Played as a twosome with my buddy on Thursday 9/11 wit a 2:30 start. At his preference, we played the whites but not much distance between them and the blues generally. The clippings that were a major issue for Inkybeme1 in the previous review were gone when we played and the overall conditions were good. One consideration is that a handful of the tee boxes have new sod laid over them and those tees were moved forward of the usual teeing grounds — in the case of the par-5 8th hole, somewhat dramatically. That temp tee also made for a seriously tilted surface that was an exception to the rest. So a course that tops out at 5.600 yds played even shorter overall, with holes 8 and 15 especially so. The majority of the tees were good. Fairway conditions were mostly good and usually no issues if you landed there, but there were some overwatered muddy patches distributed over the course that included some fairway. The rough here varies greatly from playable to thick to encroaching wild that can be dirt and/or thick brush. It's one of the challenges of this course and reinforces the penalty for getting off line on this target course. I was in a bunker and it was OK. Green surrounds were inconsistent but Ok for short game. Greens themselves were good. Quick enough but not overly so given the contours of some of the greens.

Bottom line, not having been here in a good while, I enjoyed the course, maybe because I got beat up a little less than usual. But between the sodded tees and wet spots, the course is not playing close to peak conditions right now. Good for casual option, but I suggest monitoring until they have activated the re-sodded tees. They should be an improvement over the old teeing surface and it's good to see that at least they are making improvements.

Out Friday 8/29 with a 3:09 start, joined by another single who only played nine and we shared the cart. Overall conditions are good. Tees were green and generally level. There were some inconsistencies as to the appearance of some of the fairways, but the hitting surface was good and pretty consistent as to lies. Rough varied as most do, but mostly just off the fairway it was pretty consistent and thick enough to cost you a shot. I was in a couple of bunkers — the sand was on the soft side and reasonably well groomed. Green surrounds were good for short shots, occasionally on the thicker side. Greens were nice — clean, with a good quick pace but not overly much.

The course tops out at around 6,000 yds for the blues, but plays longer. There are enough long par fours in the mix and some of the shorter par fours play longer because you are hitting down into a valley and then uphill to blind greens. The shortest par four is the 291yd third hole that has something of a crowned fairway and plays skinny. Course was busy and pace was slow at something around 4.75 hours. A twosome caught up and joined me at the 15th tee and we were fortunate to be the last group to finish with enough light to see what we were doing. It's not Sandpiper, but is solid and interesting as a muni experience. Walkable if you are fit and so inclined, but with a couple of serious hills in the mix. If uncertain, err on the side of riding. Recommended.

Impulsively out late Thursday 8/14 joining another single playing the whites with a 4:20 start. It's been a while since I've played here as it is not high in my rotation, but very once in a while I revisit it. In reverse order, the greens were in good shape running a quick medium speed. The rest of the course is a mixed bag and I thought overall playable but a little worse for wear. While more OK than not, there are definitely extensive areas of hard pan and even dirt. The worst case is the first hole with an expanse of packed dirt bisecting the fairway a little more than halfway to the green. It's been there at least since my previous visit, and since it's where concert equipment is set up, it doesn't seem like it is going away. A few holes also have rough that is mulched up for what I assume is going to be some sort of reseeding or something. While playable with more good surface than bad, the general feeling is a little overworked, dry and stressed. More than the usual quota of not so great lies. Teeing grounds are fine and the bunkers were firm with the ball tending to perch on top of the sand.

Negatives aside, I still enjoyed myself because it's golf and I am easy. Also, the course was not crowded and we finished 18 at a 3.25 hour pace, which shocked me. We caught the group in front at the fourth tee and they let us play through, but the rest was just going with the pace. When I grabbed the tee time, I thought I'd be cutting the round short in the dark. I can't remember the last time I played 18 in much under 4.5 hours so it felt like a gift. Know before you go. It's playable but I expect better here as to the conditions. With football imminent and the course doubling as a parking lot for events, I wouldn't expect improvement in the near future. I probably won't check it out again until it has seen some post-football rainy season.

Out Thursday 7/31 with a 1:55 start joining a pair and another single. We picked up another single around the third hole and continued as a five-some with no negative impact. It was a congenial group. The course was overall solid muni conditions. Tees are generally level with coverage and room to move around. I was in at least one tight, dry, patch in a fairway but really they were mostly fine with decent lies. The rough varies but is mostly grass fairway-adjacent, and usually easy to recover from. A little more offline and the tree line will come into play and demand some punch shots. I was in one bunker and while some grooming would have been nice, the sand quality was good. Green surrounds were generally good for short game. The greens themselves were clean with minimal pitch marks, probably running on the slow side of medium. From previous experience, I was expecting a bit quicker and I never really got comfortable with the pace, either leaving putts and chips way short of overcompensating and blowing by. Really my failure to adapt and the greens are in good shape. The practice green was consistent with them, I didn't spend enough time there.

