One day in Anaheim

[David Wigler]

Quick Scenario:

You have a meeting at the convention center in Anaheim.  It let's out at 4:00pm and you have you boss with you.  You are not flying out until the next morning so there is time for a round of golf but your boss is with you, so you are limited to public access golf courses and they must be close enough to the convention center that you can leave at 4:00 and have time to get there and play a round.

Where do you go?  The only course I know of that might fit my bill is Tustin Ranch?  Is it worth playing?  Is there something else?

Thanks,

Dave

[rjsimper]

Strawberry Farms over Tustin Ranch.  A bit farther though.  Not much in the way of great golf down there, but Strawberry Farms is quiet, peaceful, not surrounded by homes, and serves a mean strawberry shortcake for after the round.

[Pete Lavallee]

Being as the meeting doesn't get out until 4:00 and you still have to drive through LA to get to a golf course, better pick one with a good front nine. Have you tried Fazio's Oak Creek in Irvine; it's not too far down the 5 to get there. And bring the boss, then you can drive in the car pool lane.

[David Wigler]

Actually Shivas, I like the boss (A lot in fact) and am looking forward to the opportunity to golf with him (We have not yet played).  I am planning on suggesting that we play scratch and the stakes are for a 2% raise / salary reduction, per hole with carryovers.  

Right now, unless I hear different, I think I will book Strawberry Farms (I have played Oak Creek).

[rjsimper]

check www.greenskeeper.org for current course conditions and aeration alerts, since it is aeration season

[Mike_Golden]

instead of playing these overpriced CCFAD's, go to Costa Mesa and play one of the muni's there, either Los Lagos or the other one (I forget the name).  They are both Billy Bell Jr., have really interesting greens, and the shorter course, which is about 5800-5900 yards, is great fun, particularly if you're looking to play a late afternoon round before it gets dark.  The Emperor can share more details, I'm sure.

[Dave_Miller]

Quick Scenario:

You have a meeting at the convention center in Anaheim.  It let's out at 4:00pm and you have you boss with you.  You are not flying out until the next morning so there is time for a round of golf but your boss is with you, so you are limited to public access golf courses and they must be close enough to the convention center that you can leave at 4:00 and have time to get there and play a round.

Where do you go?  The only course I know of that might fit my bill is Tustin Ranch?  Is it worth playing?  Is there something else?

Thanks,

Dave

David:
Maybe you better consider going to Disneyland
Best
Dave

[rjsimper]

instead of playing these overpriced CCFAD's, go to Costa Mesa and play one of the muni's there, either Los Lagos or the other one (I forget the name).  They are both Billy Bell Jr., have really interesting greens, and the shorter course, which is about 5800-5900 yards, is great fun, particularly if you're looking to play a late afternoon round before it gets dark.  The Emperor can share more details, I'm sure.

The Los Lagos is better than the Mesa Linda, but if the boss is paying, and you need a tee-time, I would stick with the higher-end stuff.  I agree that value-wise, if it was my dollar I'd play somewhere other than Strawberry Farms and the 100+ green fees, but if its on the company, I'd not choose a muni

[David Kelly]

3 million + people live in Orange County and there can't be many areas in the country of a comparable size that have as few top notch golf courses.

[David Wigler]

3 million + people live in Orange County and there can't be many areas in the country of a comparable size that have as few top notch golf courses.

David,

I was just thinking the same thing.  I cannot image another area of anywhere near that size where no one even can give a tepid recommendation.  Strawberry Farms actually looked kind of cool on the web site.  My boss is not a GCA type, so if it is pretty and fun, he will enjoy.

[rjsimper]

3 million + people live in Orange County and there can't be many areas in the country of a comparable size that have as few top notch golf courses.

David,

I was just thinking the same thing.  I cannot image another area of anywhere near that size where no one even can give a tepid recommendation.  Strawberry Farms actually looked kind of cool on the web site.  My boss is not a GCA type, so if it is pretty and fun, he will enjoy.

It's fun, pretty, and generally peaceful (in a canyon with some environmental areas, and some cool holes)

The Doug Dicences Chicken Sandwich is awesome, too.

[David Kelly]

David,

Doug DeCinces of Angels and Orioles fame built Strawberry Farms and while he might not have been the architect (Jim Lipe was) he probably had a lot to say about how the course was laid out.  The place is very much a CCFD and without housing so your boss might love it.

[Wayne Freeman]

Strawberry Farms is probably your best bet. The Costa Mesa courses are fun, but you'd probably be there til the next morning trying to finish.  While you're at Strawberry you can get a couple of good looks at Shady Canyon,  Mark McGuire's a member and lives there -  awesome clubhouse and practice facility and a pretty good Fazio track-  lots of zillionaires there.  

[David Wigler]

Wayne,

I really like Shady Canyon (I often list it in my favorite five Fazio's).  If it was just me, that is where I would play.  With my boss though, public it is.  I take it from your comments that you like Strawberry Farms.  That makes me a little more excited.

