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 Alta Vista is highlighted by pristine conditions and a challenging yet playable layout (PHOTO: Eddie Meeks). June gloom was in full effect on a Friday morning last month at Alta Vista Country Club, but the somber weather didn’t dampen the lively atmosphere at the Placentia venue. There was lots of activity on the driving range. Many members were walking in and out of the pro shop to catch the second round of the U.S. Open, and staff members attended to golfers by delivering range balls and prepping carts for the day. “This is a pretty typical day out here,” general manager Karl Reul said. “We are a pure golf club, and our members love to play golf here.” By the time my group teed off at 11 a.m., the gloom had given way to sunshine, illuminating a pristine track designed by Southland architect David Rainville that opened in 1961. It was quite refreshing to find a brisk pace of the play on the course. The layout has a soft, tree-lined feel throughout with subtle differences between nines — the front is a bit tighter, while the back is more open but has water in play on four holes. Those characteristics are best illustrated on the two toughest tests — the par-4 third and 15th holes. No. 3 features a tight fairway that slopes down from the tee before rising uphill about 125 yards from the well-guarded green. No. 15 features a wider fairway but graver consequences for poor shots because water guards the left side of the fairway and green and out of bounds runs down the right. Those two holes confounded me, as I posted a combined 5-over par on them. But I still had a lot of fun, going 4-over the rest of the round. I found the course to be fair with a diverse flow of holes both long and short. The uphill 525-yard ninth is a great three-shot par 5, and the 144-yard par-3 12th is a solid short hole that had a U.S. Open-style pin placement.  Golf was fun, but hanging out in Alta Vista’s revamped members lounge was an ideal way to cap the experience. Every day after 3 p.m., a buffet of finger foods — such as mini-pizzas and egg rolls — await members, and the bar’s selection of draft beer also is a welcome sight.The U.S. Open was still on, and plenty of members regaled in their rounds while enjoying the season’s second major on one of the lounge’s flatscreen TVs. This wasn’t family time, this was golf time — and I loved it. “Members truly appreciate the changes we’ve made to the lounge,” Reul said. “It’s an ideal place to relax.” I appreciated everything about Alta Vista, and I certainly wouldn’t mind enjoying it again. Alta Vista Country Club Location: Placentia, located just northeast of the intersection of the 91 and 57 freeways. Course: The par-72 layout has six sets of tees — from the tips, it plays 6,559 yards and has a 71.5 rating. Amenities: Alta Vista’s revamped clubhouse features a members lounge with a full bar and flatscreen TVs. Locker rooms are available. Ample wedding and banquet space is open to the public, as is a restaurant that features a Sunday brunch. An all-grass driving range is complemented by a putting green and short-game area. Memberships: Alta Vista offers weekday-only memberships as well as a twilight guest fee rate. Call to learn more. Did you know: Two-time PGA Tour winner Hunter Mahan grew up playing Alta Vista and still practices there on occasion. Fellow PGA Tour member Chris Tidland also is a member. Phone: (714) 524-1591. Website: altavistacc.com. |
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| Comment at 7/4/2011 |
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| Comment at 10/28/2011 |
