Favorite Places to play in SOCAL?

[d_pozno]

Looking to expand my repetoire and would appreciate any recs! Open to travel 45 minutes from DTLA.

[a_gorilla]

Rustic Canyon, Oak Quarry, Goose Creek

[Schley]

45 minutes is NOT alot. Use miles perhaps as you know traffic is a killer.

[Hackster]

I like oak Valley. Maybe a little further than 45 mins

[Hackster]

I’m on my way to inland empire. Going to play with brother in-law Tuesday - Saturday any recommendations?

[KParks]

Rustic Canyon might be at the outside edge of that distance wise but I think it is by far the best public course around here.

Great course, good condition, very fair price

[EMA1]

Oak Quarry. Been meaning to try Rustic Canyon, heard nothing but good things.

[Pworld]

Rustic, Sand Canyon, Tierra Rejada, Los Robles, rancho park are my preferred rotation. With Sand Canyon (previously robinson ranch) being the hidden gem.

[jamcanplay]

Just a bit north of LA in Santa Barbara, Sand Piper is definitely worth a play if you are willing to make the 2hr drive.

[Hack Daddy]

I live in San Diego, but my in-laws are in Camarillo. The ONLY reason I don't care about going there is being able to play at Tierra Rejada. One of my fav tracks.

Steele canyon in SD is one you should try as well.

[m_w]

Angeles National. Tee off before 8:00 AM, course gets baked

[EMA1]

Played Goose Creek for the first time yesterday. Wish I found that course earlier! Highly recommend it for anyone who hasn't played it before.

[PorkChopExpress]

Rustic Canyons. 

How’s traffic lately? 

[TmagBryce]

Goose Creek always in above average condition and better than pretty much any course in the Inland Empire 

[EMA1]

2 hours ago, TmagBryce said:

Goose Creek always in above average condition and better than pretty much any course in the Inland Empire 

 

Only played it twice (back to back weekends) and it is my new home/favorite course over Oak Quarry.

 

Unfortunately, had a strange experience this weekend. The starter told us 2 hours per side, which we appreciate the diligence to keep pace of place going, but when we turned at 9 a little over 2 hours the marshal came up to us and told us aggressively we "are no good, don't bother coming back if you're going to play this slow again." One of my buddies stood up and said please don't speak to us like that and I mentioned we would pick it up the best we could. Please keep in mind, we didn't have the group behind us waiting on us the whole round.

 

To make matters worse, they called security and had another marshal tail us for 3 holes in a row. 

[TmagBryce]

15 hours ago, erikalfstad said:

 

Only played it twice (back to back weekends) and it is my new home/favorite course over Oak Quarry.

 

Unfortunately, had a strange experience this weekend. The starter told us 2 hours per side, which we appreciate the diligence to keep pace of place going, but when we turned at 9 a little over 2 hours the marshal came up to us and told us aggressively we "are no good, don't bother coming back if you're going to play this slow again." One of my buddies stood up and said please don't speak to us like that and I mentioned we would pick it up the best we could. Please keep in mind, we didn't have the group behind us waiting on us the whole round.

 

To make matters worse, they called security and had another marshal tail us for 3 holes in a row. 

Wow that is crazy, wish you got a name.  I have been playing there since the course opened and not indicative of normal Marshall interaction.  I rarely ever see marshals on  courses anywhere keeping play moving.  Wish there was.

[Mike975J]

el dorado in long beach

sky links in long beach

or tack on 15 minutes to the 45 min limit and play soule park in ojai. right up there with rustic with better scenery and similar shot values

[CerealKiller]

On 7/16/2020 at 2:13 PM, a_gorilla said:

Rustic Canyon, Oak Quarry, Goose Creek

Ditto.  3 of my favorite courses, plus I'd throw in both course at Industry Hills because it's a 20 minute drive from home.  

[EMA1]

Navy in Seal Beach is back open. Been waiting forever to play there again.

[gambit]

I've spent 45 mins and moved all of 2 blocks in DTLA before lol. Goose Creek is awesome. Love that course. Arroyo is good course too. Further south Maderas is a good track.

[Pepperturbo]

On most days, 45 minutes won't get you out of LA.  Going North or East may be your only options.  I don't think Goose Creek is reachable in 45 mins.  It takes 45mins to get there from N.OCty.  I was there a few weeks back, it was in great condition. 

[markheardjr]

Moved out of LA 4 years ago. So conditions, and even courses change. I am more a fan of being able to swing clubs than I am to whine about conditions. I like variety, not necessarily quality. Although I draw the line at some point with executives, and some other flat uninspiring places like Alondra, or Westchester. So I ask, have you played all the acceptable munis yet?

 

Brookside, Montebello, Rio Hondo, Rancho Park, El Dorado, Rec Park, Los Verdes, Navy Destroyer, Lake Wood, Skylinks, Victoria, La Mirada, Chester Washington, Griffith Park, Encino-Balboa, etc? Harbor Park 9 hole is great in a pinch too.

 

Living in Torrance for 13 years I would try to play 3 times a month, twice at those local spots, then once I would "travel" to a farther spot like list below. The key is to commit and go super early. Both to avoid traffic and to get in quick rounds.

 

Sterling hills, River Ridge, Olivas Links, Rusting Canyon, Moorpark CC, Sand Canyon, San Dimas Canyon, Coyote hills,  Oak Quarry, Dos Lagos, West Ridge, Mountain Meadows, Diamond Bar, Tijeras Creek, Arroyo, Mile Square Classic/Players, SCGA course, Red Hawk, Palm Springs, etc.

 

I despise Tierra Rejada and would never go back. Stupidest course I ever played. I also refused to go back to Rancho San Joaquin after they put 3 groups of senior 5-somes in front of us when we arrived well before our tee time. We saw the older guys "tip" the attendant and we asked for a full refund and left. Never played the course.

[Fighton26]

Griffith Park, my favorite muni and I prefer Wilson over Harding. It's a pretty easy, straightforward track but lots of trees and the scenery is nice. I like playing courses that aren't lined with houses. And Wilson can be long if you play from the tips. 

 

Industry Hills, Ike over Babe. Ike is another long course from the tips and has a pretty challenging layout. 

 

Goose Creek. Best conditions in the IE and the track is pretty fun. 

 

Hidden Valley. Lots of elevation changes and par 5s are all pretty fun/reachable 

 

Sierra Lakes. Good bang for your buck and conditions are good.

 

Black Gold. A little overpriced but I always have a good time. 

 

Rustic Canyon. Everything you've heard about this place is probably correct. 

 

 

I agree with the above that Tierra Rejada is just silly. Moorpark and Rustic are way better courses. I think Oak Quarry is overrated and now way overpriced due to Covid congestion.