Moorpark Country Club- Reviewed

Simi Valley-Moorpark has a tremendous amount of well conditioned and interesting golf courses and one that I have always wanted to play is Moorpark Country Club. There are 27 holes that run across the tops of ridges in the rolling hills of Moorpark (although 18 are only playable at a given time as they rotate one of the 9's). 

Every course in this area has its own unique flavor and in Moorpark's case, its forced carries right by the greens.

 I can't remember the last time I have been force to hit over gulches as much as I was here at Moorpark CC. It certainly forces a bit of humility on a golfer; do you go for it on your second shot or lay up and then try to short-iron something on a narrow green? I tried both approaches both with limited success (more a reflection of the current state of my game than the course).

Moorpark really is striking on how it is threaded through the terrain. It is little islands of green amongst rolling swales of brown and certainly lives up to the names of the nines that I played- Ridgeline and Canyon Crest:

Even though Moorpark has many unique attributes, it also has the classic SoCal hole. No water on the rest of the course but water comes into play on its par 3's.

I have played a variation of this hole so many times now. On the one hand it is picturesque and challenging. On the other hand, I can't help but ruefully chuckle every time I play this hole on every course. It is a design choice that reinforces the aridness of the rest of the course and if you play too many of these courses, the holes blend together after awhile.

The course was in great shape although surely due to the temps the greens were kept slow (probably because the greenskeeper didn't want them to die). The course is also pretty penal. Being set on ridges if you are errant in your drives your ball will find hills and gullies from which it will not come back.

Overall this course didn't suite my eye tremendously as it falls more into the Terra Rojada/Champions Club Retreat categories than it does Rustic Canyon but it was a super enjoyable round on a beautiful course and if you get views like this, it definitely makes it worth it to check it out:

For more info on MCC, check it out here: http://moorparkgolf.com/

Top 10- Favorite Courses Played 2015

It's the end of the year, time to look back and reflect and look forward to the year ahead. I am so thankful that I got to play amazing courses this year and am looking forward to all the amazing tracks next year. While 2015 is still a "thing", I thought I would share my favorite courses that I played this year:

10. Tierra Rejada:

Simi Valley, Moorpark. These areas do not roll off the tongue like Monterey Peninsula, St. Andrews or the Victoria Sandbelt but they are just as good. Along with my favorite Rustic Canyon, TR is an amazing course with a lot of blind shots and a lot of shots where you are on the top of the world, all worth your time. This is a great course. http://www.re-gripped.com/2015/07/golfing-tierra-rejada.html

9. Kayak Point:

Up until a few years ago, I never played outside the East Coast. After bashing it around SoCal, I set my sites on the Pacific Northwest and played a great course outside of Seattle called Kayak Point. This place is everything you think of the Northwest, big trees, friendly people and good golf. While it was a bit more target oriented than my spraying driver would allow I loved everything about KP. http://www.re-gripped.com/2015/07/regripped-goes-to-kayak-point.html

8. Olivas Links:

Those who know me know I am a links hound. Anything that is green and the sea is great with me (poet/didn't know it). Olivas while not directly up against the Pacific gives you a great bump and run feeling of true links golf and I will never badmouth a course that gave me a chance for eagle on a par 5. That aside, pace of play is great and the course is in amazing shape. One of the best in Ventura County. http://www.re-gripped.com/2015/06/golfing-at-olivas-links.html

7. Westin Dye Course:

I stretched myself this year, playing a lot of different types of courses in different areas in the country. I had never played in Palm Springs and the Westin Dye-course was a great example of golfing the Bob Hope way. Dye, you either lvoe him or hate him. If you love him, then you will love this course and all its diabolical terraforming. This was a top notch Palm Springs experience against which all future trips will be measured.

6. TPC Valencia:

I never played a TPC before but they are definitely "big boy" courses, lot of shelf hitting and fast greens. The course is immaculate and thanks to Mastercard, it made the course accessible to me, an average joe. Playing this TPC makes me thankful for such a quality course here in SoCal and hungry to play more TPCs! http://www.re-gripped.com/2015/06/regripped-plays-tpc-valencia.html

5. River Course at Alisal:

If I lived in Solvang California, I would play this course over and over again. Sure it was baked out because of the drought but it was still a top notch course with interesting shots, especially off the tee, it really makes you think. It was super windy the day I played so it really sharpens all facets of your game. A bit of a drive from LA but worth it! http://www.re-gripped.com/2015/08/golfing-river-course-at-alisal-review.html


4. Rustic Canyon: My first SoCal love. The best public course you can play (even with due respect to Torrey, Pelican and Sandpiper which I have not played). Every time I play here, I find something interesting and different. The course is in great shape and a true testament to Hanse and Shackelford.

3. Ojai Inn:

The history, the fun layout (especially of the "Lost Holes"), the chill vibe of Ojai. Its tough to beat Ojai in any of these categories but why would you try? You should go there and experience it for yourself. http://www.re-gripped.com/2015/11/golfing-ojai-valley-inn-review.html

2. Oak Quarry:

This is a gem, a big bright sparkly diamond out in the middle of nowheres Riverside California. The course has it all, interesting tee shots, second shots that make you think, great greens and amazing vistas. Not many people golf here and that is for the best, this is an amazing course. http://www.re-gripped.com/2015/10/golfing-oak-quarry-review.html

1. Kapalua Plantation:

You didn't think anyone else would be number one on this list would you? PGA tour stop. Immaculate views of the Pacific. This course has it all and is THE course to play in Hawaii. Plus, what a kickoff to my Coore Crenshaw adventure! http://www.re-gripped.com/2015/12/kapalua-golf-review.html

Well that is it for my adventures this year. Next year looks just as interesting as I am headed off to Bandon, going to Arizona and perhaps some detours to Wisconsin and Nebraska? Tune in and see where I get out to next and I hope you get to play a lot of great tracks in 2016!

