Southland Focus

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

MONTEBELLO COUNTRY CLUB

Address: 901 Via San Clemente, Montebello.

Green fees: $28-38.

Phone: (323) 887-4565.

Tee times: Seven days in advance.

The facility: The course reopens today after a 10-month, $4-million renovation project under architects Gary Bye and David Rainville. Once an aging and ordinary-looking layout that opened in 1928, it can now compete with many of the new courses in Southern California. More than 60 bunkers were added or rebuilt, and the poa annua grass on the greens has been replaced by a slicker bentgrass. The most significant change is the addition of water, which comes into play on Nos. 10, 12 and 16 with little room to spare. The pro shop and banquet facilities have also been upgraded.

The good: The lush, defined fairways will give you a perfect lie off the tee and the greens are true and firm. Good variety in the holes. The first three holes give you a chance of making a birdie or two, but Nos 4, 5 and 6 will test your game. Making par on the 14th hole is like making birdie. No. 16 plays directly over water. The 18th is a long, uphill finishing hole with a blind second shot to a heavily bunkered green if your tee shot is left.

The bad: Not much, but expect a long round because of anticipated heavy play and all the new bunkers and water trouble. The zoysia grass that outlines the bunkers has yet to mature.

The score: This is worth playing several times a year with these reasonable fees.

Overall rating: 3 balls

Overall rating: 3 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 1 437 406 4 376 2 421 388 4 374 3 531 501 5 467 4 461 400 4 380 5 447 408 4 385 6 157 140 3 126 7 380 341 4 319 8 404 369 4 336 9 105 96 3 89 Out 3,343 3,049 35 2,852 10 371 353 4 326 11 478 445 5 422 12 351 320 4 294 13 366 339 4 314 14 216 178 3 156 15 382 347 4 324 16 155 137 3 125 17 496 460 5 434 18 458 402 4 377 In 3,273 2,981 36 2,772 Total 6,616 6,030 71 5,624

*--*

Rating/Slope: Back--71.6/124; Middle--68.8/119; Front--71.8/121