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 I remember making the drive to Soboba Springs 20 years ago, when my buddies and I used to thumb through golf discount books and go almost anywhere for an inexpensive round of golf. While Soboba Springs was considered remote at that time, I remember being surprised by Desmond Muirhead’s great layout. My surprise turned to amazement during a recent trip to the Country Club at Soboba Springs, where the Luiseno band of Soboba Indians have done a great job sprucing up the property. The tribe, which purchased the course in 2004, brought in Muirhead disciple Cary Bickler, who added fresh water features and renovated the bunkers. A WELCOME APPROACH A memorable golf experience now begins upon arrival. The new clubhouse, which opened in April, is a gorgeous modern design that would stand up well to one at any high-end public course you’d find in the desert — or Orange County, for that matter. It boasts lots of large flat-screen TVs and comfortable locker rooms that provides visitors with a homey feel upon arrival. The veranda off the Maze Stone restaurant overlooks the 18th green, and a waterfall pours from the side of the clubhouse. GETTING STARTED One player in our group talked us into playing from the gold tees that stretch to 7,053 yards. It’s long, but if you can make your way through the first three holes relatively unscathed, you’ll have some fun. The 148-yard, par-3 fourth hole plays from on top of a waterfall to a shallow green. It’s very cool. The next three holes are all more than 500 yards, but only two are par 5s. Someone should alert the USGA. We played the difficult par-4 seventh from 486 yards, though it is capable of playing up to 511 yards from the tips. MAKING THE TURN The back nine is even better than I remembered. The 11th hole is a par 4 stretching 404 yards; the second shot is uphill, and the green slopes subtly from back to front. I watched a perfect pitch appear to stop rolling inches from the hole, but it ended up about 10 feet away. Both par 3s on the back nine are more than 200 yards, and the most intimidating tee shot on the course has to be at the 226-yard 15th hole, where a shallow green is guarded by water short and a bunker on the left. The round concludes with a great dogleg-right par 5. At 511 yards, it’s reachable, even from the back tee. A bombed drive will leave you with a decision to lay up or challenge the hole that is guarded by water on the left side of the green. I chose to block my ball right off the tee into the tree line, catch a flier with my 5-wood and watched as it bounced into the group in front of us on the green a mere 15 feet from the hole. I didn’t care that I three-putted because it was the only thing that went wrong for me all day. RATES AND INFORMATION The Country Club at Soboba Springs is located east of Gilman Springs Road, near Highway 79. Weekday green fees are $59, with the rate on weekends and holidays $75. The San Jacinto facility is a must play, especially if you appreciate playing a great golf course. For the less discriminate golfers, it will seem like a long drive to the middle of nowhere. Those people are missing out. For more information or to make a tee time, call (951) 654-4300 or visit sobobaspringscc.com. |
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