Southern California's No. 1 Golf Source
SITE
SEARCH
GOLF RESOURCE GUIDE:
The Golfing Nomad
|
||||
 One of the toughest tags that can get hung on a golf course is uninspiring. If you can’t recall anything about a layout, what brings you back to play it again? That’s where I was with Trilogy Golf Club at Glen Ivy in Corona. I had visited Trilogy twice before, but couldn’t remember anything special about the rounds. I recruited friends Mike, a 9 handicap, along with Mick and George, who both claim to be 13s, for my latest trek to Trilogy. I was surprised to hear their excitement about getting to play the course again. Was I missing something? TEEING OFF The club is part of a home development, and like many of the club’s regulars, the place has more character than I remembered. The service levels seemed to be elevated as we were greeted by friendly and helpful staff. After a little warm-up time and debate on the first tee, we settled on playing the blue tees, which stretch to just over 6,300 yards. The course opens with a 519-yard par 5 that plays downhill. The hole begs you to bomb a drive to take a shot at the green, which is guarded by a lake on the right. Our group experienced the risk and the reward of the hole with Mike recording an eagle with a solid drive and a hybrid to about 20 feet. Mick was less fortunate, carding a double bogey after his drive disappeared into the hazard that runs along the left side of the fairway. Of course, he was my partner. Designed by Ted Robinson, Sr., the course has matured a lot since it opened in 2002. There are more homes, but the growth of the trees and the surrounding terrain make the front nine more aesthetically pleasing. The holes are fun and straightforward, but accurate and strategic tee shots are mandatory. IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT The toughest driving hole on the front nine is the 506-yard par-5 seventh, which plays up the side of a foothill on the outskirts of Cleveland National Forest. With a large tree and a hazard on the right and a fairway bunker guarding the left, it’s visually the tightest driving hole. The front side ends with the fantastic 177-yard par-3 ninth. A waterfall cascades behind the tee, and water guards the front and right side of the green. I hit a 5-iron to within 15 feet of the hole and made a birdie. It was one of 10 birdies our group made on the day. FINISHING STRONG The back nine offers more of the same, especially on the 304-yard par-4 11th. With a lake on the left and the wind in our face, reaching the green was unthinkable, but turn the wind around and it would be worth a shot. The round ends with three beautiful holes. The 416-yard par-4 16th plays downhill with the green set against the community clubhouse and its beautiful water features and glass windows. The 187-yard par-3 17th plays into a small canyon with trees and brush on both sides of the green, and the round ends with the biggest drop from tee to fairway on any course I’ve ever seen — 200 feet! It was a blast launching our tee shots on the 415-yard 18th hole, which features a large lake guarding the green. Overall, Trilogy was a lot better than I remembered. Visually, the course setting is beautiful, well conditioned and fun to play. Our scores ranged from 77 to 96, so the course can yield a good time but penalize you for bad shots without beating your brains out. SG Green fees range from $55 on weekdays to $84 on weekends. For more information, call (951) 277-7900 or visit trilogygolfclub.com/glenivy. |
||||
RSS Subscribe
