I'm gonna just say it, this is the best deal in LA area golf. Yes, Golf Magazine would disagree and regularly lists Rustic Canyon as the best deal (in the country, no less) but I'm going to be a contrarian here. For LA City courses, there is simply no debate that Wilson at Griffith Park is the best LA course (referenced in both of my books, btw, Straight Pepper Diet and The Palsgraf Revelation, but I digress). For those that say Rancho is the best, just stop. Just f'ing stop.
Okay, back to Hansen Dam. I've been playing it regularly since Covid-19 started and played it occasionally over the prior 10 years. So here goes:
PRICE
$29 to walk on weekdays (and for God's sake, walk!)! You can't compare golf courses without referencing price. You won't find a better price-to-quality course in LA county. Is Rustic Canyon better? Of course. But it's nearly twice the cost. If you really want to compare a course, Rustic IS the course to compare. It is just like Rustic in many ways, just less expensive and not as good, but IMO in perfect proportion.
PARKING
Tons and perfect.
ENVIRONMENT
This is what really makes this course different from the other LA city courses. With the exception of #4 it is in nature. It is bordered by Hansen Dam and arid land. You'll see ducks, hawks, deer, wood peckers and coyotes. It really is wonderful. (BTW feeding coyotes is dangerous and illegal)
CHALLENGE
From the tips, the course is fine 6,700 yards, from blues, 6,300, etc. It's plenty long. The rating is 72/70, respectively. For low handicappers, this course is really gettable. But, there are tall trees and OB and bunkers that do protect par, so like any course, you can get in trouble. There are few holes where you need to implement course management and others where you just bomb it.
I love the opening hole. It's a raised tee box and generous fairway to a big green. It's 385/372 yards. It is the way an opening hole should be, fairly easy. A few of my fav/interesting holes: #4 is a great par-3 that plays 190ish, a little uphill to a very sloped and bunkered green. A par on this hole is a good score. #5 is also a cool par-4. It goes down to the fairway and then up to a raised green and calls for a draw. If you hit it left you can be OB towards the dam or right and you extend the hole. Hit a good tee shot and you have a birdie opp. #9 is 450/420 yard par-4 with an uphill approach shot. This is the toughest hole on the course. Even a good tee shot will leave you a 170+ approach that plays 180+. #10 is one of the wonkiest holes in the City of LA, but I've come to dig it. It's only 300 yards and the tee box is about level with the green, but you hit over a huge dip and you can hit a drive 270, and have it roll all the way down. If you leave it on the upslope you have a drastically uphill pitch. If you just hit an iron to the bottom you have a 150yd approach to a green that is 40 yds uphill! #11 is kind of the opposite, a bomber can reach the green downhill, but a poor shot will have you blocked by a tree. You get the picture, lotsa cool holes, and many are pretty straight-in-front of you. It's not a course that you need to play a ton to figure out the lines. One more hole to mention: #13 is 409/430 par-4 dog leg with OB on left and calls for a right draw. It's a nice little hole.
GREENS
Most are fairly flat and they run typical for a muni. They are usually in surprisingly good condition. People fix their divots. Most are quite large. You can easily 3-putt when you leave yourself a 80-footer. The breaks should usually be given little regard unless they are obviously drastic. Don't give up the hole! #4 and #18 are the most sloped. #18 is really drastic from back to front.
FAIRWAYS & ROUGH
Wide and surprisingly good. It's not LACC, but it's just as good as some of the lower-tier private clubs I've played over the years.
PRO-SHOP
Standard LA. Whatevs. The old men starters are a little testier than usual. Can blame them, Covid and all ... Last time I was there, I kept hearing the starter over the loudspeaker yelling at the group on #1 saying, the tee box is not a practice chipping area! Chill, Chill, Chill.
LAY-OUT
Long walks, which I enjoy. From #11 to 12 is several hundred yards as is from #18 green to parking. The environment is nice. When the weather is good (and it can get windy other there, esp late in day), it is paradise. A few weird holes but also some class style. The designer followed the land. Classic LA muni.
PRACTICE AREAS/RANGE
They have tons of bays, very close to pro shop and first hole, many are covered. A small bucket is only $5. Balls are so-so. Range is on matts, but ok matts. The range is sloped down. What I really like is that they have a practice bunker which is free and you can chip in the same area. Also, during non-covid times they have a couple putting greens. As someone who loves to practice short game, I dig their facilities. The bunker area is usually empty.
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