TIJERAS CREEK GOLF CLUB (949-589-9793)
Orange County/Los Angeles, California golf course review
Tijeras Creek in Rancho Santa Margarita is a beautiful Ted Robinson designed 18-hole championship layout that ahs been deservingly awarded 4 stars by Golf Digest Places to Play. Located just minutes from Orange County's John Wayne Airport, this course features two distinctive nines that offer a great variety in shot selection, and entice golfers to utilize every club in their bag.
The demanding front nine boasts shimmering water features that come into play on 4 holes, while the back side is renowned for its breathtaking scenery and dramatic elevation changes as it makes its way along a wooded terrain. The front winds through a residential community, while the back is more secluded as it is sculpted into the hillsides. The par three 16th was recognized as "One of Orange County's Best Holes" by members of Southern California's PGA.
The property is managed by OB Sports, a diversified golf oriented company with a reputation for developing and running high quality golf experiences. The clubhouse here features a wonderfully stocked pro shop, a restaurant/lounge serving lunch items (plus breakfast on weekends), locker rooms with showers, and an outdoor patio. Practice facilities consist of a driving range (mat Mon-Thurs and grass tee stations on weekends) plus putting and chipping green.
On course yardage markers are posted on both the fairways and cart paths at 100, 150 and 200 yards, and sprinkler heads are measured to the front, middle and backs of the greens on all par fours and fives. Color coded flags provide information on the day's hole locations. Each cart is conveniently equipped with ball and club washers.
Golfers will appreciate the fact that the five sets of tee boxes are fairly interspersed, with the tips measuring 6918 yards with a 136 slope. Remaining tees play to distances and slopes measuring 6547 yards/129 slope, 6198 yards/124 slope, 5797 yards/116 slope and 5130 yards with a slope of 130 for women.
The course is meticulously conditioned and has some outstanding landscaped water features on holes number 4, 5, 7 and 10. There are some forced ravine carries, but much of the trouble is out of play from the two front tees. The green complexes feature small to medium sized putting surfaces that are well protected by bunkers, with tiers and undulations also providing challenge. Up and downs can be tricky from the greenside mounding and swales.
In total 70 sand traps come into play near the greens or along the landing zones on the manicured fairways, and water comes into play 7 holes, mostly on the front. This is a highly recommended round of golf - play it! Tijeras Creek has hosted the Women's Pac Ten Championships, and is the only public facility to serve as host for the Southern California Amateur Open. For more info, visit our page for the course, with direct link to their website by clicking here.
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