Woodley Lakes, Balboa GC, Balboa GC

[jswaykos]

any reviews?

I'm heading north to L.A. next week for work (from San Diego) to the Woodland Hills area. I see three courses very close to where we'll be - Woodley Lakes, Balboa GC and Encino GC. Anyone here play at any of these? I was hoping for an early morning 9-hole tee time but I can't find websites for any of these courses.

Is one any better than another? Doesn't have to be anything fancy, just something to stay loose.

[duffer888]

These are all LA city courses, so check the city golf course website for details on getting a reservation, I think you need to buy a card, but I am not certain.

I haven't played Balboa in a long time, so my comments wouldn't include it, but I don't think it would be much different. All are muni courses and get heavy play, especially on weekends. So they are can be a bit rough around the edges. During the summer, they can get a tad brown in spots due to water conservation policy. In general, they are typical muni parkland courses.

Woodley is a wide open, driver every hole course. Encino has 1-2 shorter par 4s where you may want to hit 3W off the tee, but it is still pretty open, but not as wide as Woodley. I don't think either of them are distinctive in any way, but if it is just for exercise, they may work. Also, Woodley has a much newer clubhouse and restaurant. If you walk on, go to Encino/Balboa, as they are co-located. You'll have to drive to the other side of the dam basin to get to Woodley.

[jswaykos]

[quote name='duffer888' timestamp='1308855621' post='3330392']
These are all LA city courses, so check the city golf course website for details on getting a reservation, I think you need to buy a card, but I am not certain.

I haven't played Balboa in a long time, so my comments wouldn't include it, but I don't think it would be much different. All are muni courses and get heavy play, especially on weekends. So they are can be a bit rough around the edges. During the summer, they can get a tad brown in spots due to water conservation policy. In general, they are typical muni parkland courses.

Woodley is a wide open, driver every hole course. Encino has 1-2 shorter par 4s where you may want to hit 3W off the tee, but it is still pretty open, but not as wide as Woodley. I don't think either of them are distinctive in any way, but if it is just for exercise, they may work. Also, Woodley has a much newer clubhouse and restaurant. If you walk on, go to Encino/Balboa, as they are co-located. You'll have to drive to the other side of the dam basin to get to Woodley.
[/quote]

I ended up walking on the back nine at Encino, first daylight. The dew made for decent conditions - I can see how it'd be incredibly dry later in the day. Played OK, but what was up with the gnats everywhere? Geez... a few times I had to back off and brush 'em off of me. Not used to that sort of thing in San Diego!