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 The course was lauded by players and honored by national magazines, but when the PGA Tour moved the former Inland Empire Open to Empire Lakes in 1999, the shine on Moreno Valley Ranch had begun to fade. The fairways had become spotty, the greens were rock-hard and the rough was too penal. Fortunately, everyone loves a good comeback story and Moreno Valley Ranch is in the process of staging one. The club started in the right place by lowering its green fees to $40 during the week and $55 on weekends. The rates, which include a golf car, have a tiered pricing structure that dips throughout the day. Officials also have improved the conditions at the course, with all of the tee boxes, fairways, bunkers and large, undulating greens in good shape. Each of the three nines — Mountain, Valley and Lake — pose distinctive challenges inherent with many of Dye’s creations. The Mountain winds it way up to and around Mount Russell. It is visually the most intimidating of the nines with a pair of tough par-3s and the memorable par-5 sixth hole that slithers through the rocky terrain. The Valley opens with a long par-4 and a green protected by water. The same lake guards the right side of the second hole, a par-3 that stretches to 220 yards from the back tee. The Valley is the longest of the layouts, with three par-4s playing longer than 450 yards. The Lakes is a nice blend of features found on the other two nines. The layout, which has only one water hazard, gets its name form nearby Lake Perris. Fittingly, one of the toughest holes on the Lake nine is the 426-yard, par-4 seventh hole that features a 200-yard forced carry over water and out-of-bounds markers on the left side of the fairway. Moreno Valley Ranch offers a Players Card for $150, which provides users additional discounts on green fees. In addition, the club has an annual membership starting at $2,700 for unlimited golf and range usage. n |
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