I have played Franklin Canyon many times over the past 30 or so years-but not recently (last 10 years or so). I took advantage of a "Group Golfer" coupon for $25 and played yesterday (8-27-18).
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I have played Franklin Canyon many times over the past 30 or so years-but not recently (last 10 years or so). I took advantage of a "Group Golfer" coupon for $25 and played yesterday (8-27-18).
First, the good news:
*The folks I dealt with were pleasant and polite.
*The pace of play was very good. We were a twosome, teed off at about 11:30 and finished 18 holes in 3 hrs and 45 minutes.
*The basic layout is virtually unchanged-not many "tricks" but as always, a bit of local knowledge is helpful. Fortunately, I found an old yardage book/course guide. The downside is that many of the trees depicted in the guide have been gone for years!!
*The bunkers (although I was in only one) had adequate sand and rake availability.
*There were a couple of functioning water fountains on each nine.
Now the not so good news:
*The practice range is from hunger! It makes the driving range depicted in the movie "Tin Cup" look like Augusta National. To describe the practice balls as pathetic is an insult to "pathetic". I wouldn't throw them at a charging pack of rats! The $6 for 30 balls is WAY out of line.
* The practice putting green gave a preview of lumpy (to be expected) poa annua, but it was still in rough shape. There is a pitching/chipping green nearby but I did not utilize it.
* A number of holes exhibited large areas of hard-pan in the fairway. The extra yards from the bounce may be welcome but to hit off concrete is not so good. On many holes the difference between fairway and rough is non-existent.
* The teeing grounds were by and large, a combination of bare dirt and crabgrass. Bring lots of tees...
*It would be helpful to have a distance marker somewhere on the teeing ground. The scorecard may say one thing, but in many cases, reality shows another.

Franklin Canyon used to be nice layout that was in good condition. Not so much now...