Out 1/30 at 2:20 as a single after avoiding the place for about five months. I would easily upgrade it from dog track to cow pasture. There can still be small dirt areas found on some fairways and the... Continue »

Out 1/30 at 2:20 as a single after avoiding the place for about five months. I would easily upgrade it from dog track to cow pasture. There can still be small dirt areas found on some fairways and the bumpy nature of them will exist regardless of coverage, but there is now a decent layer of coverage on most of the surface that has been the result of time and rain. Playing from the blues, teeing grounds were OK. The rough can exaggerate the lumpy quality found in areas of the fairway, varies in coverage, and can include gopher holes, but I shouldn't be there in the first place. Bunkers were firm with a gravely quality to the sand and at least one I saw had some grass spots springing up within it. I wasn't in any but it would have been a crap shoot. The greens were pretty decent at a medium speed and reasonably clean and true. There is a roped-off thirty yard stretch in front of the 9th tee box that seems to be an attempt to green up a typically hardpan stretch. The shaggy aspects of the course aside, I actually like the layout here with its altitude change and views. It's also a good workout for 9 holes when you have finished from top to bottom and back. I got out ahead of a few groups and had no one in front of me, so I got around efficiently. There is no way to recommend the conditions as more than practice-worthy or going out of your way to come here. But being local, I will come back at some point because with reasonable expectations, I can get on and still enjoy myself for what it is, which is better than it was. I enjoyed it, but I'm easy. As a side note on service, when I arrived, the starter's computer was stalling so he told me to go ahead and pay when I finished. I know it worked for subsequent players, but when I went in after my round, it started stalling again so he just shook my hand and waived me out with a free round. Appreciate that.

Based on my last review, my previous visit to this course was back in March. My buddy and I went out today, 8/21 with a 4:50 start to see how it was going. Short answer: really not good. I'd describe ... Continue »

Based on my last review, my previous visit to this course was back in March. My buddy and I went out today, 8/21 with a 4:50 start to see how it was going. Short answer: really not good. I'd describe it as dog track conditions but I think more highly of my dog than that. To start, all the tee boxes were roped off — presumably to heal but not much of that has happened yet — and tees were set together well forward. The lies there ranged from lumpy with uneven coverage to flat but bare dirt. As for the fairways, there are some sections with actual, playable grass, but there are extensive areas of dry, hard, tight lies, hardpan and bare sections. Ironically, there are even some random, long, thick, rough-like patches on some of the fairways. Bunkers were minimally groomed and the sand quality varied, leaning towards firm. Around the greens was a mashup of grass lengths from nice lies to deep and hack-worthy. The greens were OK, not particularly clean and ran about a medium speed. The course is in dire need of watering and we both agreed it almost had that look of having gone out of business. The usually grass range was mats today but the grass there is not in great shape. I was glad to use the mat for my short warmup. The pro shop woman was pleasant enough and the bar here always seems to be occupied by happy patrons. I can't recommend this course right now for even a practice round much less anything more serious. I like the layout and with decent conditioning it could be worth a visit, but for now stay away. I don't see myself even checking back here for at least six months and only after there has been enough rainfall to give it a chance at some rejuvenation. Tough to see.

Sooo this course is kinda hard to rank...It's decent in some spots, and terrible in others...Let me elaborate:

The tee boxes weren't great. Many bare spots and/or divots, and some areas weren't le... Continue »

Sooo this course is kinda hard to rank...It's decent in some spots, and terrible in others...Let me elaborate:

The tee boxes weren't great. Many bare spots and/or divots, and some areas weren't level. For the most part, you could find a place to tee off, but you might be standing in a divot or patch of dirt.

The fairways were actually pretty good if you are in the actual fairway. But between the tee boxes and the fairways is often completely bare ground. This also goes for the sides of the fairways...

Which leads me to the rough. It's fine in some spots, but very spotty, with lots of patches of dirt.

As for the bunkers, I was only in one today, but it was fine. A bit thin, but what sand there was, was soft.

All in all, you more or less get what you pay for. Probably a bit overpriced at $20 walking rate for a nine hole course. Carts are dirty and don't have sand/divot mix. Driving through the course is like driving over a mine field. All of which makes it sound bad, but if you keep the ball in the fairway and on/around the green, it's not half bad. Especially if you do like I did and get a deal on Golfnow for $22 including cart.

I should also mention that they have a GRASS driving range, which is hard to find. It appears they've been using mats lately (they were today), but maybe that's to let the grass regrow, because the last time I used it, it was pretty bad. Dirt spots everywhere, plus dirty balls. The range at their sister course, Alta Dena (also grass), has been closed since mid-late January (might be open now), so that explains the extra traffic on their range, but not the dirty balls.

Looking at the past reviews you would think this is my private course even though I really don't play here that often. Dashed out late last Friday to take advantage of the time change and because I co... Continue »

Looking at the past reviews you would think this is my private course even though I really don't play here that often. Dashed out late last Friday to take advantage of the time change and because I could grab a tee time here, but didn't note the GK alert. Yes, punched with the big holes, sanded and putting like velco. I am OK with that as it was my bad not checking, and the greens will heal. But honestly, the rest of the course has generally degenerated to dog track quality. Nailed my first drive dead center and when I arrive at the ball mid-fairway, it is sitting in a dirt depression — not a divot — bigger. And so on. I've been happy to come by here for practice rounds in the past, but even when the greens heal, the overall quality of the lies are so random that I think I am swearing off Eaton for the foreseeable future. Not that it seems like anyone else from GK ever stops by here, but you now have it on the record.

