Lives
Scottsdale
Skill
Advanced
Plays
A few times a week

Review Statistics

Average Rating

3.4
3.4
Total 8 Reviews

Rating Breakdown

8 Reviews
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
3
3 Stars
5
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Recommended Courses
7
Not Recommended Courses
1
Helpful Votes Count
2
Not Helpful Votes Count
0
First Review
04/27/2018
Last Review
08/20/2021

Reviews Map

Reviews

3.4
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First time playing this course
Recommended
Review has

Rancho Manana Golf Club

Played On 08/17/2021
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

High Potential / struggl

Have played this course many times over the last 25 years. The setting and views are fantastic which is the main reason for playing here.
The overall course experience is way under the possible potential. This course is always edgy in one way or another, the holes are completely overgrown along the edges, with all kinds of debris thrown in, making a shot that misses by a few feet completely unplayable. The conditions are always somewhat underwhelming, this last round the greens were in terrible shape and had weeds growing all around the edges, the tee boxes were under repair and were extremely inconsistent in there level of repair.
This is set up as a resort course where players can just swing away, losing ball after ball and still have fun , not really concerned about score or consistency.
This course has a lot of potential however in all the years there does not seem to be any real interest on the owners part to make this course what it really could be.
Hope this review makes sense, this same situation also applies to Lookout Mountain and Red Mountain Ranch golf courses.
Thanks

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average

Lookout Mountain Golf Club

Played On 05/25/2021
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Time to Renovate

Have played this course many times over the last 20 years. It is a unusual quirky layout, with large elevation changes, and some dramatic twists and turns. If the conditions are well maintained with enough rough along the fairway edges to stop a slow rolling ball it can be a fun interesting track. However, the site lines are now somewhat diminished, and they are mowing the edges very tight, so even a well struck shot landing in the middle of the fairway still has a good chance of rolling into the dessert on certain holes. This course was way more fun and fair years ago before Troon took over. Some of the tee box areas are very run down and even dangerous to walk up and down, huge loose rocks and holes. On one short par 3 there was a water valve cap missing in the middle of the cart path right next to the men’s path to the shared tee, could easily break a leg or ankle getting in or out of your cart. There was a ranger parked on this hole and we mentioned it to him, his response was that maintenance will get to it. He should have handled it immediately , by placing a cone or driving up the cart path and grabbing another valve cap from a more remote area, we passed 3 valve cap covers on the way up the hill to the next tee.
In summary this course is fun but it really needs a renovation, things are kind of edgy and not in good shape. And mowing the edges tight really changes the whole playability.
Lots of potential but course conditions, playability and safety issues are really disappointing. Troon corporate needs to visit and evaluate the situation.
This was my last time playing this course, it’s off the list. Too bad !

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average

Elkins Ranch Golf Course

Played On 12/18/2018
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Nice Setting / lots of potential

This course is in a beautiful setting, with fantastic views. Playing this track is Ok, it has the potential to be so much more interesting. The routing and design layout could use a little improvement, some of the doglegs turn one way while the fairway slopes the opposite direction which makes those holes play poorly, a few holes have fairways with extreme slope in the landing area which plays a little strange, and the longer par 3’s play flat or 2 dimensional and seem a little uninteresting.
Each time I play here it is difficult to really get a nice rhythm going, the routing and strange tilt/angles just don’t seem to fit my eye. The Kikuyu grass also takes away a little of the fun factor. The setting and staff are great, with a little modernization this place could be so much better. Take some of the engineering that was used to build the cart path coming down the hill from the 17th tee and apply that to the course improvements.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair

Los Robles Greens Golf Course

Played On 09/27/2018
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Potential / Almost

