1550 North Indian Hill Blvd.
Claremont, CA 91711
(909) 624-2748

Claremont golf course is a 9 hole executive golf course off the 210 freeway at the start of the Inland Empire. It is about 20 minutes drive east of Pasadena (depending on traffic). We exited Towne St and once at the course there is a large free parking lot.

The course itself has five par 3’s and four par 4 holes making a 9 hole par 31. The first three holes are very hilly and you have to walk up some steep inclines between the holes which can be a challenge if you have a pull/ push cart. There is no water on the course and only a few green-side bunkers spread thinly throughout the course. There are a lot of large trees on the course which come into play. The holes on the course are generally narrow and you have to be accurate in your drives in order to post a decent score.

There are a couple of standout holes. Hole 6 is a long 426 yard sharp dog leg left. You have to hit a good tee shot to be in position to hit your 2nd shot to the green. Hole 9 is a short 99 yard par 3. You hit from the top off a hill and the green is about 50-70 yards below you (similar to hole 3 at Monterey Park). We were surprised at hole 3 as if you hit off the men’s tee you hit blindly onto the green. The green is a lot higher and out of sight. It is kind of dangerous as you can not tell if the group ahead of you is finished on the green or not. 

The course condition was bad. The grass is way to long on the fairways and the tee box. The tee boxes resemble hitting out of the thick rough. Also there are large patches of grass which needs re-seeding or worked on. It is unusal to see in the spring as normally the courses in the area are all prepped and ready for the busy summer months. The greens were in decent to average condition. They ran quite slow. The greens were very undulated and there were not many flat putts, which made it challenging.

When we arrived we asked for a cart. We were told we could not have one as we were under 60 years old. The starter was also unfriendly. My golfing partner mentioned that he had a bad leg, but he was still denied. We noticed further around the course that both groups behind us had carts. One guy was about 40 and the other group comprised of three guys in their 20’s messing around. There is a driving range and putting green at this location also. The driving range didn’t look that good. The balls looked old and the hitting surface was sandy like John Wells in North Hollywood. If you do decide to play here check out the Southland Golf magazine or the course’s website. They often have promos going on, like 2 for 1 green fees.

Richie says… “This is not somewhere I would play again. The staff were not friendly and the course condition is bad for what the green fees are. Also as it is located in the IE, it gets hot! We played at the start of June and it was 98 in the shade.”

Chris says… “I know that the course can not help the weather – it was hot! It can however help the condition of the fairways and tee boxes; overgrown and patchy grass throughout. Overall a challenging course, but I wouldn’t play here again.”

Hole by Hole

Hole 1 – 102 yards

Hole 2 – 165 yards

Hole 3 – 149 yards

Hole 4 – 298 yards (par 4)

Hole 4 – 2nd shot (150 yards out)

Hole 5 – 263 yards (par 4)

Hole 5 – 2nd shot (100 yards out)

Hole 6 – 426 yards (par 4 – dog leg left)

Hole 6 – 2nd shot (150 yards out)

Hole 7 – 274 yards (par 4)

Hole 7 – 2nd shot (100 yards out)

Hole 8 – 124 yards

Hole 8 – green

Hole 9 – 99 yards

Hole 9 – view from behind the green

9637 S. Western Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90047

1400 Parkview Ave
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
(310) 939-1465

Hours: 6.30am-6pm
Green fees: $17

The Marriott Hotel par 3 course is located in Manhattan Beach, CA. You turn just after the hotel and there is a separate parking lot which is free. If you park at the actual hotel then you have to pay. The course has a small practice putting green and no hitting area to warm up. As the course is located at a hotel, there are obviously lots of amenities close by. They have an alcohol policy where you can take any alcohol with you which is purchased at the hotel.

The course is a 9 hole par 3 with the longest hole being 182 yards off the white tees. There are a handful of bunkers spread throughout the course and two holes have water in play – hole 1 and 8. Hole 8 is the star of the course. It is a long 180 yard par 3 with a lake going up to the front of the green. There is an area to the right where you can play it safe, if you do not wish to take on the lake.

The course is really nicely maintained. The greens are good and the grass is well cut. The white tees are generally grass and the red tees have mats where you hit from. Each hole has a ball washer. The course is generally easily to navigate around. Each hole is clearly marked and there is a good flow around the course. Although the course is well maintained, it is not quite as stunning as the Marriott official pictures on their website and on the scorecard. The pictures appear to have been photo-shopped. The hotel is actually brown, not white as pictured. Also the grass is not as green and the colors are less vibrant.

Now the main negative… we played on a holiday. We reserved a tee time and it was very busy. There were lots of kids which slowed down play. It took 2+ hours to complete 9 holes of par 3. Also there were kids running around the course and getting in the way of play. These were guests from the hotel and not paying golf players. Although we had some issues playing on a holiday, I hear that the course is quiet during the week when kids are at school. The course is located in Manhattan Beach which is a very affluent area. As a result you get a more elitist and less down-to-earth crowd on the course; compared to other courses in the Los Angeles area.

