This is another of several very recent reviews of Soule so all I really have to add is they are spot on. The conditions were all around very good, the place is well run and the setting is awesome. After not having played the course in about 30 years, I found an excuse on Monday 5/26 for my second trip back in the last few months. If you are headed up the coast from LA to Ventura and points North, it is worth the diversion to Ojai on the way to play this course. Plan on a drink and bite afterword to get the whole experience.

Out Thursday 5/1 as a threesome with an 11:24 start close to on time. Conditions first, comments later. Conditions were overall pretty nice. Teeing grounds had healthy coverage, most were appropriately level but at least one was side hill enough I elected to tee from next to it than in the more sloped box. Fairways also had good coverage and hitting surface. I don't recall any outstanding exceptions to this. Rough varies a lot here from quite playable to dense brush. It just depends where you are in the route. Bunkers were in good shape with generally clean surfaces. Green surrounds played well enough, sometimes on the tighter side for chipping. Greens were in good shape, reasonably clean and true, at a medium pace. From the conditions, layout and aesthetic perspectives it was a pleasure to play.

As to commentary, I had not played Knollwood for years because of how slow it can get. But one of the group suggested it and, liking the layout a lot, I figured I'd go for it and prepare for the worst. Pretty close. Five and a half hour round. I still enjoyed it because I was mentally prepared and focused on the positives of the day. I'd recommend the course enthusiastically based on conditions, but the reality is it will probably be a good while before I return. Sadly, because while there is a lot about this course to like, the long rounds just seem to be too much of a sure thing here.

Late but quick review because playing only 12 holes the previous outing, I wanted closure and went back to play 18 on Thursday 4/24 with a 12:30 start. When booking, I overlooked the fact that the greens had been punched between rounds, so my previous review pretty much stands except for a greens update. They were mostly lightly sanded with what I consider medium punch holes, but I thought they ran surprisingly true and on the slower side of a medium that didn't feel overly sluggish. No need for a big compensation for speed, and I made putts. In the end and despite the surprise, I had a good round and wasn't disappointed. Greens were pretty clean before the aeration so give them another week and, despite any visual remnants, they should be performing quite well.

Made last minute 4:20 tee time at Woodley yesterday, raced cross town and arrived into the pro shop as they announced my name on the tee. I joined a twosome and another single, all pleasant guys. For Woodley the conditions were solid and typical for this flat, open course. Tee boxes here skew large and level with good coverage. Fairway grasses are mixed but were pretty consistent as to decent lies on the day. Rough here is usually very playable, less often a little thicker and costing some distance. Bunkers were clean, nicely groomed and on the firm side so the ball tended to sit up. Green surrounds were in good shape and I had success getting up and down on numerous holes. Green's surfaces were pretty clean at a reasonably quick speed that were enjoyable to putt on.

It is what it is, which is wide open and pretty forgiving so it compensated for a rushed, last minute, no warmup start late in the day. Pace was slow due to the group in front of us and I got through 12 holes before walking in, a little while after sunset. Without the group in front of us, probably would have gotten through 15 holes. Bottom line, with appropriate expectations, I was not disappointed and glad I got out.

Got out today in a foursome in which I was invited to play, with a 10:00 am start. The course conditions overall were pretty nice with the big exception of the punched and sanded greens. Did I know about them because of the GK alerts? Yes, from early in the week. And as soon as I found out, I reached out to my hosts to let them know, suggesting they check with the course and see if they wanted to reconsider. They did call the course and whomever they talked to minimized the extent of the aeration to the point of suggesting "they should be fine by Friday". They were not, they lied and an upscale facility like Industry Hills should do better. When I saw the first green —medium sized, sand-filled holes and a topcoat of sand over the entire surface — I elected not to keep my score for handicap submission. We still had a nice time, but this goes as black mark against their customer service in my book. We might still opt to play if we know the greens will be rough, but give us an honest choice when asked directly. I was not aware of any discount either.

