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Rating Index Rating
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3.8
476 Reviews (476)
5 Stars
140
4 Stars
171
3 Stars
94
2 Stars
37
1 Stars
34
Conditions
3.7
Value
3.7
Layout
4.4
Friendliness
4.3
Pace
3.7
Amenities
3.9
78.3%
Recommend this course
374 out of 476 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.9
14 Reviews (14)
5 Stars
5
4 Stars
5
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
1
Conditions
3.6
Value
3.6
Layout
4.1
Pace
3.0
Amenities
3.8
StaffFriendliness
4.5
78.6%
Recommend this course
11 out of 14 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.9
35 Reviews (35)
5 Stars
13
4 Stars
13
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
3
Conditions
4.0
Value
3.9
Layout
4.4
Pace
3.7
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.4
85.7%
Recommend this course
30 out of 35 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
The course layout earns high marks, featuring tree-lined fairways with generous shade and a driving range equipped with top-tier ball-tracking technology. Friendly staff, clean carts, and a smooth pace of play make each round consistently enjoyable.

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 6781 yards
Slope 130
Rating 72.9
Book a Tee Time at
The Links at Riverlakes Ranch
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Course Details

Year Built 1999
Greens Bermuda Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Ron Fream Kevin Ramsey (1999) David Dale (1999)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Pull-carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker 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

Food & Beverage

Bar

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities
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Reviews

3.8
476 Reviews (476)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 12
Watching the Game 9
Patio Dining 7
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 20
Water Hazards 19
Undulating Greens 12
This course/club is great for:
Locals 15
Advanced Golfers 8
Entertaining Clients 6
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 22
In the 'Burbs 7

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Under Repair

Some of the greens are under repair for the time being but a majority of them are still playable. Once the proper repairs have been made this course will still remain as one of Bakersfield more challenging and unique courses.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Don't Bother

Most of the greens are dead or are dying. Not even the worth the $20.00 Hot Deal green fee that I paid.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

15 Greens

There are only 15 puttable greens at the moment out of 18, who knows what happened. Rest of the course is Fair, Never pay more than $25 to play this course. You get what you pay for at the moment, would like to see those greens up again and some SAND in those Bunkers! But it looks like they're starting to take action. I believe everything will by fine n' dandy within a couple months.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 25+
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Challenging Course

Really enjoyed playing this course. I haven't been golfing long but this was the most challenging course I have played yet. The are currently having some issues with a few of thier greens but other than that its a great course. Once they get the greens back in order everything will be perfect.

Conditions Poor
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 35
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Goat Ranch

Nice layout, given what the terroir they had to work with. But the course maintenance is horrendous! At least 6 greens unluttable, no sand in the bunkers and the fairways spotty. I would not recommend and I'm driving 95 miles to play today.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

half the greens are painted DIRT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fairways are nice but half the greens are in horrible condition not sure if I will play again till next spring

Conditions Poor
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 33
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Fun course

Nice layout. Pace was slow due to people not playing with the skill level they think they have. Back tees are for players. Several holes greens were burned on and others fuzzy. Putting very slow. If they can get the greens fixed its a great course. Need to post t boxes based on handicap and this needs to be enforced.

Conditions Poor
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 18
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Greens are disasterous, basically playing on dirt painted green.

Don't know who screwed up but the greens are terrible. Number 3 hole the cool par three, the green is totally shot. It is basically dirt sprayed with some green stuff. The 18th hole is the par five which you carry over the water if you want to get on in two, doesn't even have much of the fake green paint on it, just dirt. The course was almost empty so we played fast. Go to BV or Kern River if you want some greens to putt on, very disappointing at this course.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Terrible greens & no marshall to assist with pace.

I've played this course in the past with no complaints, but could not believe how chopped up the greens were & how very very slow they played. The greens had bumpy holes all over them in terrible condition and basically dirt not grass on almost all 18 holes. Very hot day & hardly any water was set out for drinking nor did we see a refreshment cart come around. No marshall was ever seen to help with pace of play. Will never play Riverlakes again.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

rough terrain

Some of the greens are terrible...physically saw the groundskeeper painting the greens..rather then fixing them..wont go back until they are fixed..not worth it...

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

This course is poorly maintained

Two years ago Riverlakes was the nicest public course in Bakersfield and even rivaled some of the country clubs. After playing the course yesterday I was shocked at the condition. There were bare mud spots as big as 6 square feet in the greens. A fungus or bacteria seems to be killing the greens. The Bermuda grass has stalks on them which means they are only mowing the rough about once a week. I'm all for cost savings but this course has been seriously let go. Some of the lakes water has breached and spilled into greenside bunkers. I would recommend any of the county courses over Riverlakes which has never been the case until now.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

You shouldnt waste Your time!

If your in a pinch and just have to get a round in then do so. I would not advise for this course for the sheer fact that its players thrash this course!

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Favorite public course in Bakersfield!

I like this course because it's challenging. I always have a good time when I play there. It can be a little slow but that can happen anywhere. Snack Cart service was good. We were able to get refreshments twice on a hot day without disrupting our play.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

A good course, but be prepared for a 5 1/2 to 6 hour round.

I play this course a lot and it is a nice one, but most people I run into are just out there whacking balls. Sometimes hitting three or four balls off the tee. Which I really don't mind because we all were bad at one time. Just please know the rules and etiquette and let me play thru. NEEDS A MARSHALL.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

The bunkers need real sand. The pace of play is way too slow.

The traps are hard dirt, not sand. For the price they should better maintain the bunkers. The pace of play must not be important to the course management.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 24
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0

super slow play

left after 3 holes pop was looking like 6hrs. course needed a lot of improvement.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 52
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser

Potential

Could be a good course......but...5 somes.
They allow and encourage 5 people in a group
Everyone knows this allows for SLOW PLAY....VERY SLOW PLAY!
Its about money not golf
Golf carts in bad shape hard to control and stop
Customers driving carts anywhere and everywhere, even across bridge on 18 ...... Really!
Good golf course management would make them more money and better golfer value
Not well managed
Just a thought

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

Tight in places....

...you definitely want to stay out of the bunkers. The bunkers are located throughout the course true links style and they are not fluffy! You will lose some balls on this course if you are not pretty accurate.

Lots of water too overall its a challenging course which gives you a lot of nice scenery. Greens are usually pretty fast and well maintained as is the course overall.

Fantastic practice facility with everything to help improve your game. Driving range and putting chipping areas are lighted at night. They have a three hole short pitching area which is pretty cool also.

One of my favorite courses and its pretty centrally located. Booked tee time for $25 on Golfnow.com which would've cost $32 at 3:15pm.

I would recommend this course to local and visiting players and for business golf entertaining others.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser

You can get great deals mid day when it is hot

The main downside is that they will group a fivesome if need be. This is an advantage for those needing this benefit, but it slows down play when a twosome is behind them. I like that they don't pair a twosome with another.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0

Ok Course

This course is fun and provides a fair challenge from the tournament tees (black) there are several holes over water and the par 5's prove to be trying. the staff is extremely friendly. the only downfall is the grass could use better maintenance and they dont roll the greens so the cleat marks prove to be an issue when putting and fairway shots are not the besst the rough is thin and the sand traps are very solid like pavement. considering the area surrounding the course it is probably one of the best public courses for many miles.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
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