Not much more to add after Kevin's review from our Friday afternoon round at Santa Anita, but really true that the fairways have never looked better - at least in each of the five or six other visits ... Continue »

Not much more to add after Kevin's review from our Friday afternoon round at Santa Anita, but really true that the fairways have never looked better - at least in each of the five or six other visits I've ever had here over the years.

I always remember plenty of thin areas in many of the fairways, but that's just not the case right now and it's really optically special, especially with the beautiful mountain views as well. It was a very windy day so not only were we dealing with the slow and slightly unkempt greens, but also all the debris from nearby trees and bushes that swallowed up many of the greens. It was an adventure.

There's a convenient snack shop at the turn which was nice, but no cart service throughout the round. We also rode and played from the blue tees. Well worth the price. I am looking forward to my next round there already to try and break my sub-90 curse at this place.

Teed off out Friday, 5/21 around 1:40 with Robert (roarksown1) as a two-some on a beautiful but windy afternoon. I was surprised there wasn't a more recent review since early February. I was there la... Continue »

Teed off out Friday, 5/21 around 1:40 with Robert (roarksown1) as a two-some on a beautiful but windy afternoon. I was surprised there wasn't a more recent review since early February. I was there last around that time but only got 13 holes in before dark. Short story is really nice general conditions and greens that need work. Teeing grounds here are typically level and the coverage is adequate — no problems there. The fairways were the biggest surprise in a pleasant way. I can't remember the coverage being as well grown in and lush than it was on the day. We were hard pressed to find a brownish area, much less a thin one throughout the round. Rough overall was well grown and green in but not overly long and generally playable. Bunkers on the whole were clean and on the firm side, some more so than others. I was in the front bunker on the par-3 15th that had a deceptively soft but thin top layer over a hard underlayer and it cost me. The surrounding areas were in good shape for short shots to the greens. The greens were the counterpoint to the rest of the conditions. A little bumpy at times but definitely slow. It straightened out your putting lines but it was easy to leave putts just short or have then decelerate and turn at the last moment. They weren't awful, but weren't fun and they required adapting to. A more reasonable medium speed or better would have made the day that much more enjoyable. That said, they were serviceable enough that the golf gods bestowed Robert a 60 foot par putt on the 9th. We started out with an open course and caught up by the 6th hole, but things moved along well enough for a little over a four hour round. The course has enough contour, visual interest and challenge as well as views of the local mountains. It really was a nice day with enjoyable conditions, even with the wind which was a factor but not overwhelming. As long as you know what to expect with the greens, I would still recommend the course for its overall conditions right now. The practice green is consistent with, and maybe a touch slower than what you find out on the course, so there is a chance to get acclimated before you go out. If they can get the greens smoothed out with a more playable speed, the course will be in as good a shape as I've seen it.

Played here on 2/5 with a 7:40 tee time and we got out about 10 minutes early. Needed a light jacket for awhile but it warmed up nicely. Check in is from a window at the back of the shop. Practice gre... Continue »

Played here on 2/5 with a 7:40 tee time and we got out about 10 minutes early. Needed a light jacket for awhile but it warmed up nicely. Check in is from a window at the back of the shop. Practice green is closed but the range is open. Typical covid stuff with no sand bottles,ball washers or rakes in the bunkers.
Tee boxes need work. Most are thin and beat up and a few need leveling.
Fairways have decent coverage for this time of year with very few thin spots. If you get off line much there is nit much rough but there are quite a few bare areas to deal with.
Bunkers were ok and had been groomed so not many footprints to deal with this early in the morning. Most had ample sand.
The greens ran a little slow and some were bumpy. Several had bare spots around the edges.
I paid $35 with the senior card and that includes a single rider cart. Didn't see a drink cart but the snack window is open with cards only accepted. Quite a bit of maintenance going on around the course.

While Los Verdes in the best value L A County course, I think Santa Anita is my favorite. I enjoy the rolling fairways, the more challenging green complexes, and the overall parklike setting, with th... Continue »

While Los Verdes in the best value L A County course, I think Santa Anita is my favorite. I enjoy the rolling fairways, the more challenging green complexes, and the overall parklike setting, with the back drop of the mountains. It is an easy walk and afford a decent challenge without beating you up.

Conditions were about what I expected. Green not as smooth as normal, fairways had better coverage than expected, despite the winter conditions. Not in any bunkers, but they looked OK. Tee boxes need attention, some not level, some pretty beat up.

Staff is always great here. Not as busy as I thought it might be, and did not have any issues with "back nine players" . Great course at a great price (senior rate)

Played Santa Anita on a random Saturday GN hot deal at 6:20AM 1-2-21. How and why this deal popped up was a mystery while I was looking for a tee time 2 days prior. I showed up to the course around 6,... Continue »

Played Santa Anita on a random Saturday GN hot deal at 6:20AM 1-2-21. How and why this deal popped up was a mystery while I was looking for a tee time 2 days prior. I showed up to the course around 6, and the starter says, they accidentally clicked the button for the hot-deals and after I bought the round they shut it down. A few minutes later I was teeing off in pitch darkness. There was a guy 2 holes ahead who plays every Saturday with glow balls and tees off as soon as the course opens, sometimes around 5:30Am. Somehow I caught him and we played the front in about an hr, the back took almost 3. Santa Anita loves to send the 9 hole groups out on the back and so there will be slow second half to your round. The course right now is in very good winter conditions, the greens are fine for the most part, a few holes were a little spotty. The fairways and rough provided good hitting opportunities. The Tee boxes have seen better days, and could use a little leveling. The staff here is very good, the fact that they didn't cancel my time and let me roll out before the regular group that plays every Saturday at 6:40 is well appreciated. The course for the money is good, but the slow pace if you don't get out early would really bother me.

