Southern California's No. 1 Golf Source
SITE
SEARCH
GOLF RESOURCE GUIDE:
courses
|
||||
|
Last month we were at the PGA of Southern California Golf Club. This month we cruise down the I-15 to Murrieta to play the SCGA Golf Course. The course is owned and operated by the Southern California Golf Association, a group known for providing more than 160,000 handicaps to regional golfers while supplying course ratings to more than 500 facilities. They also deliver a great golf experience. The clubhouse area is simple, and a small golf shop and indoor snack bar await you. Bring cash for food, because they don’t accept credit cards. The burgers, hot dogs and specialty items are quite tasty, however, and people who arrive early should definitely try the breakfast offerings. The surroundings have changed a lot since the course opened in 1994 as houses now border much of the property. While the neighborhoods have infringed on some of the course’s charm, the Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed track remains a good one. The course opens with a par-5 that doglegs at an almost 90-degree angle. Bomb your drive over the bunkers on the right side of the fairway and there’s a good shot at reaching the green in two. The par-4 third hole is very picturesque. You play from a plateau to a lush fairway below. Trees and a dry hazard guard the left side of the fairway while out-of-bounds stakes border the right. A lake and some overhanging trees make this short, but demanding, hole quite a challenge. The front nine ends with a hole that was redesigned a few years ago to add a lake that runs parallel to the fairway down the left side of the landing area. The 12th hole is one of the most challenging in Southern California. It’s a dogleg left that forces you to hit your tee shot into an opening about 230 yards away. Launch your tee shot too far and the ball will run through the fairway and into the adjoining neighborhood. If you manage to find the fairway, your second shot typically plays at least a club longer into the prevailing breeze, depending on the time of day. The 17th hole is another chance for big hitters to steal a shot from the course. A big drive sets up a reasonable approach on the short par-5, although the addition of a creek that winds through the fairway and up to the green will make you think twice before going for the green in two. The 18th hole — an uphill, dogleg left that tempts golfers to cut the corner — is a great way to finish the round. The approach to the elevated green is tricky, and it’s important to keep your ball below the hole. The course has hosted numerous SCGA championships and, depending on the tees, can be shortened to make the round a fun experience for players of all abilities. n |
||||
RSS Subscribe
