Personality...geography...fun watching the right handers hunt for balls...great course for leftys (if you don't hook).

muni mindset.

Played here and Pasatiempo as a tourist. Easier for me (a lefty) on the front. Lots of trees and narrow fairways make for a challenge. Condition was B+ most of the way. Typical muni but not many places as nice as Santa Cruz. Found this as much fun as Pasa but a lot cheaper and much humbler staff.

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The price is right, even for the not-so-welcomed out-of-county players.

The course is run by the County of Santa Cruz and maintained by their employees. They are not professional golf course groundskeepers. The traps are poor and not manicured. You go from fairway to rough. If you don't live in the county, tee times are hard to get. Carts are allowed almost everywhere.

Many of the fairways are very tight and a right-hander's slice will send you home early. Many of the greens are very small but in good shape most of the season. The course is always wet and loosing a plugged ball in the fairway is not unusual on some holes. You play very close to nature on most holes and the hills just off the fairways are steep. A very good golfer friend uses the term "goat farm" often while playing.

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The restaurant is old and not kept up very well. The practice facilities are not up to par, all mats and 2 story tee area. Practice putting area is too small.

This course is a great challenge. If you get comfortable, you will start piling up strokes in no time. The staff there is very nice, and they have a nice practice facility also. Usually pretty available during the week.

Not a very inviting course for beginners.

This course is very well maintained, and is also a good value. I have never been unhappy with the conditions at this course. It is up in the foothills above Santa Cruz, so you are sheltered from the "city". I have only seen one temporary green on this golf course, and that was because they were rebuilding the normal green, and its surrounding sand traps.

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The 10th hole is one of the best Fives in the state, and the holes all have some flavor. There are a lot of trees that are extremely well-placed (or just overgrown), forcing you to bring your game and your head.

It's not in perfect condition, and can get backed up pretty good, but both can be said for most courses.

Don't go right and this course is awesome. It's well-designed, difficult but fair, walkable and not that expensive. But if you have a slice, you should skip the first 10 holes, to the right of which there is forest on every one.

Customer Service

The staff is decently friendly and works hard to get you out on time -- often with no luck though.

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The clubhouse is adequate and there is a good chipping and putting area. The range has mats, but is big and elevated.

Design, degree of difficulty and value.

Still a bit slow, but not too bad

For a muni, this is a great course. It is absolutely pillaged by the amount of play each year, yet they manage to keep it in very good shape. They are doing all the right things to make it a grade A course - new sand in the bunkers, new mowing and aerating techniques for the greens. Course ist tight, hilly, and very hard if you dont have the requisite course knowledge (takes about ten rounds or so). Great deal for county residents, good deal for others. This place was on the verge of not being worth playing a few years ago due to the amount of play- 6.5 hour rounds - but with the development of places like San Juan Oaks in Hollister, and Eagle Ridge in Gilroy, I think some of the San Jose traffic has been re-routed away and it has become acceptable. This is a much better deal than nearby Pasatiempo and an equal challenge. You wont find a better municipal course anywhere.

Customer Service

Locals only

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The pro shop staff is the best