Short Notice - need Long Beach help

kgoings · February 11, 2014

Gonna be in Long Beach Saturday the 15th and my buddy wants to golf, only two requirements are somewhat close by and a tough course (higher slope). I've been checking GolfNow but honestly don't know the area so finding it tough.

Arpeggi · February 12, 2014

Black Gold in Yorba Linda.

Bear Down · February 13, 2014

Probably going to need to get out of Long Beach to find what you're looking for. Black Gold is 30 min away and is very nice. If you're not in the fairway your ball is lost. Bring extras. Eagle Glen in Corona (50 min) would be my next choice.

tw422 · February 13, 2014

Not sure about their slope/rating but El Dorado is a solid track.

llamont · February 13, 2014

Oak Quarry, about 40 miles east in Riverside, is worth a shot. The geographic configuration (being built into the rocks) makes for a layout and experience that you can't get anywhere. It can be played from just north of 7,000 yards with a slope rating of 73.9/137. I got my @zz handed to me there a few weeks ago and I can't wait to go back.

Ranchobob · February 13, 2014

Oak Quarry is a great track, but not close to Long Beach. You're gonna get creamed by traffic during the week, but that's situation normal in SoCal.

Maybe Strawberry Farm or Oak Creek in Irvine? Both pricey--the former egregiously so, IMHO, but quality tracks. Each is closer to LBC than Riverside.

sharkiesj · February 14, 2014

[quote name='Ranchobob' timestamp='1392343194' post='8664043']
Oak Quarry is a great track, but not close to Long Beach. You're gonna get creamed by traffic during the week, but that's situation normal in SoCal.

Maybe Strawberry Farm or Oak Creek in Irvine? Both pricey--the former egregiously so, IMHO, but quality tracks. Each is closer to LBC than Riverside.
[/quote]

Actually, if he's in Long Beach making the drive to Oak Quarry and especially back after his round, will both be against the traffic and way less road rage.

Another tract to consider is Industry Hills, about 30 min from LB. 2 very challenging courses...the Ike is very demanding, host many US Open sectional qualifiers and the Babe is just flat out nasty hard and narrow, almost unfairly narrow on many holes. Both courses are usually always kept in above average condition, with the Ike's green fees a bit high but doable for one time. Otherwise Oak Quarry is really a cool place to play golf. People drive from all over SoCal to play at OQ. Visually stunning but conditions can be spotty. In general, Industry Hills is usually considered to have better conditioning than OQ. Not that OQ is bad but the greens can sometimes be hairy and on the slow, needs-to-be-rolled feeling side...

MKSmith · February 14, 2014

If money is a non issue...Trump Los Angeles is a well maintained and beautiful course with a high slope rating. If you hit the ball fairly straight, you would have a nice time. Fifteen minutes from Long Beach with no crowds.
Otherwise, one of favorites is Rustic Canyon an hour drive, but well worth it. All the other previous suggestions are cool. One not mentioned is Rio Hondo of Downey which I just played and is in good shape and very close to Long Beach. Also, not mentioned is a fun course, Navy course of seal beach, home to Tiger Woods growing up, close to Long Beach. Skylinks is in Long Beach and is a fair course, a little easier to find a tee time and plays host to the Long Open. At this point, you should start calling around and just find somewhere you can find a tee time. Very hard for last minute tee times in LA area. Pelican Hills is also a nice course...Good Luck, post where you went and what you thought.