Participated in the GOLF MOOSE/VIVID Private Club Event (my first) @ Dove Canyon on Monday and was happy I elected to do so. As is always the case when Johnny is involved, it was a well-organized affair with the club staff providing a welcome, hospitable atmosphere. A tip of the hat to everyone who made this day possible.

And I was blessed with great company…having been paired up with Johnny, Ron, and Mark…which elevated my level of enjoyment. Got to witness a number of high-quality shots from the boys as well. And much appreciation for Mark’s guidance throughout the day since this was my initial visit to the golf course.

Expansive, warm, and inviting clubhouse that’s conducive to relaxing with a drink and trading stories following a day on the course. Large practice range facility with a short-game area off to the side provides the opportunity to work on all phases of one’s game. Although we were relegated to hitting off mats, they were in good shape as I didn’t notice any signs of excess wear…and good quality range balls I might add. Practice putting green overlooks the picturesque finishing hole and was pretty close to mirroring what I encountered on the course.

As for the course itself, I’d rank it as one of the more demanding layouts I’ve played. Typical Nicklaus design: it demands precise iron play in order to score well. Having the ability to hit high approach shots is a huge plus…particularly when the pins are tucked in the far reaches of these devilish greens, many of which are on the narrow/shallow side and run diagonally to the fairway. And Jack’s bunkering has them well-protected. For a guy who was never known for his sand play, I get the impression this is how he’s chosen to exact his revenge.

While I personally feel some of the contours and segmented sections of the surfaces ‘push the envelope’, there is a perverse sense of pleasure one experiences if able to navigate those challenges successfully. Adventuresome and mentally-stimulating are appropriate terms when it comes to describing the pitching/chipping and putting experience at Dove Canyon.

And with that said, the golf course demands full engagement from start to finish; it’s an exciting layout and the word ‘boring’ never comes into play. I found the elevation changes, rolling fairways, and general scope of this design quite pleasing to the eye. There are a number of excellent holes out there but it’s tough to top the dramatic tee shots you face on the Par-3 10th and 17th holes.

Course conditions were very good; tees, fairways, and greens in solid shape for this time of year. Took note of a few bare spots on a couple of greens but didn’t have to deal with anything that compromised play. Rough was just long enough to create an issue but that was dependent upon the lie: if the ball sat up, not much of a problem…but a different story if it burrowed into the turf.

Greens rolled at a quick pace but nothing unreasonable…especially given the contours and slopes…and were very receptive to well-struck shots. Yes, the approaches are challenging, but if you hit the mark distance-wise, the ball did settle down nicely.

Bunker sand had good texture…a bit on the heavy side…along with plenty of depth, with just about all of them requiring lofted escapes as the ones I was in sat below the putting surfaces and featured steep faces.

Having no previous experience at Dove Canyon, I felt I was at somewhat of a disadvantage…which wasn’t helped by a sloppy ball-striking round. But now that I’ve gotten a look at it, made some observations, and taken notes, I’m looking forward to a return at some point down the road.

Thoroughly enjoyed the day @ Classic Club from all aspects…but it was my playing partners, Johnny G. and Mark E., who really made it extra special. Couldn’t have asked for a better duo to be paired with.

Classic Club is one of my favorite courses in the Palm Desert area and for many reasons: outstanding layout…challenging yet fair…full-featured practice facility, professional/outgoing staff, and a meticulously-manicured, ambient setting that blends in so well with the property.

Course was in very good shape tee to green but it was difficult to not be disappointed with the overall quality of the greens. Possibly attributable to the time of year, they ran slow, grainy, and not as true as I had anticipated.

But what really caught my attention were the frayed and ragged edges around a number of cups…which led me to believe they elected to not cut fresh hole locations that morning. It’s not something I would expect from a high-end course such as this…especially after having already come out of aeration.

With that aside, this is a well-run operation; every staff member I interacted with was pleasant, courteous, and on top of their game. They genuinely make one feel welcome here…and that isn’t always the case at many other venues.

I opted to have dinner at Bellatrix at the conclusion of the GK raffle and the food/service were excellent. The generous meal credit is a nice touch and provided added value to the day’s entry fee.

I highly recommend Classic Club as a ‘must play’ if you’re in the area. The facility checks all the boxes when it comes to an enjoyable and satisfying experience, from start to finish.

And thanks again, Johnny, for organizing and making this all possible. It was great to have the opportunity to tee it up with you!

