Orange County Golf Course Reviews
Navy Destroyer Golf Course ReviewCypress, CA
72.8 rating; 129 slope |
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Navy Destroyer Golf Course Overview: Being owned by the federal government, this golf course caters to active and retired military golfers, but the civilian can play as well (just harder to get prime tee times). However, the cost is reasonable, and the golf course is designed well on a very flat piece of land. The front nine tends to work more into the usual wind patterns and, thus, plays longer and more difficult. The back nine has some difficult golf holes as well and those the best "views" of the joint forces base next door. One can get to see some very large military planes landing, if they are lucky, and if a person is really lucky, they can see my current residence. The best holes are reviewed below:
Navy Destroyer Golf Course Hole 1: The opener may be the easiest and most boring golf hole on the golf course, but there is the OB fence way left and the creek way right. Given it is short, however, it's a pretty docile tee shot, unless you don't like being watched by the usual throng of waiting golfers behind the first tee. |
Navy Destroyer Golf Course Hole 2: This dogleg right par four is short (and doesn't feel like the rest of the golf course) but the good landing area is pretty tight, with the very large trees at the dogleg being very close to fly or get through. However, going too far or left will lead to more trees through the fairway. Either way, the green is well guarded and sloping, so approaches from the short grass will make the golf hole a lot easier.
Navy Destroyer Golf Course Hole 3: This dogleg left par five allows the player to skirt by the bunker and the palm trees at the corner of the dogleg to shave off at least 50 yards. However, going left can lead to trouble in trees or even OB. There is a lake on the 2nd shot that does pinch in around 150 yards from the green, so the better tee shot allows the player a better chance to approach the hole with a wedge, as opposed to a longer iron. Additionally, the hole almost always plays long into the wind and the green has multiple tiers and a tricky bunker to the left.
Navy Destroyer Golf Course Hole 4: The only hole that plays downwind on a normal day, this par four plays shorter than the yardage and the lake can be cleared with a strong drive. The huge tree over the lake can be as well, but it's a more risky proposition. However, the angle to most pins is much easier coming in from the right side.
Navy Destroyer Golf Course Hole 7: This dogleg right goes around a lake and the drive is truly difficult, not only because the fairway is narrow, but because the wind usually pushes balls towards the lake. A very long drive can clear the corner of the lake but it has to be pounded. Otherwise, the player is looking at a slightly uphill approach shot over the water (there is lots of room between the water and the green). The back left pin is the most difficult.
Navy Destroyer Golf Course Hole 8: Another tough par four, this one doglegs left around the trees (with water to the right) and has a slightly uphill approach shot that features a deep bunker left that will gobble up errant shots. Missing right or long is also really bad, though, as up and downs from those spots are tough as the green runs away.
Navy Destroyer Golf Course Hole 9: The only par three on the front comes as it closes, at the far end of the property, and it is not easy. It plays over the lake and the bunker short is very much in play as well. The green is very wide with right pins playing a club longer than left pins. For most players, a mid to long iron will be needed.
Navy Destroyer Golf Course Hole 10: Yet another dogleg starts the back nine. This one goes way left around another huge stand of trees. The best play is to get out to the far end of the fairway, as close to the bunker at the corner as possible, but without going too far left, or too far. From there, the approach is much easier to a narrow green.
Navy Destroyer Golf Course Hole 12: This par four is fairly short, and usually downwind, which should force a layup for most golfers to stay right of the lake that then pinches in strongly about 100 yards from the green. There is also hazard right of the hole, which also pinches in about 120 yards from the green. The approach is possibly the most difficult on the course, especially when windy, as the player has to cover the water to a fairly shallow green with a large hill and bunkers behind it that one really does not want to play from.
Navy Destroyer Golf Course Hole 13: This is a par five that crescendos at the green. A big drive can set up a rare chance a birdie as the green can be reached in two. However, there is a lake that is short of the green that also wraps to the right side of it as well. The green itself is tiered and angled, with a pesky bunker left.
Navy Destroyer Golf Course Hole 16: The lake on this dogleg right is only in play for a shank, but the best play is near the three palm trees to the right as the hole plays very long for the player that goes left (and there is OB over there by the military base. A good drive will leave a reasonable approach to the least guarded green on the course.
Navy Destroyer Golf Course Hole 18: The closing hole is a par five that may offer the best opportunity for birdie as it is generally downwind. There is OB left and bunkers right, with some palm trees to avoid, but with a decently long first and second shot, a short club can be in hand for a fairly accessible closing green.
