GolfPass Icon
Rating Index Rating
Tooltip Information Icon
4.4
362 Reviews (362)
5 Stars
189
4 Stars
128
3 Stars
33
2 Stars
9
1 Stars
3
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.4
Layout
4.4
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.4
Amenities
4.4
94.7%
Recommend this course
338 out of 362 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
27 Reviews (27)
5 Stars
16
4 Stars
10
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.6
Layout
4.4
Pace
4.0
Amenities
4.3
StaffFriendliness
4.7
100.0%
Recommend this course
27 out of 27 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
81 Reviews (81)
5 Stars
51
4 Stars
26
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.6
Layout
4.5
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.5
StaffFriendliness
4.8
96.3%
Recommend this course
78 out of 81 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 6830 yards
Slope 125
Rating 72.7
Book a Tee Time at
River Course at the Alisal
Powered by GolfNow.com

Course Details

Year Built 1992
Golf Season Year round
Architect Jack Daray, Jr. (1992) Stephen Halsey (1992)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes
GPS Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School Academy Yes
Golf Simulator Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Indoor Practice Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes

Food & Beverage

Bar, Grill

Available Facilities

Clubhouse

Reviews

4.4
362 Reviews (362)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Patio Dining 17
Drinks 13
Amazing Food 9
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 23
Water Hazards 20
Forced Carries 10
This course/club is great for:
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 25
A Weekend Splurge 17
Locals 17
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 25
Near Local Attractions 16
Convenient to the City 10

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Ric

New tee boxes on the back 9 are great. They keep the course well maintained and the staff in the pro shop are friendly and helpful.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

We enjoy playing The River Course but would like to make a couple of suggestions:

—provide an ice chest to guests. It was high 80’s and cold hydration was critical
—towels in the cart
—sand was more like dirt. The bees were abundant. Perhaps cultivating the sand would help AND would make it easier to get out.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Day at the River Course

We were really impressed with the course and had a lot of fun out there. Good work by the staff. We’ll be back.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Back 9 under construction but no proce reduction

I play this course several times each year and I was shocked when I made the turn and found the tee boxes moved forward up to 100 yards! Hole 17 is only 40 yards in total length! The price should be reduced during the repairs to the back nine tee boxes. A great course usually and once this is behind them I will be back out there.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Extremely Easy
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser

Not worth the price

Recently played here on a quick 2 day vacation from LA. The course charged me 90$ at 9 am only to find out they let a 5 some and a 6 some out before us. Pace of play was horrendous not mention holes 10-18 were having all of their tee boxes repaired. So instead of having a 150 yard par 3 it turned into a 50 yard par 3 not to mention all the other holes were absolutely ridiculous. It felt like the back 9 was a pitch and putt. I understand that courses need to be maintained but the greed to charge almost 100$ a person only to have half of a golf course actually playable is completely ridiculous. Also, a 6 some really? I won’t be playing here again.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great layout and features.

First time golfing here impressed with the staff , clubhouse,on course snack bar. The scenery and layout of the golf course beautiful. The only regret was the tee boxes on the back 9 we're under construction and you had to tee off on make shift tee areas. Other than that would play here again and recommend this course.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Temp tees

The entire back nine was on temporary tees, so the course was not playing the way it should be. 17 was a 40 yard par 3. Other than that, the greens were in pretty good shape as were the fairways.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 9
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Twice a year
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 34
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Disappointing

All of the tees on the back nine were under renovation so the temporary tees were moved up to the fairways as much as 150 yards, very disappointing and boring experience so it was difficult to gauge the course as a first timer. Not sure my friends would give me credit for scoring 4 birdies and an eagle in the back nine. The front nine was nice though, challenging.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

CAncelled upon arrival because greens were punched.

The golf shop staff told us that they would notify Golf Now that we were not satisfied with the condition of the greens and didn't play. We asked for a refund because the greens were punched and we were not told this. We called the pro shop and sent emails the the head pro. All went unanswered. Horrible customer service!

Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 18
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Epic golf

I have played almost all the courses from Paso Robles to Santa Barbara expect except Spindrift and this is by far the nicest course I've ever played oh, great Pace done in about 3 hours and 15 minutes and the course is just fantastic! A little expensive but worth it

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Disappointed with River Course

Checked in to find the greens had been punched and sanded two days prior. No warning when tee time was made. Greens were unplayable. Pro shop staff says, “just take an automatic 2 putt.” Sorry that’s not golf.

Coarse condition awful. Teeing areas devoid of grass. Not a single level tee. The markers weren’t every aligned. The sand traps looked like they had Never received any attention from maintenance crew. Large stones in all bunkers. Crusty “sand”. Etc..

Not a bad layout though it is repetitive. A lot of chris crossing direction to tees —

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great day

Awesome day of golf- there was a slow group two ahead of us walking- but overall it was very nice

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Can get windy

Beautiful views, fun layout. Nice greens, some tricky holes require previous knowledge, want to play it more often. Been years and it has matured nicely

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great course

The course was great, excellent condition, would definitely go back and play.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 8
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Nearby Courses
Solvang, California
Private/Resort
5.0
1
Buellton, California
Public
4.5
2
Santa Barbara, California
Public
3.4917
120
Lompoc, California
Public
4.8320285714
166
Santa Barbara, California
Public
4.8400833333
75
Santa Barbara, California
Public
3.9606882353
230
Lompoc, California
Private
4.3448
29
Goleta, California
Private
0.0
0
Goleta, California
Public
4.0
1
Santa Barbara, California
Semi-Private
0.0
0
Santa Maria, California
Public
3.8436823529
369
Golf Packages

Monarch Beach Resort Stay & Play Package

FROM $557 (USD)
ORANGE COUNTY, CA | Enjoy 2 nights' accommodations at the Waldorf-Astoria Monarch Beach and 2 rounds of golf at Monarch Beach Golf Links.

Carmel Valley Resort Stay & Play Package

FROM $597 (USD)
MONTEREY, CA | Enjoy 2 nights’ accommodations at Quail Lodge & Golf Club and 2 rounds of golf at Carmel Valley Ranch and at Quail Lodge Golf Course.

The Inn At Spanish Bay Stay & Play Package

FROM $877 (USD)
PEBBLE BEACH, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at The Inn at Spanish Bay and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Pebble Beach Golf Links, The Links at Spanish Bay, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, and Del Monte Golf Course.

La Quinta Resort & Club Stay & Play Package

FROM $167 (USD)
LA QUINTA, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at La Quinta Resort & Club and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of PGA WEST - Nicklaus Tournament Course, PGA WEST - Pete Dye Mountain Course, PGA WEST - Greg Norman Course, PGA WEST - Pete Dye Dunes Course, and PGA WEST - The Pete Dye Stadium Course.

The Casa Palmero – Pebble Beach Stay & Play Package

FROM $1,047 (USD)
PEBBLE BEACH, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at The Lodge at Pebble Beach and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Pebble Beach Golf Links, The Links at Spanish Bay, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, and Del Monte Golf Course.
Now Reading