Only time for a quick review, I got out 12:18 Saturday 11/19 as single joining a twosome and a single female. Hadn't played here in a good while so en... » More

Only time for a quick review, I got out 12:18 Saturday 11/19 as single joining a twosome and a single female. Hadn't played here in a good while so enjoyed the chance to play it again. Overall conditions were solid. Exceptions that come to mind were some scruffy areas being reseeded on the sixth fairway and the back half of the 18th green was roped off, not sure why. Otherwise the fairways had nice coverage and good roll out. The one bunker I was in had good sand. The greens were clean, on the quick side and minimum of ball marks. The company was good and the timing was perfect, finishing as the last sunlight was leaving the mountain tops. Mountain views from the middle of Santa Barbara, paid thirty-something to walk — what's not to like? Recommended.
» Close

I was invited to play in a scramble last Saturday, 10/15 and drove out to play, unaware of the latest GK reports. My report first, exposition second.<... » More

I was invited to play in a scramble last Saturday, 10/15 and drove out to play, unaware of the latest GK reports. My report first, exposition second.

Report: Stay away as the greens are in full, punched, post-aeration waffle iron mode and will probably need a few weeks to get close to normal. The rest of the course is in its usual, above average conditions and I have no complaint beyond the greens.

Exposition: It was a wet morning when I arrived around 7:15 for an 8:00 start — diminishing light mist but no actual rain. The first hint of something amiss was the cluster of players checking in the for scramble being pretty much the only golfers in sight. One player on the chipping green, two on the practice green and none on the range. An odd sight and vibe. The practice green was punched consistent with the course and everything had a fine layer of moisture such that putts had to be hit firm and ran with rooster tails of water. As mentioned, the rest of the course was in nice condition with no conspicuous saturation of the fairways, so that part was fine and played well. Being a scramble, we never played out of a bunker. It was a small, seven group scramble so the pace was good at about 4.5 hours. I enjoyed the company, the course as a whole, and did the best with what we had on the greens. We were provided food and coffee upon arrival and a tri-tip BBQ afterward. I was a guest in the group and I didn't pay a dime, drove the ball well and had good time with no pressure and not playing for a personal score. For the rest of you, give it the three weeks.
» Close

Got out Friday as a twosome paired with a twosome around 2:00pm. Hadn't been over to SA in a while and it is a bit worse for wear currently. The tee b... » More

Got out Friday as a twosome paired with a twosome around 2:00pm. Hadn't been over to SA in a while and it is a bit worse for wear currently. The tee boxes are generally pretty level with coverage and where the coverage is thin — so what? — you're using a tee. The fairways had more dry, hard, dirt patches spread about than I recall ever seeing. The relative positives being that they were liberally outlined as GUR and the majority of non-GUR areas were decent grass lies. Additionally, most of the bunkers were outlined in white and marked as GUR. They didn't looked particularly bad (i.e. missing sand, etc.) but neither did I try to play out of any marked ones. There were a few unmarked green side bunkers, and they seemed OK. Rough was anything from hardpan to a little thick. Green side areas were inconsistent as to surface quality and made chipping unpredictable. The greens were serviceable at medium speed, but a bit unkempt as to surface quality.

The other twosome was pleasant, pace was good at around 4.5 hrs, and we got it done with plenty of light to spare. While I've definitely seen worse in general, not this bad at SA in particular. I would be in no hurry to go back until we've had some rain and recovery time to grow back in. It's playable but not pretty — definitely stressed and dog eared. I can find other, equivalent courses with better conditions for now.
» Close

Wrote an optimistic review in June. While it was OK for a while, the drought has since had its effect. The greens are OK as are mostly the immediate s... » More

Wrote an optimistic review in June. While it was OK for a while, the drought has since had its effect. The greens are OK as are mostly the immediate surrounding areas. The fairways vary with some notably worse and others greener and decent, but on average there are a lot more extended areas that are dry, thin, occasionally bare and stressed. But getting out at 4:10 for super twilight at $11 on a Friday with relatively short notice is something. We acknowledged the conditions, played on, enjoyed it and the beer afterward. But I'm a local and it's a fallback option. For anyone else, it's likely you'll find better options before you get near here.
» Close

I'm surprised HD hasn't been reviewed in almost three months. I got out yesterday, 9/17 for a 12:50 start as a single joining another single and twoso... » More

I'm surprised HD hasn't been reviewed in almost three months. I got out yesterday, 9/17 for a 12:50 start as a single joining another single and twosome. I walked, they rode. Start was on time and the twosome, running late, joined at the second tee. Overall conditions were solid. Teeing grounds here are large, generally level, and you are usually teeing up with green coverage — no issues there. The fairways were good, predominantly green and even a bit lush, reducing rollout more typical for here — not exactly shaggy but about mowing time. With all the recent heat, good to not see extended brown and hardpan. While there were some isolated thinner areas and also a few overwatered spots, these were exceptions. Rough varied between very playable and a little punitive but was generally green fairway-adjacent. I was in one bunker in which the sand was a little moist and heavy but it had give and I escaped adequately. I think most were drier. The areas surrounding the greens were suitably grown in and supported the short game. The kikuyu effect is on display here though and approach shots coming in and hitting short of the green would frequently bounce straight up and die rather than kick forward. The greens were in pretty good shape. Reasonably clean and no excess of ball marks, they ran medium, a touch on the slow side on the front, and by the back nine had dried out to medium on the quicker side.

Weather was nice, warm enough to generate some sweat but breeze enough to cool it off a little and a relief compared to the recent heat wave — certainly not cool but seemed it by comparison. The group was congenial and the pace was right around 4.5 hrs. As Hansen goes, definitely recommended.
» Close