I've been on an email barrage lately, trying to reach out to private clubs about my blog, travels and ultimate quest to play every course in CA. I was able to get a few responses for this weekend's Ce... Continue »

I've been on an email barrage lately, trying to reach out to private clubs about my blog, travels and ultimate quest to play every course in CA. I was able to get a few responses for this weekend's Central Valley trip, so it has been a successful venture. Visalia CC is one that was receptive and invited me out. My friend, ppark81, played with me. We teed off about 4:20 and basically had the course to ourselves this late in the day (still super hot with no wind to speak of). We were finished by about 6:30.

The course was in really nice overall condition and a clear step up from Sunnyside earlier, except for maybe the bunkers. The tee boxes were good. The fairways were great for the most part. Very lush with only some minor browning here and there. Rough was mostly good. Not too deep, but again thick and more penal than it looked. The bunkers had really nice sand, but a couple I was in had some unraked footprints. The greens were soft, but kind of springy/spongy, so some balls would really bite and others would shoot forward. The surfaces were smooth overall and rolling at medium speeds.

The bunkering really is the story at Visalia. In general, I'd say it's a pretty typical older style Central Valley course (tree-lined fairways, back and forth routing, fairly flat terrain), but the bunkers and overall presentation of the green complexes really add a ton of character. The bunkers are deep with neat (but diabolical) contouring. They are very much in play on every approach shot. There are a few nice water holes on this course including the signature par-16th and the very unique par-4 7th.

I would say the course favors a draw shot (right-to-left) because every dogleg here goes sharply to the left and there are some "uncomfortable" holes for me along the street. However, it is actually a very fair layout because most holes have ample bail-out room and angles for anyone to play. I didn't always execute, but I never felt like I didn't have an opportunity to score on any hole. Either way, it's a nice course (also a lot of history here, too) and well worth playing if you ever have the chance.