Greens are rolling pure and fast now. Fairways are in the best condition I've seen for this course. Bunkers could use either a bit more sand, or more raking, but they are playable. Great day out there... Continue »

Greens are rolling pure and fast now. Fairways are in the best condition I've seen for this course. Bunkers could use either a bit more sand, or more raking, but they are playable. Great day out there today.

Played 5/1. Tee boxes - Good shape. Fairways were in good shape also. Rough was how one would expect rough to be - sometimes you got a good lie, sometimes you were screwed. Bunkers looked good, bu... Continue »

Played 5/1. Tee boxes - Good shape. Fairways were in good shape also. Rough was how one would expect rough to be - sometimes you got a good lie, sometimes you were screwed. Bunkers looked good, but I didn't find any. Greens were in good shape and were medium speed. I had trouble seeing the proper breaks on a few putts and was wayyy off. First time playing here and we played in windy conditions which made for a tough day. I would definitely play here again.

Late with this post due to "technical difficulties" between my cell phone and GK's operating platform a couple of weeks ago. Was in no mood to re-write the entire review at that time but felt it would... Continue »

Late with this post due to "technical difficulties" between my cell phone and GK's operating platform a couple of weeks ago. Was in no mood to re-write the entire review at that time but felt it would be beneficial to put something "on paper" so here we go.

Venturing out of my comfort zone on 3/16, I played Marine Memorial for the first time since November 2015 and was very pleased with the overall playing conditions. Although this course will never fall into the "plush" category, turf coverage was uniform and plentiful with very few bare spots. It's still basically winter conditions but the ball sat up nicely in the fairways throughout the round and, as a result, I was able to make much better contact with the irons compared to what I encounter at Admiral Baker-North.

Tee boxes, generally speaking, were good but there were some that required moving around a bit in order to locate that elusive level spot. Don't recall the Par-3s being chewed up with divots so finding adequate turf was not an issue at all.

Rough has gotten longer...which seems to be the norm everywhere else these days...so it took some force to dig the ball out of a few deep lies. The taller height of the rough really did a nice job of framing the fairways, thus providing a distinct landing area to shoot for from the tee. It also served to "pinch' some of the landing zones quite effectively so accuracy was definitely more of a factor this time around.

I was quite impressed with the playability of the bunker sand despite having my reservations as I got fooled by the dark, gravel-like appearance. Once setting foot inside, however, I found the texture to be almost like beach sand with a fluffiness that extended well below the top surface. Thanks to such player-friendly features, hitting out of the bunkers was one of the highlights of the round.

Saving the best for last, the greens were in excellent shape...smooth, devoid of ball marks, and moving at a quick pace...I thought they were close to "private club" quality. Composed of a different grass than what's featured at AB-North, they resembled tightly-napped carpets and the putts rolled smooth and true. Shots into the greens had a tendency to release a bit with the exception of some high-lofted approaches but that was to be expected given the lack of any recent rain.

Pace-of-play for two was just under four hours and I was able to play a second 18 solo despite an initial 12:50 tee time. Didn't see anything other than twos and singles out there so it was very wide open, which made it easy to fly around a second time in about 2.5 hours.

Marine Memorial is a solid no-nonsense track that requires just about every shot in the bag in order to post a low score despite it's failure to grab your attention visually. The maintenance staff seems to keep conditions at a consistent, better-than-average level, it's quite economical to play here even if you have no military affiliation, and the remoteness of the course keeps you far removed from any outside intrusions. One of my favorite layouts, I look forward to playing there again soon.

NOTE: Greens were aerated on 3/22 and 3/23.

Played here this AM and had a short frost delay. Ended up a great day, sunny and a hi of 70. Very few golfers. Greens: excellent, smooth and "holding" with medium to fast speed. Fairways: very thin,... Continue »

Played here this AM and had a short frost delay. Ended up a great day, sunny and a hi of 70. Very few golfers. Greens: excellent, smooth and "holding" with medium to fast speed. Fairways: very thin, numerous bare spots but it's winter.... Rough: again numerous bare spots. Traps: hard packed sand in the traps greenside. POP: at 3 1/2 hours. Great practice area. Green fees are $50 (for civilians) on Friday, Sat and Sun, little pricy for the conditions. Good food at Mulligans.