Played Shadow Ridge for the first time in 12 years…a self-imposed seven-year exile from golf was a major contributing factor…as a warm-up for the Classic Club event. It didn’t take long to be reminded why this course is my top choice in the Coachella Valley; the layout demands the best from all aspects of one’s game yet is fair and totally devoid of gimmicks.

Course conditions were very good as far as the tee boxes, fairways, and rough go. The greens? They were slow and grainy…but I did manage to make a few putts once I was able to dial in the speed so it turned out to be a relatively minor issue at the end of the day.

I had the last time on the tee sheet…2:00…and the course to myself so I played two balls the entire round. 36 holes on the books in three-and-a-half hours? I’ll take that every day of the week.

Practice facilities are second-to-none and the staff rates high as well. Having access to the locker room for a quick shower…after playing in the rain over the final four holes…was a welcome perk.

Also nice to FINALLY see an on-site restaurant (‘Giuseppe’s) open for business adjacent to the pro shop. Stopped in for dinner after the round and it was packed. Food and service were excellent…and they offer a pretty extensive menu.

Going back to the golf course, I believe the greens will be undergoing aeration next week, with a full course-closure scheduled at the end of October. With that in mind, I’d recommend holding off on playing there until they reopen late November.

Getting a bit repetitious here but with a high temperature forecast to be a mere 95 degrees, I headed out to Rams Hill yesterday, just six days removed from my last visit…and 112 degree heat. I simply could not pass up the opportunity to play on such a benign mid-June day so it was a very easy call.

Course is still in good shape but there are some isolated areas showing signs of slight heat stress. Nothing widespread but I did notice a couple of spots here and there…predominantly on the perimeter of the fairways…that may need some attention.

With that being said, the maintenance crew was out in force when I teed off @ 11:30 and a couple of fairways were being watered as I approached. I expect things to dry out a bit as we get deeper into the summer but it appears the staff is committed to maintaining conditions at a high level.

Tee boxes and fairways were great; laser-sharp level platforms to tee off from and the Par-3s are not torn up with a bunch of old divots. You’ve basically got a ‘blank canvas’ to work with and the turf is cut tight.

The greens…which I consider the true highlight of the course, both in design, scope, and condition…were once again flawless. 11.0 was the posted Stimp and they were pretty quick. I’m definitely getting spoiled out here; I’m not used to seeing the ball track exactly along its line…and the consistent green speed that carries over from one hole to the next is something that cannot be overlooked either.

As I’ve alluded to in my previous two reviews, the putting surfaces are quite firm but will be aerated as part of an extended maintenance period that will run from July 7-17, with the golf course remaining closed during that time frame.

There is a secondary maintenance period scheduled for August 11-13 that will be less aggressive but it’s just another indication that management is ‘all in’ on making Rams Hill a ‘must play’ destination course.

Unless another sub-100 degree day pops up over the next couple,of months, it may be a while before I get to play here again. December is already on the calendar, however, and I’m looking forward to seeing how different the course plays…and looks…at that time.

Made a return trip to Rams Hill (played there on Memorial Day) to take advantage of their generous FREE Birthday Round offer…and the course is in very solid shape.

Had a most enjoyable time as my daughter played alongside me. The course was empty…temperature hit 112 degrees as we finished up the round…so we were able to adopt and maintain a relaxed, leisurely pace from the opening hole.

Won’t get into much detail here…my previous review still stands on all accounts…but I thought the conditions may have been a notch higher. They’re keeping the course watered as we encountered a couple of fairways and areas short of the greens that were damp from a recent dousing. The end result? Healthy turf that provided excellent lies to hit from.

Fairways didn’t play as fast as they did on Memorial Day but we still saw some roll out. Coloring is a healthy green with no signs of any burn-outs and the rough was in good shape as well. Bunkers are well-maintained but due to the heavy sand, it’s tough to get an appreciable amount of spin on the ball as it has a tendency to ‘settle’ in the sand.

Greens still firm but playable; you must take that into account when deciding where to land your approach shot. Going long into the back fringe areas of these sloping greens will really test your resolve and short game shot-making skills so distance control is a must.

Putting-wise, as was the case a few weeks ago, they were awesome. Devoid of ball marks and smooth as glass, the posted Stimp number was 11.5. Didn’t feel overly quick but you most certainly must respect the sloping, downhill putt.

Tee boxes were a bit softer this time around, which was a welcome improvement. The aeration that’s taken place since the end of May has helped alleviate that issue.

