The course used to be run by the USAF and if the General was a golfer it was in great shape with smooth quick greens. The area is always windy and some holes were designed for that. There used to be a lot of iceplant and that made for some tough lies. The course used to have one of the highest ratings to par in Cali. I have not played there in at least ten years so I cant speak to condition but layout is good with euks and some rolling terain.
I've played the course a time or two and being in the Air Force figured I'd chime in with some information.
As far as I know the course is still being run by the Air Force. Regarding the comment on the General, that's a statement I've heard more than a time or two at every base. I guess a senior individual could theoretically have some influence on course conditioning and budget but personally I don't think it's the case.
Each base has facilities that support moral, welfare and recreation (think library's, dining clubs, bowling alleys, golf courses, paint ball courses, movie theaters, ticket offices, recreational gear rental offices...). These facilities generally operate under non-appropriated funds (ie funds they generate on their own and not tax payer dollars). Most of these facilities charge a fee but it's usually pretty affordable. At many bases these facilities aren't generating money like they used to and are therefore being closed down. It does look like there are rumors that Marshallia Ranch is on the chopping blocks.
Some of the Air Force Base golf closures I know about:
Tyndall AFB, Elmendorf AFB, Sheppard AFB (Pete Dye according to some sources - would have been one of his first 18 hole courses), Lackland AFB (one of the courses), Mconnell AFB, Little Rock AFB (closed 9 hole course), and the course I played regularly in the suburbs of Seoul Korea is given back to the Korean government (not because of lack of use).