Had some business in Ontario late Thursday morning, 10/4/18, and hopped over to Goose at just before 2pm. Got the $40 afternoon twilight rate and was paired with 2 regular players having a running mat... Continue »

Had some business in Ontario late Thursday morning, 10/4/18, and hopped over to Goose at just before 2pm. Got the $40 afternoon twilight rate and was paired with 2 regular players having a running match/smack talk session – amiable guys and fun to play with. We never caught anyone ahead until the approach shot on #18, and never saw anyone behind us except a fast single who played thru on the #12 tee. We finished in just over 3 hours. Weather was warm with some cloudiness – no wind to start, with the breeze freshening around 3pm.

Be aware that Goose Creek’s annual heavy “maintenance is coming” – the course closes Sunday, 10/7, for a week. Everything is punched – greens, fairways, and tees. They re-open Tuesday 10/16, and it will be cart path-only till the end of October. Tees were already shaved down today and the fairways had been cut close, with scattered patches of scalped ground. I expected drier, firmer conditions as the course dried out leading up to punching, but fairways and greens were fairly soft, with little runout on fairways and receptive greens. Maybe due to the rain showers Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. Also saw a lot of tree-trimming going on throughout the course, lending a more open look everywhere. No mix containers on the carts so they didn’t expect you to fill divots – those of you who have played with me know that this resulted in an ongoing twitch in my arm the entire round!

Even as they prepare for maintenance, Goose is in better shape than many local courses in their prime season. Fairway lies were mostly good, unless you happened to land in one of the scalped areas. Rough was not as lush as usual but could be 2-3 inches deep. Tees were flat! Yes, flat – like they are supposed to be everywhere! I wasn’t in the sand, but partners played out a couple times and I heard no complaints in between the smack talk. Greens did have quite a few old and new unrepaired ballmarks.

The tightened fairways and softer turf, combined with vagaries of the wind, resulted in my leaving several approaches short, especially to front pins. Those several situations really brought out to me how pushed up many of the green platforms at Goose are to the green approaches, something you don’t necessarily see from a short-to-mid iron distance out in the fairway. I often was only 5 yards short of the green, but several feet below the level of the pin in an area where the green was running slightly away from me over the front edge. My wedge/putting game was found wanting in these circumstances!

Played Tues Sept 25th at 7.06, staft was great as usual, we were a walking 2 some and the second group out for the day. A riding 2 some in front of us and NO one behind us. POP was great at 3.12. We... Continue »

Played Tues Sept 25th at 7.06, staft was great as usual, we were a walking 2 some and the second group out for the day. A riding 2 some in front of us and NO one behind us. POP was great at 3.12. We took a few extra putts and chips on hole #2 to let the 2 some get in front of us a little more and it worked, actually didn't see them again until the back 9. The weather was overcast and being out there was fantastic by yourself, a really nice fall day. Now about the course, everyone knows Goose has great conditions and the front 9 were not bad, as usual the traps were a little hard, but fairways and greens were acceptable. The back nine was a different story starting on #12, they cut the fairways real low and left dead grass on 4 or 5 fairways on the back nine, it was like playing ground under repair the entire fairway. It is obvious that they are getting ready to punch the fairways, so......IMHO, if you have never played Goose and are planning to go and experience it, please wait for the course maintenance to heal before you go so you can get the real Goose course. Truthfully the back nine was not nice to play yesterday. If you have played it, just know that the course is under maintenance and don't expect too much.

Booked a tee time through Goose Creek web page as a single with a twosome. Teed off at 8:05 and finished in 3:50. The greens rolled mostly smooth with medium/fast speed. There were some very small bar... Continue »

Booked a tee time through Goose Creek web page as a single with a twosome. Teed off at 8:05 and finished in 3:50. The greens rolled mostly smooth with medium/fast speed. There were some very small bare spots but for the most part they did not effect play. The greens were a little on the firm side. The fairways had mostly good coverage with some thinner areas but nothing of much consequence. The rough had good coverage with some thin spots. The length of the rough was 1-3 inches and not too penal. The bunkers were well groomed but wet and a bit compacted. The tee boxes were in good condition.

