CROSSCREEK GOLF CLUB
18-hole, par 71 course at 43860 Glen Meadows Rd., Temecula. Opened May 1. $50 Monday through Friday, $65 Saturday and Sunday. 6,833 yards. 74.1 course rating, 142 slope rating. www.crosscreekgolfclub.com. Phone (888) 226-5944.
Back in the old days of golf greats such as Gene Sarazen and Bobby Jones, there existed masterful, breathtaking and challenging courses that avid golfers loved to play while hating to admit their scores. In 2001 there is now a course that captures that same mystique, magic,and embarrassment, CrossCreek. After quite a drive from Orange County, the CrossCreek staff is right on cue to greet and assist you, dressed in vintage golf outfits that would have made the late Payne Stewart proud. Designer Arthur Hills has transformed the rocky, meandering valleys and ancient oaks and sycamore trees of Temecula into spectacular backdrops. The course begins with two unusually difficult starting holes and never lets up. Each hole has unique characteristics that makes it a must play. For such a new course, the maturity of the fairways and especially the greens are a pleasant surprise. And there are four sets of tee boxes, so those who aren’t masochists can improve their scoring chances. What’s more, the “introductory” green fees noted above, possibly reflecting the glut of new courses in Southern California, are discounted $10 to $20 from the “permanent” rates. The only negatives are the large amounts of gas, sunscreen and golf balls needed to complete a day at CrossCreek; this is definitely a whole-day outing. By the way, while proper golf attire is required, no, you don’t have to wear knickers.
,Richard Kruper
(Kruper is president of CenSource, a sign maker in Anaheim.)
