{"id":5817,"date":"2011-10-20T15:25:06","date_gmt":"2011-10-20T22:25:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/robertfagan.com\/?p=5817"},"modified":"2015-04-17T11:18:36","modified_gmt":"2015-04-17T18:18:36","slug":"golf-course-review-knollwood-country-club-granada-hills-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/golf\/courses-and-travel\/5817\/golf-course-review-knollwood-country-club-granada-hills-california","title":{"rendered":"Golf Course Review: Knollwood Country Club, Granada Hills, California"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The first hole at Knollwood is easily the toughest there and one of the most demanding par-fours in the region. \u00a0(Photo by Robert S. Fagan)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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The Knollwood Country Club is one of those of those subtle gems that American golf could use more of.\u00a0 Situated about 23 miles northwest of Los Angeles in wooded canyons, it is not a great golf course, but it does certainly qualify as an enjoyable attractive, rolling tree-lined neighborhood layout that will challenge most players.\u00a0 Its 6,373 yards from the tips will not test the strong or expert player, but it is neither a pushover either.<\/p>\n

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You meet easily the most challenging hole right away; it\u2019s the first and also one of the most challenging in the region!\u00a0 At 429 yards, its relatively narrow fairway and uphill climb make it play closer to 480 yards so a par is coveted.\u00a0 Beyond that there is neither the length nor the challenges to overly test anyone though you had better drive the ball relatively straight along the rolling tree-lined corridors of beautiful Pines and Eucalyptus.\u00a0 Often a hybrid or metal wood is your best play off the tee.\u00a0 The major challenge beyond keeping your ball is play is that many of the putting surfaces are elevated above the fairways, and downhill putts can prove downright slippery.\u00a0 This is 1956 William Bell design with help from William H. Johnson though the layout has been altered somewhat over the years.<\/p>\n

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The long 584-yard 4th hole that winds through the canyons of trees is typical of Knollwood. \u00a0(Photo by Robert S. Fagan)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Interestingly, Knollwood is where O.J. Simpson was a regular after he was acquitted of murder.\u00a0 Curiously he claimed to have been assaulted and robbed of his wallet in the clean, clear parking lot here \u2013 a dubious claim to be sure.\u00a0 He also nearly hit a dear friend of mine with his golf cart, but failed to even acknowledge her.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>The 126-yard 17th at Knollwood. \u00a0(Photo by Robert S. Fagan)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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Fagan Grade: \u00a0<\/strong>Knollwood qualifies as an above-average layout though the bunkering and greens surrounds are relatively uninspired, but testy.\u00a0 Other than the first and fourth holes, it is not long enough to challenge the modern power player, but it makes for a good enough test to entertain the rest of us.\u00a0 The layout is rolling and makes for an attractive walk and a fun play when the putting surfaces are in good condition (not too soft).\u00a0 Played from the appropriate tees (a fourth set for the beginner has been added far in front of the previously forward tees ), this course is especially suited for average, older, and newer golfers \u2013 and a good value.\u00a0 While you wouldn\u2019t go far out of your way to play here, you should have fun at Knollwood if you do.<\/p>\n

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Below is the attractive 9th hole which plays longer and far more difficult than its 368 yards (from the tips) would suggest. \u00a0(Photo by Robert S. Fagan)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The first hole at Knollwood is easily the toughest there and one of the most demanding par-fours in the region…. Read more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":5818,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2247,17],"tags":[125436,125437,3742],"class_list":["post-5817","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-course-reviews","category-courses-and-travel","tag-knollwood","tag-william-f-bell","tag-oj-simpson"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2011\/10\/P1000789.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5817","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5817"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5817\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15281,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5817\/revisions\/15281"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5818"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5817"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5817"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5817"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}