Wanted to try this course, after reading the reviews I wasn’t sure what to expect. Entering the Pro Shop I was greeted by a friendly young man, he checked me in but didn’t really explain the situation. He didn’t ask if I was familiar with the course, cart location, starter, location of practice facilities etc. there was 3 other employees also in the shop. He gave me a receipt for the starter and I asked where the starter is located. The putting green and range were fine, however there was no starter or ranger of any kind the rest of the day. The fairways had just been arerated over the last 2 days and were very messy / muddy. There was no alert on GolfNow and I would have waited to play this course under better conditions. The overall layout, routing, green settings, and hole variety were all pretty nice. The back 9 was more interesting with greater elevation changes and more creative shot requirements. The pace of play was slow, remember no starter or ranger. And the fairways were under repair which added to the slow play, this course is also right beside highway 101 so it is very noisy especially the front 9.
This is one of the more playable and interesting courses in the area, however it appears to need a complete management interaction change.
An interactive staff that’s involved and connected to the customer always produces better results, I have played golf all over the US and Europe and for some reason this part of California seems to be disconnected and lacking in customer service and hands on attentiveness. My favorite courses are the historic ones in New England, where customer service and pride are paramount. Thanks

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Good

Rancho Maria Golf Club

Played On 09/20/2018
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Potential

I play this course on a regular basis, the staff is always nice, the setting and views are great, the separation of holes is fantastic (no holes running side by side) the routing and overall variety of holes and shot requirements are all very good. However, this place needs some restoration. There are certain areas around the course that really need some repair and improvements. Some of the tee boxes are absolutely terrible, holes 8, 9,12,13,14 really need to be completely redone. The white tee on hole 9 is one of the worst Ever!
All along the edges, where the rough starts there are large clumps of grass/ weeds that have grown and then mowed creating thousands of really bad lies if your ball ends up at the rear of one of these clumps. Everyone I usually end up playing with are always worried about getting injured by hitting down through these clumps.
It would be great to see the owners spend a little rehab money on this place, this course has great potential but unfortunately it’s not being utilized.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Interesting - Potential

This is a fun and interesting 27 hole facility. The conditions are usually good, especially considering most of the courses in the central coast are a little substandard. This place has a lot of potential, they just need to improve the playability on a few of the tricked up holes. The Creekside 9 has a few holes that need just a little better landing zone and a little larger green side miss area. Most really good courses with forced carries and drop ravines have a little larger green setting with at least one Miss/bailout area. The setting and views are nice, and the overall feeling is peaceful. One major thing that Is an issue is the dramatic number of speed bumps on the cart paths, after a while you feel like your driving around on an amusement park ride instead of playing golf. This place could be great, just needs a little softening around the edges.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good

Rancho Maria Golf Club

Played On 08/22/2018
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Big Potential

Have played this course several times this year. It’s very unique, there are no side by side holes. The property is massive, with giant fields and ravines in between the holes, which will someday probably be full of houses. The course was built in the 50’s, and is pretty fun to play due to the variety of holes and the peaceful and scenic setting. The course really needs a complete update starting with the extremely tired clubhouse, removal of several hundred dead/dying trees and improvements in irrigation. Many of the green settings look and play similar due to the same right and left bunkers guarding the front of half the greens, they need to brake this design up a little, which would make the approach shots a little more interesting. This course sits on a beautiful property with fantastic potential, with some money reinvested back into this course it could be one of the best on the central coast. Not sure if that will ever happen in Santa Maria, however if they ever develop the space between holes, they will definitely need to modernize the course. I enjoy playing here, but really wish it was a little better around the edges. Hope the owners decide to inject a little money and pride, could be great!

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair

Rancho Maria Golf Club

Played On 04/26/2018
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Interesting

This course sits out by itself, no structures or houses around. Each hole is separate, no back and forth fairways. Wonderful views from many holes, several blind shots over hills so first time around is a little adventurous. Overall fun experience, lots of small flowers and clover throughout the fairways, looked like snow , which made spotting your ball a little difficult. Greens were in excellent condition, and grass around green complexes was also nice.
Except for a couple of holes by the road, this was a nice peaceful setting.
Will play it again.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
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