Avila Beach Golf Resort
A view from Avila Beach Golf Resort.
GolfPass Icon
Rating Index Rating
Tooltip Information Icon
2.8
757 Reviews (757)
5 Stars
116
4 Stars
217
3 Stars
185
2 Stars
130
1 Stars
109
Conditions
2.2
Value
3.2
Layout
3.5
Friendliness
4.1
Pace
3.7
Amenities
3.5
45.1%
Recommend this course
452 out of 757 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
2.6
41 Reviews (41)
5 Stars
1
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
13
2 Stars
14
1 Stars
6
Conditions
2.0
Value
3.1
Layout
3.5
Pace
3.6
Amenities
3.5
StaffFriendliness
4.1
39.0%
Recommend this course
16 out of 41 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
2.7
71 Reviews (71)
5 Stars
5
4 Stars
14
3 Stars
22
2 Stars
18
1 Stars
12
Conditions
2.1
Value
3.2
Layout
3.5
Pace
3.7
Amenities
3.4
StaffFriendliness
4.2
43.7%
Recommend this course
31 out of 71 reviews
Read Reviews
frame.svg
AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
circle-star.svg
Course Highlights
The course offers a beautiful layout with a great feel, especially appealing along the central coast. Friendly staff and affordable pricing make it a worthwhile spot for a casual round with friends.

About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Par 72
Length 6557 yards
Slope 132
Rating 72.3

Avila Beach Golf Resort is located right along the bay, giving it a scenic setting that has made it the most well known of the Central Coast golf courses. The layout offers plenty of variety with a hilly front nine that features small, often elevated, greens that are surrounded by oak-lined valleys and a back nine that that is routed across a tidal estuary. Golfers should be prepared for forced carries over water and multi-tiered greens on the backside. At first the course may seem short, but thanks to the dramatic elevation changes and numerous other challenges, it will begin to feel much longer. There are several severe doglegs throughout as well as tight approaches. Avila Beach Golf Resort is not a layout where you can easily "grip it and rip it." Rather, accuracy and good course-management are rewarded.

Book a Tee Time at
Avila Beach Golf Resort
Powered by GolfNow.com

Course Details

Year Built 1969
Fairways Rye Grass
Greens Rye Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Olin Dutra

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Pull-carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range 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, Grill, Restaurant
The Best Way To Book Is With GolfPass+ Annual
golf ball.svg
$120 in monthly tee time promo codes
waivedfees
12 rounds of waived fees
redeemtrophy
GolfPass Member Pricing
teetime protection.svg
Tee Time Protection

Reviews

2.8
757 Reviews (757)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 16
19th Hole Scenic Views 8
Patio Dining 7
Course Challenges Include:
Water Hazards 26
Elevation Changes 16
Forced Carries 14
This course/club is great for:
Locals 18
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 12
Group Getaways 7
This Course's Location is:
At a Resort 18
Near Local Attractions 11
Convenient to the City 10

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Worst golf Course I have ever played

Fairways were dry and hard greens were rough overall not a very good course

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 5
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Dog of a course

Grass super dead. San traps no sand. Tee boxes in bad shape. Slowest game I’ve ever played. Quit after 10 holes… 3+ hours to play 9

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
First Time Playing

Not good value

Was first tee time off at 7:00am. Pro shop opened at 6:55. Walking rate was $69 but had to find out on the first green that the greens were punched. All the grass/sod holes were just dumped in the rough right off the green. Not the most walking friendly course as there are awkward transitions from green to the next tee. They have also lost their 10th green.

The worst part was my girlfriend came with to walk the course. They charged a $20 spectator fee. There is literally a public trail that goes through the course. If you have a child, spouse, friend going with you, go somewhere else.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Poor
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Tough but fun course

The course was very well laid out. There’s a lot of elevation with mostly elevated greens. My only complaint was landing in the middle of the fairway and hitting off of basically dirt. For the price, those fairways should have been nice and green. All in all, it was a good time.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 64
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 1
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

I expected this course to be in better shape. Most of the greens were pretty good but fairways and rough

Were pretty sparse. The layout was difficult to follow. It would benefit from more signs. Staff was friendly

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 64
Skill Intermediate
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Course playing condition

Gents I came to play with high hopes of having a great time, unfortunately I did not. The playability of the course was extremely in question maybe because of the drought situation but too many Greens had exposed dirt and signs of disease with the earthen actually cracking (un-puttable). Additionally most Bunkers lacked any sand, wether green side or fairway, and should be identified as Waist Areas so at least you can ground your club and have a fighting chance.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
1.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

Avila

I was sad to see the condition of the course. The fairways are dead, dry and hard. Not sure what happened but I have never seen the course in this condition.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Poor course conditions

Fairways for most hole were dry, and not well maintained. Cart paths were in poor conditions full of pot holes. Some Greens were not well maintained and under repair.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Nice layout.

