SOUTHLAND FOCUS
A weekly look at golf courses open to the public in Southern California.
Temeku Hills Golf Club
Address: 41687 Temeku Drive, Temecula.
Phone: (909) 693-1440
Green fees: $43-$68, cart included.
Tee times: Seven days in advance.
The facility: This is a Ted Robinson-designed course in the Temecula Valley, with a full driving range and clubhouse. There are water hazards (complete with Robinson-signature waterfalls), plenty of elevation changes, tree-lined fairways and enough blind tee shots to turn your first round at the course into an occasional guessing game.
The good: The layout has plenty of variety with very few holes adjacent to one another, which means you never have to worry about some yahoo launching a banana slice from his fairway into yours. Tall palm trees behind the greens are another Robinson trademark, and they help you get your bearings after lousy tee shots leave you without a view of the green. Nicely contoured fairways, well-maintained bentgrass greens and bunkers.
The bad: The first time you play this course, get ready to ask “OK, where do I hit this tee shot?” a bunch of times. Advice: play with someone who knows the course. Concrete water tanks, particularly on the back nine, don’t lend much to the atmosphere. The 14th hole is such a severe dogleg right that anyone who plays a low draw is just about out of luck.
The score: The course isn’t long, only 6,522 from the longest of four sets of tees, but it takes some thinking and shotmaking to get around without a few big numbers. It’s in fine shape and a reasonable bargain.
Overall rating: 3 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 1 345 331 4 308 2 176 159 3 142 3 359 335 4 298 4 545 516 5 458 5 341 331 4 264 6 185 167 3 144 7 357 339 4 308 8 328 305 4 283 9 498 481 5 397 Out 3,134 2,964 36 2,602 10 327 281 4 243 11 400 353 4 320 12 181 148 3 126 13 462 448 5 401 14 528 511 5 490 15 167 148 3 121 16 375 360 4 312 17 301 283 4 253 18 341 326 4 271 In 3,082 2,858 36 2,537 Total 6,216 5,822 72 5,139
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Rating/Slope: Back--70.1/126, Middle--68.4/123, Front--70.5/123
