Nothing new or different about the conditions or experience from the last few reviews except the back tees have been moved forward to varying degrees ... » More

Nothing new or different about the conditions or experience from the last few reviews except the back tees have been moved forward to varying degrees for maintenance on six of the nine holes. Got out Sunday 10/18 at 2:20 with another single, got around at a good pace and had a very nice time.
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Went out walking as a single yesterday, late Sunday afternoon around 4:45 to a pretty open course. I was last here in early September and conditions ... » More

Went out walking as a single yesterday, late Sunday afternoon around 4:45 to a pretty open course. I was last here in early September and conditions are very similar to my last visit — surprisingly. After my recent negative experience at Altadena, Eaton's sister course, I was wondering if Eaton had fallen into a similar level of disrepair. It hasn't. As before, Eaton was greener in the key areas than I thought it would be. While always rough around the edges, this course looked good by comparison. Many holes do have bare, hard areas from in front of the tee boxes leading out to the start of the fairway, usually 50 to 100 yards — generally not landing areas. Fairways can get lumpy in spots. The tee boxes generally had coverage and a level spot to tee it up. The rough is a mixed bag from hard pan to thicker grass. Avoided the bunkers so no comment. Greens were pretty decent — receptive and running at a medium pace. GK has an aeration alert for 10/5 and 10/6 and I saw no indications of any aeration having taken place. Whether that will happen, I have no idea.

This is a course that doesn't merit a special trip and is best for a discount casual or practice round. While the conditions are always far from pristine, it does have interesting layout, views, and enough green to get around. If you overlaid the conditions of a course like Roosevelt on to this layout, it would be a gem of a nine-holes.
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Our threesome plus a single got out on time for a 10:20 tee off Friday, 10/9 on an overcast, but surprisingly humid morning. Overall conditions were p... » More

Our threesome plus a single got out on time for a 10:20 tee off Friday, 10/9 on an overcast, but surprisingly humid morning. Overall conditions were pretty good as far as general playability, but several commented that the course could be in better shape overall. A bit of the wear and tear one probably expects from a heavily trafficked muni, I had no serious issues with it. Teeing grounds were generally level with appropriate coverage. Fairways served well, some had their share of browned, drier patches more than others, but I don't recall having issues with my fairway lies. Rough varied and there were thinner and dirt areas in the mix which is not uncommon, but in the extensive areas where it was grown in, the rough was usually not overly punitive and offered decent lies. I never hit a bunker so I can't comment there. The areas surrounding the greens were probably the most notable for inconsistencies in conditioning — mostly fine for chipping, less often thatchy, and occasionally problematical to the point of dirt. The greens were good — pretty clean, soft and receptive, and rolling at a medium quick pace that was surprising, relative to the softness.

This is the second time I've been to Rancho this year, the previous visit was the first time in well over 20 years. I think it is a pretty cool, tree-lined, classic course with a good amount of contour and visual interest to the layout. Having a congenial, easy going group certainly added to the experience. Consistently busy, and probably the most popular reservation in the city system, you have to be on top of your booking game to secure a tee time. That said, I got the benefit of a senior discount, and the current 10-minute spacing of tee times has done a world of good for the historically crappy pace here. We got around in about 4.25 hrs. It did not feel overcrowded out on the course. While a bit out of my way, I appreciate the course much more these days. Warts and all, it's a classic LA golf experience and I recommend it.
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Went out Friday 9/18 as a two-some. I've written some full descriptions, as have others, that are still accurate so I will address the anomalies here.... » More

Went out Friday 9/18 as a two-some. I've written some full descriptions, as have others, that are still accurate so I will address the anomalies here. They are doing some maintenance in the form of green punching and letting some tee boxes grow out. The greens look to have been punched with tines leaving small holes I would guess to be about 1/16" with no sign of sanding. Their impact on putting is minimal, if at all, and the greens ran at a nice medium quick speed with a firm surface. The back tee boxes for holes six and eight were roped off so as to grow out and let the grass re-establish itself. Otherwise the conditions were very nice and as previously reported. It was surprisingly mellow for a Friday afternoon. We went off as a two-some following a two-some, who ended up joining the group in front of them and let us play through on the third hole. It was also the first time I've been there and no wait, much less the usual backup, on the sixth hole. While not currently available anyway, I observed the practice greens have been sanded. Nothing going on here that I would say impacts the overall experience and I enjoyed the round. Now you know before you go, but still definitely recommended.
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Played in the outing on Sunday and another extended review would be coals to Newcastle at this point. So in summary:

Overall very nice course c... » More

Played in the outing on Sunday and another extended review would be coals to Newcastle at this point. So in summary:

Overall very nice course conditions on an attractively landscaped layout with lots of tee options to make it accessible. Fairways and rough were well groomed and very consistent. Without rakes, the bunkers were cleaner than expected, although my ball managed to find the footprints in one. I foot-smoothed it before replacing and playing my ball. I remember one green with some dirt issues along the edge but that was the exception. The rest were in nice shape and, while I would describe them as medium quick, that seemed slower than probably expected for many — not a difficult adjustment and I enjoyed putting on them.

Thanks to the well organized staff who were friendly and adjusted to traffic/scheduling issues well on the fly. I was lucky to play with Keith, Nick, and Daniel who are all good company. And of course big thanks to Johnny, without whom the community, much less the event, would not even exist.
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