Your LA County top 5 public courses

[Tom Naccarato]

Tom, I love Almansor. What a place! There are some really good holes on that course, as short as it is!

[Tom Huckaby]

Tom, I love Almansor. What a place! There are some really good holes on that course, as short as it is!

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I think we've discussed it before.... that is a really fun little course and you're right, there are some really good holes for sure.  Love it.  Another one for me to get back to someday...


TH

[Allan Long]

LOVE IT!

Now please tell you you have also played Alhambra Muni.... 5300 yards of quirk to the max... a fine place to break par also.   

Absolutely. We played some HS matches there. For us, that was a long trip (not really as I look back now, but it felt like it then.)

[Tom Huckaby]

Allan:  EXCELLENT.

I would absolutely love to do a "memory lane" tour someday... man I have a lot of love for all of these courses.

Another one I like, but others hate, is DeBell in Burbank.  Pretty sure we discussed this before also.  Now I will not nominate it for any top 5 list based on quality, that's for sure, but I do like it in an Alhambra sort of way... short, quirky as hell, although with all the OB it's likely the evil cousin of Alhambra.  Still, another action-packed course, a great one on which to break par if you are hitting it straight, struggle to keep it under 90 if you're not....

Is Woodley (now known as Woodley Lakes, I gather) any good?  That used to be our St. Andrews...that is, our valley version of links golf... back in the day when there were zero trees and it was hard-pan all over the course...

And of course another of my faves, mentioned often in here over the years, is the relatively new Scholl Canyon executive course in Glendale.  After a so-so front nine with good greens but not much else to say for it, one climbs into the hills for some canyon golf that is really, really cool.  I love that course.  Not many others do....

Then of course we get back to the place where it all started for me, Van Nuys GC.  As a kid, moving "up" to play the "big course" there was a huge thrill.  I went back a few years ago and cracked up at what the "big course" means now... par 30 or whatever, no real driver holes... but back in the day that was our Pine Valley.  Man that place is golf at it's most basic but no one can ever telll me it's not great.

I wish I could name a Top 5 of LA County public golf now... as I said before I can't.  But this trip down memory lane inspires me to list my Top 5 based on memories....

1.  Griffith Park - Wilson.  First really interesting, really tough course I was ever able to somewhat master.  It will always have a special place in my heart.  The rounds took forever, but it meant something when one achieved a score there.

2.  Hansen Dam - same reasons more or less.  High school home course on year.  Also site of the IceBlocking World Championships.

3.  DeBell - tournament glory and heartbreak on different occassions.

4.  Studio City Golf & Tennis par 3 course.  Not my first round ever, but likely 25 of the next 30.  Where I learned the game.  Damn fine greens.

5.  Roosevelt Exec - I saw a young Tiger Woods play there - he was dominating the LA city as a little kid and us much bigger kids had to go see what's what.  No kidding, he was famous at age 6 or 7 whenever this was.  We watched him play the last hole.  I decided he was better than me then.   More importantly though this too was always a damn fun course.

The of course an honorable mention must go to Van Nuys.

[Tom Naccarato]

DeBell (DumBell),
What can be said about DeBell that we haven't said in the past--go ahead and wax the poetic, I love the place! Its a great walking course too.

Roosevelt, well I'm trying to keep that gem under wraps. Sort of a special place for me located in my favorite park in world. A "Roooosevelt" restoration should be at the top of my list of things to accomplish.

What about that view on #7? (the entire downtown LA skyline!) An amazing place to go play the sport, late in the day if your caught on that side of town and don't want to sit in traffic. I've played it that way more times then I planned on playing it, just on a moments notice.

[Tom Huckaby]

Thomas, we are of very like mind on all of this.   For me back in the day, rounds at Roosevelt were more of an annoyance, believe it or not... that is, we tended to go play there when we couldn't get on the bigger courses.  A golf snob I was back then without a doubt.   

But it was funny how much FUN we always had... and though as a snobbish idiot kid I never noticed the view... well....

I did go back and play there a few years ago with my Dad, and when he noticed the view, I thought of YOU.  See, you had mentioned it before.

 

Great stuff.  LA has a lot of unsung very cool golf.  And I know, for you as the historian, there's a lot to cry about regarding what once was and what might have been.  That's part of the story without a doubt.  But for me as a golfer, I have to believe I was damn lucky to live where I did. 

TH

[Allan Long]

Tom,

I think a "Memory Tour" is in order at some point.

Always had tons of fun at DeBell. Some quirky holes, but always an exciting trip. There was a great photo (in SI I think) of a fire right next to DeBell a few years back, and I wish I could find it. If I remember, a group is teeing off with the fire behind them, and although the fire was probably further away than it looked in the picture, nobody is paying attention to it, they're more intersted in following tee shots.