Players started on hole 10 today. First time playing the nines reversed. Saw the food/beverage cart several times. I always enjoy playing Goose Creek. The layout is interesting and challenging but not so challenging that high handicapers would feel beat up by the course. The staff all around are very friendly.

Played 9-20 on a warm afternoon. Pace was just a touch under 4 hours even though we waited a few holes. On #16 it took close to 10 minutes to tee off.

The tee boxes and most of the fairways look to... Continue »

Played 9-20 on a warm afternoon. Pace was just a touch under 4 hours even though we waited a few holes. On #16 it took close to 10 minutes to tee off.

The tee boxes and most of the fairways look to be shaved down and getting ready for fall maintenance. The fairways were not the lush lies you expect at Goose.

The greens were medium fast but a little bouncy in spots. A few had some thin spots.They are punching the first part of Oct.

Bunkers are thin as always here but playable.

Saw the cart several times and the staff at check in were friendly and sent me straight to the first tee to join a threesome of very friendly guys from OC.

Played out here today 9/9 at 9:00am. Course was in its usual good shape, greens are rolling really good right now, much better than when I played here even just a month ago. Really no complaints about... Continue »

Played out here today 9/9 at 9:00am. Course was in its usual good shape, greens are rolling really good right now, much better than when I played here even just a month ago. Really no complaints about the conditioning, just a little hot out today. Good time to play goose creek right now.

After playing golf in the Midwest during the past week, (Neb, Iowa & Ill) it is so nice to leave the high temperatures, stifling humidity, and never ending threat of thunderstorms, and return to the ... Continue »

After playing golf in the Midwest during the past week, (Neb, Iowa & Ill) it is so nice to leave the high temperatures, stifling humidity, and never ending threat of thunderstorms, and return to the climate which caused me to leave Chicago in the first place almost 50 years ago.

Couldn't have selected a better place to "come home too" as the Goose is always a joy to play. Conditions were overall excellent, with perhaps the greens a touch less perfect than usual, but still very nice and super receptive to well struck shots. Green fairways with plenty of grass, so appears the recent heat was handled fairly well. The one bunker I found was well maintained with lots of sand. Really, no issues anywhere.

The only complaint I ever have with the Goose is their policy to not allow singles/twosomes out early. (maintenance ? ) Otherwise this is for me the "Jewel" of the Inland Empire.

Played Tues Aug 28th at 733, check in great, had an hour so used the practice greens for putting and chipping, great facilities. We were 3 walking and while on the first tee a single rider joined us.... Continue »

Played Tues Aug 28th at 733, check in great, had an hour so used the practice greens for putting and chipping, great facilities. We were 3 walking and while on the first tee a single rider joined us. I thought the course was in real good shape. No isses with tee boxes or fairways, was not in any bunkers. Greens were very soft, we would leave hugh divits with grass pocmarked around the balls. Unlike the last review we saw no fungus. We quicking found out the greens were much faster than the practice greem, rolled real nice. There was a slow 4 some in front of us so POP was not good at 412, for us. Now that is cooling down my friends will come out to I. E. more (instead of playing in O.C. ) and we will play here more often.

Practice facility at Goose Creek Didn't play the course today but I have to commend the workers who keep this place looking like at a gem. The condition of this practice facility is the best. For bei... Continue »

Practice facility at Goose Creek Didn't play the course today but I have to commend the workers who keep this place looking like at a gem. The condition of this practice facility is the best. For being as hot as its been the Driving range (Grass, NO Mats) is in great shape with great range balls. The two Chipping areas as well as the 2 putting greens are absolutely in great shape. Practice greens are running pure and smooth. By far this Course's practice facility is the best in the I.E. My compliments to all the hard working Men who keep this course in Superb condition.

I think there may be some fungus among us. Lots of dead spots on many of the greens,not ball marks as these are at least 6" by 8" and also the greens were very slow. Other than that the course is in v... Continue »

I think there may be some fungus among us. Lots of dead spots on many of the greens,not ball marks as these are at least 6" by 8" and also the greens were very slow. Other than that the course is in very good shape.