Played here today with an 11:20 TeeOff.com "Deal" time. I was trying to see as much of Death Valley as I could before my tee time, and then Google Maps took me to the wrong spot, but just by one stree... Continue »

Played here today with an 11:20 TeeOff.com "Deal" time. I was trying to see as much of Death Valley as I could before my tee time, and then Google Maps took me to the wrong spot, but just by one street. Fortunately, there were very few people out there when I arrived just a few minutes early and the very friendly pro shop attendant said I could start on my own anytime I wanted. I hit a few putts and headed off, playing the front nine in about an hour and 15 minutes. Then two groups were in front of me on No. 10, but I played through them both and finished the back in a little under an hour for a 2:11 total POP. Ideal weather day; just gorgeous and perfect temps.

Conditions are okay, but it appears the storm damage from 2023 caused lasting problems in some spots. The 12th green is nearly all dirt, but still rolled pretty smooth. Most of the greens seem to be semi-dormant bermuda rolling about medium speed and smooth, despite not being super pure. Full shots stopped quickly. Fairways were nice with good coverage of light green bermuda. The rough is deeper bermuda that is penal when the ball sinks down in. Some holes had some bare spots and trouble spots on both the fairways and the rough, but luckily I avoided those. Very few bunkers on the course, it seemed, but the one I was in was pretty good. Blue tee boxes were fine.

This was my first time here and I found it to be a very charming course. I reminded me a lot of the Legends Course at Tahquitz Creek Resort (formerly Palm Springs Muni). It also reminded me a little bit of Soboba Springs in spots. I think that nostalgia for those two courses added to the charm. It's a much more difficult course than you'd think looking at the yardage. For one thing, the ball notoriously flies shorter at such low elevation, and then on top of that, there aren't many "mid-length" par 4s. They mostly seem to be 400+ or less than 330, so those longer ones play long.

There's currently a Golf Moose voucher to play here anytime for $50. Keep in mind, though, that there's a $30 per car entry fee to Death Valley National Park that gets you access for an 8-day span, I think. Definitely glad I played here once and I would like to play here again sometime.