Had new woods and wedges…and golf ball…in the bag since that last round so I was able to make a fair comparison between the ‘Old vs. New’. Happy to report the upgrades provided some measurable improvement from the tees/fairways and around the greens. That will make the upcoming credit card bill somewhat easier to digest. Maybe…maybe not.

I’d like to close by thanking Rams Hill for continuing to take a proactive approach to providing the best possible experience to their customers. From course conditions to the positive vibe exuded by their staff, they’re doing an excellent job. Already looking forward to my next round.

First round here since the end-of-year GK Event in 2016…and subsequent expansive/ambitious turf project that was initiated in 2023…so I’m long overdue for an extended review.

Decided to take advantage of an attractive Memorial Day promotion…along with ideal weather conditions…so I made the trek from San Diego with equal parts anticipation and trepidation.

Overall, course conditions were solid, especially when taking into account the relative ‘newness’ of it all. While there were some isolated, very small patches of sand in a couple of fairways where the turf was bare, I didn’t encounter any lies that ‘compromised’ my ability to strike the ball. Seems they’re continuing to fine-tune things so I’m more than willing to grant some slack in that regard.

Took a little effort to tee the ball at my preferred driver height as the tee boxes were very firm. A few did show signs of recent aeration but I opted to employ my shorter ‘iron tees’ when necessary.

Fairway coverage, other than the occasional bare spot, was good. Had consistently healthy lies the entire day but I think the turf may need a little more seasoning. Had no issues at all regarding club-head-to-turf interaction as I was easily able to create some nice divots.

Rough was relatively short and somewhat wispy but with full coverage. You might find the golf ball might sitting up one time but settled down just a bit the next. Gives the option of still going for the green rather than having to hack the ball out into the fairway, which is a nice feature of this thin-bladed grass.

Was in one bunker for the day and found the sand a touch heavier and not quite as firm as I’m used to. One thing you cannot do here is ‘quit’ on the shot; keeping the speed up and using plenty of bounce is the key to success.

What really caught my attention was the greens: they were absolutely flawless. Still on the firm side…it took some effort to locate my ball marks…but putting was akin to rolling a ball on a pool table. While I expected to see putts roll at a quicker pace…I’d characterize the speed as medium-plus at best…I haven’t played on greens this true and consistent in quite a long time.

Given the firmness of the greens, firing at the pin was a basic no-go. It wasn’t like hitting to concrete-hard surfaces…I was able to get some wedge approaches to settle down within ten feet of their ball mark while longer irons rolled out a few more feet…so I found myself playing for the front third of the green when the pin was located in the middle of the green and mid-point if it was towards the back.

When pitching from the fringes, I was able to impart a good amount of spin on the ball…lies were tight…but made sure to allow a little more run out, especially when forced to navigate the slopes on the greens.

In closing, I would be remiss if I didn’t allude to the outgoing and personable staff: from the gate person to the bag drop/cart attendants to the snack bar and restaurant employees…they are the best. Each and every one I encountered seems to genuinely enjoy their job. The golf course stands on its’ own merit but the people here elevate the experience to another level.

Ventured out of my comfort zone (Admiral Baker-North) for a rare ‘Away’ round yesterday…accompanied by an even rarer course review…as I was looking to get some extra golf in this week. Took advantage of a ‘Hot Deal’ on a warm, desert-like day while being able to stick close to home so it was a win-win proposition. Last played here in 2014 and given the beating the golf course took during this year’s rain storms, I was apprehensive as to what to expect.

Stepped onto the first tee and immediately began to have second thoughts: namely, “What am I doing out here?”. The tee box was overgrown with splotchy, wispy turf and the general overview of the course didn’t look all that encouraging. Kept that same mindset through the first trio of holes but things markedly improved as I continued onward.

While there are remnants of the water damage that wreaked havoc earlier in the year, I have no major complaints regarding the overall conditions. Tee boxes have been over-seeded…thus explaining the extra long turf…but should be fine once mowed to a proper height.

Fairways were in good shape but soft; my ball picked up mud on just about every tee shot…with no rollout whatsoever. As a result, the course played much longer than the 6700 yards on the card. There were a few muddy spots in some fairways…some bare ones on others…but, on a grand scale, the turf was healthy and provided excellent lies.

Fringe areas on some holes were extremely thick due to the over-seeding, making shots from those spots quite challenging. Nothing unfair though…you just need to have the game to handle those scenarios. But be aware there were also areas where the lies were a little thin and tight.

