Pros:
-Well groomed ball golf greens
-Considerable elevation
-Two tees
-Rotating pins
-DISCatchers
-LIGHTS until 9:30PM! (They have been on later than 9:30 every time I have visited)
-Food and beer on site...Prices at pro shop are CHEAP! I don't know what this ^ guy is smoking. Huge can of fosters $4.25, burger and fries $6.
-Shorter than average open course
-I would say this is an easier than average course, great for beginners but with enough challenge to entertain experienced players.
-$5 day pass keeps the riff raff out
Cons:
-In many cases, multiple tees present little change in play
-Night time brings huge groups of disc golfers
-1 night round typically takes over 2 1/2 hours (this is a short course!) because of said huge groups.
Other Thoughts:
Verdugo Hills Golf Course is a short 18 hole ball golf course along a hillside overlooking La Crescenta and the 210 freeway. The greens are fairly wooded with a variety of different types of trees, and the course is well maintained.
For ball golf, this is an extremely short piece of land true to the description of a 'pitch & putt.' Even with disc golf, getting to the pin is usually possible in just one throw, allowing multiple birdies for the experienced player. As per most ball courses, the challenge presented here is not so much in its amount of woods, but rather its elevation. It is still possible to go off the fairway as we witnessed groups with flashlights in the brush several times.
The vibe at night at this course is really something special. It's great to have everything lit up the way it is and the hum of the freeway actually creates a silence that is pretty calming. It is almost like a video game in some ways. There are also lots of rabbits all over the fairways which, unless you have a heart of coal, is totally awesome.
There are two tee pads per hole, red and blue, and they offer variety about half of the time. In many cases, the difference is just a matter of a few feet left or right on the same concrete slab. In other cases, the blue tee can be quite far behind the red one, or in a completely different location. The red ones are generally easier to find for those that have not played the course before. Check out the map.
Ball golf greens (around the hole) play OB, and this is particularly a challenge for me because I don't have the best control on the planet and the greens are right in my driving range. My score is usually artificially inflated by at least 3 strokes per round due to landing on the greens. On many occasions, you can land in birdie zone, but because you are on the green, you have to take a penalty and back up 30 feet, making the '3P save' even more difficult.
While the front 9 on the course presents a great variety in short game, the back 9 is where the course opens itself up to a few considerably longer drives, starting right at hole 10. The back of the course is a collection of generally flat or uphill holes that zig-zag their way up the hill in a much less imaginative fashion than the front. These terraces were originally part of a Japanese internment camp and housing bunks were constructed on them; knowing their history keeps it a little more interesting in my opinion. Keep an eye behind you on a few of the holes as there are some hidden (especially at night) farther blue tees.
Crowds can sometimes become an issue at this course. Monday nights are when the weekly occurs, and I suggest participating in this event or choosing another time to play. Toward the end of the night, groups tend to swell to larger numbers and it can slow things down. Be prepared to skip a hole or have some patience. Crowds and proximity to other players are really my only con at the course.
Nonetheless, this is a great course with a blue collar crowd and a laid back vibe. Being open until 9:30PM makes this the only venue within about 30 miles for night golf. Our continued interest is essential to it's existence, and it is well worth the visit. With precision birdies for advanced players and very fair par 3 holes for the recreational player, this course is a great visit for golfers of all levels.