Wanted to "splurge" a bit for my birthday so I was considering a couple places like Journey at Pechanga, etc., but it's been so hot so the idea of spe... » More

Wanted to "splurge" a bit for my birthday so I was considering a couple places like Journey at Pechanga, etc., but it's been so hot so the idea of spending a day in Big Bear and "splurging" on a near $50 9-hole course appealed to me, so I booked a 3:45 TeeOff.com "Deal" time here for today. It was $50-something but I had a 15% promo code so I think it was around $44. Checked in a little early and was told I could head straight out. Turned out there was another single who'd just teed off and another who pulled up right behind me, so we all joined up and played as a threesome. Waited pretty much on every shot, but still moved decent, finishing nine in a little under two hours. It was my first time here.

Conditions are decent, highlighted by really nice greens. They are smooth, fast and accept full shots well, even though they're pretty firm. With the course built on a mountain, everything runs really fast toward the lake, which is sort of deceiving. Fairways were decent, mostly good, thin coverage but some iffy spots too. Rough was a couple inches deep and pretty lush. There are some nice-looking tall grasses if you get far off line on some holes. Bunker sand was surprisingly nice for having no rakes. Tee boxes definitely the low point, but you've got a tee anyway, so no big deal.

Funky little course that requires either smart play or straight shots, but I attempted to take advantage of that thin mountain air and hit too many drivers, etc., and played terribly. Some holes have a bit of a "wedged in" feel, but there's plenty of width if you play smart. Back-to-back par 3s at Nos. 7 & 8 are probably the highlight holes. On No. 8, the ladies get their revenge for all the cool par 3s that are neutered for the red tees, with a super-cool tee box built on the end of a pier out in the middle of a lake. I wanted so bad to hit from there! :-) Also the par-4 3rd is a nice hole with an elevated green where a hazard separates the end of the fairway and the green surrounds. If it was $25 or so, I'd definitely want to play here again. But with "Deal" prices over $50 for 9 holes, one visit is probably sufficient.

EDIT: Just looked at sixpez's photos of the course here. It's definitely NOT in that nice of condition right now.
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Played here today with a 1:24 tee time purchased on their site. Looks like they're getting a new way to reserve/buy tee times starting August 4. Onlin... » More

Played here today with a 1:24 tee time purchased on their site. Looks like they're getting a new way to reserve/buy tee times starting August 4. Online instructions said don't show up more than 5 minutes before your tee time and said something about checking in outside, but that wasn't the case. The shop was open as normal and as I walked in they gave a 5-minute call for my group. I mentioned who I was and the guy directed me straight to the first tee. No need to show receipt or ID or anything. Smooth and easy. Two other guys who both live very near the course played with me. The course is using 12-minute tee times to keep people spread out, which works but also has an unintended result. The group in front of us was already on No. 2 when we teed off, but then we caught them by the fifth tee, which made things feel like we hit a wall. I expected it but the other two guys in my group seemingly didn't, and they bailed by the time we got to the 7th tee because they felt it was too backed up. Meanwhile we'd played the first six holes in about 1:20-1:25. They were both riding and I was walking, so things worked out well for me. I got to take off my mask and enjoy my own pace behind the foursome ahead. Total POP was 4:02. COVID stuff: No tee markers are out, so I just teed it up aligned with the blue plate every hole. Pool noodles in cups. Seems like they're promoting single-rider carts because the group in front of me had four separate carts.

Conditions are good. Greens are smooth, medium speed and accept full shots well. Fairways are their normal lush, spongy kikuya with a mix of deep green, light green and yellow areas. Rough is a little longer but not too penal; balls mostly sat up on top. If you get way off line, you might find some deep stuff here and there. I wasn't in a bunker but they looked good. Tee boxes were decent but probably the low point today. Some scruffy areas, but with no tee markers, there was plenty of width to find somewhere decent to tee it up.

San Clemente is always a good choice and especially so when the temps get high. It felt so great feeling the ocean breeze (up to two clubs' worth at times) all afternoon and was very comfortable, weather-wise. Wish I'd played better, but really enjoyed it anyway.
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Played here today with a 12:50 tee time direct from the course's website for $37. My first round since March. I'd purchased a new driver during quaran... » More

Played here today with a 12:50 tee time direct from the course's website for $37. My first round since March. I'd purchased a new driver during quarantine, and I couldn't think of many better courses to put a new driver to the test. Course was busy but the staff collectively did a good job checking me in and getting me out on the course on time. As a single, I got my own cart, so we had 3 carts for my foursome. No extra charge for single-rider cart. COVID stuff: Most everyone I saw around the clubhouse seemed to comply with mask requirements, but on the course was a different story. Barely anyone wearing a mask on the course. POP was decent and would've been right at four and a half hours, but something log-jammed everything on 18 and we had to wait about an extra 10 minutes or so to tee off. So total POP was probably around 4:35-4:40.

Conditions are decent. Greens are smooth but medium-slow and perhaps too soft. Maybe it's due to the heat they have to keep them really watered, but they'd play better and roll faster if they weren't so soft. Fairways had good, somewhat thin coverage and not much visual definition between fairway and rough. Rough was cut short but just more scruffy than the fairways. Bunkers were a mixed bag; some good, some crusty, some thin. Tee boxes were decent but tended to be a mix of grasses and cuts. Overall, gave the greens a 7 and everything else a 5.

Recommended, but glad I didn't pay $55 or whatever their morning rates are right now.
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