Southern California's No. 1 Source for Golf
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"Golf is a game whose aim it is to hit a very small ball into an even smaller hole, with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose." |
-Winston Churchill |
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 unicipal golf courses have come a long way over the past 10 years. With spotty fairways and clubhouses in need of paint jobs, city-owned tracks never reflected elegance. But that changed in the mid-’90s with the arrival of the corporate business golfer and destination resort visitor who desired high-end, daily-fee courses. A new standard was set. Golfers expected more. City-owned tracks had to step it up if they intended to stay relevant. And municipalities began seeing their local tracks as potential money makers rather than an expensive service for residents. Black Gold Golf Club suits the high-end destination model to a tee. THE AMENITIES: These days, golf courses aren’t just measured from tee to green. Golfers consider the property as a whole. The city-owned Black Gold has it all: a grass driving range, a huge practice putting green and a short-game practice area next to the first tee. Add to that a 20,000-square-foot clubhouse with excellent dining and a view overlooking the 18th green that is surrounded by a lake with a cascading waterfall. Here are all the makings of a country club experience. THE COURSE: Black Gold is a par-72 in the foothills of Yorba Linda that plays 6,756 yards from the back tees. The architect, Arthur Hills, has structured a classic, risk-reward layout. From the blue tees, the 287-yard par-4 second hole challenges you to go for the green. The 496-yard par-5 fourth hole begs you to try to get home in two. The reachable par-5 sixth hole is there for the taking, while the 518-yard finishing hole can make or break your round. Other holes require a little less bravado and a lot more patience. The 430-yard par-4 fifth hole pleads with you to settle for a par — or even bogey — and move on. The 203-yard par-3 eighth hole offers plenty of room left of the green away from a nasty bunker and ball-stealing ravine. The 400-yard 11th insists on an accurate tee shot, and the 200-yard par-3 16th hole is one of the most challenging you’ll ever play. One of the best features at Black Gold is that most of the environmentally sensitive areas play as hazards — simply drop a ball, take a stroke and get on with your game. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE: The greens aren’t brutal at Black Gold. But they are challenging. Most are fairly large and feature a good deal of undulation. Just remember one thing: everything breaks toward Disneyland. Follow that rule and two-putts will come a lot easier. LOCATION AND RATES: Black Gold Golf Club is at 17681 Lakeview Ave., Yorba Linda. Rates range from $84 to $104. Call (714) 961-0060, or visit blackgoldgolf.com. |
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