Right on course

S.J. Cahn

I’m standing on the first tee of Pelican Hill’s Ocean North course,

and there’s not a soul in front of me.

Of course, I’m paying for this privilege by its being 7 a.m.

Still, it’s beautiful, this mid-May morning. The sky contains just

a hint of white, streaking clouds and the barest of winds tickles the

back of my neck.

This definitely looks like one of America’s 100 best courses. And

over the 18 holes, it will only get better.

I hadn’t planned to enjoy this course -- which Golf Digest just

ranked No. 91 on its list of the 100 best public courses -- so much.

It wasn’t because I played well. This course simply sits far at the

top of a collection of courses that are unusual because they match,

almost perfectly, differing golfer skill levels. In Newport Beach and

Costa Mesa, alone, there’s the right course for everyone, scratch

shooter or duffer.

(There are other courses in the area I didn’t play. I skipped

Aliso Creek Golf Course and Back Bay Golf Course because both are

short “executive” courses. Meadowlark Golf Course in Huntington

Beach, which I’ve heard good things about, I nixed because it’s a

long drive from Newport Coast or Laguna Beach.)

To judge my thesis, I played and spoke with golfers of varying

skill levels, beginning with my nephew, who’s new to the game, and

finishing with the former pro with whom I’ve been taking lessons.

Turns out my guess was more dead-on than my drives.

A first 18 holes

Two things stand out immediately at the Newport Beach Golf Course:

It’s only a par 59, and the tees are off mats. But with prices for 18

holes ranging from $17 to $25, the course offers an affordable and

quick round well-suited for beginners or high handicappers. It’s also

an easy course to walk.

The course was the first full 18-hole course my nephew, David

Hawkins, played. And it was just about right for him.

“I liked it because it was a good mixture of long holes and short

holes, so I wasn’t overwhelmed trying to drive all day,” said the

17-year-old senior at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower. “And

I liked being able to work on my short game.”

He preferred the longer and more challenging back nine -- par 30

over 1,796 yards versus the front nine’s par 29 over 1,420 yards --

in part because he played two strokes better.

David wasn’t alone in his preference. The back nine was far more

crowded than the front. If a speedy round is the goal, just playing

the front is the way to go.

The course’s wide-open fairways and open landscape made it easy to

find wayward balls, David added. Knowing he had plenty of room for

error reduced his worry off the tee.

Important to note: The course is lighted for night play and also

has an affordable, lighted driving range.

David’s final judgment: “It was perfect for a beginner.”

Stepping up

to Mesa Linda

The shorter of the two courses at the Costa Mesa Golf and Country

Club is the next logical step for golfers ready to handle a more

daunting challenge. It features a number of short par threes, and at

5,500 yards from the back tees and just 4,500 from the ladies’ tees,

it is not overwhelming for short hitters.

The real trick at Mesa Linda is the greens. Generally small, they

are hard to hit, forcing plenty of greenside chips. They are quite

undulated, making for tricky reads. Long hitters are not guaranteed

pars by any measure.

Costa Mesa resident Lisa Tatman said that while the course

sometimes plays slow, it definitely offers her a good challenge.

“Mesa Linda is fair and challenging given the variety of yardage,

mild hazards and wide fairways,” she said. “What I like about Mesa

Linda are the beautiful conditions of the fairways and greens and

friendly starter staff. In short, it is a great value for the green

fees and very close to home.”

This course does offer probably the best deal around at $20 on

weekdays and $29 on weekends. Walking it is fairly easy, though carts

can be had for $24.

Lots of great

play on Los Lagos

The next level of challenge tees off right next to Mesa Linda at

Los Lagos. The greens are larger and not as tricky, but at 6,500

yards from the back and 5,900 from the ladies’ tees, it has enough

length to challenge all parts of the game.

The two most notable differences compared with its smaller sister

are the length of the par threes and par fives.

“I feel No. 7 is more difficult [than the No. 1 handicap hole],”

said Newport’s Mike Villani, known as the voice on the Ditech

commercials. “I always seem to find the water hazard on the right,

turning a long par three into a five pretty fast.”

Villani was quick to call Los Lagos and Mesa Linda “the best

public courses” in the county, tipping his hat to groundskeeper Jim

Fetterly for getting and keeping the courses in great shape.

Greens fees at Los Lagos are from $27 to $39, making it another

good deal.

A professional

paradise

“A good deal” might not be the first thing you think about at

Pelican Hill. But a cheap round of golf is not what draws people to

these Newport Coast courses that can cost $250 at peak weekend times.

I’d played the Ocean South course a few times, and found it

challenging, though working with my coach helped me shoot an 85 last

time, about 30 strokes better than my first attempt.

I suspected, though, that the “links style” of the Ocean North

would prove harder -- and it did my first time out. But I’m no

scratch player. I left the judgment of this course up to Steven

Goodman, who played several years ago on the Hooters Tour and now is

an acupuncturist in Irvine (I kid you not), who gives a few lessons

here and there.

“It’s a perfect vacation golf course,” he said. “While extremely

challenging, it’s equally fair.

“It gives you an opportunity to score well, if you hit a long way

or place it in the fairway,” he said.

What impressed him most was the layout of the course, which at

times has you out of sight of any homes; at one point on hole 11, it

looked like we could be in Scotland.

“It’s well thought out, even the par threes” he added. “They are

short par threes, but there are large bunkers with high rough around

them that makes it more challenging.”

The Ocean North also stands out because it’s not built on tricks

or gimmicks, as many courses -- including the neighboring Ocean South

-- are, Goodman said.

“This is a true golf course,” he said, one that rewards players

for “traditionally” good shots. A 300 yard drive is OK on this

course, he said.

“It was a lot of fun. It’s a fun golf course,” he said.

It’s also, I say, the cream of the Orange Coast crop, and one not

to miss -- especially if, like Goodman, you can play it two over par.