Played here on Memorial Day weekend on a twilight rate and the course was empty. A single went out ahead of us that we lost after a hole or two and we barely saw the 4-some playing behind us. The course is in as good a shape as you could ask for from a public course. The fairways were lush with no major brown areas that I recalled. The rough was thick and punishing, and the greens were fast and smooth. Some bal mark damage was evident, but nothing too bad.

The course itself is very challenging. The rough really eats up the clubs, so you are paying a penalty for missing the fairway. Greens are of a decent size, but most of them are tiered so long puts are very difficult. The carts could use an update with GPS, and putting coolers on the carts would be nice, but the weather was so mild for us that it did not bother me.

Goose Creek is definitely one of the more challenging public courses I have played. For public courses in the OC/IE area, there are not too many in the same class that you can play for the same money.

Goose Creek Golf Club Review
Riverside County California Golf Course Reviews

Had a very nice May afternoon round here recently. We went out as a 5-some on the twilight rate, and were bumping up against the group ahead of us at times. They had one guy walking, which I think slowed them down. Still, even with all that, we finished in 4 1/2 hours, which surprised me. we never were stacked 2-3 groups deep, even on the par 3s.

The course is in good shape, with some spots in need of more watering. The greens were in very good shape, without very few marked up greens. Overall, the course is not too challenging, as long as you stay out of the rough. The deep stuff can be pretty nasty here.

Costa Mesa Country Club Review
Costa Mesa California Golf Course Reviews

Played here for the first time. Front 9 is very challenging, with a lot of narrow fairways. Accuracy is more important than distance. The back 9 opens up more, with generally wider fairways and bail out areas.

I got a good deal on the rate, so if you can play here for under $30 or 40, it is definitely worth it. For more than that, especially with a long drive, I would probably look elsewhere.

The course was in very god shape, but the heat and sun looks like it might start taking a toll on the course as the summer wears on.

Shorecliffs Golf Club Review
San Clemente California Golf Course Reviews

Played a birthday round here on a perfect So Cal May day, a little overcast to start, sunny and not too hot by about 11:00. for those that do not know, you get a free round on your birthday, and everyone else in your group plays for the member rate, so it is a great deal.

I am a high handicap, but the course, is not too tough. A little narrow in areas with some protected greens, but nothing like the target golf I find at some other places. The course was in great shape, and the service was very good all the way around. They do a good job is spacing groups. We had to wait on a few holes for the very slow group in front of us, but were only pressed a few times from the group behind. we were never stacked up 2 groups deep on the tee box.

Tustin Ranch Golf Club Course Review
Tustin California Golf Course Reviews

After taking a Winter break, I played a tune up round here. If you go, understand it is a par 3 course. You are hitting off mats. You are directly in the flight path from John Wayne Airport. But it is still fun. There are a couple of holes where most everyone can uncork a driver, and long hitters have the potential to reach everything off the tee.

Conditions were good. Greens were in good shape with not too much damage, and the fairways were in OK condition, but you should not have to hit too many shots off the fairway.

A fun course if you know the limitations. A poor choice for someone who wants a premium golf experience.

Newport Beach Golf Course Review
Newport Beach California Golf Course Reviews

Played here on Black friday and it could not have been a nicer round. The course was not crowded at all, though the marshall did give a gentle nudge for us to pick up the pace so that the group behind us would not bump into us. We ended up catching the group in front (it was just 3 of us), but we never had much of a wait.

The course is challenging but not nearly as bad as I was expecting. There are some target golf holes, but for the most part I was able to keep it at least in the rough. Conditions were good, except on the few holes where we were restricted to cart paths. Some holes can be a walk to the fairway, and not a lot of people are bringing the mix to fix their divots when they have to walk away from the carts.

Greens were very fast, very challenging, and in excellent condition. Overall, a great day on an excellent course.

Hidden Valley Golf Club Course Review
Norco California Golf Course Reviews

Played here on a Saturday in between storms and the course payed well. The problem was that the facilities just did not seem to have its act together. We had a 12:51 tee time, a little late, but not too late since the clocks were rolling back the next day. Well, they were backed up about 30 minutes because they did not have enough carts. We were sitting around with a bunch of other golfers waiting for other groups to finish so we could go out. The group in front of us then had 3 carts die on them for lack of charge. Pace of play started out great because they were sending out a group every 10 minutes or so, but soon we were backed up with the group 2 in front of us playing really slow. I saw the beverage cart 2-3 times, but never a marshall. Thankfully they bailed at twilight, and the group in front of us bailed on 17, so my buddy and I played 18 in near darkness. Thankfully that was the one hole where I hit all my shots straight, so I could just follow the flight as a dark spot against the dimly lit sky. As soon as the ball started coming down, it was lost in the dark mountain backdrop. At no point did anyone offer anything in compensation for the 30 minute delay.

