Kviser put up a perfectly accurate and concise summary of the conditions at Hansen Dam yesterday, 3/17, where we played out GK Cup match. The only thing I can add is that the course was comfortably bu... Continue »

Kviser put up a perfectly accurate and concise summary of the conditions at Hansen Dam yesterday, 3/17, where we played out GK Cup match. The only thing I can add is that the course was comfortably busy. It would have been easy to walk up and get out fairly quickly. We played an extra par-5 tie breaker hole and finished a bit under 4.5 hours. I'd say we did the 18 in something under 4.25. Probably peak condition or close to it for this course, it really is a bargain.

Played today, Friday, 1:04 tee time, $29 riding. The course is as green and lush as ever. Tees were level without a lot of divots. The fairways were cut tight and most shots would roll out a ways. The... Continue »

Played today, Friday, 1:04 tee time, $29 riding. The course is as green and lush as ever. Tees were level without a lot of divots. The fairways were cut tight and most shots would roll out a ways. The rough was very lush, but not deep. I was in the greenside bunker on hole 3 and I found it to be a thin layer of soft sand over hard pan. The greens were all very nice; a mix of bent grass and poa annua. They were on the firm side but high shots would leave a ball mark; shots hot with spin would stop as expected. I would guess the speed around 9'-9.5'. No beverage cart, so plan accordingly. I totally recommend this course.

First time back at Hansen Dam on Saturday since the nines switch - thoughts on that later. Right now though, course conditions are about as good as I have seen them at this course ... not a big shock ... Continue »

First time back at Hansen Dam on Saturday since the nines switch - thoughts on that later. Right now though, course conditions are about as good as I have seen them at this course ... not a big shock for many LA courses right now after a week of drying out and ample rain the week before to green things up. The fairways are in very good shape and the rough even better. Can't recall really having a bad lie the entire round, although I was in some pretty bad spots during an awful front nine. The tee boxes were okay - no major issues, and the bunkers seemed to be of a pretty acceptable standard. The greens were confounding all day long - felt different from hole to hole. You would expect them to be rather slow (medium speed at best), but on many holes they just ran forever. And on others you would give the putt a proper lashing and end up six feet short. But condition wise they looked and rolled quite good, but many of the breaks were inconsistent. As far as the 'new' layout, well, it's actually, after having finally played it, better. My concerns at first were from a business perspective (having the closing hole so far away from the clubhouse with the parking lot in between), but have now come to appreciate that this was a decision that benefits the GOLFER more than the bottom line - how often does that happen? The opening hole is far superior to the old one, and the transition from the front nine to the back nine is miles smoother than it used to be. Also, because the first tee box is in view of the starter, the mix-ups with tee times will be less prevalent. 18 is actually a decent closing hole with its well guarded and narrow fairway approach, but the green itself is a sloped mess, but you can't have it all. I think they do need to decide what to do with the old green on now #11 - if you land it there, do you hit off of it like it's a part of the fairway? I imagine they're saving it for a temporary green if necessary, but it really does need to be addressed. So overall, while not a good day from a playing perspective, it was nice to have a perfect day weather wise and enjoy the new, better set-up at Hansen Dam in its best shape in a long time.

Played yesterday after previous days rains. Course did not drain well as front 9 fairways were soaked. Greens were in good shape, but damp and inconsistent depending on contours and drainage. Sand tr... Continue »

Played yesterday after previous days rains. Course did not drain well as front 9 fairways were soaked. Greens were in good shape, but damp and inconsistent depending on contours and drainage. Sand traps were average with standing puddles in some. Fairways had good coverage considering winter conditions. Rough was wet and penal. Cart path only today, but dual cart path on some holes helped. Once course drys up, it should be in better shape. The rain obviously affected conditions. Excited to return!

played here as our second round yesterday for $39pp riding. We finished in 3.5 hours and really enjoyed our round. Hansen Dam is in great shape right now and I would highly recommend it. The greens we... Continue »

played here as our second round yesterday for $39pp riding. We finished in 3.5 hours and really enjoyed our round. Hansen Dam is in great shape right now and I would highly recommend it. The greens were smooth, held shots, and were semi-fast. The fairways were near perfect and so were the tee boxes. Was in a couple bunkers and they played great as well. This is a traditional course that is wide open but it has plenty of trees, some water, doglegs, etc. to keep you interested. Rip the driver well and you can score well here. My foursome all enjoyed playing here and will definitely come back due to the great playing conditions right now.

Played 12-18 at 930 am. POP 4:30.

Course is in really good overall shape right now. Tee boxes, fairways and rough were all very good, greens were great. sure, there were a few unrepaired ball marks... Continue »

Played 12-18 at 930 am. POP 4:30.

Course is in really good overall shape right now. Tee boxes, fairways and rough were all very good, greens were great. sure, there were a few unrepaired ball marks, but other than that the ball rolled true and quick. It was a pretty windy day so it made for a tougher round than usual here.

I like some of the changes they made to the layout. prefer the 9s the other was as current 9 is a good, tough finishing hole. I am happy that I didn't have to finish on that boring par 3. 11 plays much more interesting than it used to with the new green.