It was warm but not oppressive with a light breeze. Not as hot as I thought it might be, this is a good walking course. I rode but three others walked with no issue. Pace was right around 4.5 hrs. A couple choke points but mostly a steady pace. No one in sight behind us by the 18th which surprised me. Solid muni experience and so far holding up through a summer that really hasn't scorched us yet. Good times.

Out as single joining another single and a twosome for an 11:00 start Thursday 7/24. I rode with the other single and played the whites. Overall very solid muni conditions here. Teeing grounds tend towards generous, level and grass covered. Fairways had good, green coverage, offered nice lies with reasonable rollout. Thin or burnt areas were rare. Rough is mostly green, usually not punitive but with exceptions both thicker and thinner. Missed the bunkers so I can't comment. Green surrounds were good for short shots and the greens were in good shape — generally resistant to pitch marks, clean, and ran the quick end of medium.

Pace was under 4.5 hrs with some waiting, but nothing excessive. With the understanding that its northerly LA City boundary location makes it less convenient for some, I'm still surprised this course doesn't get reviewed more often. It is a solid layout that is usually in good shape with less traffic and more availability than most of its 18-hole sister courses. In its current condition, definitely recommended.

Out today, Friday 7/18 with a 12:12 start as a single joining a threesome. After some recent very frustrating rounds, I've been hitting the range more and trying to wrestle my swing into a more consistent iteration. Woodley's open character makes it a more forgiving layout and a good place to road test what seem to be recent swing improvements. The course is in surprisingly good shape for mid July in the Valley. Teeing grounds are mostly green and level with room to move around. Fairways are surprisingly green for this time of year and rolling out well with constantly decent lies. Rough is more often not punitive. I was in one bunker and it was fairly clean but pretty firm. Green surrounds were very suitable for short game and the greens were pretty nice, rolling at a quick medium speed, clean and true enough. Pace was consistent but sluggish until the last few holes and it took us about 4.75 hrs to get around. A two-club wind at times, it was a warm, but not oppressive day. Actually pretty nice to be out. Solid muni conditions and quite enjoyable. Seems some of my adjustments were working, so that made for some further satisfaction on the day.

On the west side to visit with an old friend, I got out on Penmar as a waitlist single joining another single and club threesome on Tuesday, 7/8. Conditions are generally solid. Missed any bunkers and otherwise conditions were good. Greens were pretty clean and surprising quick. Blew my putts by more often than not all round and generally played terribly. Nice weather and pleasant group, so still enjoyable. Tends to be slow here and took just under 3 hours to get around. Nice, chill change of pace if you are not in a hurry. Busy, hip little restaurant and evening activities seem to be the norm here lately. On that evening, Temptation Island Watch Party on a big screen.

Out on Saturday 6/5 2:10 as a single joining a twosome and riding. Conditions here are usually pretty consistent and were on the day. Teeing, fairways and greens were all good. The greens a touch slower than usual but still a good medium-quick and clean. I was only in one bunker but the sand was good and mostly groomed with a few stray footprints. The rough was generally green and often on the thicker side. They have some rope and stakes up in a few areas to direct carts away from spots they want to regenerate. Not an issue and doesn't impact play. It was busy day but the pace was about 4.75 hrs and fairly steady — certainly not quick but could have been worse. Pro shop is polite and on top of things here. Had a good time with the two young guys was paired with, neither of whom had played the course before.

This is late but will be short. Went out to Scholl about a week ago as a single joining a threesome, starting around 1:45. I only recently had been back to the driving range for the first time in a good while (now they have free Trackman on limited stalls, which I didn't use) and my return round was the first in years. My last time out, I recall burnt out rough and drier, firmer conditions. The course is significantly greener now so I thought it worth mentioning. Rough could get thick and wasn't consistently groomed, but it was good. Fairways were in good shape as were the greens. Really something of a novelty executive course, the back nine has some of the most striking views in LA and is worth checking out once for that alone. Nice service at the counter. Not a place I would play regularly, but worth a look for casual change of pace. Bring a camera/phone.

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.