Greens were the highlight…despite their speed being on the slow side, especially when putting uphill. And given the fact that there aren’t a lot of steep elevations on their putting surfaces, that says a lot. Still, putts rolled true but didn’t break as much as anticipated. Another positive point: I saw very few ball marks that hadn’t been attended to.

Only drawback was the bunkers; they were hard-packed, like concrete, making it just about impossible to hit any sand shots with even a hint of confidence. It was a ‘chunk and run’ kind of day…which is not the preferred method if you happen to short-side yourself.

Teed off as a single @ 1:00PM and wrapped things up three-and-a-half hours later. Was waved through a twosome on #2 and a group of three on #5 but ran into some extended waiting over the final six holes as things began to back up a bit. Want to mention that I walked and carried my bag; pace-of-play would have been much worse had I been in a cart.

At the end of the day, I was pleased with the overall playing conditions, in spite of the transitional maintenance taking place. May have been a bit of an annoyance but I applaud the effort and investment being put forth into improving course conditions.

Carlton Oaks will always rank as one of the toughest courses I’ve played and that experience is much more enjoyable…and fair…when the playing conditions are kept to an elevated standard. I’m hopeful the staff will continue to take the steps necessary in order to maintain playing conditions at a consistently high level.

Wow...what a disappointment. Played this afternoon...Monday... and can't recall ever seeing this course in such poor condition. Biggest issue is with the greens but let's begin with the tee boxes. Stepping onto #1, I received a preview of what was to come: quite a few of the boxes had bare spots that were filled in with sand...and teeing off on #2 felt as if I was standing in a bunker. While it was the worst of the group, many of the boxes were uneven with spotty turf coverage.

Contrary to the remainder of the course, the fairways were very good; no complaints there. Consistent turf coverage from tee-to-green and tightly mown, so club-to-ball contact had to be precise. Fringe areas were a bit of a challenge as there were different strains of grass encountered in certain areas. Wasn't in the rough but based on my cursory observations, it seemed pretty playable.

While the compromised condition of the tee boxes won't necessarily have much of an impact, if any at all, on one's score, the greens are an entirely different story. Numerous edges along the perimeters were sanded due to turf issues and the 'hearts' of a handful of greens were also severely damaged, with #3 being the worst. I know this sounds clichéd, but having to putt through that portion of the green was akin to rolling a ball over a washboard as mine quickly bounced and veered off line like you wouldn't believe. In hindsight, I'd have been better off using a wedge vs. putter.

But, as if that wasn't enough to contend with, the greens were covered with thousands of miniature spores that had been blown off the surrounding trees. So in addition to the badly damaged greens, I now had to deal with putting over these 'peppercorns', which basically eliminated ANY chance of keeping putts on line and up to speed, regardless of length.

Damaged greens are one thing but the stuff that has been allowed to collect on the putting surfaces is unacceptable. Unless you happen to carry a Shop-Vac or broom in your golf bag, forget about brushing them out of your line; there are simply too many to deal with. While this may be a seasonal problem, having the course maintenance staff out there with blowers would go a long way towards alleviating the problem.

The 18th hole has been shortened by about fifty, sixty yards with a temporary green cut in the middle of the fairway that features an 8" cup. Have no idea as to how much longer the green will be shut down but it's quite obvious they have their hands full re: maintenance and upkeep.

Teed off @ 12:15 as a single and finished up in about 3.5 hours or so. Played through a couple of threesomes on holes 5 and 13 but got held up from 14-18 by a slow foursome. Still, I was in no rush and enjoyed being able to play in solitude.

Mt. Woodson's rate...$47.00 with a cart...is a solid value under normal circumstances but I doubt I'll be returning after today's experience. I was so put off by having to deal with the junk on the greens that I felt putting was a complete waste of time. Certainly can't offer any endorsement at the present time...but 'buyer beware' definitely applies.

I’ve been through a few tough years recently…2021 in particular: near-fatal medical issue, two major surgeries, an extended recovery period, and plenty of time to contemplate what’s taken place. Set my sights on getting back out on the golf course if/once I got through it all and finally made that happen on Monday. After a couple of months at the range trying to find my swing, I ventured out for my first round of golf in six years…choosing my local favorite to put things in motion.

Speaking of recovery, the putting surfaces…which had been aerated about a month ago…were in excellent condition. While I had to tend to a few ball marks outside of my own (the more things change, the more they stay the same), the greens were smooth and rolled at a medium-fast pace. Plenty of opportunity to make some putts, provided you got the correct read.

