Los Verdes Golf Course Information

[Ian Larson]

Does anybody have any good historical data, old pictures or old aerials of Los Verdes GC in Rancho Palos Verdes? Im aware of all the obvious that has been said on previous threads like the 6 hour rounds, Billy Bell Jr., American Golf, great scenery.

Im looking for something more indepth like a club history with old photos of when it was young or some aerials. Maybe even a timeline of when other architects have tweaked it and who did it with what they did.

Anything would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Lynn_Shackelford]

Talk to American Golf.  Their in-house construction guys tweak it all the time after obtaining L.A. County approval.
Talk to Len Kennett, he might remember it when it was newly opened.
Why the inquiry?  There is nothing of architectural interest, just ocean views.

[Sam Maryland]

I love that golf course...

...gotta play it early, but at $23 (even for non-locals) it might be the best deal in golf!

SM

[Jim Nugent]

I'm with Lynn, and I barely noticed the ocean views. 

[Scott Stambaugh]

Appears they have a vacant Superintendent's position.  120,000 rounds/year.  Wow.

Scott

[Sam Maryland]

Appears they have a vacant Superintendent's position.  120,000 rounds/year.  Wow.

Scott

I get a kick when I see numbers like this thrown around...let's see what the number 120,000 really implies.

120,000 rounds per year means:

- 329 players per day, 365 days per year
- that's 66 groups, assuming EVERY group is a 5-some
- that's 9 hours of t-times using 8 minute intervals

that means EVERY SINGLE tee time would have to be full from 6am until 4pm -- no delays, no 3-somes, etc...

...one rainout and you have to get 758 players out the next day to keep up the pace.

now I know the weather is fantastic there almost all the time but I've personally seen enough rainy/foggy days there to know that there is NFW they are doing 120,000 rounds per year.

having said that, it's certainly not architeturally notable but factoring in the price, it's a fun place to play, and the incredible views, $ for $ I thinks it's one of the top values in golf (as long as you play early).

SM

[Sam Maryland]

actually, I didn't forget...

...but I did figure that since Los Verdes is typically either:

- an hour behind by 12noon
- or surprisingly slow many weekday afternoons (meaning not that crowded)
- and every group isn't a 5-some

it bascially washes out or accounts for those who might be playing a back 9 round.

120,000 rounds at LV and Wilt's number of total conquests are both fiction!

C

[Tom Huckaby]

Sam,
When I visited there on business, I found in talking to the locals, and from what I saw when playing the course, that it is slammed from dawn to dusk. But that's my experience with the place. Supposedly it isn't the busiest one in California either. That right belongs to some obscure place called La Marada.

La Mirada!

County golf course, a fave of each of me (from years gone by) and the one and only Emperor Tommy Naccarato (from more recent times).

There's no such thing as an obscure course on this site.

 

[Sam Maryland]

Sam,
When I visited there on business, I found in talking to the locals, and from what I saw when playing the course, that it is slammed from dawn to dusk. But that's my experience with the place. Supposedly it isn't the busiest one in California either. That right belongs to some obscure place called La Marada.

I hear you.  but I've played many many rounds at Los Verdes over the last 11 years and have seen it all times of year, times of day, different weather, etc...

...it is generally booked up quite solid, no doubt -- but if you lok closely at the numbers, and consider the fact that the course just is not playable from dawn to dusk 365 days per year -- there no way they get 120,000 rounds a year in out there.

I'd bet high 5-figures is more likely...

SM

[Kalen Braley]

Sam,

Further more those numbers don't work for 4 months out of the year due to light restrictions where its not light until 8 AM and dark by 5.

I'm calling massive BS on 120,000 as well.

[Scott Stambaugh]

Sam,

Further more those numbers don't work for 4 months out of the year due to light restrictions where its not light until 8 AM and dark by 5.

I'm calling massive BS on 120,000 as well.

I don't see it being possible either, but it's odd that if the number was closer to say, 80,000 then why not say 80,000?  If I was considering employment as a Superintendent at Los Verdes and saw 120,000, it'd scare the hell outta me.  Or, get used to a 4:00 AM to Noon schedule.  It's almost the opposite of what most clubs brag about- fewest rounds.

BTW- I don't think being light out is a concern of some people.  I was told a story once of this group of locals that used to play the old Harding Park in SF- most of them had never seen the first six holes of the golf course in the daylight because they started playing so early...

Scott

[Sam Maryland]

Sam,

Further more those numbers don't work for 4 months out of the year due to light restrictions where its not light until 8 AM and dark by 5.

I'm calling massive BS on 120,000 as well.

I don't see it being possible either, but it's odd that if the number was closer to say, 80,000 then why not say 80,000?  If I was considering employment as a Superintendent at Los Verdes and saw 120,000, it'd scare the hell outta me.  Or, get used to a 4:00 AM to Noon schedule.  It's almost the opposite of what most clubs brag about- fewest rounds.

BTW- I don't think being light out is a concern of some people.  I was told a story once of this group of locals that used to play the old Harding Park in SF- most of them had never seen the first six holes of the golf course in the daylight because they started playing so early...

Scott

I've been trying to think about that as well...

...maybe there's some political angle to it in regards to public funding or something like that.

but this is for sure, the numbers just don't foot. 

there was a Philly course highlighted here a while back that a number of GCA member's were involved in resurrecting and some of the clippings from 80 years ago or so cited similar numbers and when you put the pencil to it the estimates were so egregiously high it was just ridiculous.

no big deal...but don't believe everything you read ;-)

SM

[Tim Leahy]

I can't believe that any course has more rounds than Rancho Park in LA. I have never seen that course empty or without at least a two hour wait.

[rjsimper]

I can't believe that any course has more rounds than Rancho Park in LA. I have never seen that course empty or without at least a two hour wait.

Believe it.

Los Verdes is even more busy than Rancho, plus they throw 5somes out there.  My shortest round of golf at Los Verdes was longer than my longest at Rancho.

And you are likely looking at a 2 hour wait at Los Verdes as a single if you show up at sunrise.

Rancho is a better course, but Los Verdes is the prettier place to be stuck for 6 hours, and the 11th hole is quite fun.