la course recs for february?

[lucasmarshy]

greetings, 

 

looking to play in some warmer weather this winter, and la appears to be the most economically sound option to achieve this. havent gotten to play golf there yet, however, so looking for some reccomendations. i have friends at occidental college in pasadena and was looking to visit them, so recs around pasadena would be great, but i am open to any recs in the la metro.

 

thanks!

[tw422]

Not sure LA is the warmest and most economically sound option for golf in the winter but I guess it's relative to where you are currently located.  If you are in Pasadena area you will be close to Brookside which are public are worth playing.  Rustic Canyon is a bit of drive but def worth it.  LA is not know for it's public/muni system so you are not going to find anything great or a must play (other than Rustic Canyon). I would skip Angeles National.  There are 2 courses in Industry Hills (Ike and Babe - Ike is better of the 2) but other than that it's slim picken's.

 

also, LA Metro area is massive - like 3 hours from top to bottom with traffic - so depening on where you are staying and if you have car will determine where you can reasonably play golf.  If you want to spend 2-3 hrs in a car you make your way down to Long Beach - bunch of affordable muni's but none are must play's. Further south you will find Pelican Hill Resort.  2 high end ($$$$$) courses that are worth playing but mega expenisve and really far from where you are in Pasadena.

Edited December 5, 2023 by tw422

[lucasmarshy]

surprisingly enough, hotels and flights are cheaper to LA than they are to say phoenix or vegas from my hometown (albuquerque). it is generally expensive to fly to the southeast from abq, so places on the west coast are preferable. 

 

i should have clarified a bit more; i would prefer to be in and around pasadena but it is not required. i am good with staying around any part of the la metro and while i am willing to travel a bit, i am very familiar with the reality of getting around in la and would like to minimize that misery

 

i appreciate your help!

[tw422]

Totally get it and makes sense althopugh interesting that getting to and staying in LA area from ABQ is cheaper than going somewhere like Phoenix?  Granted it's the high season in Phx so I could see how hotels/golf are much higher there.  Public golf is much better in Phx than here - easier access for sure without the headaches of getting around.  

 

Regardless, LA is just not a great muni/public golf area.  The one's I mentioned in my initial post are all still valid but if you stay closer to LB you have a bunch of public courses you can play - Navy Destroyer, El Dorado, Skylinks, Rec Park, etc...none are must plays but they are affordable.  I would skip Strawberry Farms and Oak Creek in Irvine.  Both are expensive and not that great.  Really hard to get tee times on the LB courses so you might be better off just showing up and trying to get out as a single.  Rancho Park in LA near Fox Studio's is another one you could try - tee sheet is always full 7-9 days out but worth showing up and trying to squeeze on as a single.  

[Jgolfer99]

If staying near Pasadena then as previously stated Brookside will be the closest option and a solid public track in layout (2 courses).  Although I hope pure conditions and pace of play are not significant factors because you will be quite disappointed in both from anything in LA County.  Another solid option nearby would be Debell in Burbank - it's a shorter course but pretty decently maintained by LA area standards.  For the most part public golf in LA area is atrocious (worst in the country in my humble opinion) - terrible conditions and awful pace of play.  The city of LA courses of Rancho Park, Wilson, etc. - just forget it and say no so that you save yourself from 6 hour rounds, horrendous conditions and questionable behavior from the average participant.  With that being said, if you are able to venture into Ventura Country (45 min or so drive) then you have quite a few solid public options to choose from, where the pace of play will be far better and conditions are actually quite strong.  I would recommend Rustic Canyon, Moorpark Country Club, Tierra Rejada, Sterling Hills, Olivas Links.  Good luck and enjoy the sunshine!       

[johnrobison]

From Pasadena, perhaps Industry Hills. Not as good as Rustic, et al, but still good golf and not as far.

[urjc22]

As others have mentioned, Rustic is very good. 

[achun88]

+1 on Rustic and Moorepark Country Club

[The Milkman]

I have a tee time at Rustic a week from Monday when I'm coming out for work. How is the condition now? Know you've gotten a bunch of rain lately. Does it drain well typically? 

[StoutKing]

On 2/23/2024 at 7:30 AM, The Milkman said:

I have a tee time at Rustic a week from Monday when I'm coming out for work. How is the condition now? Know you've gotten a bunch of rain lately. Does it drain well typically? 

 

The site is sandy gravel so it drains well.  That being said the course gets somewhat beat up from non stop play during the dormant months.  Also it's "rustic" on purpose so expect some bare spots in transition areas.  I don't think you'll be disappointed overall.  Have fun.