SOUTHLAND FOCUS
A weekly look at golf courses open to the public in Southern California.
Mountain Meadows Golf Course
Address: 1875 Fairplex Drive, Pomona 91768
Phone: (909) 629-1166
Green fees: $19-$23.
Tee Times: One week in advance
The facility: There are some parts of this excellent public course where the golfer seems be in the quiet of the country. Then there are the holes that overlook the airplane and helicopter activity of Bracken Field, not to mention the Pomona Fairgrounds, which means the L.A. County Fair in the late summer and the drag races in the winter. It’s not particularly distracting, even on race days, but it is different.
The good: Course is usually in good condition. Some outstanding holes, the best being Nos. 13 and 14. The former is a long par three over a canyon, but it also offers a bailout to those who don’t want to try the 200-yard carry. That is followed by a dramatic par-four with a downhill tee shot, then an uphill approach. On the front nine, No. 2 is is a wonderful par four and No. 9 is an attractive par three over a small pond.
The bad: How can a course with 17 better-than-average holes also include No. 11? This devilish par five doglegs almost completely around and up a mountain, so the best tee shot would be right over the corner--provided you can hit it 350 yards. For the rest of us, there is no real landing area, not much room for a second shot, and the multi-tiered green is no picnic. Other than that, it’s a great hole.
The score: Throw out No. 11 (please) and there’s not much to quibble about, except for some occasional unfair pin placements. A great value.
*
Overall rating: 2 2 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 golf gods play.
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Hole Back Tees Middle Tees Par Front Tees 1 523 509 5 461 2 353 346 4 313 3 344 331 4 319 4 384 362 4 342 5 438 424 4 355 6 179 157 3 136 7 365 355 4 333 8 514 493 5 469 9 162 145 3 128 Out 3,262 3,122 36 2,856 10 372 342 4 319 11 476 460 5 422 12 370 343 4 242 13 213 200 3 150 14 356 335 4 302 15 490 464 5 441 16 365 344 4 321 17 159 145 3 128 18 377 358 4 338 In 3,178 2,991 36 2,663 Total 6,440 6,113 72 5,519
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Rating/Slope: Back--70.4/120, Middle--68.7/113, Front--71.4/122