Golfing Tierra Rejada Review

There are many golf course choices in Los Angeles. Some people gravitate to the coast, the Torrey Pines, the Trump Nationals. Some people play the highly ranked courses, the Maderas, the LACC's the Riverias. Some people play the LA City courses in all of their pockmarked glory.

For me and my money, if I had one area to play and no where else, plant me in Simi Valley. So many great courses, so little time. And reasonably priced as well! When you are paying $40+ for a weekend round on a beat up city course, why not pay a little bit more for a world class track in Simi?

I found myself the other weekend checking out Tierra Rejada in the Moorpark area and its another hidden gem. While the $95 is a bit steeper than most tracks, there are deals to be found for TR and I found myself with a deal and eagerly anticipating the round.

This time of year (the Summer) you want to play early and the courses know that with rounds progressively getting cheaper throughout the day. The downside to Simi Valley is that the mornings are often socked in with fog and the first five holes were all about hitting and praying.

Once the fog lifted though, whooo doggy what a course!

What you don't realize going through all that fog is that you are slowly heading uphill to a plateau and several of the holes are either on top of the plateau or...

Hitting down to another plateau! I mean look at this thing! The tee box is at least 100+ feet above the fairway, which is very narrow but if you don't hit driver on this hole, there is no hope for you as a golfer.

What the front side giveth in terms of elevated tee shots, it makes up on the back side with elevated greens so unless you are long on the back, you are going to have a long day hitting uphill to these greens.

I was blown away by TR, yet ANOTHER reason that golf in Simi is the best in LA. The only downside of TR is that the greens are a little inconsistent, some roll fast some roll slow, all roll flat and true. I think part of this is the weather, the mornings must be so foggy and damp that it effects the greens in different ways. My suggestion, play the course later in the day to get the full effect of its beauty.

Over all, an amazing experience and one every LA golfer has to try out.

For more info on Tierra Rejada, check it out here: http://www.tierrarejadagolf.com/

ReGripped Golfs Lindero Country Club Review

When most people think of country clubs, they think of private clubs with gates and strict membership requirements. When most people think of golf in general,  they think of a golf course maybe with some homes around it but a self contained entity.

What if I were to tell you that Lindero is a country club but anyone can play it? What if I tell you that the course basically goes through people's backyards instead of being a self-contained entity? Well that is Lindero, a weirdo, funky course here in SoCal.

Don't believe me about the houses, here is the first hole:

Houses abound but its not "too" claustrophobic. Most holes, houses might be only one one side and there are only a few (like 2 and 9) that they surround you and really test your focus of aiming for the green.

This doesn't just involve the houses closing you in but the tee boxes also have significant foliage

(you better be straight)

Don't believe me about routing through the neighborhood, here is your path to the second hole:

What is also weird and funky about Lindero is that while it is a par 3 course with a few par 4's, it is really all about long irons. Not many chances to break out the wedges, but my 3 iron Ping hybrid? Plenty of options there! So many holes 190+ like this puppy below:

This is the par 3 sixth hole clocking in at 192 yards. Not only that but there is a bunker guarding the front right and not one but TWO ponds guarding the left side of the green. My 3 iron was on this day my friends so I took all that danger out of play and put it right on the green 20 feet from the pin.

This course is weird and funky but it made me love my three iron hybrid so for that I am forever grateful. It is a wholly unique course and if you are looking for something along those lines, hit up Lindero.

For more info about Lindero, check it out here: http://www.linderocc.com/

Golfing Rustic Canyon Review

I rarely play top courses in the US. I often stick to municipal courses and rarely venture into the Top 100. Since I was getting married, I thought I would change it up by playing a course often ranked in the Top 100 in the US and ranked as the best value for a public course, Rustic Canyon.

In playing this course, I can definitely see what the Top 100 has to offer! Each hole was unique and challenging. Often parkland courses have holes that are very flat and side by side so after awhile you forget what hole you are playing until a ball almost whacks you in the head.

(first hole)

Not Rustic Canyon though! The course follows the contours of a valley in Moorpark California and mixes fairways with natural scrub brush and desert areas.

The big challenge of this course (which numerous commentators have noted) is the greens. These things are beasts, quick with crazy humps and ridges and bifurcations.

You have to play this course once in order to really play it going forward (good thing I am planning on playing this place multiple times!). The greens really effect how you approach a given hole and having that knowledge is key to a good round.

What also is fascinating about RC is how many waste areas you have to drive over or hit your second shots over. It makes you think and adds to the challenge.

One last thing I will mention about RC is that the fairway/rough right around the greens are cut super close, almost creating a second green.

This creates it own challenges, do you putt, chip, bump and run, give up and go to the next hole? Options, you have a lot of options. It got to the point that I started repairing ballmarks on the fairway since it was mowed so close.

Overall Rustic Canyon is an amazing experience and one that every SoCal golfer must experience. The fact that it kicked off my wedding weekend made it even more special but you don't need a life changing event to make this place special, just play it and see for yourself.