled to original size this past year and a new grass was planted. As is with new greens they are always very firm and again a little sparse with some definite thin spots on the surfaces. Ball rolled okay but definitely not like our experience the previous year at the stadium course.

Overall we really enjoyed the course and got a deal for 65 bucks so 100% worth it. I’d be happy to come back out in a couple months and see if the grass has filled in a little bit. The course lit me up today and I’d love another crack at it, very challenging.