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After my most recent round at Rancho San Joaquin, I am starting to understand Mark Twain's quote when he wrote:
“Golf is a good walk spoiled.”
5 1/2 hours is beyond slow play no matter how patient one is.
The management continues to overbook and stack foursome (and even fivesomes) in order to increase revenue.
And, the course is starting to have more bare and poorly kept areas throughout fairways. Only the putting greens were decent.
Even with the lower green fees, it does not feel like a bargain.

I'm usually suspicious of 'poor' reviews on courses I've played before when they have not matched my experience.
In short, Rancho San Joaquin has certainly taken a turn for the worse.
While it is a decent and moderately challenging layout with nice restaurant amenities two things have occurred in the last several months:
1) The course has fallen on very poor conditions (dry areas, overly wet areas, bare spots). The greens were fairly consistent though--mostly good condition.
2) They are stacking groups up with very little time between each tee off.
As a result, my last (2) rounds were both 5 1/2 hours.
What made our round particularly miserable was a combination of a slow playing foursome and FIVEsome (yep) in front of us. Combined with the 91-degree weather that day, well, it was a tough day.
RSJ has potential for a comeback if Management can get their act together.
Let's hope they get the message.

Have played here for many years.
Course layout is different and challenging utilizing the mostly up & down, sometimes flat terrain (with a couple blind doglegs thrown in).
It is a good test for the average to above average golfer (recommend you play 'best ball' if you're a Beginner).
Pace of play was EXTREMELY slow the day I played. Seems to be very course is overbooking and cramming together start times these days.
Good luck and 'keep it in the short grass'!

Have played both Costa Mesa Golf Course many times.
This was the second time within 6-weeks for playing the Los Lagos side.
No exaggeration to say it set a personal record for slowest pace of pla y(5 1/2 hours+ when we finally finished)..
There were minimum of two foursomes ALWAYS in front of our foursome.
On two tee boxes there were three foursomes waiting--plus ours).
A Marshall drove up to me at one point and apologized for the slow pace of play explaining that they regularly have been overbooking.
Maybe you'll get lucky though on your next outing.

The city of Mission Viejo has now taken over operations at oso Creek formerly Casa del. Sol.
No real upgrades to the course layout . . . just extra eating areas.
It's all quite nice, but you'll have to decide if it's worth the significant increase in green fee price.
Pace of play was on the slow side the Wednesday early afternoon when I played.
Good luck.

Only second REGULATION 9-Hole golf course I've ever seen/played in 4-years of golfing. After first two holes, it opens up to a generous layout.
Grat if you're only have 2-3 hours to play.

My review is based on me being a High-Handicapper who prefers wide-open, more forgiving courses--this is not one of them.
I used to shoot in the mid to high 80's. Recently it is the mid to high 90s. So, with that as a frame-of-reference let me say it was a most challenging course.
Very nice well-maintained course, just not user-friendly for high-handicappers.
Many doglegs, elevation changes and tight tee off areas; almost seemed tricked out on some holes.
I suggest playing one (or two?) tee boxes forward from what you normally play just to eliminate an already tough layout.
Keep it in the short grass and good luck!!!

Lots of course renovation currently going on from the fairways to ripped up cart concrete paihs. The greens were the only thing that were untouched. Hole 4 was drastically shortened to a Par 3.
Should be improved when complete.
Would avoid for now unless you can get at least 50% off the greens fees.

While the fairways are not much better than a cow pasture, the greens were well-maintained. This is a "value" course: IF you can get on for $20 or less WITH a cart.
The pace-of-play is usually reasonable (4 ½ hour round). However, the day I played it was an extremely slow round (the slowest ever?).
I started out as a single. On hole #6 I had another golfer join me. By hole #12 we were a foursome! We had a good homogeneous group and the social banter helped pass the time on each tee box as we waited for foursome in front of us to clear the fairways & greens—they were quite slow and ‘deliberate’ players. The only good thing was that I shot a personally low-round.

