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Rating Index Rating
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3.8
732 Reviews (732)
5 Stars
119
4 Stars
321
3 Stars
176
2 Stars
70
1 Stars
46
Conditions
3.7
Value
3.8
Layout
3.8
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
3.8
Amenities
3.8
79.8%
Recommend this course
587 out of 732 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.7
30 Reviews (30)
5 Stars
5
4 Stars
16
3 Stars
6
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
3
Conditions
3.7
Value
3.5
Layout
3.5
Pace
3.8
Amenities
3.9
StaffFriendliness
4.5
76.7%
Recommend this course
23 out of 30 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.8
43 Reviews (43)
5 Stars
10
4 Stars
21
3 Stars
9
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
3
Conditions
3.7
Value
3.7
Layout
3.7
Pace
3.9
Amenities
3.9
StaffFriendliness
4.6
81.4%
Recommend this course
35 out of 43 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
The staff here consistently earns high praise for being welcoming and genuinely helpful to golfers of all skill levels. Tee boxes, fairways, and greens hold up well, and this classic course offers solid value for the experience.

About

Holes 18
Type Public/Municipal
Style Desert
Par 70
Length 6436 yards
Slope 124
Rating 69.4

Previously known as Trini Alvarez El Rio Municipal Golf Course

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El Rio Golf Club
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Course Details

Year Built 1934
Golf Season Year round
Architect William P. Bell Ken Kavanaugh (2004)

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, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes

Food & Beverage

Bar, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities
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Reviews

3.8
732 Reviews (732)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 15
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 30
Water Hazards 10
Undulating Greens 7
This course/club is great for:
Locals 31
Beginners 26
Seniors 26
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 44
Near Local Attractions 6

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Cold weather
Used cart

Not much good to say

We got off 50 minutes late,

Pace was very slow, 5 hour round

To top it all off at the end of the round we went to get the car and my back window had been smashed.

Cold, Windy, Late getting out, really slow play and a broken window. I won't be going back

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 18
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

OK for the value

The greens are strange at best. Chris cross pattern with sparse grass & root growth. Ball would not check up even with wedges. Pitts would roll not too bad but speed was inconsistent. Over seeded fairways are fine to play from. Bunkers are easy to hit from when given dry conditions. Most bunkers were wet or had standing water. Why?? No rain in a couple of weeks.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Poor Upkeep

The course was in poor condition from fairways to green, driving range and putting green and golf cart. Recent fire closed pro shop, restaurant and bathrooms were trailer port-a-potty. This probably was a nice course back in the day, but no longer. We will not be back. However, the staff were all super helpful and friendly!

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Marginal Course

I hadn't played El Rio for a while, and this round reminded me why. Staff was very nice, but the course conditions were pretty poor. Greens were rock hard, and since there are 2 bunkers (with only a hint of sand overlying hardpan underneath) fronting every green (with a very narrow slot between them), you can't fly the ball to the green and expect it to hold, and you really can't run it up since the opening between the bunkers is so narrow. Layout is very traditional and not particularly interesting. A good walking track since it's completely flat. Overall, a pretty marginal course.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 25
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 33
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Good municipal golf course

Very flat but difficult layout. Fairways are great but the greens are not receptive to an approach or a pitch shot. Everything runs out and off the greens. Lots of bunkers but not much sand in them. That said I still liked the course.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 6
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Sneaky Pete

Greens pretty fast sand maintained well. Fareways in nice shape. Good experience!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
Previously Played

"Sand" traps?

Tees and fairways are in very good condition. The small greens are smooth but hard. 3 feet off the greens there is only sparse dorment grass or bare dirt. The "sand" traps are rock hard with 1/8" of sand. It is impossible to hit a normal sand shot. The best bet is to putt through the lip.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

El Rio

Course is in good shape. Ver accomdating staff. No amenities with clubhouse remodel.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 34
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Good course, great price.

I enjoyed playing here ( first time) , paired up with a really nice couple. L, which was good since had hadn’t golfed here before. Could easily walk it.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 25+
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Good golf course with terrible washroom

Unfortunately the status of the washrooms is so bad that the whole impression of the golf course is moved to unsatisfactory.

There are only one set of portable toilets and it is bad, bad and bad.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 36
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Fast greens and lots of bunkers

I enjoy this course layout but it is unfortunate that the bunkers that seem to surround most of the greens are little more than dirt. No splashing out the ball with sand, just chip off what is almost hardpan.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Pace of play sucks

This course sucks as far as being able to finish if you have a tee time at 1:50-2oclock forget about finishing with two holes left and still sun light out they will kick you off the course and wait to make sure you don't play another hole. The funny thing is I was walking the course I have to walk back anyways why not just let me finish my round for 34 bucks to 44 bucks it's not worth the amount when they kick you off and you don't have people teeing off at there time it's horrible also it's been cart path for 3months there is no direction in leadership from any staff or manager also other golfers will pick up your ball thinking it's there's how it's ran is horrible

Conditions Excellent
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Greens were lightning fast. Liked the distance of grey tee boxes for ladies.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Very nice course

The course is great and really enjoyable for someone like me who is not a long ball hitter, yet enjoys the challenge. The only problem was the pace and disregard of the foursome in front of us . By the fourteenth hole it was clear in front of them to the eighteenth (four holes). When we started there was normal play in front of them. We decided just to go around them (after politely informing them). Not a fault of the course just a very rude group of four.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice course

Another nice course with grass off the fairways. Not hard pan. Greens are fast. Fairways are nice. Pace of play, it took over 5 hrs to play 18. Very slow. We will probably come back.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
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