Weekend Hacker Golf Course Review

This is a page dedicated to those who love the game of golf but don’t play as often as they would like. These reviews of selected golf courses will give you an idea on which ones you might want to play.

Chester Washington- This 18 hole Los Angeles County course has an interesting mix of long and tough holes. The front 9 holes are the most challenging, especially 6, 7 and 9. On 6 there is water just past the tee box, On 7 the lake is right by the green. On 9 there are a trio of lakes to get past. I actually poked the first two shots into the water. The final holes are long and after a fairly long day they will wear you out, even if you have a cart. But overall the course is a challenge for any golfer.

Cerritos Iron Wood-This is a 9 hole tight course with an attitude. First of all the greens are beautiful and well kept. Each hole has its challenges with bunkers and water in play. You have to keep your shots straight or you will land up in the previous fairway. It is better to be short on this course than too long. The 9th hold is especially tricky with a small lake guarding the right side of the green. It is a fun course, inexpensive, and can be played in two hours of less. Great for people who want to work on their short approaches.

Olivas Links-There is a very challenging municipal course in Ventura that has been called by many as one of the 10 best in the country. This place defines “links” perfectly. There are wide open holes and ones that are filled with water, reeds, and sagebrush. Get caught in the reeds and you can play the ball, if you can find it. If not you will get a one stroke penalty. I found the front 9 easier than the back 9. The grass is cut very low throughout. The experience was much like teeing off on a green. It is a beautiful course and you will find each hole to be a challenge. I suppose that’s just the way it should be.

Angel Park-Las Vegas is known for many things, one of which is having expensive golf courses. But you can find some deals. I recently played at Angel Park Golf Course in Summerlin, about 9 miles west of the strip. There are actually three courses here: Mountain, Palm, and a 9 hole executive course that is lighted and open in the evening. I arrived for the Palm course on a recent afternoon for a 3:30 tee-off time. It wasn’t crowded and for $35 I played the great 18 hole course with a cart in a little over 4 hours. It is a challenge with lots of water hazards and bunkers to keep it interesting. The wind came up late in the afternoon but keeping the drives low didn’t affect things in the least. All in all it was great experience and I can’t wait to try the Mountain course next time.

Roosevelt Golf Course-Most folks know about the golf courses that are located on the east side of Griffith Park. But not so many know about a fun 9 hole course called Roosevelt that is located on Vermont Ave, just north of the Greek Theater. When I arrived to check in, the starter told me that this was a different kind of course. It is long for an executive course, with some hefty Par 4 holes. You will also spend a lot of time walking up and down hills. But that is what makes it fun. Along with the terrain there are narrow fairways and all kinds of ways to get into trouble. After navigating the course, you will be satisfied knowing that even though you played an executive course, you were stimulated as well.

River View Golf Course-This course has been called one of the most affordable in Orange County. Indeed it is. You can play 18 holes with a cart for less than $40, and that is on the weekends. The holes are all located along the Santa Ana riverbed. Depending on what time of the year you visit, water levels may be high or very low. But make no mistake about it, this course is a challenge. I have never seen greens so high up on ridges. The 17th hole has a green so far away that you first must hit south, then west across the river bed and then up to the top of the green, which is a small one for a hole that size. It is fun but be prepared, this course will challenge you on just about every hole.

Saticoy Regional Golf Course-This 9 hole course has had its ups and downs. A recent visit was a pleasant one. The greens were in very good shape as were the fairways. The recent rains had a lot to do with it. Also the management has been spending some bucks to fix things up. There is one Par 5 and two Par 3’s with a few bunkers to make it fun. It is inexpensive and a nice to way to spend a couple of hours.

Bixby Village-This little 9 hold Par 30 course in Long Beach is a lot of fun. The first couple of holes features a water hazard, sand traps, and condos on one side. I launched one into the patio of a condo owner just last week. It is a challenging course for both beginners and long-time players. It normally isn’t too crowded and if you can’t get on at Little Rec just up the street, this is a nice alternative. You can also play it for $15 on the weekends. Not bad!

Dominguez Golf Club-This 18 hole executive course is great for beginners, kids, and those who want to work on their short game. I often go there when my chipping and putting is on the fritz. All of the holes are straight, and there are only 3 bunkers on the whole course. Everything is flat so you get a great roll when the ball is hit straight. There are deals on greens fees throughout the week and the driving range is one of the best in the area. All-in-all the experience is fine if you aren’t expecting Pebble Beach.

Fullerton Golf Course-This 18 hole course is built in a canyon just north of downtown Fullerton. It is one of the best municipal courses I have ever played. Every hole is a challenge, even the four par 3’s that are next to each other. The fairways are narrow and there are lot of bends and doglegs that keep it interesting. I saw some people walking but I wouldn’t recommend it. The ups and downs will keep your knees working. By the way if you check on-line you can get some terrific deals. On a slow day it takes about 5 hours which isn’t bad for a full size course. Even though it is challenging, beginners will have fun as well.

Harbor Golf Course-This full-size 9 hole golf course, owned by the City of Los Angeles, is well maintained and is popular, particularly on the weekends. The first 3 holes are long and get you off to a challenging start. There are two Par 5’s and a fun Par 3 that has a slight dogleg to the left. Depending on the position of the pen, golfers have to guess where to hit. If you hit over the trees, an ending on the green is possible. If not, the forest will get still another ball. The course offers tests for golfers of any skill range.

Terranea Golf Course-This nine hole executive course at the Terranea Resort on the Palos Verdes Peninsula is a challenge for any skilled golfer. The bunkers are cavernous, and there is a lot of sage that borders many of the fairways. The 9th hole is a great example. Sitting about 140 yards from the green is a sagebrush hazard that fills the entire fairway. There is a sloping hill that empties into it. So if you hit just in front of the sage, the roll will put your ball in the sage anyway. The winds come up in the afternoon causing some problems if you are on the shots too much. The views are great with the Pacific Ocean providing at nice site.Olli