Played Easter Sunday so the pace-of-play was unusually good. I’ve played RSJ many times, however, not for a few months. I was surprised to see that several Fairways had been aerated leaving plug-marks in certain areas. The Fairways at RSJ have usually been the biggest knock when it comes to rating the 'course conditions'. Clearly they have got the message and are trying to do something about it—t will take time though: Several areas of various Fairways appeared browned-out (don't think it was dormant turf). But, I could tell they had also received plenty of water to revitalize them.
A very noticeable change was on the left side of the #3 Fairway: A row of Trees were removed and some pruned back. It was a welcomed change that helps open up the Fairway some. But more importantly, it allows semi-errant shots to the left side to continue further down the fairway. Clearly this change can increase the pace-of-play on this hole by reducing time spent looking for your ball AND giving a golf a shorter shot into the green.
The Greens were in good condition and rolled fairly well albeit challenging to read at times for most in our group.
Suggestion for the PIN PLACEMENT at the (2) side-by-side Par 3’s (I believe #7 & #15?).
They should be JUDICIOUSLY thought out (if not, you might as well add the Clowns-Mouth & Windmill challenges too). The slope is so severe in spots that placing the Pin adjacent to them only slows down the pace-of-play (an almost inevitable 3-4 putt). Btw--I suspect that the lone Mt. Everest-like uphill hole on the Practice Green is to prepare the golfers for these two holes.
Just hope management continues to improve the course conditions and thereby improve the golfing experience at RSJ.

This is a moderately challenging course. Some elevation changes and water does come into play on a few holes. Not reaching the green in regulation is no big deal--as long as you can chip/pitch to get to the pin. The risk/reward factor rarely favors the recreational (high-handicapper) golfer. Chugging along down the center is your safest bet even if your not long.
Pace-of-play is your biggest enemy: Lots of hackers/beginners contribute to plenty of wait time on the tee box as they plod along and look for their lost balls. Consequently it' hard to get a rhythm going throughout the round.
Btw--Get a cart unless you REALLY like challenging terrains. Plus, you can kickback in comfort...while you wait.

Don’t have 5-hours to play a full round of golf? Then Harbor Park Municipal Golf Course is for you. It is the only 9-Hole REGULATION golf course that I know of in the LA/OC areas. This William F. Bell design was built in 1958 with a complete renovation in 1994 (Btw—He also designed nearby Palos Verdes Country Club). Its straightforward layout is mostly flat and invites walkers (although carts are available). There are two notable exceptions: No. 5 (Par-5) that drops down toward the green after the dogleg. This is directly followed by No. 6 (Par-3) with a tee box that has you hitting to an elevated green (Note: Depending on the day’s tee marker placement, this is usually a blind tee-shot since the flag is usually obstructed by trees that jut out from the left chain link boundary fence).
The only downside that you may experience is the pace-of-play. One of the reasons is the course practice of sending out FIVESOMES (at least on the Weekends and/or when it’s busy). Our Start Time was 1:24pm. We finished a about 4:05pm. While 2 ½ hours is not an outrageous pace-of-play for a Municipal Course—it might push the borders of your patience. Fortunately I was paired with four very sociable guys who made the waits more bearable.
Since it is a Regulation 9-hole, you may find yourself at the end like me playing the “What If?” numbers game: “I shot a 42, but, what if it was 18-holes. Hmmm, I might have shot a . . . “.
However, you can avoid the numbers game by just walking back up to the Starter and trying to book another 9—then, you’ll have your answer.

This is one of those courses that looks easy on paper but, plays harder in-person.
From the Blue Tees it’s a barely over 6,300 (a real yawner…right?). And from the White Tees a smidge under 6,000. Beware--the yardage is a sleight-of-hand, a fun-house mirror, an optical illusion, etc.
Unless you’re booming the ball off the tee (regularly), play from the White Tees—at least the first time. You’ll find them plenty challenging. The Blue/White Tee Box difference only seems to be significant on a handful of holes. But, on those holes it makes a huge difference.
Many uphill approach shots are what make this course play deceptively long. And, the placement of bunkers & water can balloon your score quickly (if you’re not a good bunker player like me, avoid at all costs—the uneven lies & soft sand will get you).
The combination of straightforward hole layouts mixed with challenging holes make getting a par a real challenge (one downhill, blind-dogleg is a good example). On some holes a bogey will feel like par. Btw--The Par 3’s are no gimmes (except possibly the 18th . . . but by then, you need a break). Wayward shots will either be in the adjacent fairway (had a few people hitting from mine throughout the day), in someone’s backyard or ‘the wilderness’.
Once you do get to the green, you’ll be presented with very few straight & level putts. Lots of undulations & breaks make for tough reads. The day I played, it was easy to roll your ball by the hole a few feet even AFTER you saw how fast they were. Tip: Stay BELOW the hole when possible.
Unless you’re half billy-goat, walking is not really an option. The carts have GPS, but, there are 2 or 3 holes where it’s cart-path only. So, a handheld GPS is a bonus. We had a foursome that played veeeeery slow. We eventually skipped a hole and played through. Later we commented that we should have done
This course is a good test to see what you really got . . . for 18 holes.

