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3.5
120 Reviews (120)
5 Stars
29
4 Stars
47
3 Stars
16
2 Stars
10
1 Stars
18
Conditions
2.7
Value
3.6
Layout
4.5
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
3.8
Amenities
3.5
70.0%
Recommend this course
84 out of 120 reviews
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Value
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Layout
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Friendliness
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Pace
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Amenities
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0%
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About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 71
Length 6939 yards
Slope 137
Rating 73.9

Editor's Note: Course closed for business in 2020.

Course Details

Year Built 1998
Golf Season Year round

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code Proper golf attire required.

Food & Beverage

Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Meeting Facilities, Banquet Facilities

Reviews

3.5
120 Reviews (120)

What Golfers Are Saying

Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 9
Undulating Greens 9
Water Hazards 8
This course/club is great for:
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 10
Locals 9
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 11

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

A good challenge in a beautiful setting.

My wife and I played here on August 2nd this year and had a really fun challenge from the tips.
I can recommend this course to anyone. Just pick the tee box you are comfortable to play from and enjoy.
The wildlife is a treat.

Petter and Jane

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 20-24
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Course was well staffed and super friendly

We played on one of the hottest days there, although we picked the course as we thought it was in Santa Barbara, on the coast.
The fairways are brown in the summer, but we were told in the winter that they are lush and green.
Due to the brown fairways, the ball rolled extremely long, which made the course rather easy, although the greens were also good and fast.
Everyone was super friendly and the course was well staffed.
We would come back when the course is in full bloom.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

The course has great features

It is an amazing golf course, unfortunately there is a drought right now So the fairways are very dry, the greens are immaculate the tee boxes are immaculate. Still had a great time, very fun, the fairways add a little bit more challenge to the course, not that it needs it.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Potential to be great.

Had I known they were not watering the fairways I would never have booked. Made for a very frustrating day. Hitting off dirt all day is not fun. Reluctant to give the course another chance. Will not be returning. Had high hopes for the course.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 25+
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Always nice to come back and play!

Found this course by accident while driving up to Solvang. I think it is a little gem tucked away on the 154. Course can be challenging, even though I am a high handicap, I love to come back!

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great course, Great Staff, Great Value from Golf Now!

Great course, Great Staff, Great Value from Golf Now!

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Don't let this course go under!!

This is a very nice track and my friends and I drive more than an hour to play there. However, in early June 2013, we were quite disappointed to see that the fairways have not been maintained. The grass was brown and like hay. It was hard to hit a regular fairway shot from this ground. My foursome decided that we probably won't be back until the fall, when the fairways won't be rock hard but lush again, as they were earlier this year. At the current stage and condition, and with what other courses have to offer, it is not worth the long drive and price to play there! Be careful, guys! Don't let this awesome venue go down!!!

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Featured
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

This is the best kept course that I have played at.

The greens were extremely well kept. The fairways were trimmed so nicely that you would get an extra 20-30 yards of roll of your shots.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Course at GolfNow Rates

Really fun course. Great design and well maintained. Staff are helpful and warm. Lots of "private club" feel. Greens are in great shape. Pace of play was quick - under 4 hours - mostly because of the speed play time. They only had threesomes on the course when we went out. Would recommend highly at GolfNow rates. Normal rates are fairly high for my game.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

great

A wonderful afternoon of picnic and golf with my wife. Staff was very very friendly. I would come back in a new york minute. dr eric

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Fantastic course!

Rancho San Marcos should be on everyone's list of courses to play in the Santa Barbara and central coast areas. The course itself, the setting, and the conditions are all top notch. RTJ jr. used this exceptional property to great advantage and his signature is obvious standing on every tee and green. It's a challenging track for any level golfer with water and natural areas that will add penalty strokes and balls lost to errant shots. The greens offer outstanding putting surfaces and mostly breaking putts. The front nine is fairly flat while the back side is laid out among the hills at the northern end of the property, with 3 par 3s and 3 par 5s. Tough walking on the back nine!
NIce practice facilities also, friendly staff and a well stocked pro shop.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

This is my favorite course on the central course.

I have not played here for roughly 6 months because it's usually a little "pricey" but when I awoke on Good Friday and found a Hot Deal on GolfNow I knew it was indeed a good friday. I grabbed the deal and my buddy and I played this fine course.

RSM is a challenging course requiring a deft putting touch on the fast greens and a premium on driving the ball. The weather was perfect and the scenery was a bonus, picture wild horses in the Santa Ynez river near the 3rd hole.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Always well maintained, great staff, interesting layout

I live in Los Angeles, and my friend and I make the trip out to this area as much as possible for golf. Between La Purisima, Sandpiper, and Rancho San Marcos, we are always happy with the experience. Here's why:
Course: Think La Purisima - lite if you've ever played that course. Great topogrophy for a golf course. Not extremely challenging, although you have to be careful on several holes and play to some spots. The course will get tough when the wind comes up in the afternoon, especially since the back nine is a bit trickier than the front.
Condition: This course is always in good condition. The fairways can be a little bare in some spots, but the bunkers and greens are consistent and well maintained. Tee boxes were a little shaggy when I played, but they are perfectly level.
Staff and Amenities: The staff here is always great. Going the extra mile for the experience. The course has a great range where you can slug as many balls as you'd like, and the practice areas are in excellnt shape. Good food too.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser

greens were good and true and hard to read for a first timer

horrible golf value..$70? what a joke..spend your money in a bar..one of the worst golf experiences I have ever had..go to a driving range and save your money

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Fantastic well kept up course

This course is hidden between Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez. It offers beautiful views of wine country and is well maintained with immaculate sand and fast well manicured greens. It offers a challenge to golfers of all abilities with 10 being especially brutal. Completely enjoyed my experience, would recommend to anyone.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Very nice and professional staff, great course conditions

Super nice staff, beautiful views, excellent fairway, lush rough, good clean rolling greens.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

San Marcos is a beautiful layout located in a rural area. The golf was fun and the natural setting spectacular.

The course is challenging, but fair. If you're not on your game, bring some extra balls as you will most likely lose a few if you land off the fairway. The scenery is awesome. We saw deer next to one of the tee boxes, wild turkeys on a fairway, and hawks overhead. I got a great deal through GolfNow. $49 for green fees, cart and range balls on a Sunday morning.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

This course is outstanding....

Great staff really good food and worth the money. The course will play really tough if the wind is up if you're heading to Santa Barbara it's a must play course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

CAN'T WAIT TO PLAY AGAIN

GREAT COURSE. STAFF EXCELLENT. GREENS ARE QUICK AND UNDULATING

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

The green is awesome!

The vie was spectacular and panoramic. The fairway condition was excellent.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
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