A weekly look at golf courses open...

A weekly look at golf courses open to the public in Southern California.

IMPERIAL GOLF COURSE

Address: 2200 E. Imperial Highway, Brea.

Green fees: $20-$26.

Tee times: One week in advance.

Phone: (714) 529-3923.

The facility: A short course over occasionally rolling, wooded terrain. A few working oil wells offer a link to the town’s petroleum-rich history. Holes No. 8 and 9 were remodeled to accommodate a housing tract a few years ago, and the entire course is living on borrowed time, destined eventually for development. Date of funeral services pending. Grass driving range, though turf is pretty chopped up.

The good: Mature trees can create problems, though most fairways offer plenty of landing room. A forgiving course; if you’re playing adequately, you can expect to score very well. Greens are usually OK.

The bad: Fairways are inconsistent, often with clumps of different types of grass growing at varying rates. Finding a flat spot with good turf on many of the tee boxes can be a struggle.

The score: Imperial isn’t among the greatest tracks in Southern California, but any course being bulldozed under for more homes is one too many. And this one does have some character: No. 7 is a challenging dogleg right, No. 18 a fine finishing hole from an elevated tee to a green framed by large eucalyptus trees. Hawks nesting along a couple of fairways can get aggressive if you approach their aeries. One time when it’s not a good idea to keep your head down.

Overall course rating: 1 1/2 balls.

* One ball: No-frills golf.

** Two balls: Worth an occasional round.

*** Three balls: Like shooting four strokes under your handicap.

**** Four balls: Where the Publinx Golf Gods play.

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Hole Back Tees Middle Tees Par Front Tees 1 475 445 5 438 2 345 340 4 304 3 386 368 4 332 4 391 371 4 351 5 509 498 5 472 6 175 129 3 93 7 377 362 4 349 8 147 137 3 114 9 417 408 4 379 Out 3,222 3,058 36 2,832 10 505 488 5 475 11 369 362 4 318 12 355 351 4 338 13 147 143 3 135 14 366 363 4 306 15 169 148 3 143 16 525 485 5 477 17 182 163 3 117 18 371 345 4 333 In 2,989 2,848 35 2,642 Total 6,211 5,906 71 5,474

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Rating/Slope: Back--69.3/117, Middle--67.2/110, Front--71.0/114