journaljim

Ojai Valley Inn & Golf Course is the one place where pretty much everyone I ever speak with about it, agrees that if they'd had their druthers, they'd play and stay at Ojai Valley. The price, however, is a little steep for players who may tee off three or more times a week. Otherwise, a favourite course with terrific after-round food and drinks.

A round at Alisal River Course is always a pleasure; the wind is a regular visitor in the afternoons but it simply adds more challenges.

Always enjoy playing Ojai Valley but it is too expensive to play on a regular basis, so I appreciate when GolfPass offers reduced rates when the course isn't busy. It's one of the best golf courses on the central coast and is maintained beautifully.

It took me awhile to begin to enjoy this course, but I now am a big fan. Holes are just long enough for many possible greens in regulation. Some are short, setting up for birdies, and the par-threes are all difficult, except for hole # 2, which gives one some confidence when played properly. The greens are in excellent shape, tee boxes too, as are the fairways. Good landing areas and troublesome rough make for enjoyable competitive play. The double dog-leg hole # 14, for example, allows the big hitters to go for the green in two, over the hill and beyond a pocket of bunkers. For the rest of us, it sets up for a relatively modest par five but requires some precision. Daytime prices have sometimes kept me away, but GolfNow often has reasonable offers, and there's always two-for-one Wednesdays.

Played this course perhaps two dozen times and always enjoy it. The various tees are far enough from each other to offer a challenge regardless of the tee box one chooses. The course is also eminently walkable and the greens are always in great shape. The fairways do get a little ragged at various times of the year but this is Southern California and rainfall is often difficult to come by. But, Olivas Links is always a first tier choice when in the Ventura neighborhood.

We have played this course many times and were looking forward to another good outing. However, there are wildfires raging in this part of the world and not only could we not get to the golf course but we also could not get through via telephone. The course, it turns out, was closed, as were roads to Ojai.
I have no doubt Ojai Valley Golf Course personnel will honor our prepaid threesome's green fees at a future date that is convenient.