The course was in decent shape, not too much water from the previous day's rain. A few muddy and wet areas, but that was to be expected. The layout is nice, with some target golf and some holes fairly wide open with parallel fairways. A rangefinder or GPS is very helpful, as there were several holes where there was serious trouble right at my driver length, so I sacrificed a few yards to play safe with my 3 wood. The carts don't have GPS or coolers, so bring your own for both.

The greens were still recovering from being punched, but they were in decent shape, except for the ball marks. Too many golfers just don't see the need to repair the greens, which is a real shame.

Dos Lagos Golf Club Review
Riverside Golf Course Reviews

Had a vrey nice round here for the first time out. You don't have out and back holes, so there is no bail out fairway on the next hole over for major mis hits, but the fairways did not seem overly tight. Of course, I was hitting the ball straight off the tee that day, but there were not really any holes that kept me from using the driver, unless I wanted to hit a target.

My main complaint is that the rough was very inconsistent and very thin in areas, and I seemed to find a lot of hard pan lies, especially 15 or so yards around the green.

On the plus side, there are a number of really pretty holes here, with a very fun finishing hole, driving down into a deep fairway from a highly elevated tee box.

I would be nice if they added GPS, but the reast of the facilities are very nice, with an excellent club house. From Orange County, with the Toll Road, it is only 1/2 hour from my house, so well worth a repeat trip or 3 or 4.

Had a great round here, at a course that looks a bit more intimidating than it actually is. The opening hole has to one of the prettier and intimidating opening holes in the county, especially from the tips. You are hitting from an elevated box, over teh cart path, over a lake through a fairly narrow slot. But as long as you don't dribble it, there is plenty of room in the fairway. Most of the course is like this, with kicks off the hills, hidden bail outs, and trouble only for the those that court danger or pack a huge slice.

The greens are all fast, with a lot more break than it seemed, at least to me. Uphill puts need more force that at first they seemed, while even long downhill puts needed barely a tap to get the run. At the turn that had a bbq going, with tri-tip on the menu. I don't know if it is a normal item, but it was teh best lunch I have had at the turn on a course this year.

If you don't know the course, River View meanders back and forth across the Santa Ana River bed, up the banks, along the sides... Depending on how long it has been since the last rains, the course quality can vary a bit. Late summer, when I played my round, the conditions were great. There are a lot of holes that carry across or into the river channel, so no matter how hard they try, the quality of the grass is going to be suspect. You can inly do so much when the bedding is sand. But otherwise, the fairways were in good condition.

About half the course is target golf, with major elevation changes, blind shots up hills to greens, and sharp doglegs. Miss hiits are severly punished here. The other half of the course is more open, with enough room to track down wide shots, shorter par 3s, and longer holes with good scoring opportunities.

I played off a web special, and it was a very good deal. I am not sure I would have felt the same playing full price though.

This is where I have played the most this summer. it is easy to get a tee time on the weekends, inexpensive (especially with Golf Zing) and fun for the money. Nothing is overly long, but there are challenging holes. Only my longest hitting friend can reach everything, and that is only when he swings for the fences.

With me, as I get a bit longer with my driver (250 or so), it is nice to have to think about what I need to hit off the tee on the few (non par-3) holes within reach. The Par 3s are no 100 year gimmies either, well not all of them.

Summer has, however, taken a toll. There is a lot more dead grass and bare spots here than earlier in the summer. Not so much that it isn't worth the fees, but it is showing wear. Beyond that, it is a Par 60 course, so work on your mid and short irons, keep out of the traps, and have a pleasant round. I'll be back.

Played here for the 1st time, and I will say I am a fan on Long Beach Muni Course. we went out as a 5some, following another 5some, and 2 of us were walking, but we still finished in 5 hours and only were backed up early in the round.

The course is not overly challenging, even from the back tees, which is just fine with me. I did not see any water on the course, and I usually get pulled toward it no matter where I think I am hitting. There are lots of mature trees, so there is still a chance to get into trouble, should you end up wide of your own fairway. We had a few tough pin placements, and there are enough bunkers if you really want to play in the sand.

The conditions were very good. The fairway did not have too many bare spots, and the rough was fairly lush throughout. Sand was heavy, especially earty. Overall, well worth the greens fee.