Tijeras Creek is No Gimmick Golf
What you see is what you play at this Rancho
Santa Margarita beauty
 Remember
the Doublemint Twins who boasted the gum was "two, two, two
mints in one!"? That's Tijeras Creek Golf Club in Rancho Santa
Margarita. It's a pretty straight forward, out-of-the-Ted-Robinson-desert-resort-design-
box on the front nine while the back nine is a tight, curvy,
canyon roller coaster ride that's fun and challenging. The
front side builds your confidence, the back side takes it
away if your mind wanders with the wandering cart paths.
WARMING UP:
Well fancy that, a course without big ol' hole markers, ball
cleaners, yardage books or cart navigation systems. Your play
on Tijeras Creek requires a simple game plan: Find the hole,
think it out then go after it. Get this; walking is even encouraged
on this course which isn't far from a street called Meandering
Trail. Still, one of the best things I've heard about Tijeras
Creek is that you can count on a round of no more than 4 ˝
hours - pretty rare anywhere.
MY FAVORITE HOLES: 
- No. 5, 162 yard par 3 (11 handicap): You'll find one of
these pretty little darlings on every Ted Robinson Sr. course:
Banks of water fountains protect the rock-faced green, which
conveniently slopes toward the tee for a better target but
is not the most reliable landing pad. Hence, the drop area
up and over to the left. Also note that anyone who chips
over the fourth green and is trying to come back might be
in the flight pattern of tee shots from here. Helmets optional.
- No. 10, 342 yard par 4 (10 handicap): The place to get
all your ducks in a row as you start the visually intimidating
back 9. And there are ducks on the pond midway down and
on the left, coaxing your tee shot into their home base
(note the fairway and green slopes that way, if you don't
pay attention). A lot of courses would be proud to have
this beauty as a finishing hole.
 No.
14, 165 yard par 3 (14 handicap): Somewhere over yonder,
if you look just right, you'll see a green. (talk about
target shooting...just get it through that opening)
It's a blind shot from the championship tees, a partial
look from the whites and pretty clear from the forward.
The photo of this hole in the pamphlet available in the
pro shop shows this one as a clear shot. But somehow, the
trees grew. Maybe the only clear view--and a magnificent
one at that--is back from the middle of the 13th fairway.
- No. 16, 172 yard par 3 (6 handicap): A kissin' cousin
of No. 14 with a bit of a Pebble Beach feel, this is more
a matter of how you handle tier pressure and are psyched
by the rippling creek below. Maybe that's why it's considered
tougher.
- No. 17, 399 yard par 4 (2 handicap): Anything gained in
the 16 holes prior to this beautiful beast will be given
back, with interest. First problem is finding the tees--those
in the back may be hidden by an ominous tree branch. If
you succeed in popping it out, consider what will happen
if it isn't a strong straight 225-yard poke. Because the
approach shot presents a creek, rock wall, a few more trees
and a two-tiered green to grapple with. Many publications
list this hole that twists and turns left and up as one
of the best in the county.
WILDLIFE SIGHTING:
A sign off the 11th hole kinda reminds everyone that, yes,
mountain lion tracks that have been sighted, but that comes
with the territory. Otherwise, it's the usual assortment of
nature taking its course in the canyon and mountain landscape.
DID YOU KNOW:
A stone monument off the 12th tee marks the spot where the
original California mission was constructed on the banks of
the Arroyo Trabuco, later moved to San Juan Capistrano. Spanish
explorer Caspar de Portola discovered Indian ranchers and
on July 24, 1769 dedicated the site. (Pay attention, you will
be tested on this.)
SUMMING IT UP:
 If
Tijeras Creed had a Zodiac sign, it'd be a Gemini: It has
two distinct personalities. The front 9 is the tame Palm Springs
resort, lined with the standard issue condos that are so close
neighbors borrow sugar through the window. The first two holes,
a 507-yard par 5 and 346-yard par 4, are such confidence boosters
(the Nos 15 and 17 handicap) you may consider applying for
a Tour card heading to the third tee. But then comes the backside,
and you're literally up a creek without a driver (The ducks
are hiding in this view, but they’re there). The narrow-throat
fairways will play with your mind, but all you have to remember:
If you want to score on this course, check your ego at the
starter and just hit it straight. Otherwise, it'll be a loud
fade into the dining area where you'll really need a margarita
to calm yourself down.
Eric
Tracy
KFWB
RADIO
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