I played my old home course (formerly The Meadows Del Mar) today for the first time since 2002. Things have changed a lot, besides just the name.
As many of you know, Doug Manchester bought the property a few years ago, and is in the process of building a very upscale resort there. Meanwhile, the club has been private for a few months but only has about 30 members, and no resort play yet. On a beautiful Friday mid-day, we did not see a single other person anywhere on the golf course for the entire round.
The biggest changes are off the course. The modest but pretty restaurant-and-pro-shop clubhouse has been folded into what is now a 50,000 square foot Mediterranean style building. Calling it opulent or expansive doesn't do it justice. The new building reflects the tone of the entire place now - very comfortable, very friendly, but also decidely upscale in every imaginable way.
Not a thing has been overlooked: valet-only parking, Pro V1's on the practice range, free snacks and drinks in little wooden coolers scattered throughout the course, plush upholsetered golf carts...they even paint the inside of the lips of the cups. Nothing overlooked, and nothing average about the place, that's for sure.
As for the course itself, it's matured very well. Since 2002 a few native areas have been grassed over, mostly in spots that cut down on lost balls for average players. The last time I played 5, 6 and 7 they were 305, 125, and 520; now they're 378, 172, and 531, and it's eliminated what used to be the course's only weak stretch. Now it's really solid all the way through.
Also, #16 green has been moved back 100 yards to where it was originally intended to be. It's now a 515 par-5 and an interesting hole: one of the narowest teeshots on the course, between lost-ball bushes on both sides, into the wind, and downhill. It's a tough one to pull off: an opportunity for 4 if you make it, and a challenge to make 6 if you don't.
The tips are 7,160/72/74.8/139; there's also 6,688/72.7/135 and 6,043/69.9/125.
One of my favorite aspects of the course 5 years ago was the understatedness of its landscaping and presentation, especially for a Fazio course. The grass was always a bit brownish with no mower stripes, and it made for a very comfortable, almost rustic look that blended well with the native vegetation bordering most holes. That's still the case, but they've added a few little flower beds here and there. I can deal with that.
Here's the part where you might roll your eyes. The 18th hole used to be a very understated par-4, with a slightly elevated green guarded by a couple of bunkers short and left. Well, about two weeks ago they opened up their new water feature. It flows as a stream behind the tenth tee; crashes down as a 10-15 foot high, 20 foot wide waterfall to the right of the green; then cascades across the fairway to a new little pond short of the bunkers. Obviously they were aiming for "beautiful" more than "natural". Yes, it's Trumpish. My personal opinion is that the waterfall is beautiful and well constructed, while the cascades and pond look somewhat forced because they flow slightly side-hill in order to direct the water to the desired location.
OK, I'm wordy. My overall impression? The golf course is stronger now than it was before. My two quips - the flower beds and the flow of the waterfall - are visual. They don't affect shot values or playability. Meanwhile, a lot of holes are better now, and everything else about the club is a treat. You may or may not wish to submerge yourself in that sort of setting on a daily basis, but I'd feel bad for the guy who can't delight in it if given the opportunity.