GolfPass Icon
Rating Index Rating
Tooltip Information Icon
3.2
1195 Reviews (1195)
5 Stars
100
4 Stars
376
3 Stars
377
2 Stars
197
1 Stars
145
Conditions
3.0
Value
3.1
Layout
3.6
Friendliness
4.0
Pace
3.1
Amenities
3.6
63.1%
Recommend this course
749 out of 1195 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.4
27 Reviews (27)
5 Stars
7
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
5
2 Stars
5
1 Stars
3
Conditions
3.4
Value
3.3
Layout
3.8
Pace
3.2
Amenities
3.8
StaffFriendliness
4.1
66.7%
Recommend this course
18 out of 27 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.3
83 Reviews (83)
5 Stars
14
4 Stars
31
3 Stars
17
2 Stars
10
1 Stars
11
Conditions
3.2
Value
3.2
Layout
3.7
Pace
3.2
Amenities
3.6
StaffFriendliness
3.9
67.5%
Recommend this course
56 out of 83 reviews
Read Reviews
frame.svg
AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
circle-star.svg
Course Highlights
Consistently friendly staff and a well-stocked café with diverse food options make the overall experience welcoming for returning golfers. The greens regularly earn praise for their quality and consistency across recent rounds.

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 6431 yards
Slope 126
Rating 70.5
Book a Tee Time at
Rancho San Joaquin Golf Club
Powered by GolfNow.com

Course Details

Year Built 1964
Fairways Bermuda & Kukuya Grass
Greens Poa
Golf Season Year round

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - $7 - $13
Pull-carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes

Food & Beverage

Snacks

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top 25 Most Improved U.S. Golf Courses (2022 #21)
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

3.2
1195 Reviews (1195)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 21
Brunch 10
Watching the Game 8
Course Challenges Include:
Water Hazards 29
Undulating Greens 26
Bunkers 22
This course/club is great for:
Locals 35
Walkers 31
Beginners 22
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 42
Near the Airport 36
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 9
Handicap 0-4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
2.0
First Time Playing

Not what I expected

I booked a tee time for 3 people originally. On the day of our round, one of the golfers was sick and couldn’t play. When we arrived, I let the person at the pro shop know, he said no problem and I proceeded to purchase $280 worth of rounds, merchandise and rental clubs. Today I get an email saying I’m being charged an extra $43 for the no show. This course wasn’t worth the $43 round to begin with, let alone the extra $43 for someone who didn’t even show. I would not recommend this course to anyone.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 22
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

It would take only a little effort to make this course terrific

Nice layout, challenging greens right in the center of Irvine. If management would repair the several bare spots and empower their Marshall to attend to pace-of-play policies, this would enhance the golf experience. Otherwise it struggles to be an average So Cal venue.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 51
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 23
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
2.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Course overview....In general.

I have played here 2 sometimes 3 times a month only because of it's location to me and more times then not I swear I'll never play here again. The course itself is decent, it can have some of the toughest greens and pin placements in OC at times, but it can have horrid fairways and greens at times too. My main hatred of this course is the pace of play and nobody seems to care. I have quit playing many times at the 13th, 14, and 15th hole after 4.5 to 5 hours....I have also played this course in 3.5 hours many times and not been in a rush or felt like the pace was fast at all, but these times are during the week in the early AM. When a course has 5 groups on one hole and an "ambassador" or Marshal sits there an doesn't say a word to the people wasting everyone's time or chases down a 2 some for driving past 2 or 3 groups on a hole to tee up and play through because they have been waiting 5 minutes on every shot there is a major problem with the lack of golf knowledge on the part of the Marshals. I actually had an Ambassador threaten to kick me off the course because I passed 3 groups on a hole and teed up in front of them....by the time they got to the tee box I was already driving up to the green on a par 4 and the marshal stopped me because they complained. I asked them over 3 holes if I could play through. When I finished that day I had a meal outside and a few drinks and when I was done eating (over 45 minutes) the group I past was just getting off the 18th green. I dont think I'll ever play here again unless it is early during the week because the pace of play in general on this course is the worst I have ever experienced in my 40 plus years of golfing.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 58
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Cold weather
Used cart

Cold damp morning round

After all of our rain the last few weeks the course was still cart path only as there was quite a bit of standing water or soggy patches. It was in the low 40's and it was also quite wet from the previous nights dew too. Tee off was about 5 minutes behind schedule but the pace of play stayed consistent and we did not wait at any hole after the 2nd. Weather warmed slightly as the round progressed but stayed cool even though the sun came out before the turn. As wet as it was the greens played pretty fast and challenging so our putts needed to be on point. Good morning round and we'll play here again.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 25
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Incentivized Review
2.0
First Time Playing
Cold weather
Used cart

poor shape, bad drainage, ugly pace

Owners trying to sell this land so they're not putting much upkeep on it just trying to dilapidate the golf course so the city will agree to let them sell it. So just really lowering prices and jamming the course with as many people as possible.

