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Aliso Viejo Golf Club
Aliso's 3-Nines Are Mix 'N Match Fun
27 Jack Nicklaus designed holes make Aliso
Viejo a crowd pleaser
 Aliso
Viejo has it's own drive-through combo but don't look to "large-size
the fries." It's not that kind of drive-through. It is however,
a wonderful 27-hole golf course divided into three 9-hole
tracks, the Ridge, the Creek and the Valley courses. What
I like is that every time you visit, you'll likely get a different
starting 9 and finishing 9, so Aliso is never monotonous.
And with eight lakes on this lot, you'll get wet somewhere.
So take off, follow the arrows, and have fun. The course may
look a little cookie-cutter-ish when you first step on it,
but the personality and character of the course comes out
once you're in the middle of it.
 Here's
another new wrinkle that is likely to be copied by other golf
courses. Aliso Viejo has created a multi-tiered pricing policy
that at first may seem confusing, but after awhile makes perfect
sense. Let's face it, like any retail business there are busy
times and slow times. By tracking these times carefully, Aliso
Viejo is saying if book a tee time in a slower period, it
will cost you less. Pick a popular time, it'll cost you more.
What may be confusing is that they have broken this down to
7 different fees depending on when you play during the week,
8 on the weekends. And it's working. Tee times are up 40%
daily. So for bargain hunters, earlier-risers and those with
flexible schedules, it means less expensive golf. For ClubCorp,
who own and operate more than 200 golf courses worldwide including
Aliso Viejo it means more revenue. Works for me. The course
stats on the left show the new pricing policy. Now let's talk
about the course.
MY FAVORITE HOLES:
On The Creek Nine:
- Creek No. 3, 439-yard par 4 (1 handicap): The deceptiveness
of this puppy is downright mean. A great drive past the
150-yard marker can go over the peak of the fairway and
roll downhill into the body of water on the right. So go
as far left as your political compass will allow in Orange
County.
- Creek No. 6, 143-yard par 3 (8 handicap): From a terrace
ledge that's better suited for cliff diving in Alcapulco,
it's 125-feet downhill to a 30-yard green that's nothing
but trouble. Water long. Bunker left. Hillside short.
On The Valley Nine:
- Valley No. 7, 527-yard par 5 (4 handicap): The longest
poke on the whole Aliso Viejo lot is this, the third of
three straight blind tee shot holes.
- Valley No. 8, 130-yard par 3 (5 handicap): Thirsty? This
moat around the green should quench your thirst for excitement,
especially if it's late in the day and you're shooting into
the sunset.
On The Ridge Nine: 
- Ridge No. 3, 375-yard par 4 (2 handicap): The trick is
avoiding the pot bunker about 30 yards short of the green.
You otherwise won't know it's there after feeling safe that
you cleared the long fairway bunker to the right.
- Ridge No. 9, 405-yard par 4 (3 handicap): A beauty of
a finish. Gotta hit the green on the second shot or else
you may as well just walk back to your car and wait for
your partner to putt out.
WILDLIFE: Rattlesnake warning signs will keep you
from going after an errant tee shot, but mostly it's a bunch
of ducks dodging balls that land near their retreat.
DID YOU KNOW? Jack Nicklaus himself holds the course
record for the Ridge/Creek and Valley/Ridge combos. Can you
drive 65?
A COOL PERK: ClubCorp has created an Aliso Viejo Premium
Player program that is quite a deal and returns much more
in value than you pay. For a $49 annual fee, you get your
SCGA handicap, a free lesson from any of their teaching professionals
(that in itself is a $75 value), you get a 25% discount in
the Pro Shop, a free regrip of your clubs once during the
year and you are eligible for monthly tournaments conducted
mostly on Saturdays. Sign me up.
 SUMMING
IT UP: Aliso Viejo is more than just another redeveloped
hillside. Word is this course will be undergoing many changes
in the near future, including a new clubhouse connected to
a hotel adjacent to the course. And as owner Jack Nicklaus
opens a new multi-million dollar project called "Bear's Best"
- taking his favorite holes among the 200-plus course he designed
and creating new courses with those holes replicated -- this
could evolve into part of the grand plan. Stay tuned for further
developments.
Eric
Tracy
The
Mulligan Man
Eric@TheMulliganMan.com
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