Although the course is well maintained, I am not sure that this course is somewhere I would play often. We are spoiled with so many courses in the Los Angeles area and I simply have options just as good (if not better) which are less than the 45-60 minute drive required for me to play here. If you live in the local area then this course is worth playing. You also have several other par 3 courses in the local vicinity, such as The Lakes at El Segundo.

Richie says… “Well maintained course with some interesting holes to play. Although nicely presented, not as good as the pictures portrayed. Probably best to play here weekdays and avoid weekends and holidays.”

Chris says… “Overall the course itself is nice, but it is a little hoity-toity. The people in front of us gave the appearance of hedge fund traders off work for the holiday and showing their kids how to play. The worst thing for me about the course was the people. Too much slow play. The course itself isn’t bad.”

Hole by Hole

Hole 1 – 120 yards

Hole 2 – 98 yards

Hole 3 – 130 yards

Hole 4 – 155 yards

Hole 5 – 146 yards

Hole 6 – 153 yards

Hole 7 – 147 yards

Hole 8 – 182 yards

Hole 8 – green

Hole 9 – 82 yards

de Cudeyo
La Junquera
29130 Pedrena (Cantabria)
Spain
(942) 50-10-40

Hours: not known, call club for info
Green fees: 14 Euros, 8 Euros if you are under 18 years old

La Junquera is a 9 hole executive golf course in the northern Spain town of Pedrena. Pedrena is on the Bay of Biscay and just across from the city of Santander. Pedrena is known as the home of Seve Ballesteros. Seve grew up and lived in this village. I understand that his body was laid to rest in the local church.

Water hazard with reeds, hole 4

The course has 5 mid-range par 4’s and 4 par 3 holes. The designers really did a great job to fit such an interesting golf course in such a small area of land by the coast. The course is very tricky and probably the most challenging I have played to date. Every hole has hazards whether it be bunkers or water. There are 20 bunkers on the course and several pounds containing long reeds. In fact only 2 of the 7 holes have no water in play. In addition to all of the hazards you have to contend with the wind. The course is right on the coast and the wind from the Bay of Biscay can be pretty tough to navigate. On a couple of holes I hit a straight shot, then a gust of wind would take hold of the ball and send it 30 yards to the left.

The starter was very friendly. As I was there on vacation and did not have my own set of clubs, she gave me a bag to carry around for free and I shared by brothers clubs. The course was pretty quiet. We played at 5pm on a Friday. There were a few people ahead of us playing at a very good pace. We had about a 2-3 hole break behind us to the next group. Which made for a very nice relaxing round. It took about 2 hours to complete the 9 holes.

I found that holes 2, 3 and 4 were a real tough stretch of the course. These 3 holes border the ocean and they were hard to play. One of the highlights on the course was hole 7. It is a 118 yard par 3. You have water in front of the green and directly behind it. There are no ball washers on the course, but each tee has a nice sign with a picture of the hole and yardage (or meters as it is in Europe).

The course is in good condition for a municipal course. The greens are nice, although not excellent. The tee boxes are in good shape. My only gripe would be that the grass on the fairways should be cut a little shorter. Apart from that the course is in good shape. It is obviously very green from all of the rain.

If you are looking to play some golf in the Santander area then I highly recommend this course. The holes are interesting with lots of hazards to make you think about every shot.

View of the ocean from the golf course

Richie says… “Really nice find of a golf course. Most challenging I have played – plenty of hazards on every hole. Also being on the coast, there can be a lot of wind to contend with.”

Hole by Hole

Hole 1 – 161 yards

Hole 2 – 318 yards (par 4)

Hole 2 – 2nd shot (150 yards out)

Hole 3 – 289 yards (par 4)

Hole 3 – 2nd shot (100 yards out)

Hole 4 – 362 yards (par 4)

Hole 4 – 2nd shot (160 yards out)

Hole 5 – 154 yards

Hole 6 – 338 yards (par 4)

Hole 6 – 2nd shot (150 yards out)

Hole 6 – green

Hole 7 – 118 yards

Hole 8 – 163 yards

Hole 9 – 309 yards (par 4)

Hole 9 – 2nd shot from right rough (100 yards out)

3600 W Ramona Blvd
Monterey Park, CA 91754
(323) 266-4632

Hours: 6.30am to 11pm (closes at 10pm on Sundays and Holidays)
Green fees: see below

 
Monterey Park golf course is set in the hills just south of the 10 Freeway (off Ramona). It is next to and shares the same parking lot as the Luminarias Restaurant. It is very close to downtown Los Angeles, about a 5-10 minute drive east of downtown.

The course is a 9 hole executive. There are two short par 4’s, at 295 and 255 yards respectively. The rest are average length par 3’s. You start and end with the par 4’s. The course design is good with nice variation of holes. It is a hillside course, so there are a lot of elevation changes from tee to hole. The most noticeable is on the 3rd hole. Hole 3 is probably my favorite hole of the course. You have to hit down a steep elevation (may be 50

 yards). The hole is 115 yards long. There are few hazards on the course. No water and may be two bunkers on the entire course. One being behind the green on hole 9.

