Met some friends to play Eldo, which has always been a tough track for me to put a good score on the card. But it was more about socializing than the golf. Decent pace, under 4 hours, because we got... Continue »

Met some friends to play Eldo, which has always been a tough track for me to put a good score on the card. But it was more about socializing than the golf. Decent pace, under 4 hours, because we got off early, otherwise I'm sure it would have been a long day. Nice weather, good friends, so-so golf, but that's OK.

After reading David's review, did not expect much, but the course was in fairly decent shape, (except for the bunkers) greens rolled pretty good with reasonable speed. Can't comment about how receptive they were, because I never shot a shot which would have allowed me to find out. Rough had some areas which needed attention/cutting, but for the most part, not too penal.

The only real complaint I have is the price. $44 to walk is very steep for this muni. I remember not so long ago when the Long Beach courses were very affordable. Not any more !

Played El Dorado Park GC on Thursday, 9/2/21 in a practice round and Wednesday, 9/8/21 in an SCGA qualifier. Played the Blue/White combo listed on the course scorecard (6,331/70.2/125). Thursday weath... Continue »

Played El Dorado Park GC on Thursday, 9/2/21 in a practice round and Wednesday, 9/8/21 in an SCGA qualifier. Played the Blue/White combo listed on the course scorecard (6,331/70.2/125). Thursday weather (late afternoon) was sunny and clear with light, steady winds. Wednesday (8am) started clear and sunny, got overcast, then busted out the sun again on the back nine. Wind on 9/8 was never really a factor. Like the other Long Beach courses it’s all kikuyu all the time here. The course is basically dead flat and an easy walk. Most of the greens are pedestal greens pushed up from the fairway grade and fronted by traps. A few holes have ponds adjacent to the line of play and a couple holes are fronted by creeks.

Green were generally in good condition, with good coverage and rolling at medium+ speed. Way too many old unrepaired ballmarks. Fairways were generally OK with scattered bare areas. Rough was cut fairly low and was generally pretty benign, but lies were chancy in clumpy areas and further from the fairway (and under trees) you could get large bare dirt areas or thick grass. Tees were spongy and badly needed to be cut closer. Traps were terrible – all traps are basically damp cement with no playing layer, machine dragged to smooth the surface. You are probably better off chipping from the greenside traps, rather than risking a blade rocket. On 9/8, the course had put some effort into generating a miniscule playing layer in the bunkers – I managed to avoid them; you should also.

Recommended.

Another trip out to El Dorado today as a friend managed to book a great 8:50am tee time after finding the spot open on Saturday. Two other friends joined us on a muggy hot Sunday in the LBC. I was the... Continue »

Another trip out to El Dorado today as a friend managed to book a great 8:50am tee time after finding the spot open on Saturday. Two other friends joined us on a muggy hot Sunday in the LBC. I was the only one with a cart (thanks Mr. Hangover) and the others walked, all playing from the blue tees.

Two of my friends had never played El Do before and came away very excited to play it again in the near future. As with previous reviews, the course is in fine late summer shape with only a few strikes against it, namely a bit of overwatering and many soggy areas today (understandable with the recent heat), along with some well overgrown tee boxes that weren't trimmed down at all (likely another defense against the warm weather).

Other than that though, very nice all around. Greens are running very quick and true so account for that rollout when chipping or pitching onto them. They managed to hold shots pretty well though and unfortunately a few too many ball marks though from the lazy set.

Some of the bunkers were a little wet/thin, but played mostly okay. Rakes are there but not being used often enough - a common grip nowadays. Fairways had good coverage across the board, but again there were definitely some soaked areas that made shots quite difficult if not impossible. Rough was a very manageable length and fun to work from.

Carts are very basic and sadly there was no cart service all afternoon. In fact, the snack shop near the 3rd/15th hole tee box was also shut in the early part of the day, but open later. There was small stand set up at the turn across from the driving range where you could get some snacks or a good brat before hitting off one hole 10.

El Dorado is very flat so walking is easy, but it's still a fun layout with lots of doglegs, water features, bunkers and fast greens to keep you honest. It felt a tiny bit pricey with the cart fee, but that's Long Beach on a Sunday for you. Today it was still worth it.

Teed off Friday at 7:30 finishing in 4:05. The course has had some wear since I played here five weeks ago. The greens rolled good with a little more than medium speed and held shots. Five weeks ago t... Continue »

Teed off Friday at 7:30 finishing in 4:05. The course has had some wear since I played here five weeks ago. The greens rolled good with a little more than medium speed and held shots. Five weeks ago they were closer to fast and a pleasure to putt. The fairways mostly had decent coverage although on the long side not allowing much roll. The thin/bare spots have increased since my last round. Rough overall is good with thin/bare spots about. The bunkers played decent and were groomed with rakes available. The tee boxes have decent coverage but can be mildly unlevel at times. The carts have sand bottles on them perhaps management would see fit to have them filled so golfers could fill their divots. I enjoy the layout of Eldo and the staff is friendly.

