Before you look at the images, do remember that these were taken during the winter in dormant conditions plus many of the natural wildflowers weren't exposing themselves on the hills. Also, because this is right smack dabin the middle of a flourishing community in southern O.C. the high-transmission lines that come into view, not exactlly the most glamorous thing to look at. But then again, this isn't Fishers Island!
The day I played Arroyo Trabuco, the conditioning was everything this website encompasses as great fast & firm conditions with the exception that the greens which were still in recovery from aeriation, just a tad bit sticky. Other then that it felt great to play such a fun course on an absolutely typical SoCal winter day. The course is one that encompasses many fun and challenging golf shots, as well as allows one to properly write about just how fun golf can be on courses like it without insulting the ditch diggers and pipe layers of the world. (F/U Joe Rigo)
I can heartily suggest AT. It's a fun course, maybe not the most defining and certainly not one of the best in the nation--which is just fine by me! For most in this group, I have seen far harder courses to walk, but I wouldn't attempt it on a summer day like today.
I think we need a lot more AT's in the world!
Casey if you should be reading this, you did an excellent job here and the same goes to my great friend and ardent student of the art, Josh Taylor who oversaw the Tom Lehman side of things.
With that, Arroyo Trabuco for those who haven't seen it...
The tee from the par 4, 2nd
And once your out there, the Approach
This is the approach for the short and challenging 6th, an uphill drivable par 4 for most. I love these "Spit and a Chip"-type golf holes, and think the Sport needs more of them at least once during a round if it can be afforded. If the tee shot is played to the left, this is your next challenge. If you play it to the right, well the image of the 6th green will show what your up against. It's a really fun hole.
The tee shot for the par 5, 7th and following that, the approach from the far left side.
This is the Approach into the fun and quirky 10th. One of the most quirky/fun holes I have ever experienced in the architectural dearthland of Orange County.
The tee shot from the really tough, downhill and into the prevailing wind 12th, a somewhat conventional hole for hillside golf but it works.
And speaking of conventional, what would any round in OC be without the usual par 3 over water?!?!? Of course, this is acceptable on a property and area as beautiful as the Trabuco Hills. It brings back memories of what the entire Irvine Ranch area was once like before development infected it like a cancer. Arroyo Trabuco being a somewhat positive from this affliction.
The tee at the 18th. I would like to add that the entire right side comes into play in a fun and quirky way. If you should push a drive into that earthen wall, the ball will bounce off of it, and I'm told this happens a lot when people block themselve sout on the left side thanks to the lake. While it's a conventional golf hole, I think it works fine, with a really good approach to a lovely green setting, I'llbe the first to admit that when I visited the course when it was being built, I didn't think much of it, thus my surprise on just how much fun it turned out.
