A weekly look at golf courses open...
A weekly look at golf courses open to the public in Southern California.
Elkins Ranch Golf Club
Address: 1386 Chambersburg Rd., Fillmore.
Green fees: $23-$29.
Tee times: 10 days in advance.
Phone: (805) 524-1440.
The facility: Scenic Elkins is located deep in a canyon just south of the Santa Clara River and the base of the Los Padres National Forest. The course seems never to play the same way twice. Several holes are deceiving, especially the par-three, 116-yard 16th, which features an elevated green, sand on the left, a hill in front and not much breathing room to the rear.
The good: Recreational golfers will appreciate the generous fairways and stunning views. Bear Ridge and the mountains above Fillmore offer particularly spectacular backdrops for several holes--especially facing west from the elevated 17th tee.
The bad: Sadistic greenskeepers have been known to place pins 10-12 feet from the edge on holes with entrances guarded by bunkers. The course is at its toughest when unpredictable east winds whip through the canyon. During the summer, the heat can be so stifling that even the trees sweat. At least that’s how the course marshal will explain those occasional sprinkles you feel.
The score: A typical outing at this quiet, beautiful yet challenging course is as satisfying as a hamburger served from its snack shop, which is famous enough to attract traffic from nearby highways 23 and 126.
Overall course rating: three balls.
*
Overall course rating: ***
* One ball: Like an X on the scorecard.
** Two balls: Worth an occasional round.
*** Three balls: Like shooting four strokes under your handicap.
**** Four balls: Where the Publinx Golf Gods play.
Rating/Slope: Blue--69.9/117, White--68.3/112, Red--66.5/107
*--*
Hole Chcp Blue Tees Regular White Tees M/W Par Ladies’ Red Tees 1 329 318 4/4 309 2 416 388 4/5 383 3 199 187 3/3 162 4 521 507 5/5 483 5 403 392 4/4 365 6 464 447 5/5 432 7 149 138 3/3 125 8 355 345 4/4 311 9 416 395 4/5 385 Out 3,252 3,117 36/38 2,955 10 363 355 4/4 344 11 190 166 3/3 153 12 394 371 4/4 360 13 381 355 4/4 336 14 298 280 4/4 268 15 374 361 4/4 291 16 127 116 3/3 96 17 430 423 4/4 384 18 473 337 5/5 438 In 3,030 2,874 35/35 2,670 Total 6,282 5,991 71/73 5,625
*--*