The course is average to above average condition. Recently it was decent, but I have been in the past and it has been a lot worse. The greens are of a good size and in fair shape, but run slow. I have played here about a year ago and the greens were terrible with divots and large holes in them. There are a lot better now though. Overall the grass around the course could do with some basic maintenance. The fairways could need a cut and the whole course could use a good watering. On some holes it is hard to distinguish between the fairways and rough. They have mats to hit off, but no plastic tees. I typically just tee off from the grass in front of the mat.

The good thing about this course is that there are lights. It is fully lit, which enables you to play until close at 11pm (10pm on weekends and holidays). This makes this course a good spot for after work or winter months when it gets dark early.

The main negative for me with Monterey Park is with the clientele. Your stereotypical golf crowd doesn’t seem to play here. People seem to like to party and play in large groups. The management does not enforce any rules and allow groups of 6 and 7 to play. Which severely slows everything down. There are signs throughout indicating a no-alochol policy on the course, yet all of the trash cans are full of just alcohol containers. Also I have seen that some people don’t seem to follow the courtesy of the game and do not shout “fore” when a ball is hit near you etc. Due to this reason I have marked the course down overall.

Richie says… “Monterey Park is a well designed course which allows you to play a variation of shots during your round. I just wish the starter was more strict and not allow groups of more than 4 to play at a time. It just slows down play.”

Chris says… “The course is nicely layout and I love the views of the city and freeway.  Starter is too accommodating, they should not be booking such large groups. I wouldn’t play this at the weekend or go out of my way to play here.”

Hole by Hole

Hole 1 – 295 yards (par 4)

Hole 1 – second shot (100 yards out)

Hole 2 – 150 yards

Hole 3 – 115 yards

Hole 4 – 130 yards

Hole 5 – 110 yards

Hole 6 – 105 yards

Hole 6 – green

Hole 7 – 130 yards

Hole 8 – 110 yards

Hole 9 – 255 yards (par 4)

Hole 9 – 2nd shot (80 yards out)

Entrance to VA Hospital – golf course is located inside

16111 Plummer St

North Hills, CA 91343-2036
(818) 892-3019

This course is located is located in the Valley, about 2 miles west off the 5 freeway at the Van Nuys exit. The course is located in the VA hospital. It can be a little tricky to find. Basically drive into the VA Hospital and when the road splits, head right. Then from there you can see the golf course below. It is behind a giant piece of land with solar panels. The course made me feel nostalgic seeing all of the military style buildings around. It reminded me of the cookie-cutter buildings from my military past.

I read reviews about this place which were not great, so I did not expect much. I was however pleasantly surprised. The staff were very friendly and we started immediately without any wait. We played on a Saturday morning and it was relatively quiet. The round was smooth with not too much waiting. I have also played at 4pm on a weekday afternoon and we pretty much had the course to ourselves.

I did not anticipate such long holes and the biggest club I brought was a 7 iron. There were actually 3 long holes on the course (180 yards+). The course had a good design, with a mixture of long and short holes. All of the holes were relatively straight with no hazards. There were a few trees mixed throughout, but not many. With the longer holes (one par 4) this course is good to sure up your long game if making the conversion to a 72 par golf course.

The course was maintained well; above average for the area. The greens were a decent size and ran well. All in all we had a fun round and I will certainly be back to play this course again.

Richie says… “A nice find. I enjoyed the variation of holes and the challenges that the long holes brought. Next time I will know to bring some bigger clubs with me!”

Chris says… “Mission Hills is one of the best courses in LA. I love it. The staff are friendly, the course is nice. It is a bit of a drive for me, but I would definitely play Mission Hills again. Don’t be detracted by the negative reviews on Yelp. It is a great course.”

Hole by Hole

Hole 1 – 150 yards

Hole 2 – 123 yards

Hole 3 – 190 yards

Hole 3 – green

Hole 4 – 130 yards

Hole 5 – 114 yards

Hole 6 – 190 yards

Hole 7 – 222 yards (par 4)

Hole 8 – 160 yards

Hole 9 – 137 yards

 

Here are some golf courses which I will be playing and reviewing over the summer months. If you have any other suggestions please post them in the comment box below.

• Arroyo Seco, South Pasadena (par 3 – 18 holes)
• Claremont (executive – 9 holes)
• Maggie Hathaway, Inglewood (par 3 – 9 holes)
• Penmar, Venice (executive – 9 holes)
• Scholl Canyon, Glendale (executive – 18 holes)
• The Links at Terranea, Rancho Palo Verdes (par 3 – 9 holes)
• The Marriott, Manhattan Beach (par 3 – 9 holes)
• Van Nuys (par 3 – 18 holes)
• Verdugo Hills, Tujunga (par 3 – 18 holes)
• Vista Valencia (par 3 – 9 holes)

Updated August 2013 to mark off courses played and reviews created.