Decent enough course, couple of patchy greens but overall it’s a good course.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Look Elsewhere

This was my second time playing this course, but it’s been 5 years or so. I knew the layout was a little wonky, but the conditions have degraded substantially. Let me walk through our experience…

Staff were all friendly. No issues there.

Driving range looked like it was maintained by Roy McAvoy…before he learned how to take care of a range when he moved to Texas. It was useless.

Front 9 had spots of grass here and there, although it looked like there were 37 different types. It was challenging to find a single square foot of consistent usable grass to hit off of. So I guess the driving range was actually a decent preparation for the actual course.

When we got to hole 4, it was clear that this course uses reclaimed water, except that they use “organic” reclaimed water. Perhaps you’ve heard of “farm to table” restaurants…this course clearly uses “body to course” reclaimed “water”. The smell was absolutely nauseating. It made the joggers we saw on the back 9 even more impressive as no human should be able to take in more of the air on that course than needed for absolute survival.

The back nine had several ducks or geese , which was cool. Until you realized that the giant black polka dots that decorated every green were actually just giant bird excrement that had been walked on before us. From the 10th tee, you get a nice view of the ocean, which would’ve been great if it wasn’t ruined by the parents who should be convicted of child abuse for letting their kids play in the water that will certainly cause long-term health issues for their kids. The only reason there aren’t any gators in that pond is that it’s too swampy for them. Disgusting.

This is an odd thing to complain about, but even while driving from hole to hole, you’re reminded of the disrepair of this course by the cardiac-arrest inducing potholes on the cart path. It looks like Pete Buttigieg must’ve been in charge of the paths at some point cause they were as jacked up as the streets in South Bend, IN during his tenure. I will say that I was impressed that the golf cart still ran after rolling in that terrain for 18 holes, so I guess that’s something.

If you want to see what you’re in for before heading here, check out a review of 3 Jack National on YouTube. Basically the same course. If you play and hate it, well, you’ve been warned.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great design. Needs some TLC.

The course is a great design and offers a variety of holes and scenery. I had a great round. The course is very dry and could use some TLC in the bunkers. Greens were in decent shape. Would play again.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Previously Played

Glad I Got a Deal

Had to clean out the cart I was assigned from previous rider. Fairways are dried up. Hard packed bunkers. Couldn’t get a 3.75” tee pitched through tall grass in some boxes. Sprinklers going on almost every blue box. Starter didn’t tell me carts need to be in by 7:30pm and attendants came out to tell me hurry my game. Cart died on 17. People that live in the community playing freely at random holes.

Everything made for a challenge and had my worst round in a minute…but hey, it was fun after I realized it wasn’t gonna get better. I won’t be back until they put some work in the grounds.

The gentleman in the pro shop was friendly though.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Nearby Courses
San Luis Obispo, California
Public/Municipal
3.65
40
San Luis Obispo, California
Private
5.0
1
Grover Beach, California
Public
4.0
1
San Luis Obispo, California
Public
3.45
20
Los Osos, California
Resort
4.0476190476
42
Arroyo Grande, California
Public
4.3313540776
530
Morro Bay, California
Public
3.7894736842
38
Nipomo, California
Public/Resort
3.3880713159
523
Nipomo, California
Public
4.2352941176
17
Nipomo, California
Public/Resort
3.3880713159
523
Nipomo, California
Public/Resort
3.3880713159
523
Golf Packages

La Quinta Resort & Club Stay & Play Package

CLICK BELOW
LA QUINTA, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at La Quinta Resort & Club and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of PGA WEST - Nicklaus Tournament Course, PGA WEST - Pete Dye Mountain Course, PGA WEST - Greg Norman Course, PGA WEST - Pete Dye Dunes Course, and PGA WEST - The Pete Dye Stadium Course.

The Casa Palmero – Pebble Beach Stay & Play Package

CLICK BELOW
PEBBLE BEACH, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at The Lodge at Pebble Beach and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Pebble Beach Golf Links, The Links at Spanish Bay, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, and Del Monte Golf Course.

The Lodge At Pebble Beach Stay & Play Package

CLICK BELOW
PEBBLE BEACH, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at The Lodge at Pebble Beach and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Pebble Beach Golf Links, The Links at Spanish Bay, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, and Del Monte Golf Course.

The Inn At Spanish Bay Stay & Play Package

CLICK BELOW
PEBBLE BEACH, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at The Inn at Spanish Bay and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Pebble Beach Golf Links, The Links at Spanish Bay, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, and Del Monte Golf Course.

The Hyatt Regency Monterey Resort & Spa Stay & Play Package

CLICK BELOW
MONTEREY, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at The Hyatt Regency Monterey Resort & Spa and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Poppy Hills Golf Course, Bayonet Course, Black Horse Course, and Del Monte Golf Course.
Now Reading
  • Home

  • Memberships

  • Library

  • Account