Dave

[Dennis_Harwood]

David-- I don't know how to break this to you, but if you are looking for "a round of golf", and leaving the ACC at 4, you can not play anywhere in Or Co and get in a round before dark, unless you stay in Anaheim.

You have at least a 45 min drive to Strawberry (and the City of Irvine) at that time of day--

If you are really wanting to get in 18 rather than 9 your ONLY choice is Dad Miller course which is in close proximity to the ACC, run by the City, is a traditional Muni, but does have excellent Greens--

There are lots of OC courses you can get to at another hour, but none of them are accessible out of the "Orange Crush" (the discription of the freeway condition of the 5/91/Disneyland congession, which is exactly where you are) between 3:30 and 5:30 PM departure.

[David Wigler]

David-- I don't know how to break this to you, but if you are looking for "a round of golf", and leaving the ACC at 4, you can not play anywhere in Or Co and get in a round before dark, unless you stay in Anaheim.

You have at least a 45 min drive to Strawberry (and the City of Irvine) at that time of day--

If you are really wanting to get in 18 rather than 9 your ONLY choice is Dad Miller course which is in close proximity to the ACC, run by the City, is a traditional Muni, but does have excellent Greens--

There are lots of OC courses you can get to at another hour, but none of them are accessible out of the "Orange Crush" (the discription of the freeway condition of the 5/91/Disneyland congession, which is exactly where you are) between 3:30 and 5:30 PM departure.

Dennis - you are killing me here.  I thought of this and when I called the course, they said 30 minutes at 3:30pm from the convention center to their door.  I figured 4:00pm tee time - 8:30pm sundown and even at CCFAD pace (And it should be much quicker since no one plays at 4:00) and we can see all 18.  Is my logic flawed?

[John Foley]

David,

I was there and did this last month. Left the convention center to head for the Irvine Spectrum for drinks & dinner. I was told if you can't get wheels up before 4:00 to not bother untill 6:30.

One other point leaving the convention center ain't a 2 min deal either. From the show floor or hotel to the parking lot out of the lot onto the 5 can be 20 min.

If I were you, I'd skip the last meeting/appt and make a 3:00pm tee time!

[rjsimper]

Yeah I probably should have pre-empted it with if you dont tee off by 4, you have no chance of finishing.  The last couple of holes (and the back nine as a whole) your boss would appreciate more at Strawberry Farms.  

[David Kelly]

In addition sunset even at the height of July is around 8:05 pm so that is another consideration.

[Dennis_Harwood]

[quote author=David Wigler

Dennis - you are killing me here.  I thought of this and when I called the course, they said 30 minutes at 3:30pm from the convention center to their door.  I figured 4:00pm tee time - 8:30pm sundown and even at CCFAD pace (And it should be much quicker since no one plays at 4:00) and we can see all 18.  Is my logic flawed?

David-- What is the date of this planned event?  Right now sunset here is a little after 7 pm.  If you push to the longest day of the year its still light (barely) until about 8:20.

But longer days or not, the traffic in the area you are leaving from is still the same.  IF you get on the freeway by 3:30 you have a chance. 3:35? forget it.

[David Kelly]

Longest days of the year in Irvine are July 6 & 7 when sunset is 8:05.

[Tim Leahy]

Coyote Hills is right up the street and is a tough but fun course with elevation changes, creeks, lakes and plenty of rough. Codesigned by Pane Stewart with a nice memorial in the clubhouse.

[David Kelly]

Coyote Hills is right up the street and is a tough but fun course with elevation changes, creeks, lakes and plenty of rough.

You left out the the numerous capped oil wells located throughout the property. There is also a processing plant next to the course.  As you go around the course you will encounter signs that read: "Caution: Oil Truck Traffic."  

I respectfully disagree with you on Coyote Hills.  I think it is pretty bad.

[Tim Leahy]

Coyote Hills is right up the street and is a tough but fun course with elevation changes, creeks, lakes and plenty of rough.

You left out the the numerous capped oil wells located throughout the property. There is also a processing plant next to the course.  As you go around the course you will encounter signs that read: "Caution: Oil Truck Traffic."  
I respectfully disagree with you on Coyote Hills.  I think it is pretty bad.

I never saw an oil truck when I played there and can't remember an oil rig in play or even seeing one in operation. Coyote is the closest that is a championship test. He would never make it to Strawberry or Irvine at 4pm any day of the week with the traffic in that area and Coyote is definitely better than Los Lagos or Tustin Ranch.

[David Kelly]

Tim,

The land used to be owned by UnoCal and there are 21 oil pumps still on the property although they are not on the course itself.

I just think the property is too cramped and the routing suffers because of it.  I also don't care for the fake rocks, flower beds, waterfalls and dyed streams.