Fringe areas were healthy but tightly mowed, so there’s no room for error in the technique department. Best advice I can offer is to opt for a low-bounce wedge or take the safe route with putter or hybrid if you don’t feel all that confident with your chipping/pitching prowess.

Rough has also been cut down but that doesn’t make it any easier to play out of. The Kikuyu was absolutely nasty and demanded clean club-to-ball contact in order to provide acceptable results. Keeping the ball in the fairway is the only way to avoid putting yourself in a situation where you could conceivably not have any idea how to navigate the shot you may envision.

And the fairways were in excellent shape as well. Saw no evidence of any compromised areas; given the fact that I walked the course, there was plenty of opportunity to survey the grounds. While ‘AB’ will never feature lush, private-club turf, there were spots where the grass resembled an emerald carpet…both in color and texture.

No complaints as far as the tee boxes go; they appeared level to me and showed minimal divot damage. Bunker sand…as usual…was soft and easy to play out of. Overall, I doubt the course could be in much better condition than it is right now.

Teed off as a ‘4’ @ 11:00 and finished @ 3:45. Had to wait here and there during the round but ran into a standstill while in the middle of the 13th fairway. Group in front of us had fallen a hole-and-a-half behind; good players…it’s just that they were taking their ‘match’ way too serious. Had they been able to keep pace, I think we would have finished a good 15-20 minutes earlier.

Rates were increased October 1st; the non-military civilian rate was $43.00 (optional cart is an additional $20.00). Considering all that’s taken place on the economic front over the past few years, ‘AB’ still offers plenty of value. Solid conditions, a challenging, fun-to-play layout, and an excellent restaurant…al for a very reasonable cost…especially when you look around and see what other courses are charging these days.

Not much more to add except that I highly recommend playing there right now. Hopefully conditions will continue to be top-notch.

Reluctantly decided to come out of hibernation and play for the first time in four months on Wednesday, 9/21, and found the golf course to be in very good condition from start to finish. The rain that fell Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning was definitely beneficial but it appeared to me conditions were quite good prior to the storm that made its' way through San Diego at the beginning of the week. I'll point to Weber2323's review from 9/10 as evidence of that fact.

The golf course was basically wall-to-wall green carpet, which isn't something I'm accustomed to seeing at AB-North this time of year. There may have been some isolated patches that were the exception but I don't recall taking note of it. As a result, fairway lies were great from tee-to-green on practically every hole. However, because of the recent rainfall, fairways were soft and, in some cases, a bit soggy, particularly the landing zone on #12. One thing I have noticed when playing here is that the maintenance staff is very proactive when it comes to protecting certain areas of the course and there were plenty of signs posted to divert cart traffic away from that portion of the fairway. Nice to see them make the effort to protect an area that was extensively resodded just a year ago.

As expected, the greens held extremely well yet the speed wasn't as sluggish as I anticipated. Granted, they weren't as quick as I've experienced...or would prefer...but I didn't find myself having to slam the ball on every green because of the rain, which is testament to how well the putting surfaces drain. And I didn't notice any footprints or other irregularities that affected the roll of the ball either, except for an unrepaired ball mark on #13 that kicked my 40-footer off line at the last second, costing me a birdie!

The fringe areas around the greens were flawless and in the best shape possible...and that goes for the rough as well. Definitely longer and thicker than usual, venturing off the fairway was not a good idea. In most cases, I found my ball sitting up, which resulted in some strikes high on the club face. Conversely, if the ball burrowed, advancing the ball an appreciable distance was almost impossible.

Only hit one bunker and the sand was surprisingly fluffy...even to a good depth...and very playable. Looked at a few other traps as I passed by them during the round and their appearance seemed to parallel what I experienced on #7.

Saw the beverage cart and marshal on only one occasion but it wasn't very crowded at all. We played as a foursome...teeing off at 2:00...and finished a leisurely-paced round in about 4 hours and 15 minutes. Despite the high humidity, it was a perfect day to play and the constant breeze...which seems to be a given here...kept us comfortable.

Not much to add except that the course is in excellent condition at the present moment and should remain so until aerification of the greens commences on October 3rd.

Made a late decision to play in Sunday's GK Event and was so glad I did. Cross Creek GC never seems to pop up on my radar...haven't set foot on the grounds in 10 years...but that may change after yesterday's experience. Not only is it one of the more challenging layouts in Southern California, the remoteness and solitude one feels is a welcome change from the run-of-the-mill housing tract developments that are all too common. Front and back nines each possess their own characteristics and personality, thereby eliminating monotony and boredom from the equation.

