New Sod to Rejuvenate Old Course

San Clemente Municipal, one of the oldest golf courses in Orange County and one of the most popular in the state, has become the victim of what historically has been its greatest ally--the weather.

The late-summer heat wave, high humidity and accompanying high soil temperatures spawned a fungus (called anthracnose) that has all but destroyed the course’s greens, forcing the closure of several and making others bumpy going and hardly worth playing.

But the charm of the venerable 6,431-yard layout remains; a complete re-sodding of all the greens will be finished by mid-February, and “we’ll have it in better shape than it’s ever been in,” promises course manager Paul Linden.

The reason the process will take so long, Linden said, is that to prevent any repetition of this year’s problems the decision was made to replace the annual bluegrass currently on the greens with bent grass, which is impervious to the fungus.

“We’re having great difficulty getting the bent,” Linden said, “because so many courses had the same problem, and so many are switching to bent that it’s on back-order everywhere.”

San Clemente, opened in 1928 as a nine-hole facility and expanded to 18 in the mid-’50s, has traditionally ranked in the Top 10 in the state for the number of players it accommodates annually. “The weather is the reason,” says head pro Dave Cook. “Because it’s usually very mild, we never have had the problems other courses have with winter frost, for example, and the drainage is excellent, so that even heavy rains never held up play for long.”

But the course has other attractions, too: wide fairways, breathtaking ocean vistas from several holes, challenging greens, reasonable fees and a genuinely fair (albeit complicated) reservation system. Reduced greens fees are offered for residents who buy an annual card, youngsters who attend Capistrano Valley School District schools, senior citizens and anyone who wants to play just nine holes early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

The course is deceptively difficult because the slanted layout that provides such great drainage also precludes anything that even approaches a level lie on the fairways; the ball is always a few inches above or below your feet, making errant shots commonplace.

The fifth hole is a good example. It’s the No. 1 handicap on the course and looks easy enough on the card. It’s only 535 yards from the tournament tees, but drift a little to the left and you’re in the street; a little to the right has you banging into trees. The par threes go from the sublime (the 133-yard second hole) to the ridiculous (the 196-yard 15th hole across a huge gulch with out of bounds on the right, on the left and behind the green).

And many a good round has been kissed goodby on the 395-yard 16th hole, which starts right over a barranca, then lurches left over a gulch to an elevated and extremely fast green.

Here’s the reservations system: They are accepted one week in advance, beginning at 6 a.m. by phone and in person. Between 6 and 6:30, only residents with cards can make times. The starter takes one phone call, then one golfer who’s there in person (it’s not unusual for golfers to get in line at 2 a.m., incidentally). After 6:30, non-residents are taken, although admittedly few times remain by then. However, four times are left open each hour to accommodate walk-ons--”an unmatched system on any course I know of,” Cook says.

All in all, the course is a good test of just about every club in the bag.

The Good: Wide sweeping fairways, spectacular views, reasonable rates.

The Bad: Despite innovative and fair reservation policies, still tough to get a time.

The Ugly: Weather-damaged greens.

A Matter of Course

San Clemente Municipal Golf Course, 150 E. Avenida Magdalena, San Clemente, 92672. (714) 492-3943.

Distance: 6,431 yards.

Par: 72.

Greens fees: Monday through Friday: $14 for non-residents and residents without a card; $9 for residents with card; $8 for senior (over 62) residents with a card. Saturday and Sunday: $21 for non-residents and residents without a card; $14 for residents with card; $14 for seniors. Reduced rates (nine-hole play early or late in the day (times vary with season)): Monday through Friday, $10 for non-residents or residents without a card; $6 for residents with a card; $5 for seniors; $1 for juniors (any youngster attending local district schools). Saturday and Sunday, $11 for non-residents and residents without a card; $8 for residents with card; $8 for seniors.

Carts: Pull carts ($2); electric carts ($16 for 18 holes, $8 for nine holes).

Driving range: $2 bucket.

Lessons: $25 for half-hour private lessons; group lessons for $5.

Los Angeles Times