Eagle Glen Golf Club

At Eagle Glen Your Golf Spirits Soar

A wonderful facility in a place you might not expect

By Eric Tracy
erictracy@earthlink.net

It's been a long time since I have been totally and pleasantly surprised by a golf facility. Being in the golf business I play a lot serving as a Master of Ceremonies at charity golf tournaments. Last year I stuck my peg in the ground 75 times at 30 different golf courses. I'm pretty well versed on Southern California Golf courses. However, from my drive up the hill to Eagle Glen until leaving after a fabulous day of golf and grog, my spirits were soaring with the eagles at Eagle Glen. In Corona? Who knew?

WARMING UP: The first time I visited this facility I had to rack my brain to remember the last time I went to Corona for anything. And by the way, Corona is nowhere near Corona del Mar, so let's clear that up. Corona is a parcel of land in Riverside County better known for citrus groves and farming. However, the Inland Empire as it's called has been undergoing major development in the last decade and the Eagle Glen Golf Club at the base of the Santa Ana Mountains in the Cleveland National Forest is just one pleasant example of the dramatic turnaround. This plot of land used to be sage and shrubs. Developer Nicholas Coussoulis carved out a golf course in an environmentally sensitive area around a nature preserve that has fabulous, breathtaking views to take in when you're not being challenged to focus on your shotmaking…because you'll need to or you'll put up big numbers. The first glimpse of Eagle Glen's splendor is from the windows of the recently opened 16,000-square foot clubhouse and banquet room that frames the entire back nine like a painting. Yes, I am gushing. Please, put Eagle Glen on your must play list. Let's play a few holes.

MY FAVORITE HOLES:

• No. 2, 325-yard par 4 (16 handicap): The first test of decision making: Do you hit a long iron left 200 yards and make a blind 90-yard pitch to the green, or go right and aim for the flag? You can drive the green and be left with an eagle putt, but push it right and you into the mountain.
• No. 3, 549-yard par 5 (2 handicap): If you like decision making, you get back-to-back risk/reward factors. This hole known as "Gulley" forces an uphill blind shot off the tee with another blind whack to the green for your third shot.
• No. 7, 371-yard par 4 (14 handicap): Head pro Joe Fairchild's secret to this one: Stay left of the 250-yard bunker on the right, then land it on the right side of the green, and it'll roll down toward the hole. But don't be long, there's a bunker lurking behind.
• No. 9, 395-yard par 4 (4 handicap): You like wildlife? The resident bobcat (he doesn't have a name yet, so give it your best shot) could make his appearance, either off to the right of the tees or on the fairway sunning himself. Leave him alone, he'll leave you alone. When you get to the green, what a view of the San Jacinto, San Bernardino and San Gorgonio Mountains!
• No. 12, 650-yard par 5 (3 handicap): The wind, you hope, is at your back because you've got a lotta land to travel on this monster. And stay away from the protected areas on the right, or you've just killed any chance of coming home in one piece.
• No. 16, 365-yard par 4 (9 handicap): Walking up to the tee, if you happen to see people hiking through the wash area below toting rifles, again, don't be startled. Some during deer hunting season in the fall use this area as a shortcut to the other side of the mountain. So, yes, you'll probably see deer at some point during the round.
• No. 17, 166-yard par 3 (17 handicap): It's called "Nick's Gem," after the developer. That pretty much says it all.
• No. 18, 543-yard par 5 (7 handicap): This is the big splashy finish to Eagle Glen, lots of water, lots of ducks. The question is after the tee shot, can you clear the wet stuff to hit the green? What are you crazy? Of course no!. Lay up, take your par, go home with a smile on your face. No. 18 is a really fun way to end the day.

AESTHETIC NOTE: They did a very clever thing with the trashcans at Eagle Glen. They are actually dug into the ground so only the hatch top is exposed. You might not notice it until halfway through the round, but yes, they're for your use.

COOL PERKS: Get this; the green fees include a yardage book, bag tag, all the practice balls you need and a divot repair kit. Hallelujah! A golf course where you don't get nickel-and-dimed.

SUMMING IT UP:

Eagle Glen is a gem, a hidden gem. Aside from the course itself, the most pleasant surprise is that with all the construction going on in the area, only a couple dozen homes are actually right next to the course. Maybe that's the Troon Management influence taking over. This management company out of Scottsdale, Arizona is getting very active in our area having taken over management at Robinson Ranch in Santa Clarita. They are very clever marketers. They want to make your golf experience memorable and they do so with the reasonable green fees and monthly specials that are pretty tough to pass on. Monday and Wednesday it's golf for two plus lunch for $110. Friday, it's golf and dinner for $150. After November 1 they are going to institute an Early Bird rate so if you want to get up early you can save some dough. And plan on sticking around after your round. The clubhouse is so gorgeous, you'll linger over a drink or two reliving every shot. We did. Overall, Eagle Glen meets and exceeds expectations. Be adventuresome; go find out where Corona is.

Eric Tracy

KFWB RADIO