There's plenty of challenge wrapped up in the sprawling layout that will test all talent levels but be sure to select the proper tee box; despite the less-than-oppressive yardage numbers, I think the course plays longer than the scorecard would indicate. Mix in some soft fairways with a steady wind and you'll have plenty to handle.

Course conditions were good despite a few areas that were less than ideal but I'm willing to overlook those isolated flaws...thin tee boxes, wet turf, portions of the fairway that should have been marked GUR...because the greens were about as good as anyone could hope for. Smooth, quick, receptive to well-struck shots, they were an absolute joy to putt on and in excellent shape. I was especially cognizant of how easy it was to repair ball marks and how "clean" the finished product looked.

Whether it's through the efforts of the maintenance staff, the people who play here on a regular basis, or a combination of both, the presentation of these putting surfaces was impressive. I can deal with issues from tee-to-green on any course as long as the greens are top-notch, and that certainly is the case at Cross Creek. With the exception of some surface damage on Hole #2, they were just about flawless.

As alluded to in many other posts, the staff at Cross Creek couldn't have been more welcoming or accommodating. Despite being overwhelmed with food orders following the round, Brent and his staff were cheerful and pleasant, with no evidence of anxiety to be seen on their faces. It really was a nice way to bookend the day and this level of genuine customer service did not go unnoticed.

Thanks again to Johnny for putting Cross Creek into the GK Events mix; I've got to think the positive response from the consensus will definitely result in a return visit. And I'd also like to thank my playing partners, Kathie, Bill, and Wendy, for providing such wonderful company; it sure made for a fun day.

Played AB-North on Wednesday, 4/20, and noticed a slight improvement in overall conditions compared to what I reported a few weeks back. Fairways are beginning to fill in with better coverage and more consistent lies than what's been prevalent through the winter months; tee boxes generally in decent shape as well.

Putting surfaces have definitely benefited from the recent top dressing process although they are still rolling in the medium speed category, with a few uphill putts requiring a little more "oomph" to get the ball to the hole. Did not see an abundance of unattended ball marks that needed attention but I did find myself fixing an additional three or four pitch marks per hole in addition to my own. Greens held very well, to the point where I was able to spin a couple of wedges back a foot or two; haven't seen that here in a while.

Putts rolled fairly smooth but I wasn't able to get anything of note to fall. Hit a number of putts, particularly from the 15'-20' range, where I thought the ball was going to find the bottom of the cup but that just wasn't the case. Typical of this course, however, as many putts have a tendency to take the break then straighten out at the last second or do something totally unexpected. There's a very fine line that separates a good putting round from a great one here; except for a couple of misreads, I was very pleased with my stroke and was never close to 3-putting, despite taking 31 putts for the round.

Only found the rough on two occasions and it was playable, although it took some effort to get the club on the ball. Fringe areas around the greens are also improving but there are still many spots where clumpy, uneven lies are prevalent, which made it difficult to keep shots from off the green, whether hit with a hybrid or putter, on line.

Bunkers are in need of some maintenance as the upper layer of sand appears to have thinned out considerably in recent weeks. Once one of the best features of the course, I've found recent forays into the sand has now become a guessing game; very hard-packed surface just below the ball that forces you to guard against blading the shot, thus making it very difficult to hit a high quality bunker shot. Nowhere near the Desert Willow disaster...thankfully...but still something worth noting.

As always, customer service level was fantastic...from check-in to dinner after the round...with on-course beverage cart and water service available on multiple occasions. Pace-of-play was excellent: teed off as a twosome at 1:19...following a group of three elderly gentlemen who were walking...and finished at about four hours and fifteen minutes.

The wind, which always seems to be omnipresent in the afternoon, was in full force for the duration of the round and probably the strongest I've encountered at AB-North. Knowing it has a tendency to swirl and change direction at a moment's notice, we were still amazed at how quickly conditions varied just from the tee shot to the approach on some holes. It really added to the challenge and fun factor and had us on our toes when it came to club selection but this is another reason why I enjoy playing here; the golf course always seems to play different from week to week to a certain degree.

Not sure if the rain that's projected to arrive next week will materialize but I believe it would be very beneficial given this recent spell of warmer than usual temperatures we've experienced. With summer fast approaching and winter now fading in the rear view mirror, I would expect conditions to continue to get better moving forward.