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Rating Index Rating
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3.6
1170 Reviews (1170)
5 Stars
174
4 Stars
254
3 Stars
340
2 Stars
196
1 Stars
206
Conditions
3.1
Value
4.0
Layout
3.7
Friendliness
4.4
Pace
3.9
Amenities
3.6
71.8%
Recommend this course
686 out of 1170 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.7
48 Reviews (48)
5 Stars
14
4 Stars
19
3 Stars
5
2 Stars
7
1 Stars
3
Conditions
3.5
Value
4.3
Layout
3.8
Pace
3.8
Amenities
3.8
StaffFriendliness
4.5
83.3%
Recommend this course
40 out of 48 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.8
102 Reviews (102)
5 Stars
36
4 Stars
34
3 Stars
12
2 Stars
13
1 Stars
7
Conditions
3.5
Value
4.2
Layout
3.9
Pace
4.0
Amenities
3.9
StaffFriendliness
4.5
80.4%
Recommend this course
82 out of 102 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
The consistently friendly and helpful staff stand out as a genuine highlight at Willowick Golf Course. Exceptional value for money and a forgiving open layout make it a rewarding choice for golfers of all skill levels.

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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Willowick Golf Course
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Course Details

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

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Pull-carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro 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

3.6
1170 Reviews (1170)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 16
Brunch 7
19th Hole Specials 6
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 19
Undulating Greens 8
This course/club is great for:
Walkers 20
Locals 19
Beginners 17
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 20

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 54
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather

Confusion?

The course would propbably be nice if the course was taken care of! The starter or the guy in the pro shop was not friendly at all. It seemed like we were bothering him or interrupting his day. Trash cans were filled and it's early in the morning. The fairways made me feel like I needed a ATV. The rough was crazy high in many areas. Mud was everywhere and there hasn't been rain for some time now! The dirt paths were muddy in places. The greens were slow but they were in great shape and the bunkers were close to being concrete.

The course needs some TLC and on a regular basis. Currently, the course is not getting proper care.

Conditions Poor
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Broken cart

Our cart stopped working at hole 8. No one came out to help. We called the club house and they said they will look into it. We walked rest of the two holes before we got to club house. The person said they would give us lunch as an inconvenience but when we finally finished they went back on their word and just gave us a beer each. Wouldn’t wanna come back again.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
1.0
Previously Played

Who’s taking care of this course?

Don’t waste your time or money here. Pay the same amount to play at Costa Mesa, Riverview or David L Baker who at least take care of their course. This course is hands down the worst course in Orange County. The owner needs to fire his management team and grounds keeper and just start over. I will never play here again and you shouldn’t either.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Fairways are horrible

You can hit a great shot down the fairway and still land on a patch a dirt. There so many gopher holes that you can easily lose your balls. We saw 2 coyotes walking the course and the greens are just not kept up very well

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Terrible run down course

This used to be a decent course to play. Today it is completely rundown.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Poor
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 17
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
First Time Playing

Rough driving cart on the 'fair' way

Course condition is one of the worst. Rough all along.

The green conditionbis fair to the contrary. The cart is driving erratically due to a supposedly poor maintenance.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Seen better days...

You would think with all the rain we've had the past few months, the course would be in better shape than it is. There were alot of bare spots along with many gopher holes. To top it off, the greens were being aerated...bumpy fairways, bumpy greens. Maybe in a few months the course will be in better shape. Only time will tell It used to be such a nice course.

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 17
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Gophers have their way with course

The parking lot is big with plenty of room and spaces.

The golf shop is small and sparse with no shirt’s available for sale.

The $45 loyalty program is a no brainer because you immediately get one round free and $7 off of your following rounds !

The course was in fair shape but the gopher population is exploding.

The greens were in fair shape but had recently been punched so they were slow and bumpy.

Pace was a little slow but we chipped and practiced putting while we waited since no one was behind us. We finished the round in 4:15.

Only one homeless guy was camped under the trees on the right side of the 16th fairway.

We enjoyed our round and we will be back.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Previously Played

Poor Course Conditions

My son and I have played this course multiple times and this last time has been our worse experience. The fairway conditions are not true fairway conditions and the putting greens are in poor shape. Seems like less and less attention is being put into the course. Also, they closed the driving range because of broken equipment so we weren’t able to warm up. Was a fun local course but I don’t think we will be playing there for recreational purposes in the future.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Dog patch

Greens were great. Fairways and traps were simply awful. Pace of play was an issue too. Will not return no excuse for not having the fairways in better condition.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
2.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Punched Greens

Cool little course but the Greens are Punched and they don’t discount for it.

And No Military Discount? Sad

Maybe I’ll go back in a month or 2 when the greens are done

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Previously Played

Aerification in progress. Only Back 9 open

Returned to course after a six month break to see the progress and was very disappointed. Aerification was in progress and front 9 closed. I paid full price to play the back 9 twice. The staff was not welcoming whatsoever, they do not have a starter or marshall to improve the pace of play. The course needs a lot of attention. The fairways were a mess with sand and potholes all over the place. The only positive was the putting greens. I don't see myself coming back this year. I hope they give the course the attention it needs.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Poor
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Dog patch

The greens were fine. Nothing else was there really are no fairways. You need to prefer your life and maybe you have to walk 10 yards to do so wouldn’t recommend it to an enemy..

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Terrible cost for course conditions

Paid $53 for the round to ride. Fairways are full of gopher holes, uneven ground, and dead grass. The greens were decent. Overall the course needs A LOT of attention. I would only consider playing this course again if it was $30 or less to play.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Fairly Easy
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