Played today, walking as a single. I arrived a little after 8:00 a.m. and asked the starter if he could get a single out. "No, the earliest is 11:20." Crap. How about a wait list? "Okay, if someone do... Continue »

Played today, walking as a single. I arrived a little after 8:00 a.m. and asked the starter if he could get a single out. "No, the earliest is 11:20." Crap. How about a wait list? "Okay, if someone doesn't show, I can try to put you with a group." How many on the wait? "Just you." Great, I will let you know if I can't hang. Two minutes later I am called to the tee. Lucky me. The course is showing lots of winter-like dormancy. Greens were soft and deceptively faster than you would expect from a muni, especially putts running away from the dam. Cool and cloudy conditions today added to the wintry feel, despite it feeling fairly warm with no wind. Good grass coverage from tee to green. Tees level and not too many divots. Fairways and rough yielded pretty much the same kind of lies: ball sitting up nicely most of the time. The greens ran fast, smooth, and were soft. I was in a bunker and it was full of nice sand. Some bunkers had wet sand, but they all appeared to be well groomed. The greens had recently been edged, so there was no areas of encroachment from the kikuyu collars into the greens. POP was a little slow and at the last hole, the pin location basically stopped play as nobody could get up and down. It was a back right pin on a steep slope. I had three putts that stopped within a couple of inches and they proceeded to roll back 8 feet! No wonder when we got to 17 we could see the backup on 18 tee, fairway, and green. Bad greenskeeper! I had to take a leak, otherwise I would have gone to the starter to complain, LOL!

We were here the day after Thanksgiving 2016. A cool morning that got up to about high 60s without much breeze on a clear day.

The course conditions were in good shape and the course playability w... Continue »

We were here the day after Thanksgiving 2016. A cool morning that got up to about high 60s without much breeze on a clear day.

The course conditions were in good shape and the course playability were pretty good. There aren't much rough, and there are some bare spots on this muni course, but it is as good as what we paid for here. In other words, I am satisfied to find it the way it is for the amount they charge- regular without the city card- (sorry, I don't remember what we paid).

I don't remember seeing any beverage cart- but that's okay with me.

We had a 7:38 tee time and finished almost 4 hours after with two of our guys on the cart and two of us walked. I thought that was an okay pace- not fast, but not slow either.

The bunker sand quality is pretty heavy type, but there is sand there. I was only in that one, the #4 hole- west side of the course- the rest of the bunkers appeared to be okay- meaning it had sand and raked smoothly.

The teeing grounds were okay, the fairways were good, but there were some bare spots as I mentioned- not bad. The greens were good and it rolled pretty good- on the average it felt like a 10.5 - 11 in speed.

This is the third time they've changed the front/back start. The current front or the west side 9 of the course generally plays a few strokes more than the back for me, and I like that I could play the west side first.

Hoping to play it again soon.

Played the newly reversed-nines Hansen this morning at dawn. Second group out and never waited on the group in front. Course is in really good shape right now. The fairways are mostly lush and a pleas... Continue »

Played the newly reversed-nines Hansen this morning at dawn. Second group out and never waited on the group in front. Course is in really good shape right now. The fairways are mostly lush and a pleasure to hit from. The greens were quicker than I've seen in a bit and rolling very well. Not a lot of ball marks and saw maintenance fixing several greens throughout the round. Tee boxes were in good shape too, though one par 3 was pretty dinged up. Wasn't in any bunkers, they looked alright. Bottom line, it's in great shape right now and for $29 this morning it can't be beat.

There's a few major changes at the Dam. The nines are reversed as of November. The former par 3 hole 9 is gone. Its green is now used to elongate former #2 (now #11) by about 50 yards. It's now a proper drivable par 4, which means most people can't actually drive it (unlike before). This should speed up play significantly, as #2 was always a backup with anyone who could hit it 250 waiting for the green to clear. They've yet to get rid of the protective fence right of the old green, but I'm sure that's on the to-do list.

To replace the par 3 9th, they've added back an old hole between former #s 5 and 6. This too will speed play, because the walk from 5 green to 6 tee used to be pretty long. Now it's 14 green with 15 tee right there, and 16 right behind that. That said, new #15 is the ugliest hole on the course, a rather bland 150 yard par 3 against the fence of the course. The course now ends on old #8, a tough hole with arguably the toughest green on the course. It's just all slope. That will leave a lot of people with bad tastes in their mouths finishing the round, and that's too bad. I'd love to see them redo this green and make it a little more interesting and less of a mean one-trick pony.

I think the rerouting will definitely speed up play, but it's not really ideal. Maybe it just takes getting used to, but the new finishing stretch doesn't have the same sense of wrapping up a round. Old 18 was pretty and ended right at the clubhouse. It felt like a finishing hole. New 18 is kind of whatever and leaves you with about a quarter mile walk back up to the clubhouse, and if you take the shortcut up old #9 you'll be walking right in front of people playing new #11.

Oh well. It is what it is and won't be changing back anytime soon. And the course is still my favorite of the LA munis and in great shape so go try it for yourself.