Really bad drainage and there will be mud everywhere. It'll just keep getting worse but yes you can play 18 for $20-30 until they sell it

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 43
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Good course layout

After rainy days, course configuration was not good. And pace of play was too slow.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 69
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Good mostly wide open course.

Had a good day of golf on a reasonably good Golf Course. Course was still wet from recent rains and the greens seemed a little spongy but had an excellent day putting and chipping. I was teamed with two very good guys and pretty good golfers; so it was a very enjoyable day as well.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 241
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
1.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
First Time Playing

Dog Track

Poor conditions. All the negative reviews are spot on. Will never play again.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Average
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 42
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Exceptionally Unfriendly

All the staff of this course have been historically extremely friendly but today's staff. I drove down to this course from Palisades. Hence I got there about 20 minutes ahead of a tee-time. He was rude different than prior experience. When a cart of a group ahead of our group was down, we tried to reach the front desk but the staff kept telling us "Hold" without listening at all. On our fourth call we could inform them about the cart problem. Very unusual experience at this course where staff friendliness has been a trademark over the past ten years.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 241
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played
Used cart

not worth standard rate

I play this course occasionally because it's close by. Half of the holes have dirt/little grass growing and resembles a typical muni course. Some fairways will have both areas of dirt as well as wet muddy ground, probably due to poor drainage. There are huge gopher holes next to some fairways where you can lose your ball even on a good shot. Customer service is poor, staff can be uppity, they seem to think it's a higher-end course than it really is. Course is not worth it at standard rates, but it's ok for a quick round if you get a deal on the price.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Poor
Pace Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Slow

Pace was a huge problem and wouldn’t play here again. There are better options at this price point but I can see why demand keeps the price high. Location is great but given how slow the round played I would suggest that they take additional measures to move people along at a reasonable pace to avoid 2 groups waiting on every hole.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Bring a chess board for your wait between shots.

Overcrowded slow pace of play. Got good price but to slow

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Nearby Courses
Irvine, California
Public
4.0737132412
537
Newport Beach, California
Public
3.6954765042
515
Irvine, California
Private
5.0
1
Santa Ana, California
Private
0.0
0
Irvine, California
Public
4.1293800539
371
Newport Beach, California
Private
5.0
1
Newport Beach, California
Public/Resort
2.0
3
Newport Beach, California
Private
0.0
0
Newport Coast, California
Resort
4.4757992852
185
Costa Mesa, California
Municipal/Public
3.6267452242
2462
Newport Coast, California
Resort
4.2661321164
212
Costa Mesa, California
Municipal/Public
3.6267452242
2462
Golf Packages

Monarch Beach Resort Stay & Play Package

CLICK BELOW
ORANGE COUNTY, CA | Enjoy lodging accommodations at the Waldorf-Astoria Monarch Beach, the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Nigel, the Montage Laguna Beach, or the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa and golf at Monarch Beach Golf Links.
MB2.1.jfif

Monarch Beach Resort Stay & Play Package

CLICK BELOW
ORANGE COUNTY, CA | Enjoy lodging accommodations at the Waldorf-Astoria Monarch Beach, the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Nigel, the Montage Laguna Beach, or the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa and golf at Monarch Beach Golf Links.

Aviara Stay & Play Package

Click Below
SAN DIEGO, CA | Enjoy lodging accommodations at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa and golf at Aviara Golf Club.
Aviara Golf Club - Hole #18

Aviara Stay & Play Packages

Click Below
SAN DIEGO, CA | Enjoy lodging accommodations at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa and golf at Aviara Golf Club.

The Lodge At Torrey Pines Stay & Play Package

CLICK BELOW
LA JOLLA, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at The Lodge at Torrey Pines and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Torrey Pines – South Course and Torrey Pines – North Course.
Now Reading
  • Home

  • Memberships

  • Library

  • Account