| > | | | | is the scenic par 3, hole seven called the "Tarantula." |
| | | | The golfers' tee-off from some 100 feet above the |
| TRADITIONAL DESIGNS - | | | | green, approximately 200 yards away. |
| Certified Preowned Callaway Golf Clubs | | | | THE TOUGHEST HOLE - |
| Some 25 miles north of downtown Los Angeles, and | | | | The toughest hole on the Valley Course rated by the |
| right in the middle of Southern California's urban and | | | | lowest handicap index on the scorecard is the par 4, |
| suburban growth, Robinson Ranch has captured the | | | | hole four. This hole is a slight dogleg left, bordered by |
| feeling of golfing in the country. Co-architects, Ted | | | | a left side fairway bunker and a dry stream bed to |
| Robinson Sr. and Ted Jr., whose family has ties to | | | | the right. The second shot to reach the green in |
| the Golden State dating back to when the early | | | | regulation is between two large heritage oak trees. |
| settlers traveled the Sierra Nevada=s by foot, have | | | | Jetsetters Magazine Golf MallThe strangest hole (nine) |
| given golfers a glimpse of California's lost heritage, | | | | on Valley and maybe the true signature hole, called |
| "The Way It Used to Be." | | | | "Saddleback" is a par 5 with one fairway to the left |
| The 400-acre complex sets on rolling hills, rock | | | | and another fairway to the right. A large heritage oak |
| outcroppings and dry stream beds with hundreds of | | | | tree in the middle separates the two fairways and is |
| stately oak trees, natural alluvial and coastal sage, | | | | very reachable with the driver. If you hit left, it is a |
| bordering the Angeles National Forest. It is one of the | | | | traditional three-shot hole, laying up short of the lake |
| few places a golfer is more likely to look at some of | | | | that fronts the moderately sloping putting surface |
| the wildlife, such as raccoons, weasels, deer, bobcats, | | | | with a waterfall backdrop. However, if the golfer hits |
| coyote, fox and even bear - instead of looking at | | | | the ball to the right Saddleback fairway with a bit of |
| their wild golf shots! | | | | zip on their driver, they stand the chance to reach |
| Ted Robinson, Sr. has designed more than 170 | | | | the green in two! This golfer/reporter had the |
| courses around the world. As a team, both father | | | | fortune to hit a provisional (ball) after the first gamble |
| and son combined their experience in, and passion | | | | to go right posed a few doubts after watching it fall |
| for, golf with a spectacular layout. For instance, | | | | from the elevated tee-off box some 90 feet above |
| bi-level and undulating greens, numerous dogleg par | | | | the fairway. Therefore, I hit my second ball to the |
| 4's and 5's, uphill fairways, cliff-hanging tee-off boxes, | | | | left fairway. Luckily, I learned my lesson without |
| strategically-placed deep bunkers, stream-dissecting | | | | taking my medicine, and shortly later I was able to |
| fairways, middle-of-the-fairway oak trees, sometimes | | | | find my daring first shot to par the hole! |
| wide-open and beautiful fairways, canyons | | | | All the greens rated 10 on this reporter's meter as |
| surrounding greens, and refreshing, but | | | | being one of the finest in the entire West. One has |
| non-golfer-friendly lakes are some of the eclectic | | | | to wonder if PGA tour golf professionals like Tiger |
| features of the two courses - Mountain and Valley. | | | | Woods and Davis Love III gets these fine of greens |
| One of the true signature holes of the Valley Course | | | | to putt on "week-in-and-week-out?! |