Studio City...wow, don't tell anyone. Where else can you hit balls next to Will Smith?

When you think about all the courses that have been mentioned plus others that used to be part of the LA County golf system like Mountain Meadows, Marshall Canyon, Diamond Bar etc. we were indeed fortunate.

[Tom Huckaby]

Tom,

I think a "Memory Tour" is in order at some point.

Always had tons of fun at DeBell. Some quirky holes, but always an exciting trip. There was a great photo (in SI I think) of a fire right next to DeBell a few years back, and I wish I could find it. If I remember, a group is teeing off with the fire behind them, and although the fire was probably further away than it looked in the picture, nobody is paying attention to it, they're more intersted in following tee shots.

Studio City...wow, don't tell anyone. Where else can you hit balls next to Will Smith?

When you think about all the courses that have been mentioned plus others that used to be part of the LA County golf system like Mountain Meadows, Marshall Canyon, Diamond Bar etc. we were indeed fortunate.

All very well-said, my friend.

And I remember that pic from DeBell!  Fire raging, golfers playing.  That was crazy but incredible.

And yes, mum is the word re Studio City... but I heard awhile back they are/were closing it... has that happened?  Man it is exceedingly valuable land...it would be understandable, if personally tragic.

TH

[Tom Naccarato]

Trivia Time: Do you know why El Cariso is named as such?

I would definitely be in for a MMT (Magical Memory Tour) if Time allowed Tom to do this. (I know how little time there is or you when you are down here) Allan, Enough is enough! Come home!

[Tom Huckaby]

Tommy, I need to MAKE time for this some day.  That is, get my ass down there for that purpose, and not try to fit it into family stuff.  I have a goal for 2009.

Now I do not know why El Cariso is named as such.... please do tell!

TH

[Tom Naccarato]

It's named after the El Cariso Hot Shots, who were actually stationed down in South Orange County. To steal one from Entourage they were the actual Smoke Jumpers of their time. Simply put, they fought forest fires, in this case fought them in the Cleveland and Angeles National forests.

Where the dedication for the course and the park come from is ironically during one of our SoCal fire seasons, where on November 1st, 1966, 12 of them perished in a major fire directly above those hills of Sylmar.

Pretty decent thing to do in my opinion, to name the entire facility after them.

[Tom Huckaby]

Now that is cool.  Thanks, Tommy.

BTW my Dad for many years had a regular game there... sadly his playing partners have all either died or moved away.

TH

[Tom Naccarato]

Tom, if you could make the time for the MMT, we could do it pretty easily over a two-day period of time--two courses a day....

Thoughts?

[Tim Leahy]

Tom and Tom, you guys are killing me! I played all those valley courses regularly, especially Knollwood. Tommy, I am surprised with your knowledge of LA courses you haven't played Knollwood. I don't know the complete history, but what I do know is that it was a private club and Dean Martin was the leading member and had a house off the first fairway that can still be identified by the giant Italian style statue in the backyard that can be seen from the course.  To my knowlede the flag switching thing stopped in the late 80's. The course conditions are suspect most of the time, but it has a great rolling layout with changes in elevation and everything from a driveable blind par 4(I almost had a hole in one there) to an almost 600 yard par 5. The first hole is one of the toughest starting holes anywhere, a long uphill par four with tight OB on the right side.

El Cariso and DeBell are really fun short courses. I always thought that Marshall Canyon was under rated and could be a great course with some money put into it.

I would love to hear your opinions on any of these courses. Let me know if you put the MMT tour together.

[Tom Huckaby]

Tommy:

I could damn likely add this as a before or after THE KING'S PUTTER.  Alternatively if that won't work, then it would likely be not until next summer that this becomes realistic.  But come that time, shoot let's do it.  Drive down at night, stay with my parents, meet you somewhere, do this over a two day period, drive back.  That sounds damn fun.

Tim - great call re Marshall Canyon also!

TH

[Tim Leahy]

I found this bit of Knollwood history, maybe it will kick start Tommy on a more dilligent search, especially since Deano Martin is involved.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knollwood%2C_Los_Angeles%2C_California

[John Nixon]

I also played alot at Victoria GC, which is right where the Goodyear Blimp lands at the 405 and 10; it was built on one of the largest industrial landfills in the Nation. They hard a hard time growing grass aanywhere off the greens; although they were pretty good because they were all built up from the native soil. There was a redo by the Palmer Group to try and cap the site and redesign it a few years ago; anyone have any information on how that project worked out? It is always windy there in the afternoons as the freeways channeled the wind quite nicely.

