Horse Thief Golf & Country Club, Tehachapi, CA

Very interesting course. Played right after snow melted and followed suggestion of conservative strategy. Worked out okay. Scenery was great. Will come back in spring.

I would like to tell everyone about our experience at Horse Thief near Tehachapi this last weekend. We had 9 players when we got there and I asked the Starter if it was okay to play 4 and 5. He said it was okay if we stayed up with the group in front. The foursome went first and our fivesome went last. As soon as we stepped to the tee the Marshal showed up questioned me about having 5 players. I told him it was okayed by the Starter and he grumbled somewhat but let us go. After our first shot Bob was looking for his ball in the left rough and the Marshal who was following us, came up and said he would help look for the ball so we could pick up the pace. At that point, we were still waiting for the foursome to clear the green and were definitely not holding anyone up. The Marshal continued to follow us and watched every shot staring at us like some sort of robot even though we never got behind. We put up with this until we were ready to tee off on the 6th. One of my players said he couldn't play like this with this guy watching our every move so he said he wasn't going to play and sat in his cart. At that point I asked the Marshal why he was harassing up and his comment was " I'm not harassing you, I am facilitating fast play" Of course that is Political Correctness for harassing us. I said we can't play with his harassing us and that we wanted our money back. He said "if we want to leave that is your choice but we couldn't have our money back". I told him I was calling the Starter and he said "Go ahead, he will just refer back to me". I called and was told that the Marshal was the General Manager and he (Starter) couldn't do anything about it. We went back to the club house and the Marshal followed us and went to the Starter with me. I again requested my money back from the starter but the Marshal was there and refused. I went to our vehicle and he followed again. He asked if I wanted a rain check. I said I didn't want it because I was never coming back. He then tried to get one of my other players to take one but he refused. I will keep my promise to never go back and I hope you will tell every golfer you know about our experience.
I went online and found the name of the General Manager is David Depolo. I could not find an owner name but if anyone knows, let me know so I can write him a letter. tforehand@bak.rr.com

This course went through a rough patch, but the new owners are trying to bring it back to life. That said; it is a course with tremendous potential. It has the nuances great course have, yet isn't overly difficult. The greens are a little slow, but readable. Some of the fairways offer left or right banking that makes one think and trouble like a small creek that crosses the fairway. Overall, even with the poor maintenance of the past it is a good course to play.

Sept 06 - We prebooked this course in the UK - it sounded just what my husband & son needed after travelling so far, How wrong can one be,Unfortunately the course was untendered & unloved & did not live up to its description,(I thought all you Americans loved your golf how could you let Horse Thief go into decline like this) It would be nice to see this golf course resurrected as it is in an idyllic setting,It was such a disappointment to travelled thousands of miles & be let down so badly.

Horse Thief------Greens Fee Thief

I played this course 6/24/2006.It is in very bad condition.I have played Horse Thief every year since 1988 and have never seen it this hammered.The greens have dead spots and dirt patches.The rough is all dead weeds.The fairways are rutted and torn up or mud holes from the hose operated sprinklers they use to water with.Golf Diegest top 25 I don't think so.Maybe in 2004 but not now.