Did my part to honor Veteran's Day on Wednesday by venturing up to Camp Pendleton to play Marine Memorial GC for the first time in over 20 years. Long considered a hidden gem by those in the know, th... Continue »

Did my part to honor Veteran's Day on Wednesday by venturing up to Camp Pendleton to play Marine Memorial GC for the first time in over 20 years. Long considered a hidden gem by those in the know, this golf course will test your game from driver through putter despite its' lack of plush conditioning and visual wow factor, along with a somewhat misleading slope of 127 from the tips. It's simply one of those old-fashioned, no-frills layouts that has stood the test of time (built in 1948) and provides as much challenge as some of the newer, more celebrated layouts that have popped up in recent years. Reminds me a bit of the recently deceased San Luis Rey Downs GC in so many ways, particularly the tree-lined fairways. Nestled within the appropriately named Windmill Canyon, the golf course provides a secluded feel among the surrounding foothills. Couldn't have picked a better day to play as the afternoon temperature hovered in the low-to-mid 70s with not a single cloud in the sky. Wind was definitely a factor...especially on the back nine...and quite beguiling at times. Heading off the first tee, we played directly into the wind but as we turned around at #6 and made our way back towards the clubhouse, the wind did an "About Face" (sorry, couldn't help myself) and decided to blow directly in our faces again. As far as conditioning is concerned, the fairways feature a mixture of different grasses that I'd categorize as patchy but I always found the golf ball sitting up on good turf after my tee shot, which is not often the case at Admiral Baker, for example. Tee boxes are in dire need of leveling as you could easily find a "hook lie" if that's the shot shape you had in mind. Didn't find any bunkers but my playing partner said they were more dirt than sand, again in direct contrast to Admiral Baker, which has the best sand conditions you could hope for. Golf course allows plenty of room off the tee so it's playable for a wide range of handicappers; in fact, we saw quite a few women on the course yesterday. Void of tricks and gimmicks, Marine Memorial's defense is in the greens; they are absolutely diabolical, especially for someone not familiar with the subtle slopes and undulations, as they are not readily discernible from the tee box or fairway. This is a golf course where you must pay attention to the nuances of each and every green if you hope to play well next time out. Pin positions were such that facing a putt just 6 feet above the cup on a relatively "flat" slope was akin to walking a tightrope above Niagara Falls. Although the greens held very well, the speed was quick...probably the quickest I've been on this year...and we saw many putts run out once they got past the cup. As a result, there's a premium placed on approach shots; 6 feet to the right of a pin may stick there and leave a precarious putt where it might be advisable to keep the headcover on the putter while something just a couple of feet left of the pin will release, resulting in an uphill 15-footer where you can make an aggressive run at the cup. No other way to put it: these greens will keep you on your toes! While the practice green was a bit bumpy, the on-course greens rolled smoother, particularly those on the back. Front side showed evidence of recent aeration but it didn't appear to affect the roll of the ball except on one or two occasions. Some of the greens are fairly expansive while others are slightly smaller, which can be further magnified by pin placement. I would probably classify this as a shot-maker's course as keeping the ball in the fairway and selectively placing your approach shot on the green is the key to scoring at Marine Memorial. Pace of play was an issue on the front side as there were many twosomes stacked behind one another; as a result, we were 15 minutes behind pace at the turn yet it seemed more like 30. Things opened up on #10, which allowed us to settle into a much better rhythm, and our games prospered as a result. No on-course marshal to be seen but the beverage cart did make two or three rounds during the course of the afternoon. Restaurant closed at 4:00 (are you serious?) but was told this was due to the holiday and the fact there weren't many people out on the golf course at that time. Okay...if you say so. There's a good-sized practice range available as well as a 9-hole warm-up course if you need to loosen up prior to beginning the round. Not sure of the prices for the range balls nor the level of their quality (yellow Srixon range balls). Overall, the facility had a laid-back, friendly vibe and what appeared to be a well-stocked Pro Shop. No GPS or yardage books available but was told that's something they are working on. Course is poorly marked except for standard Kirby Discs and stakes at 100-150-200-250 yards; didn't find one sprinkler head with a yardage indicator on it. Relied on the green depth info listed on the scorecard to get a better feel for the distance from the fairway. I recalled the challenge of this course when I played it back in the early 1990's and feel it has aged well. The added variable of a steady two-club wind on the back side really upped the fun factor and salvaged what had started off as a tedious test of patience on the front. All things considered...which includes a very favorable online rate...I'll most likely make a return trip next week, despite the lengthy drive. Hope to take what I learned this week and capitalize on it...provided my swing cooperates with me.

