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Rating Index Rating
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3.2
1206 Reviews (1206)
5 Stars
101
4 Stars
380
3 Stars
380
2 Stars
199
1 Stars
146
Conditions
2.9
Value
3.0
Layout
3.6
Friendliness
3.9
Pace
3.1
Amenities
3.6
59.5%
Recommend this course
754 out of 1206 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.4
36 Reviews (36)
5 Stars
8
4 Stars
11
3 Stars
8
2 Stars
7
1 Stars
2
Conditions
3.4
Value
3.3
Layout
3.9
Pace
3.3
Amenities
3.9
StaffFriendliness
4.1
63.9%
Recommend this course
23 out of 36 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.3
65 Reviews (65)
5 Stars
10
4 Stars
23
3 Stars
15
2 Stars
10
1 Stars
7
Conditions
3.1
Value
3.1
Layout
3.7
Pace
3.1
Amenities
3.7
StaffFriendliness
3.9
60.0%
Recommend this course
39 out of 65 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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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
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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)
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Reviews

3.2
1206 Reviews (1206)

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 1
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Goat Trail Course

Greens in good vondition all down hill after that. The fairways were either hand pan dirt or over watered muddy sludge. This place needs to spend some money and get the grass into shape

Only positive is low price. The driving range is what you would expect in a third world country. Very Disappointing

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Convenient, affordable

I like this course, due to it's convenient location and affordable pricing. Due to the course layout, there's a lot of waiting holes 1-3, unless it's dead. Medium par 5 to start, par 3, then short par 4. 3 groups on #1, then wait 2-4 groups before teeing off on #2. I think it's course layout more than too many people. Also, my group of 3 chased and waited a 5-sum, with 2 walkers. Course in good condition, like playing there!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Long Day on the Course

If you like 6-7 hour rounds-this is your place! If you like playing behind groups of 5 this is your course! If you like groups doing things between shots to slow pace of play down-you got it, this is your golf course!

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Getting Worse

Been playing this course for about 10 yrs. Today, it was muddy, the course is really run down and bald in some areas. And some of these greens are way too difficult for this type of course. By the way, took 5.5 hrs to play a 10:30am tee time.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

The course has fallen apart.

A few years back this course was in Average condition. After the drought it has struggled to come back. The greens which aren’t that bad have been vandilized which ruined a few key putts. The fairway isn’t really a fairway and frankly the pace of play is terrible. I gave it a shot thinking an early round on Saturday night get me out in 4:30 and it took near 6. During the week you may find some deals but you’re better off going to Costa Mesa and Playing Los Lagos, better contains and better pace.

I have heard rumor the issue in keeping the course up is because of the fact it’s on top of an old landfill.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

You get what you pay for

First of all, you have to know that if you want to golf on a decent course in Orange County on any weekend, it's going to be in the $100+ range. Rancho San Joaquin fills their course by offering an unbelievable price. Plan to play a six hour round. The fairways are in the worst condition possible. They consist of short dead grass surrounded by dirt patches everywhere. On the positive side, they do put money on 15 of the 18 greens. Three of the greens have something that look like dirt tracks. Not sure what is going on there but they need to fix it.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Crowded, slow and noisy.

Tee times are scheduled 7-8 minutes apart, which is quite unrealistic. Big jam ups on first 11 holes as the players that come to this course are just not capable of teeing off and hitting their 2nd shots (to be clear of the next group) in 7 minutes. So you tee off well after your scheduled tee time, then you wait 5 to 10 minutes to hit your second shot. Once we got to hole 11, play seemed to flow, albeit a bit slow. The course itself is on the unremarkable side. No real signature holes and almost every hole features one or two adjacent holes (with golfers intersecting on both sides). Busy street with traffic noise so if you like that scene, this is a good place for you. Several greens crews were out on the course removing large trees on the day we played, which only serves to further eliminate any sense of privacy on each hole. Greens in good condition and roll true. Fairways fairly burnt to a crisp and in need of water.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Difficulty Extremely Easy
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Disappointed

Very poor fairway conditions. The greens were well kept and very unfair for the cup placement. You could set the ball next to almost every pin and the ball would roll away and sometimes all the off of the green. This was a Tuesday in Orange County, not Sunday at Augusta!

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Thumbs down

Due to allowing 5-somes, pace of play is unpredictable. Negative conditions include bare patches in fairways and multiple holes with significant avian waste matter!

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked
Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

This course charges too much for twilight

You schedule 1:52 TT and don't monitor flow so that one cannot have a full round due to Marshall non- involvement. We had only 9 holes in 3 hours. Not good! Don't book so that one cannot finnish the round at the full rack rate.

Value Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 25+
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

problems at rancho san juaqin

There were too many brown areas on the fairways and too many muddy areas on the fairways

Conditions Poor
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 19
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Good track

Hard to find a decent track in this area.

Not perfect but fun and if you dont get stuck behind a slow group its a fun deal.

Cant beat the price but Amer Golf has to put a better effort in maintaining pace of play.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Course covered in bird feces

RSJ is a good course, but they must cleanup after their large flock of geese (100's). It is no pleasure to play in bird feces -- especially when you have to scrape it off the greens then off your iron.

Conditions Poor
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Good Value

We were the first to tee off, so pace of play was not an issue. Greens were in reasonably good condition, much better than the fairways. There seemed to be repairs on almost every fairway. Good value for the price and I will play here again.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Decent course

Decent course for the money considering the area. Pace of play could be better but that's a common occurance anywhere you go. Greens were in great condition which is the norm here.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
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Golf Packages

The Lodge At Torrey Pines Stay & Play Package

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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.

The OMNI La Costa Resort & Spa Stay & Play Package

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CARLSBAD, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at The OMNI La Costa Resort & Spa and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Aviara Golf Course, OMNI La Costa – South Course, and OMNI La Costa – North Course.

The Palm Mountain Resort & Spa Stay & Play Package

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PALM SPRINGS, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at Palm Mountain Resort & Spa and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Indian Canyons – South Course, Indian Canyons – North Course, The Classic Club, Tahquitz Creek – Resort Course, and Tahquitz Creek – Legend Course.

The Hilton Garden Inn Palm Springs/Rancho Mirage Stay & Play Package

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PALM SPRINGS, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Hilton Garden Inn Palm Springs/Rancho Mirage and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Indian Canyons – South Course, The Classic Club, Tahquitz Creek – Resort Course, and Tahquitz Creek – Legend Course.

Luxor Resort & Casino Stay & Play Package

FROM $137 (USD)
LAS VEGAS, NV | Enjoy up to 3 nights’ accommodations at the Luxor Resort & Casino and up to 3 rounds of golf at your choice of Legacy Golf Course, Las Vegas National Golf Course, and Desert Pines Golf Course.
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