All that aside, with the snow on the mountains and the post-storm clouds, the views were excellent.

Out on Friday, 1/3, as a twosome joined by another and starting at 12:12. Very briefly, I think the conditions here are pretty good and consistent throughout. Good, green coverage everywhere and I don't recall any thin areas through the fairways. Rough is mostly manageable and fairy consistent if you stay out of the wilds, bunkers were in good shape and groomed, and the greens were clean and a good quick speed. My minor issue would be a few of the tee boxes could be a bit closer to level. The major issue on the day was pace. We were approaching 5:00pm and just finishing the 14th hole. With the conga line still ahead of us and the sun gone, we knocked off there because we were close to the clubhouse with no chance to finish more than a couple more holes at best. Attribute it to the holiday surge as I've never had pace like it at this course and it was obviously packed out there. Customer service is friendly and the starter lady works her butt off. The canyon setting is particularly scenic and the conditions are solid. Recommended.

Hit Soule park today 12/19, for the first time in about 30 years. i never played it a lot, but the times I did when I was living in the area gave an appreciation of it as solid and scenic course. The Gil Hanse makeover was something I wanted to check out and I finally got around to it. I was not disappointed. Very nice conditions all around with some Hanse touches, like the extended close-mown areas beyond the official fringes to extend the putting options. Fairways tended to be more open and reasonably forgiving, offset with character to the greens complexes which often had significant contours to consider. Local knowledge helps because being on the correct side of the green or below the hole frequently made a big difference in your chances to score well, but often you couldn't see/gauge that from the fairway. Summarizing: tee boxes fine, fairways nice, rough not very punitive, bunkers in very nice shape, greens also in nice shape, reasonably quick and generally challenging. There is a nice flow to the course and the surrounding hills and mountains create a very attractive and somewhat dramatic setting. Pace was fairly steady, if a touch sluggish. We teed off a little after 12:00 and were the second to last group to finish on 18 with just enough daylight.

I didn't get to try it out, but the clubhouse has been improved and the restaurant there has a good reputation as a place to eat. It has open areas and places to perch with sightline to the course. Basically a cool spot whether a golfer or not. GDR25 has praised the place for its overall value and the quality of the course and I have to concur. I also have to find excuses to get back here more than every 30 years or so.

In Solvang for a few days, teed off @noon on Tuesday, 12/17. A beautiful day to play, I caught the single ahead of me on the 4th hole and we continued together. Per my previous reviews, I don't think this is the most interesting course around – generally flat and fairly straight forward – but the setting is very scenic and the conditions are pretty good all around. Good conditions tee to green with rough more often benign than not. I also found the bunkers well maintained with good sand. The greens were particularly clean and putted well at a reasonably quick speed. Behind some foursomes, the pace was about 4.5 hrs which seemed more sluggish than it needed to be, but it was as good a place as any to spend the extra time taking in views of the surrounding landscape.

An additional note: I took my wife and in-laws down to the course restaurant the previous day for lunch for the first time. Good food and service in a nice setting. There is a patio area outside that is a great setting for dining but it was chilly that day and only indoor dining. I don't know if it is otherwise used this time of year, but a great spot in warmer weather. Breakfast and lunch during the week with early dinners on the weekend. The Christmas decorations were off the hook.

Super short review. Teed off Friday 11/15 from the whites. Course is in nice winter conditions. Some odd dirt or thin stretches mostly in out of the way places, the coverage is mostly good. Hit one bunker and it was OK. Greens were quick side of medium and in good shape. Perfect, invigorating, Cali winter day with spotty clouds, clear, cool air and even a spot of rain. Dug it. Recommended.

