It was a hot and calm day Saturday when I stopped by and got to play much of the course with Dave McCollum. The canyon has its own microclimate, and was the choice of the pioneering Perrine family, who had orchards, among other things. Things weren't looking up because two shotgun charity events were underway but the first tournament went much faster than expected. Layout yardages are 6900, 6400, 600 and 5200 which is a fairly good mix for the clientele.
One short 3, two mediums and one long par three, par 5s all seem reachable. Only one long 4, Usually 14-17 play against the up-canyon winds, but that wasn't the case for me, and 18 is a tough dogleg if you are long enough, or smart enough not to try and cut the corner. Many subtle doglegs with aging, or beyond, trees at the corners. Medium sized greens, moderately contoured, with three slightly different styles.
The odd holes are 10, which may be driveable with a low, fall-away green above the river and both 7 and 9 wrap around the OBd driving range, but the play is to the driving range side. There are some ragged trees at the dogleg if you play the hole traditionally.
The maintenance meld is low key, firm but not fast, which seems to be what the clientele want. Numerous annul card holders showed up to get in a few holes, as had we. It is an enjoyable course, worth a drop-by if you are in the area and have economic golf in mind.
Dave did arrange a drive around on the course across the river, Blue Lake. It is a championship course, no doubt about it and it seems to require your A game. I don't know which is tougher, the course or the ent6rance road. What I envision to be a Matt Ward course. John Harbottle did some good work there. Definitely need to carry more golf balls than Canyon Springs. I was amazed at the 11th green, as I had never seen fringe height cut between the upper and lower levels. Wish I could have stayed to watch a recovery shot from beyond the green.