Santa Anita is not a very difficult course but there are some shots that make you think. Some longer par 3's, and a few reachable Par 5's. I recommend this course if you can get a deal.

I wanted to get in one more round before some finger surgery today and I found a 7:30 tee time for 12-16. Glad to report that this track has improved greatly since my last round here in early Oct.
Te... Continue »

I wanted to get in one more round before some finger surgery today and I found a 7:30 tee time for 12-16. Glad to report that this track has improved greatly since my last round here in early Oct.
Tee boxes were a mixed bag with some a little beat up and others fine. The fairways have good coverage and were cut just right to get some good rollout but still easy to hit from. There are some thin/dry spots but not bad. The rough is a little long in places and finding your ball required some work. There are some bare spots if you get too far off line.
The greens rolled medium speed and held shots well. The speed was a little inconsistent.
Bunkers are what I have come to expect during covid ,mostly thin and compacted without rakes.
Checkin was thru a window at the back of the shop. Range is open but practice green still closed. No cart today but snack bar window open at the turn cards only no cash accepted.
Overall a good round for a county course in winter. I cant play for two weeks but I will be back here in the new year.

Played on Friday, Oct. 9 with sr129. This was my first time playing here and it ok. Not a course I have to get back to, but not a course I would avoid. I was late for our tee time because of a batter... Continue »

Played on Friday, Oct. 9 with sr129. This was my first time playing here and it ok. Not a course I have to get back to, but not a course I would avoid. I was late for our tee time because of a batterey problem, but they got me set-up with a cart very quickly to meet Steve out on the course. The staff I had encounters with were very friendly. Standard covid precautions were in place.
POP - 3:30 even though the te sheet was full of us old farts.
Fairways - Very green with a few bare spots, but the longest grass in a fairway I have ever seen. They were mowing towards the end of our round and the cut blades were about an inch and a half long and the grass was still shaggy. The aprons in front of the greens are cut nice and tight and in great shape. This is how the fairways should be.
Rough - A mixed bag of bare and very long grass. With the morning dew, it was difficult to hit from.
Bunkers - Thin to hard pack, just of.
Greens - Slow! not great with ball marks and some thin areas and bumps. The 18 greeen looks like they are having problems with crab grass growing in.
Course is not long with the tips playing 6400 yards and the white tees at 6000.
Had a fun day, just wish the fairways had a little run to them.

630 am tee time with the old guys. Place was busy early and stayed steady throughout the day. Santa Anita, why do your greens have to be so slow? The putting green at the store is literally faste... Continue »

630 am tee time with the old guys. Place was busy early and stayed steady throughout the day. Santa Anita, why do your greens have to be so slow? The putting green at the store is literally faster and rolls better than SA did today. d%mn ! Tee Boxes: Some were good and some are bad. Its a constant thing there, just depends on where they put the markers on the tee. Fairways: Looks like the summer grass is going dormant so it gives a slight British Open feel when you meander down the fairways The usual cart path trouble spots are all the same but the fairways were pretty good although 2 was like 1st cut rough in the middle of the fairway. Some of the fairways were dirt and hardback due to poor drainage so some sidehill lies were pretty barren. Bunkers: Ditched those things today and stayed sand free. Rough: Rough is the rough, pretty standard like most of the courses, nothing too brutal. Greens: Jesus wept!!!! Man! Could these greens be any slower!? 45 bucks to walk and the greens are literally slower than the blunt rollers and beer smugglers Los Feliz 3 Par games Friday night. Don't get me wrong, pounding beer and slow putting is the best however for 45 bucks at least let the greens roll. The greens were cut and some holes were poc'd up but its kinda the usual at the public courses. Its not like the greens aren't maintained they're just slow and very textured. Santa Anita could be so much better if they could put some more care into the course. There are great views and some scenic holes but its for sure spendy compared to other courses in the area that will for sure provide better course conditions and certainly better green speeds for the price. Later !

Even getting out early did not help with the heat. It's really hot out today. I enjoy playing this course primarily because I love the setting. (Also hard to beat the price for seniors) I knew goi... Continue »

Even getting out early did not help with the heat. It's really hot out today. I enjoy playing this course primarily because I love the setting. (Also hard to beat the price for seniors) I knew going in that conditions were not going to be great, so since my expectations were low, I was not too disappointed.

Greens actually rolled better than expected. Fairways were mostly good, with some thin/brown areas. Several tee boxes could use some attention, and the green surrounds need to be addressed. That said, despite heat, the quasi poor conditions, and my poor play, I can say I enjoyed the round, but was really glad to get into the air conditioned car for the trip home.