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Rating Index Rating
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3.5
1124 Reviews (1124)
5 Stars
160
4 Stars
235
3 Stars
335
2 Stars
190
1 Stars
204
Conditions
3.0
Value
3.8
Layout
3.6
Friendliness
4.4
Pace
3.9
Amenities
3.5
68.1%
Recommend this course
646 out of 1124 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.7
47 Reviews (47)
5 Stars
16
4 Stars
14
3 Stars
7
2 Stars
6
1 Stars
4
Conditions
3.3
Value
4.0
Layout
3.8
Pace
4.1
Amenities
3.8
StaffFriendliness
4.4
74.5%
Recommend this course
35 out of 47 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.8
114 Reviews (114)
5 Stars
47
4 Stars
26
3 Stars
18
2 Stars
12
1 Stars
11
Conditions
3.3
Value
4.0
Layout
3.8
Pace
4.1
Amenities
3.8
StaffFriendliness
4.5
74.6%
Recommend this course
85 out of 114 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 71
Length 6061 yards
Slope 110
Rating 67.7

Opened in 1929, Willowick Golf Course in Santa Ana is Orange County's oldest public golf course. It is a challenging layout that has garnered a quite a following over the years. The course features wide fairways and large greens that offer ample room. There aren’t any water hazards a few strategically placed sand traps come into play and there are also mature trees lining the fairways. Golfers will get to practice a variety of different shots on this course. It is player-friendly enough for high-handicappers but there are still some challenges for low handicappers. The excellent condition of the greens and fairways are inviting no matter what your skill level. In addition to the golf course, Willowick also offers a grass driving range and three practice putting greens.

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Course Details

Year Built 1929
Golf Season Year round
Architect William P. Bell (1929)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - $14
Pull-carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

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

Food & Beverage

Bar, Snacks, Restaurant
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Reviews

3.5
1124 Reviews (1124)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 144
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played

A 4WheelDrive with SuperSuspension Needed Here

Tee Boxes: good luck finding a level spot that actually has grass on it.

Fairways: much like the tee box, the fairways are mostly dirt and potholes and uneven. It is recommended that you move your ball to the closest area that has some grass so you don't hurt yourself. There seems to be more gopher holes in the fairways than grass. I have a standing chiropractor appointment that's needed after each time I play the course.

Greens: possibly the best feature at the Wick, which isn't saying much. Greens tend to roll on the slow side -maybe a nine on the stimpmeter. Mostly flat, with a few hidden breaks, mostly right at the hole.

Carts: new carts have arrived after the older ones broke down due to all the uneven terrain and squirrel and gopher holes. It's silly to have windshields on the carts, because they actually block your vision immediately in front of the cart that you need to have in order to avoid the bone crunching gopher holes all over the place.

Other: possibly the worst kept golf course in the USA, save for one I played in Oregon that also served as a beginner ski resort in the winter. It's sad that one of our oldest courses in OC has fallen to such lows. The only thing going for it is the pace of play and the price. But they just raised the prices to avg between $30 and $40. IMO, this course is worth $20 max, but don't forget to add on the doctor bills for getting your lower back pummeled for playing there.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 26
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Wet weather
Used cart

Grass is optional

course was I pretty bad shape

pace of play was slow (5 hours)

and the driving range had no balls, they never picked them up from the day prior

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 35
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Improved Willowick

After years of being in limbo, the course seems to have the support of Garden Grove (the owners of the land). The fairways are still covered with holes and bumps but overall the course is in decent shape for Willowick.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/13/2023

Four stars for this course? You are far too generous!

Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Greens and Tee boxes

I play Wick regularly. I’m accustomed to the less than ideal conditions, but yesterday it was more below average then normal.

I know maintaining the fairways and roughs are challenging. But, can you focus on the greens and tee boxes?

Par 3s are understandable. But, had a hard time finding a flat, manicured area to tee off.

The greens look like they haven’t been rolled. The amount of ball marks were unbelievable. I spent more time fixing them then lining up my putts. I gave up on the back nine. Signage in the carts and approaching the greens may help.

Thanks

Conditions Poor
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Rough but playable

I’ve played this course 4 times in the past 18 months and the experience is always the same. The staff is cool to deal with and the pace of play is good/fair. The course is maintained but it’s still rough. The driving range grass is like hitting off of weeds but it’s not to far off from what you’ll be hitting off of when you go play your round. Rumor has it that the course is on its last legs and won’t be around in the next few years and it kinda feels that way. It’s a shame…this place has a ton of potential but just needs some extra love. You’ll have fun playing, no doubt, but don’t expect a lot.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Fairways were not good enough but you can always pick your ball and put it in a good lie.

Course really needs total renovation. The course can be a very good place to play again.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

My old friend

This old track has always been a blast to play. It has all the charm of the local muni i love playing. The new GM is trying to make some changes and keep it going and we all appreciate his efforts. The greens are still good and the carts are new. Its got potential and needs our support so keep making tee times. I was part of the mens club back in the day and hope this course can get all the way back.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 20
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Used cart

Willowick

Price was good on Golfnow. Pace of play was was good, 3 1/2 hours for 18 holes. Tee boxes need alot of help, greens are only fair for true roll.

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Terrible experience. Played in the ghetto.

I’ve been playing golf for 20+ years and I’ve never had such a disappointment experience. The range is so uncapped, and that I couldn’t hit anything without a tee.

My wife is just getting into golf, so I thought this would be good practice, being a “troon” facility.

Instead, we had to think about our own safety and skip a few holes to avoid some thugs. They walked onto the course and harassed other players. Taking their golf cart, blocking the green, throwing their clubs around, etc..

There were six of these kids, so we skipped from 14 to 18, where two teenagers were making out right on the front edge of the green. I wanted to let someone in the pro shop know, but they’re already closed as two teams of young girls were going out to play.

For us to pay $80 total is offensive, and for golf now to be advertising This “troon” course is sad.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Previously Played

Terrible experience

No high points could redeem the horrible disappointment and discomfort of having a bunch of teenagers on the golf course, harassing gofers. I watched kids climb into someone’s cart and try to steal it in addition to having two other kids making out in front of a green.

Greens are in decent shape because no one is there to play. Paid $80 for my wife and I reply and she didn’t feel comfortable finishing with these kids around the course. A refund somehow.

To top it off, there are girls youth golf teams going out there. Whatever organizations are allowing their kids to go out and play there need to rethink that.

I deserve a refund. NOT to play there.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

It’s not Pelican Hill…

Greens were in pretty nice shape considering all the rain SoCal has received this year.

The fairways… well this track doesn’t really have fairways. It’s all rough..

Tee boxes.. it’s like hitting off a lumpy cobblestone road.

Tee’em high and let’em fly!

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Fairways were horrible

The fairways were not in good shape. The greens were good and they have new golf carts. They staff was great but not enough to get me to come back.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Poor condition

The course is in bad shape. The fairways are rough and have over grown weeds

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
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