Short review on El Dorado from this past Friday ... not much different than my last time here a few weeks ago so in quick summary - all of it's good, some parts better than good, some a wee bit less, ... Continue »

Short review on El Dorado from this past Friday ... not much different than my last time here a few weeks ago so in quick summary - all of it's good, some parts better than good, some a wee bit less, but you're not going to leave El Dorado right now and curse your poor fortune.

One thing that struck me after this last visit; this is one of the flattest courses you'll ever play. There's really not a single elevation on the entire property. If you ever want an easy walk (unless it's really hot like it was Friday), this is the spot for you.

So yeah, good greens, proper fairways, nice rough, serviceable bunkers and decent enough tee boxes all make for a good experience right now at El Do.

Played a twilight round at El Dorado on Friday after a very long time since getting a time here and I was very pleased with the all-around conditions of the course. Check-in was easy and had some time... Continue »

Played a twilight round at El Dorado on Friday after a very long time since getting a time here and I was very pleased with the all-around conditions of the course. Check-in was easy and had some time to hit some balls on the very convenient and functional range right by the first hole.

I was a single and paired with another single and a pleasant older married couple. We had a very good time together all of us.

Fairways are in very nice shape right now with 80% of the course green and lush, with a few other spots a little thin or burned out, but nothing to complain about with all the traffic this course gets and current hot summer temperatures. There were some sections of rough that were a little water-logged which was surprising, but for the most part it was manageably thick.

Greens are in very nice shape, rolling true and at medium-fast speeds, with some greens maybe even being a tick quicker than that. Found myself too many times above the hole and rolling well past the pin far too often. Greens held shots well, too. Very nice.

Tee boxes are okay and the bunkers were also serviceable - not bad, but not superb either. You'll be fine though if you end up in them so don't worry too much.

I was a little bummed out the snack shop near the 3rd hole tee box and the 13th hole green closed at 4pm before I had a chance to load up after the turn. Seemed a bit early to me and with no cart service, a bit premature. Definitely think they should keep that open longer, especially on a busy Friday.

Overall though, very happy to finally return to El Do and highly recommend a round there right now.

Played El Dorado Park this morning on a whim saw a single at 8:30 on Sunday morning so I jumped at the chance. It was overcast for all of the front 9 and the sun reared it’s hot head around hole 11. ... Continue »

Played El Dorado Park this morning on a whim saw a single at 8:30 on Sunday morning so I jumped at the chance. It was overcast for all of the front 9 and the sun reared it’s hot head around hole 11. I saw about half of the people walking while the others rode. I played with Steve, Chris and Steven all great guys and I found out they were also members of the Los Verdes Men’s Club as am I. On to the course, check in was quick and easy and off to the 1st tee. Tee boxes nice and level in fact they are the nicest I have seen in a while in fact 1st hole is cart path only, until one of the guys said they were preparing it for the Long Beach Open. Fairways were mown so you had a very smooth lie which was very nice. There is not very much rough at this course but it looks likes they are growing some and I had a few where it took a little time to find. Greens were really holding shots and not to much release. They rolled very true and they are on the quick side these days. I was not in the sand but they all were raked and had rakes nearby. There was a lot of standing water on the side some of the holes mostly near the trees just off the fairways and I don’t know if that’s because of the heat or what. We played in 4 hours and 10 minutes so all in all was a great day. Always love to play this place. Definitely recommended.

Teed off about 7:40 Friday finishing in 4:15. The greens are rolling smooth with medium/fast speed and holding shots. The fairways have good coverage with a few thin spots. The rough has good coverage... Continue »

Teed off about 7:40 Friday finishing in 4:15. The greens are rolling smooth with medium/fast speed and holding shots. The fairways have good coverage with a few thin spots. The rough has good coverage around the greens but can be spotty in other areas. The rough is long enough to affect shots but not too penal. The bunkers are well groomed and playable but on the wet side. The tee boxes are mildly unlevel but have decent coverage. Practice areas are fully open as is the restaurant. The staff was friendly.

Teed off about 7am finishing in 4 hours. The greens were in great shape. Putts rolled smooth and held shots. The speed of the greens was toward the fast side. Really had to pay attention on down hill ... Continue »

Teed off about 7am finishing in 4 hours. The greens were in great shape. Putts rolled smooth and held shots. The speed of the greens was toward the fast side. Really had to pay attention on down hill putts. The fairways had good coverage with a few thin spots and decent roll out. The rough was fair to good. Most areas had good coverage with a length that affected shots but not too penal. There are thin/bare areas scattered about with a few marked GUR. The bunkers were maintained and had rakes. I was in two bunkers. Both were a little wet but playable. Unfortunately the left front bunker on #2 was full of rocks. The tee boxes had decent coverage and were mildly unlevel in spots.

The practice areas are all open. The restaurant is open in doors. Check in is now inside the pro shop. Masks required indoors. I was pleased to find that rakes have returned to the bunkers. The staff was friendly.