Being the first time playing this course as an out-of-state visitor, I didn't know what to expect. Being August the first thing that grabbed my attention was the heat...about 112-114 degrees. Having played the Palm Springs area for a couple of years, I’ve learned to keep a wet towel around my neck and stay hydrated--a MUST that time of year to avoid heat-stroke and to just plain keep-your-cool so to speak. Seeking out shade at every opportunity is another necessity—more opportunities on the Front-9 than the Back-9 to do so. There was only a light breeze early on that eventually disappeared (ugh#. So, concentrating on your shots was mentally taxing.
It’s not a particularly postcard-pretty course: I would label the setup as somewhat rural and natural looking. With all the heat it was no surprise that the fairways are not exactly 'lush'----more like a cow pasture in some respects. With no soft turf to cushion the ride, it was a hard, bumpy experience much of the time in the gasoline-powered golf carts #yeah, did I mention the gas-carts?!#. I suspect in the cooler months though, that the grass fills in more and all looks much greener.
The layout is somewhat challenging: Trees are strategically placed on a several holes as with a few ponds. Was surprised to find ANY water hazards in such extreme heat, but, they are there.
Peppered in the layout are some dogleg-fairways. Staying in the center is your best bet since some of the fairways drop off dramatically into dry creek beds/ravines. This means that occasionally an errant shot will place your ball in “rattlesnake no man’s land” #the snakes were only mentioned to me by the locals I joined...fortunately, I never saw any#. So, venture off the fairway at your peril. Mostly though, all flat lies, mixed with only a few undulations & berms near the borders of the fairways.
Someone else mentioned in another review that the relation of the Pro Shop and Driving Range is a bit of a walk/cart-ride from the parking lot…it’s true.
All-in-all, it’s a fair test of your golf abilities to overcome the courses manmade & natural challenges. Reward yourself with a beer #or two# if you succeed.

My observations are from the perspective of a Visitor who has only played Encanto once. However, if you want a course with 'trainer-wheels' this is it. It's a very good for practicing your swing mechanics without penalizing you excessively for errant shots. In fact, if you are planning on staying and playing a few rounds in the Phoenix area at different courses, it's a perfect course to warm-up on. Fairly wide-open fairways, almost all flat lies , minimal amount of trees, and average bunker layout.. We played from the White Tee Boxes which is recommended for players that average 200-220 yrds. on their drives (like me). Tee time was about 10:05am and it took about 3-hours to finish. Of course, it was the end of August with temperatures in the 100+ range. So, keeping a wet towel around your neck is also a good idea (drink PLENTY of water too). With drought-like conditions, the turf is not exactly lush & verdant making the greens a bit difficult to read/putt-on. The upside is that you get a little extra 'roll out' in the fairways on your drives (who doesn't like that?!). I imagine if I play it again in the winter-time, I might have a very different view of the turf conditions. Otherwise, it was a memorable experience since I shot my lowest score ever...an 80 (albeit a Par-70 course). Naturally, I'm lamenting missing ONE of those several putts that could have put me in the 70's-Club. Oh well, another reason for a return visit.

Played Fallbrook G.C. a few times now. If a Resort course is at one end of the golf course spectrum, then, this is at the other end. The look is what you would expect from a very rural type course. While it does not remotely approach a manicured course, it does offer a more natural pasture-like layout. There is a mixture of wide fairways with some narrow ones. Similarly, a couple elevated tee-shots are mixed in with a couple uphill fairways with elevated greens. Most of it is flat though. Fittingly, cement cart paths are virtually non-existent which again lends itself to the rural pasture-like setting. For whatever reason there a several tee and/or approach shots with large trees (tree limbs) that must be negotiated. At least everyone in our foursome went through a tree during our round. While this makes sense when they are on the fringes of a golf course--it just seemed to be a bizarre, unnecessary hazard for the most part. With the trees come lots of leaves, but there was only one green (the 11th par 3) that should have had a leave blower by the greenside to help clear the debris off the green. If you want a laid-back round and don't mind the absence of anything remotely related to a nice resort course, then, you should try this at least once. They actually do have a posted collared shirt and minimum short height code posted. So, you'll have to leave your overalls at home. Btw--There are no cows, so, you don't have to worry about that hazard.