A couple of days ago I got out at 2:30 as a single. Eaton is usually a little rough around the edges on a good day and with winter conditions on top of it, conditions were more on the ragged side. Tee... Continue »

A couple of days ago I got out at 2:30 as a single. Eaton is usually a little rough around the edges on a good day and with winter conditions on top of it, conditions were more on the ragged side. Tee boxes generally OK, some a little bumpy and/or with a touch of angle to them. The coverage was spotty and mixed, but you are using a tee and I was able to find enough grass to launch from on the par-3's. Fairways really a mixed bag, generally thinner and firmer grass with rollout and the usual Eaton bare areas scattered about. The rough covered the gamut from dirt to thick patches — again, typical here. Areas around the greens were generally green grass but varied from lumpy and firm to slightly fuller, good chipping lies. The greens were decent and like many this time of year are running a good medium quick and firm, although there was a lot of detritus on them due to wind. It was a very windy afternoon, which made it all a bit more challenging but also stimulating. It's not the worst conditioned course I've played on recently and the layout is interesting, but you'll enjoy it more if your expectations are modest. It's a place to play when you need a fix and you are not overly fussy. One of the main reasons I even bothered to give it a write up is that it is one of the few courses around that I could get a tee time on relatively short notice, having made the rez that morning. These days that counts for something. It is what it is and I got my fix. No regrets.

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. ... Continue »

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.

Went out walking yesterday, Friday afternoon, around 3:30-ish as two-some, let out by a threesome waiting for their fourth, to a pretty open course. I was last here in May, came back for a change of p... Continue »

Went out walking yesterday, Friday afternoon, around 3:30-ish as two-some, let out by a threesome waiting for their fourth, to a pretty open course. I was last here in May, came back for a change of pace, and was pleasantly surprised by the conditions. That last statement is tempered by the fact that my expectations were not high. Overall, the course was greener in the key areas than I thought it would be after all the heat. The first fairway is usually the worst one on the course for thinner lies and the occasional hardpan, but it generally had decent coverage and green lies. That was the case in the main parts of the fairways through the course. 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 also get a little lumpy in spots. Similarly, the tee boxes were a bit lumpy at times but generally had coverage and a level spot to tee it up. The rough is a mixed bag from hard pan to thicker grass. The one bunker my partner hit into looked pretty firm, with the ball sitting on top of the sand surface. Greens were generally decent — receptive and running at a medium pace with a few having a less consistent surface due to mixed growth.

My friends gift for inefficiency not withstanding, we got around in good time before any late afternoon rush, with no one in front of us, pressed a bit by a twosome in a cart on the last few holes. On it's best day, the course tends to be a scruffy around the edges, but it was enjoyable enough for a casual round. I'll be back for a super twilight round before too long.

This is a bit late, but I played super twilight last Friday, 5/16 with a buddy. The course was pretty busy and a group with young kids was on the first fairway with a group of teens in the tee box, so... Continue »

This is a bit late, but I played super twilight last Friday, 5/16 with a buddy. The course was pretty busy and a group with young kids was on the first fairway with a group of teens in the tee box, so we skipped ahead to the second hole. Similar to Altadena, the relative playing conditions were pretty good. Mostly level tee boxes, grass generally as grown in as it is going to get here in all phases, and the greens were pretty decent and clean, rolling at a medium speed. Missed the bunkers so I can't comment there. Pace was a little sluggish, but we got through it and could have gone back to play the first, but didn't. I don't know if it encouraged more turnout, but word was out that they are considering closing the course and reconsidering it's use, possibly as a regional park. Whatever happens, it will have to go through review, comment, etc., etc. so nothing is happening soon. Hopefully, the end result won't mean losing another golf course. Eaton has a more interesting topography and elevation changes than sister course Altadena, and could potentially be the better playing course, but the general impression is more unkempt, especially in the collateral areas of rough and between holes. Some edging, xeriscaping, and wood chip areas would go a long way towards making the course look much sharper without upping water usage, but those are my thoughts, not part of any known plan. According to my buddy (the realtor) the rumor is that the current management company is focusing on getting Altadena up to speed and then turn its resources to Eaton. Altadena has been coming around, I don't see much evidence of that sprucing up having been initiated at Eaton yet. In the meantime it has the same advantages as Altadena of nice mountain views and a relaxed, local vibe. Don't drive too far to get here, but if you are in the neighborhood it's worth a go.

Played on 1-20-18, at 8 am. Course was pretty empty so POP was not an issue, and I was very surprised by the improved conditions. Fairways had decent to good coverage and the areas where most shots ... Continue »

Played on 1-20-18, at 8 am. Course was pretty empty so POP was not an issue, and I was very surprised by the improved conditions. Fairways had decent to good coverage and the areas where most shots go looked green. The greens were vastly improved with no visible fungus growth, and more than smooth enough, rolling at medium speed. I was in one bunker at the 9th green and it was very playable. Overall, I was very happy with the conditions and would not hesitate in playing again.