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Golfers and nomads have a lot in common. Both enjoy changes in scenery and meeting challenges along the way. Our golfing nomad travels the Southland each month in search of great golf experiences. Cooler coastal temperatures? Check. A natural layout that doesn't beat you over the head or bore you to sleep? Check. A private club atmosphere with public accessibility? Check. Talega Golf Club in San Clemente possesses all these traits. Check it out. THE AMENITIES The Spanish-style clubhouse is quaint and the food inside is excellent. If you're one of those players who loves to roll out of the car and head to the first tee, this is the place for you. There is no practice facility, but one is scheduled to open soon. There is, however, a large practice putting green adjacent to the first tee that provides a taste of what you will be up against on the course. THE COURSE At 6,583 yards, the blue tees were manageable for the players in our group, whose handicaps ranged from 6 to 16. Green fees were $50 with a coupon obtained from the Internet. Talega does everything it can to get you going in the right direction off the first tee. The opening hole of the Schmidt-Curley design plays downhill, while the second is a slightly uphill par 5. At 495 yards, it's reachable in two, but if you go for the green, make sure to hit enough club to clear a cluster of bunkers in front of the putting surface. Take advantage of the front nine, because the back nine is a different beast altogether. It starts with the 423-yard, par-4 10th hole. There is trouble left and right off the tee as three players in our group found out. If you find trouble at No. 10, you can get a stroke back on the 11th hole - a 524-yard par 5 that plays all downhill. The par-5 13th hole is a real test. It plays 613 yards on the scorecard, but driver isn't a good option off the tee. Our group used a variety of long irons, hybrids and fairway woods to position our shots about 220 yards off the tee. We then played semi-blind shots with fairway woods across a gorge before playing our approaches to an up-hill green. It's the pure definition of a three-shot hole. The 439-yard, par-4 16th hole is rated the No. 1 handicap on the scorecard and the afternoon breezes serve to accentuate that point. The idea is to send your drive as far down the fairway as possible into the breeze, while flirting with the hazard that guards the right side of the fairway. The hole then doglegs to the right, where the cross wind attempts to blow your approach wide right of the green. THE GREENS I hadn't played Talega in a few years and it took a few holes for me to get reacquainted with the greens. For the most part, the undulations are subtle, but there are several instances, depending on the pin location, where the slopes and breaks are more severe. When all else fails, leave your ball below the hole because the side-hill putts are tough to judge. MOST MEMORABLE The 18th hole is a great closer. At 408 yards, it doesn't play as long as the scorecard says because you're playing downhill. Water comes into play the farther you advance the ball down the fairway, and a large bunker beckons in the preferred landing area. Avoid the water and sand and you're left with a short iron over a lake to the green. LOCATION AND RATES Talega Golf Club is located a few miles east of Interstate 5 off the Avenida Pico exit in San Clemente. Green fees are $75 weekdays and $125 on weekends. There are re-duced rates for early-bird play, and other discounts are available at www.talegagolfclub.com. For more details, call (949) 369-6226. n |
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