Pete, I played the front 9 there some years ago with my brother while visiting family. We intended to play all 18, but we interpreted the three hours to the turn as an indication that a full round wasn't in the cards. I don't remember a lot about the course (this was after the re-do), but I remember thinking for the price it was a pretty good layout. What I remember most vividly from the round was that one of the fellows we'd been paired with was using that newfangled Ping TiSi driver - in all its 323cc enormity. It was the first time either of us had ever seen one. We laughed at its cartoonish proportions.   

[Allan Long]

Tommy,

I'm trying. I think a trip may be sooner rather than later. I may ask for a side trip to Soule Park or Ojai as well. Good stuff on the naming of El Cariso.

It's killing you Tim....with snow on the ground here now, the urge to get back is even greater. Good find on Knollwood history.

Huck, we have to make this happen!

[Tom Huckaby]

Allan, you have me sold.  Keep your eyes open here for announcements about THE KING'S PUTTER (which although I have nothing to do with in terms of organization, I think should be coming out fairly soon).  That is event is beyond the definition of fun, and doing this as an addon seems perfect.

TH

[Bob_Huntley]

Tommy,

All this talk of Los Angeles and public courses, had me racing off to my library and bringing out some score cards of courses I played when first living in the county, circa 1963.
I have in front of me the following cards:

Soule Recreation Area.     Thats the name on the card. It was known as the Ventura County Public Course

Santa Anita Golf Course.  The third hole was a par 5 of 580 yards, there were not many par 5s in LA any longer.

Encino Municipal Golf Course.   Shot my lifetime lowest score there of 67.

Alonda Park C.C.  The title of the club bemuses me. I have the card with my score and signature and haven't a clue where Lawndale is or any memory of the course.  The card shows it was long at 7000  yards.

I still think Brookside Number One was the best of the bunch.

Bob

[Tom Huckaby]

Bob:

I have played each and every one of those...  and it gives me great joy that the one regulation-sized course I likely played the MOST in my youth is the site of your lifetime lowest score.

Encino, oh yes.  I can honestly figure I played that course over 100 times from age 13-17.

But I never shot 67.

I concur re Brookside #1, btw.  That is a GREAT course.  Also the site of many high school matches... and I have played that one fairly recently.  Drag at that course is the same drag as so many up here:  5.5 hours would be considered fast.

BTW, Lawndale is somewhat down by LAX... fun course, but no surprise you don't remember it!

TH

[Lynn_Shackelford]

67 at Encino?  I am impressed.

I seriously question Dean Martin spending much time living at Knollwood.  I suppose it is possible since he may have been attracted to the idea of living on a course.  I think his kids all grew up on the "West side."

Tommy, how can El Cariso have been a Billy Bell deal if it opened in the 60's?  There must have been a previous location or the County bought an existing course in the 60's?

George Lopez started playing golf at El Cariso.  Fernando Valenzuela is a member of the men's club there.

[Forrest Richardson]

Glad to see DeBell mentioned. We are doing some work there...maybe one day it will rise above the disfiguration of being born with short holes and an overgrowth of tree hormones. 

We are considering moving Olivas Links to LA County, but so far the bids have come back very high. I am not sure Rustic is in LA County, but it certainly belongs on the list of Greater LA area courses in my opinion.

[Tom Naccarato]

Forrest,
In my opinion, trying to change any length at DeBell would be a huge mistake in judgement. That is part of the "charm" (if you can call it that) of the course.

Getting rid of trees, would be an obvious improvement. DeBell is one of those, "It is what it is" type of courses. Seriously though, you better watch your step there because if you destroy what those DeBell locals have come to know as golf, well, your carcass might be hung by your heels out over the terrace of the Castaway Restaurant. Being a native son will do you no good either, in fact, with them, it may make your torture that much more delightful. (for they are a vicious lot, starting with Clint "Gentle Ben" Howard. He is anything but gentle.)

By the way, I hear that rounds of golf have fallen way off in Ventura County. Of course they've fallen off everywhere. Just like the housing in Southern California, where after the past years of inflation of prices and what a property is exactly worth, isn't as worth as much as you think it is. One of my best friends is a real estate appraiser. Yesterday he appraised a house in Mira Loma, literally a mile from Goose Creek. The house, a year and a half ago was bought for $856,000. It sold yesterday for $462,000.

[Forrest Richardson]

Actually at DeBell we are trying to reduce length!

As for golf rounds declining, I hear CA will eventually be annexed by AZ and portions of Baja CA, so there is really no need to worry as the ststistics will be so confusing no one will figure it out.