Went out Friday 11/8 @1:25 as a single joining another single and twosome. Played the whites. Teeing grounds are not problem here. The fairways, even when the coverage is good, tend to be a riot of various grass colors, patterns and species that can still offer a good hitting surface. Currently it tends towards tight grass areas mixed in with stretches resembling dried river bottom with little matting and the odd dirt stretch. A poster child for muni golf. Despite that, and the fact that I may have moved my ball in the fairway at least once to get some grass under it, most of the time I didn't find it an issue and the lies were playable. But then, I have a shallow swing with little divot. So now you are forewarned, although there is the bonus of some extra rollout if you play here. I have long passed from "easy" to flat out "golf slut", so I was OK with it and enjoyed the round as far as we got. Rough was short and not a factor, and I missed the bunkers so no comment there. Greens were actually in pretty good shape and reasonably quick. The real drawback for me was that the pace was slow — we were on a five hour pace with under 4.5 hrs of light. We managed to get through the 14th before knocking off. I don't get over here often so I can't say I'll be back soon, but would still play it again without much hesitation but also without any illusions. So not necessarily a recommendation, but a nod to golfers like me who are willing to happily play a little dirty.


Epilogue: The others were in carts and departed as I started hoofing back from the 14th in the gloom. Checked my bag and confirmed i had working glow balls, so angled over to the 18th to play my way in what was now complete dark. Making out enough silhouette to know where the middle of the fairway was, a decent driver and two 5-woods left me somewhere in the right rough about 100 yds out, under an overhanging tree. The distance was a pure guess, the green location was suggested by some glare from lights near the clubhouse and the pin was invisible. Fourth shot was a punched five iron that rolled nicely and settled in what seemed like the front of the green, with the hope of being on. The glowing ball was easy to see but I had to get to within about ten feet to even see the red pin — and my ball a foot from the cup. Knocked it in for one of the more unexpected pars I've ever scored. A little thrill/satisfaction as compensation for the holes I didn't get to play.

Got out for a 1:00 Friday start as a twosome plus a twosome all riding and playing the whites. Hadn't been out to MM for a while and really enjoyed it despite my erratic play and a poor score. Teeing grounds were consistently level and in good shape throughout. Fairways had some thin patches and heavy divots scattered about but the predominant conditions were good — green hitting surface, more tight than lush. The rough was generally green, pretty consistent and not overly punitive, but enough to factor in and impact your shot. There are wilder areas to impact or lose your ball if far enough off line. I was in a few bunkers and I found them as good as any I've played in a while. They had a rough textured surface but, barring the odd footprint, actually had a nice give to them. The green surrounds set up well for the short shots and I particularly enjoyed the greens on the day. They were clean with interesting and challenging nuances, but I especially enjoyed the speed. Definitely quick and demanding some touch, they didn't go over the line to stupid/twitchy fast. Really enjoyed them as a fair challenge.

My guess on pace is under 4.5 hrs. We were mostly out of touch with the forward group, only waiting on one par three, and the group behind never caught us, so we were in a comfortable zone/pace. Set on its own high point, the elevation changes within the course make for interesting play and provide plenty of inspiring views of the San Gabriels and surrounding lowlands. It gives this public access course a special dimension and late afternoon light makes it more dramatic. The range and practice green are well maintained, the latter matching the course speed. The service is efficient and polite and the dining facilities are extensive with a large wedding going off as we finished. Definitely recommended, we both decided we need to play here a bit more often.

Got out Friday 10/25 as a twosome joining a twosome on a 11:50 tee time my buddy booked earlier in the week. The short story is that all the tees are still moved up forward of the regular tee boxes throughout the course. The customer service here is usually very good, but neither my buddy nor I recall any mention of the adjusted tees when we checked in. It was the regular price so it should have been made clear. 24hourgolf had called out this situation in a previous review, but I had forgotten and didn't think to check GK since the time was already booked. The closed tees look good so I'm only guessing they will be available fairly soon. I accepted it for what it was t get a casual round in, but I recommend calling ahead or waiting until you see an updated review. Otherwise, the course conditions were OK but a little below par relative to what I usually find here. Know before you go.