Off the Fringe, “Golf’s best short read.” The award winning newsletter, sent twice monthly, that provides an unconventional perspective on the golf world.
Brian Clark
Buckeye
2020-02-24
$101 (cart included), played on Tuesday, February 2020 at 7:30 AM
Was told that I had to play “The Victory Course” at Verrado GC before I left this area. They now have two (2) eighteen hole tracks (The Founders Couse) here that have PGA’s Tom Lehman’s named as the designer. The $119 seemed a little steep after playing Torrey Pines for $137 but hey......Sundance GC for $24..it all balances out. Got teamed up with three (3) locals that gave me priceless information on true yardages needed for elevation changes. Can’t say “Thanks” enough to them for that local knowledge to getting it right. With the nine (9) variations of tee yardages from 7,258 - 4,646yds we did the Silver/White 3,081/3,132yd / 68.8 / 121 for this Par 36/36 mountainous/desert layout. You start from the top so the views are breathtaking with the wide green fairways ready to greet your 120-180 yard carries needed from these tees. When I asked about playing from the Tips/Blacks, they said, “Unless you have a 215+ carry these are fine” and they were right. Hitting the large firm greens was the easy part. Reading the putts on these tricked up greens was another thing, as my 41 putts speaks volumes on my frustration. (They offered no help here as I was sticking the greens today). Each hole has a great view from the tee and they add large rock formations with the sand traps nearby so if you stray, big trouble awaits you. There are houses but they don’t really take away from the playing field. The Front 9 plays easier yardages with green formations a little more forgiving. The #8 a 542yd Par 5 will give you a view of what’s to come on the Back 9 for placement hitting. The #10 a 409yd Par 4 gives you a repeat of #8 and the 190 yd carry to the fairway and a green with no forgiveness missing left or right. The #11 at 370yds has a fairway that looks like the mountains in the distance...and your 2nd shot will be anything but flat. Just when you thought you’ve seen every possible fairway trick, the rock wall on #14 will have your Rangefinder to your eye. Advice: Hit a 215yd drive over the RH wall section and you have a 80-90yd shot in, don’t miss green left. The #18 is worth the stop at the Black tee to view the needed 250yd carry over the water and trap to swing again on this 590 yd Par 5, we drove on. We played it from the Silver for a 200yd carry down the LH side with a uphill climb home using two 5W’s, sand wedge with 2 putts and we’re done. Didn’t stay for breakfast but the view from the patio would be worth just to come for a meal. Ended up shooting 40/40 w/41putts as my eyes, speed and touch were not in sync today on the shorter grass. Worth the stop here and was told I they have discounts and packages to offer the out of town people.
Would travel: 60-120 Miles, Vacation Worthy
Bottom line: I would play again, Better than average course for the area, Ranks with the best in this price level, Expensive and worth it
Condition of Course, Pace of Play, Food/ Bar facilities, Difficulty, Ambiance, Staff, Layout, Clubhouse
$101 (cart included), played on Tuesday, February 2020 at 7:30 AM
Was told that I had to play “The Victory Course” at Verrado GC before I left this area. They now have two (2) eighteen hole tracks (The Founders Couse) here that have PGA’s Tom Lehman’s named as the designer. The $119 seemed a little steep after playing Torrey Pines for $137 but hey......Sundance GC for $24..it all balances out. Got teamed up with three (3) locals that gave me priceless information on true yardages needed for elevation changes. Can’t say “Thanks” enough to them for that local knowledge to getting it right. With the nine (9) variations of tee yardages from 7,258 - 4,646yds we did the Silver/White 3,081/3,132yd / 68.8 / 121 for this Par 36/36 mountainous/desert layout. You start from the top so the views are breathtaking with the wide green fairways ready to greet your 120-180 yard carries needed from these tees. When I asked about playing from the Tips/Blacks, they said, “Unless you have a 215+ carry these are fine” and they were right. Hitting the large firm greens was the easy part. Reading the putts on these tricked up greens was another thing, as my 41 putts speaks volumes on my frustration. (They offered no help here as I was sticking the greens today). Each hole has a great view from the tee and they add large rock formations with the sand traps nearby so if you stray, big trouble awaits you. There are houses but they don’t really take away from the playing field. The Front 9 plays easier yardages with green formations a little more forgiving. The #8 a 542yd Par 5 will give you a view of what’s to come on the Back 9 for placement hitting. The #10 a 409yd Par 4 gives you a repeat of #8 and the 190 yd carry to the fairway and a green with no forgiveness missing left or right. The #11 at 370yds has a fairway that looks like the mountains in the distance...and your 2nd shot will be anything but flat. Just when you thought you’ve seen every possible fairway trick, the rock wall on #14 will have your Rangefinder to your eye. Advice: Hit a 215yd drive over the RH wall section and you have a 80-90yd shot in, don’t miss green left. The #18 is worth the stop at the Black tee to view the needed 250yd carry over the water and trap to swing again on this 590 yd Par 5, we drove on. We played it from the Silver for a 200yd carry down the LH side with a uphill climb home using two 5W’s, sand wedge with 2 putts and we’re done. Didn’t stay for breakfast but the view from the patio would be worth just to come for a meal. Ended up shooting 40/40 w/41putts as my eyes, speed and touch were not in sync today on the shorter grass. Worth the stop here and was told I they have discounts and packages to offer the out of town people.