Shorecliffs Has Its Highs and Lows

Resident pro Jeff Short calls Shorecliffs “the best-kept secret in Orange County,” and most golfers who play it think it’s probably best kept that way--either because they cherish the place or because they never want to hear the name again.

And the course is a good-news, bad-news kind of place. The good news is you can get on just about anytime--even weekends--with ease, and the greens fees are among the lowest in Orange County. The bad news is . . . well, there’s a lot of bad news about the place.

Shorecliffs, built in 1962 (and rebuilt several times) through the coastal canyon country of north San Clemente, has fought a mostly losing battle with the elements. When it rains, water gushes through the canyons and sludges up the fairways (to the point that perfect drives simply sink out of sight).

On the flip side, the greens are in exceptional shape, unfazed by the strange summer weather that brought destructive fungus to courses north (San Juan Hills) and south (San Clemente Municipal).

Short says only one fairway remains in “really bad shape,” and that’s the 251-yard, par-four No. 6. In truth, calling it a fairway may be stretching the definition of the word. What’s there is a tee and a green, separated by a couple of hundred yards of hard dirt, mud, water and muck. And, because of litigation (properties along the hole began sliding down onto the course several years ago), it will remain that way for the foreseeable future.

Short, however, is extremely upbeat about the course, pointing out that “we are constantly improving it.” He is also enthused about the fact that (other than a hole with no fairway) Shorecliffs has something else no other area course can boast of: a chipping green where you can station yourself as far as 50 yards away and practice your short game at no extra cost.

And, in truth, the course does have some of the most challenging holes in South County, especially on the back nine.

No. 11, for example, is a 492-yard par-five uphill on an extremely narrow fairway bordered by out-of-bounds on the left and right. The back nine also contains two par-three testers--the 166-yard No. 13 straight uphill to a green you can’t see from the tee and the 177-yard No. 15 from an elevated tee with out-of-bounds both right and left.

Rates are low by any standard--just $10 for 18 holes Monday through Friday (and unlike many courses, Friday is considered a weekday), $20 for weekends. But the course offers a number of special deals, including “two-fers.” For example, it’s only $26 total for two people with a motorized cart between 6 and 9 a.m. during the week.

And you do need a cart, not just because the course had some pretty steep climbs, but because the path leads through storm drains that nearly always contain water, and unless you’re sporting galoshes, it’s an unpleasant stroll.

Golfers over age 60 also get a break: $26 all day for two players with motorized cart.

The Good: No trouble getting on; reasonable rates.

The Bad: Fairways that resist repair.

The Ugly: No. 6.

A Matter of Course

* Shorecliffs Golf Course, 501 Avenida Vaquero, San Clemente, 92672. (714) 492-1177.

* Distance: 5,631 yards from men’s tees.

* Par: 71.

* Greens fees: Monday through Friday, $10 ($5 twilight rate); weekends, $20 before noon, $15 between noon and 2 p.m. ($5 twilight rate). Several package deals available (call for information), and special rates for those over age 60.

* Carts: $16 ($8 twilight rate).

* Driving range: Small bucket, $2; large bucket, $5.

* Other amenities: Pro shop, chipping green, full bar and restaurant.

* Lessons: $25 per half hour. Package of six lessons, $75.

* Reservations: Seven days in advance, (714) 492-1177.