SOUTHLAND FOCUS
A weekly look at golf courses open to the public in Southern California.
Goose Creek Golf Club
Address: 11418 68th Street, Mira Loma.
Phone: (909) 735-3982.
Green fees: $35-$55, including cart.
Tee times: Seven days in advance.
The facility: This is an unpretentious jewel off Interstate 15 between the 91 and 60 freeways. It has a large grass driving range and modest clubhouse, which is scheduled to open Sunday. The gently rolling layout will only get better over time as turf and trees mature.
The good: Almost everything. The course is thoughtfully designed, with options on many tee shots to gamble or play safe around the well-placed and well-maintained bunkers. It’s a thinking-golfer’s layout on which you need to plan your shots; griping it and ripping it will create some problems. The tees are flat, the fairways lush for such a new layout and the greens rolling and true. It’s a challenge from the tips, significantly easier from the middle and forward tees, and never gets either boring or excessively difficult.
The bad: I’m stumped here, though the course does get pretty heavy play, as you’d expect for a high-quality, reasonably priced operation.
The score: In an era of high-end course construction when $100 green fees have become commonplace, this is a blessing and among the best deals in the Southland. Walking is permitted ($8 off the regular fee). Another nice touch: There’s a fourth set of tees, for juniors, at 4,545 yards.
*
Overall rating: 3 balls.
* One ball: No-frills golf.
** Two balls: Worth an occasional round.
*** Three balls: Like shooting four strokes under your handicap.
**** Four balls: Where the golf gods play.
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Hole Back Tees Middle Tees Par Front Tees 1 381 370 4 285 2 185 155 3 135 3 389 363 4 319 4 533 520 5 460 5 179 148 3 116 6 361 340 4 275 7 532 518 5 420 8 357 345 4 124 9 188 169 3 124 Out 3,105 2,928 35 2,414 10 352 340 4 323 11 184 165 3 329 12 479 440 4 311 13 425 405 4 425 14 326 310 4 97 15 422 398 4 227 16 220 200 3 297 17 541 505 5 129 18 466 430 4 385 In 3,415 3,193 35 2,523 Total 6,520 6,121 70 5,079
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Rating/Slope: Back--71.1/127; Middle--69.4/121; Front--69.4/115
