Courses in Long Beach CA area

Typhoon

Wife's trip in coming up so I'm looking at playing next Monday and Tuesday. We stay at the Queen Mary Hotel, I'll have a car but have to drop them all off and pick up at the convention. I'm looking for something nice with rentals. Looks like there is really no resort courses around there. I have a friend in Long Beach and he gave me links to El Dorado, Recreation Park, Lakeview and Skylinks. I'm going to call tomorrow about rentals but they look like daily fee...nothing special.

...and I'm not playing Trump. PGA West is 2 hours away so no to that too.

Any suggestions?

Sparky

Typhoon

For an hour drive, Oak Quarry in Riverside is pretty spectacular. Black Gold in Yorba Linda is nice. Avoid OC, overpriced for what you get.

For the LB Munis, I'd rank them El D, Skylinks, Rec Park, Lakeview. I've heard pretty good reviews on Destroyer but haven't been there.

It is maintenance season, so check greenskeeper.org to see what courses are being aerated.

Mattyv

I have played Rec Park and Skylinks. Skylinks is better and right across the street from the Long Beach Airport. Another decent course close to LB is the Navy Destroyer course. Rec Park isn't bad. A little short and always busy with lots of locals. They also play a lot of 5somes and it can be slow. I just played Skylinks about a month ago and it was in great shape. They probably punched the greens about 3 weeks ago so the greens could still be a little bumpy. The guys I played with told me El Dorado was a good course too. If you venture over to San Pedro there is a course called Los Verdes. It has Ocean Views and is pretty damn cheap. I haven't had a chance to play it but I want to. If you play there, play on Monday. On Tuesday mornings they have a tournament and you can't get a tee time until the afternoon and by then the course will probably be backed up all the way down to San Diego!!! Hope this helps.

Mattyv

Oak Quarry is awesome. It is well worth the drive. It is my favorite course in the greater Los Angeles area. I played another place out by Riverside called Hidden Valley and it was pretty nice as well.

mikeintopeka

Mattyv - If he has to drop off and pick up his wife from the convention, will a drive of an hour or so be cutting it close (dependent on his commitment times, tee time, and traffic flow)?

About an hour away from Long Beach is one of my favorites, Tijeras Creek, in Rancho Santa Margarita. A weekday rate of $65 for a 55+ year old senior is a bargain compared to the general public fees and I had a blast on that course (on board gps was a plus too).

Typhoon

Yeah, my issue is the drop off pick up...going to have to stay close by. El Dorado and I imagine Skylinks club rentals are $50!

Typhoon

F'ing A.... So I just called Skylinks. The guy tells me $35 for the good clubs and $15 for the others. I ask him what the good set is...Ping, Callaway....
He checks, gets back and says " Bazooka". I said , " God bless you".

Seriously I said to him, " those are the good clubs?". He said nothing.

At this point I'm tempted to not even bother playing.

Mattyv

Too much hassle to bring your own clubs?

Typhoon

Mattyv

Yeah, its a pain. Its her yearly healthcare convention so I'm the 'Tag along"...I know them all and I help them set up, pick up supplies etc.. but nobody checks a bag. I'd hate to be "that guy" who checked a bag that got lost or we had to wait for my stuff in baggage claim... you know where I'm coming from.

If it was a week golf trip, then yeah, I'd bring my own. Plus I don't have a carry case for them anyway. I'll decide tomorrow, I might just book the tee time and just rent. I've always rented in the past and managed.

darpar

I'd try Lakewood CC about 30-45 mins. from QM depending on traffic,nice wide open track and should have rentals.
It's located at Lakewood Blvd and Carson

Typhoon

That's was on the list as well. In the morning I'll call them, Skylinks, el Dorado and Recreation Park 18.

Probably all very nice courses.

Typhoon

Got times at El Dorado and Skylinks. Looking at maybe bringing my clubs only because the rentals are $50 per round and could be crap. Hate bringing my clubs...checking a bag. Actually gotta see how much it is to check a bag.

Mattyv

If you are flying into Long Beach it shouldn't be bad. That airport is small and shouldn't take long to get your clubs from baggage claim. LAX might be another story. Fly Southwest and your bags fly free!

Typhoon

LAX...it's $25 each way to check the bag so I'm just going to bring them.

Typhoon

Got my skylinks round in today. Pins were in diabolical places...holy crap. Putting was the weak link.

Tomorrow is ElDorado.

Mattyv

Typhoon

How'd you like the course? I thought it was fairly decent. I think the greens were fast and tough for me as well. I had to play the back 9 1st so I remember more of the front nine.

Typhoon

Just finished up ElDorado. Putted better and the holes not cut into the side of slopes like Skylinks was. Didn't make anything but 4 birdies and tap in pars I'll take.

ElDorado was tighter than Skylinks and about in the same shape. ElDorado was older looking to me, sort of boring. Still a good course. Prefer Skylinks...just seemed more " new"