I’d been looking forward to playing this course for quite some time and drove down from Orange County to do so. The layout is rather hilly and meanders through a housing tract(s). Many holes are quite 'tight' and reward straight-hitters while severely penalizing wayward shots. FYI--I don't ever remember being in a foursome that collectively lost so many balls on shots that were not all that wayward. So, unless you are consistently a straight--hitter, bring extra golf balls.
Playing with someone familiar with the layout is highly recommended in that several holes are not straightforward and there was no way to tell what laid up ahead or right around a dogleg. The Starter's advice regarding the greens was to stay below each hole and, to remember that they break toward the 15-Freeway. The last bit of advice actually screwed us up more than helped. While it might have been true on some holes (slightly) it was not for many. Btw--It was only 80-degrees, but, could tell it would be quite uncomfortable if it got much hotter.
The pace of play was very good for that day and, could only surmise that other groups were slowing down behind us as they too looked for errant shots.
We quickly learned that, if you didn't spot your ball rather quickly, then it was best just to put another in play.
Oh yeah, while there were no real water hazards that fact was offset by PLENTY of bunkers (waaaay too many for a resort course). Plus, the quality of the sand was usually quite firm. So unless you’re an accomplished bunker player--avoid them at all costs.
In short, straight-hitters are rewarded and bogey-golf is a reasonable score.

Lesson Learned: Always call the course to get the course-conditions BEFORE booking a round of golf especially on courses you’re unfamiliar with OR have not visited in a while (I know…this should be a “No-Duh”).
I had been waiting for a deal on GolfNow to play The Links at Victoria since I had not played it in several years. Got a Saturday Tee Time (11:30am) with Cart for $38.00 which seemed like a decent fee (but, still a lot when you're in a 'Job Transition' phase).
Something didn't seem quite right when I pulled into a parking lot that had suspiciously few cars for a weekend.
I was informed when I checked-in of the double-whammy:
1) Greens were JUST aerated (punched & sanded)
2) Driving Range was under-construction & closed

Unfortunate for me, those details were not listed for the course during my GolfNow booking.
Besides the aerated greens, there were many roped-off locations throughout the fairways--more than I've ever seen on any course in 30-years (at least they are trying to make improvements).

Also, there were many fairways with some significant bare dirt spots (not roped-off). On the first hole I drew up alongside another golfer playing in the opposite direction. I glanced over to see that his ball came to rest a few yards from mine . . . in a grassless, section of mud (over-watering?).
On the bright side, the pace-of-play was EXCELLENT (for good reason), especially for a weekend: It was like a Ghost Town--I rarely saw another golfer throughout my round. I was free to play at a very comfortable pace and, even play two balls on a couple of occasions. I did eventually catch up to a foursome on the 16th hole.
Btw--It seemed a bit unfair as I went into the Pro Shop [before and after my round] and hear the Starter give a reduced prices to golfers who had not booked through GolfNow. Clearly the Starter had more leeway to make fee adjustments for those golfers who had not prepaid like me. It was the right thing to do for sure. I just wish I would have had the opportunity to benefit from this Customer Service gesture.
When all of the work is complete, it should be a nice venue.

Although a weekday (Thursday) it played like a weekend being the day after Christmas. Naturally, most players were out trying their new golf-related Christmas presents. It was already a short-daylight situation due to winter. However, an hour-plus delay in the scheduled Tee Time (12:30pm) shortened it further [according to a fellow golfer, they clearly overbooked for the day]. Add in a very slow-pace of play (typical for this course) and 'voila', 14-holes and then...dark. I hadn't played the course in years (10??) due to my recollection of its slow-play tradition. It's a fairly nice layout. But, could probably use an extra Marshall or two to keep things rolling along.