New 9 at Mile Square Is Ready

Another golf course will open in Orange County this weekend with one difference from the other recently opened courses: affordability.

Mile Square Golf Course in Fountain Valley, bucking the trend of high-end courses, opens the Players Course Saturday at a rate of $55 on the weekends and $35 on weekdays.

While $55 isn’t exactly chump change, those rates are in stark contrast to the triple-digit green fees at many of the newly opened, so-called “high-end courses” in Southern California such as Orange County’s Westridge ($80 on weekends) and Aliso Viejo ($125).

You won’t get somebody picking up your clubs at the bag drop or somebody cleaning them after the round, but you will get a solid golf course and be able to afford to pay your $2 Nassau afterward.

“Affordable golf is what people are starving for,” Mile Square General Manager Scott Chaffin said. “Hopefully the high-end niche is gone because there are only so many people who can afford those courses.”

Only the back nine on the new course is fit for play, but the rate is for 18 holes. Players will go around twice. The front nine is on pace for a spring opening and the rates will remain the same.

Tee times will be limited to 64 players per day for the first few months in order to avoid excess traffic. As the course matures, tee times will expand. Tee times will be available between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.

The signatures of the Players course are rolling fairways and large, undulating greens. The challenging course is well-bunkered and features plenty of water. The fairways are tight in spots, wide open in others and generally fair. Most of the trouble is on the right side of the fairway.

The nine holes that will open Saturday play at 3,442 yards from the back tees, 2,917 from the forward tees.

“It’s difficult, but playable,” Chaffin said. “We didn’t want something that’s so hard it will chase people away, but we wanted it challenging enough to have people come back. We tried to remember that this is a course for the people, not for tournaments.”

It is a risk-reward course that requires thought-out strategies. The par-five 17th hole, for example, plays at 506 yards from the back tees. Reaching the green in two is not impossible, but with water along the narrow landing area, an iron shot off the tee is the wise play.

RATE HIKE

Just as word comes that Mile Square is opening with reasonable rates, another county course announced a rate hike.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors announced Tuesday that rates at the El Toro Marine Golf Course would go up in order to help finance course improvements.

Rates will be $16-26 Mon.-Thurs., $18-30 on Friday and $19-35 on weekends, up from $10-24 Mon.-Thurs., $15-32 Friday and $15-$32 weekends.

The rates depend on the starting time.

NEW COURSE

For those still interested in paying top dollar, Lost Canyons opened its Sky Course last weekend in Simi Valley.

Renowned course architect Pete Dye designed the course with consulting from PGA Tour star Fred Couples. The Shadow Course is slated for a January opening. Green fees are $115 Mon.-Thurs. and $135 Fri.-Sun. For reservations: (805) 422-4653.

KUNG ON TOUR

Former Fountain Valley High golfer Candie Kung, ranked No. 2 in the nation as a sophomore at USC, is in the field for the Futures Tour Qualifying Tournament Nov. 14-17 at Imperial Lakes Country Club in Lakeland, Fla.

Kung is playing as an amateur, and will retain her amateur status even if she earns an exemption.

Danielle Amiee of Newport Beach, Kim Goldstrohm of Tustin and Teri Goolsby of Garden Grove are also playing. Goolsby is playing as an amateur, Amiee and Goldstrohm are professionals.

IN THE FINALS

Billy Olsen, 13, of Fountain Valley, will compete in the national finals of The Golf Channel Drive, Chip and Putt Junior Golf Skills Competition Saturday in Orlando, Fla.

Olsen is one of 42 national finalists in three age groups (7-8, 9-10, 11-12).

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Hitting the Links:

The back nine holes are open to the public at Mile Square Park’s new golf course. A look at the links:

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Hole 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Total Championship 394 433 182 355 537 456 161 506 418 3,442 Regular 376 405 153 332 515 431 141 477 400 3,230 Handicap 8 4 10 18 14 2 16 12 6 Par 4 4 3 4 5 4 3 5 4 36 Forward 345 373 116 294 478 399 108 446 358 2,917 Handicap 10 4 16 18 6 2 14 12 8

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Source: Mile Square Park