Every time I think my game is in a spot to take on Angeles this course just kicks me in the mouth. Didn't help that it was a windy day, but it was onl... » More

Every time I think my game is in a spot to take on Angeles this course just kicks me in the mouth. Didn't help that it was a windy day, but it was only slightly more windy than usual out here. Teed off at 11:50 on the first day after springing forward and finished in about 4.5; pace was generally good with a few waits but nothing egregious.

Been a while since I've been here and the course is in pretty good condition. I would never call the fairways "lush" but they're definitely not summertime burnt out thin and provide good lies. The extra growth definitely helps prevent wayward shots from going too far off line into OB areas without sacrificing too much roll out.

Teeboxes were in good shape and greens were running at the posted 11. Huge undulating greens where it's almost a guaranteed 3-putt if you're in the wrong spot. Was in a couple of bunkers and the sand wasn't consistent; a few were a little on the thin side while some had heaps of new soft sand.

If you've played here before you know there isn't really any "rough" here, just more of a collar around the fairways that's cut low before turning into desert or wood chips.

Like it's been said before, the course wouldn't be worth the rack rate but if you can find a deal in the low $100s it's a worthwhile splurge to test your game. You're not going to find any frills beyond the 2 bottles of water in the cart; the snack shack closes up early and the cart girl made a few passes and then called it a day around 2, but the course is in nice shape right now
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A quick review of El Dorado a few days after taking on a couple inches of rain and the results are in: no good! It was cart path only but didn't matte... » More

A quick review of El Dorado a few days after taking on a couple inches of rain and the results are in: no good! It was cart path only but didn't matter to me since I walk, but I would wager the people in the carts got more steps in than I did. CPO was brutal on POP; teed off at 12:30 and finished right around 5:40 with a sliver of light still. Lots of waiting on tee boxes and watching people park and walk 100 yards from path to their shot and then walk back to their cart. It was a beautiful day at least.

As for course conditions: woof. Almost every fairway had numerous small ponds, and if there wasn't standing water the turf was extremely soggy. Feels like it's gonna take some time for things to dry out. But even looking past that, there were still lots of areas in fairways that look like they need to work on. I will say the greens and tee boxes were in pretty good shape. Was in one trap and it had good sand. Rough was pretty short and playable.

Don't get to play this one very often so I was disappointed in the conditions but hopefully I get a chance to play once conditions improve
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This is going to be a very snapshot in time review but it might be helpful for those who want to play the course right after the farmer's. Got to play... » More

This is going to be a very snapshot in time review but it might be helpful for those who want to play the course right after the farmer's. Got to play the north yesterday while the pros were finishing up their final round on the south and it was an incredible experience to get to play the same set up as the pros did thursday/friday. same pins, same green speeds, same rough. so if you want to test your game and see how you'd do, no better time than right after the tournament.

To me, the course conditions were absolutely perfect. tee boxes were all mint, fairways were absolutely perfect (never seen fairway divots filled so exquisitely), greens were running at 12 and it was a nightmare (for me), and the rough was a monster. Finding a ball just a few yards off the fairway was an adventure. Only managed to lose one on my second shot on the par 5 10th which was kind of blind but when i hit it i thought it'd be in the middle of the fairway. Was in a number of traps and they were all perfect; was able to get a good lie and nip the ball and get spin each time. I'm forever spoiled now.

Walking the course under picture perfect postcard skies just made it that much more enjoyable. Could have played better, but the memories of that experience are what i'm going to remember most. If you're somehow able to get on and play in the next few weeks i can not recommend it enough. good luck if you do tho!
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Played the other Downey course on Saturday 1/24 with a 10:23 tee time. POP here is notoriously bad, and maybe it's because i imagined we'd have a 6 ho... » More

Played the other Downey course on Saturday 1/24 with a 10:23 tee time. POP here is notoriously bad, and maybe it's because i imagined we'd have a 6 hour round that i felt the POP was good since we finished in "only" 5 hours. Amazingly we started off exactly on time then crawled around the front nine waiting on every box, but things did open up slightly on the back.

I have to say that conditions were pretty good. Tee boxes were in decent shape and level, fairways had good coverage that gave you adequate lies; off the fairway you could find a variety of lies from some taller grass to dirt and pine straws but in general it was fine and playable. bunkers could also have sand or not, so beware. greens were in good shape, some had a good number of unfixed pitch marks, but nothing terrible. speeds were medium.

It's a fun track with a mostly wide open front that gets somewhat tighter on the back. Just go in thinking you'll have a 6 hour round and you'll have a good time.
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Rolled the dice a bit and took an 11:56 tee time and walked the blues on Sunday 1/25, hoping to finish before dark, and we did, just barely. POP is al... » More

Rolled the dice a bit and took an 11:56 tee time and walked the blues on Sunday 1/25, hoping to finish before dark, and we did, just barely. POP is always an issue on weekends here, with long waits on every tee box; front was about 3 hours and the back picked up slightly at about 2.15. Still a long round which makes it hard to find a rhythm, but it was a beautiful day and the course was in generally good shape.

Tee boxes were mostly level and in good condition. Fairways were on the thin side and because of the undulation of the fairways on certain holes, balls tend to all collect in the same area and lucky for me my ball managed to find a divot on a few occasions. Rough was generally cut down and easy to play from. bunkers were mostly hardpan with minimal sand. Greens were in pretty good shape rolling medium fast; chips onto the green had good roll out.

At least with the brutal POP there was a drink cart that circulated and even with how slow it is i still find it a fun track and a good test of accuracy off the tee and fun holes that make you think about how to play them.
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