Just to plant a seed in your head....if you are ever in the area, go. Not sure why you would be in the area, although the Anzo-Borrego desert is an awesome place. I was going to say a pretty cool place, but it is rarely cool there.
Yes, I am a bit obsessed with the course. When you get to the #18 tee, you look north and see several abandoned holes. So I did some research.
Interesting background story, but just the 90 second version.
Originally built as private Rams Hill Country Club in 1982. A Ted Robinson design. The original design had 27 holes, although only 18 were built originally. Bankruptcy. Owner change. Bankruptcy. Owner change. 3rd nine was added around 2000. Then around 2004, another bankruptcy and the course closed. Another ownership change. New owners decided to change name to Montecito Golf and Social Club, with plans to expand to 36 holes and add lots of hotel space to make Borrego Springs a true destination for big golf.
Tom Fazio was hired to redesign. He took the 2nd and 3rd Nines from Robinson's design. And erased them. He then put in an entirely new routing that basically ran in reverse from Robinson's plan. The new Rams Hill opened as a public resort in 2014.
Having been there 4-5 times, it is right there with the Bandon Dunes courses and Pasatiempo as my favorites. And if you ever get to Borrego Springs, also check out the 130+ large metal sculptures scattered in the area. Very cool.
On a related note, I loved to go play 36 in Borrego. Along with Rams Hill, I would go to the Borrego Springs Resort golf course. I played there twice, and I have never seen a better conditioned course in my life. All the grass, and I mean all the tees, fairways, rough were all absolutely perfect. Not a weed in sight, even in the rough. Sadly, that course closed about 4 years ago. Ends up that course was a labor of love for a pair of brothers from Borrego Springs. They basically funded it from their pockets for years, keeping it as a cheap option for locals. The oldest brother died, and the youngest one eventually got too old to manage it. It was sold off to an investment group, who within a few months realized that there was no way to make money with it. Now it is just dirt in the shape of a golf course. Very sad.
But, RAMS HILL - go if you can. It closes from June to November though (too hot).