For what ever reason I do not play here very often. Had not been to Marine Memorial since early 2010. I was pleasantly surprised to find the course in very nice condition. Fairways are green and lu... Continue »

For what ever reason I do not play here very often. Had not been to Marine Memorial since early 2010. I was pleasantly surprised to find the course in very nice condition. Fairways are green and lush. Greens rolled well and were receptive to well struck shots. A little slow for my taste, but reasonably quick. Was not in any bunkers, so will defer from comment about them. The rough was patchy, some thin spots, some areas which were rather thick?

Lucky we were allowed to go in front of a "regular threesome" so finished in under 2 1/2 hours. Nice pace for a walking twosome. The course has such a serene park like feel, so it as like a pleasant walk in the park on an early fall morning. Played poor, but still had a great time, which is all I really can ask for.

Played here (WED AM) as my regular course is punching the greens this week. Got out with three members who heard me telling the Pro Shop that I was looking for a game so they invited me to join their ... Continue »

Played here (WED AM) as my regular course is punching the greens this week. Got out with three members who heard me telling the Pro Shop that I was looking for a game so they invited me to join their three some.

Greens: excellent condition, soft and smooth,

Fairways: very wet, actually had mud on the ball three time. Some thin lies but very playable.

Rough: 1-3" high.

Traps: Playable, firm but enough sand in them.

POP: just under 4 hours.Not alot of golfers for a Wed Mens club.

Nice practice range and putting area.

Challenging course, give it a try. All you need to do is tell the guard you want to go to the golf course and show him your drivers license.

Played 9-13-15 afternoon on a golfnow deal for $20 including cart. Was sent out as a single and played in in a little under 2 1/2 hours. Tee boxes were a little un-even and thin but still OK. Fairways... Continue »

Played 9-13-15 afternoon on a golfnow deal for $20 including cart. Was sent out as a single and played in in a little under 2 1/2 hours. Tee boxes were a little un-even and thin but still OK. Fairways were on the thin side with some dried out areas but still very playable. Rough was in good shape. Found one fairway bunker that was hard packed. Greens are still recovering from aeration so they are a little bumpy and soft. Overall course is in OK shape and very playable.

Nabbed a 2:00 GolfNow "Hot Deal" out here today for only $23 with the 30% off promo code they advertised. I arrived around 1:30 and there were very few people there. The guy in the shop gave me my car... Continue »

Nabbed a 2:00 GolfNow "Hot Deal" out here today for only $23 with the 30% off promo code they advertised. I arrived around 1:30 and there were very few people there. The guy in the shop gave me my cart key and said I could go off by myself whenever I was ready. I practiced putting for a bit and then teed off around 1:40. Played through two groups and finished 18 in 2:40! The course is in decent condition right now. It's very playable, but far from pristine. The greens are still recovering from aeration a few weeks ago. They are slow, soft and a little bit bumpy. Fairways are good, maybe a tiny bit on the thin side in spots. Rough was mostly pretty lush and sometimes deep. I was in one bunker and it was just okay, a little hard packed but playable. Tee boxes were sort of lumpy. All in all, very playable but I've seen this course in better condition. Added on edit: I knew there was something I was forgetting. Unfortunately, lots of greens have an abundance of squirrel holes around them, with squirrels hanging out all over the place! Not good. Here's a link to my Flickr photo album of photos from today: https://goo.gl/rKaFL3