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Rating Index Rating
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3.5
1156 Reviews (1156)
5 Stars
166
4 Stars
252
3 Stars
338
2 Stars
194
1 Stars
206
Conditions
3.1
Value
3.9
Layout
3.7
Friendliness
4.3
Pace
3.9
Amenities
3.5
71.1%
Recommend this course
674 out of 1156 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.6
39 Reviews (39)
5 Stars
8
4 Stars
20
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
5
1 Stars
3
Conditions
3.3
Value
4.2
Layout
3.6
Pace
3.7
Amenities
3.5
StaffFriendliness
4.4
84.6%
Recommend this course
33 out of 39 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.8
105 Reviews (105)
5 Stars
38
4 Stars
33
3 Stars
15
2 Stars
12
1 Stars
7
Conditions
3.5
Value
4.2
Layout
3.8
Pace
4.0
Amenities
3.8
StaffFriendliness
4.5
80.0%
Recommend this course
84 out of 105 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

3.5
1156 Reviews (1156)

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 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played

Flags on greens

Greens too slow need maintenance

Fairways also need maintenance

No flags due to covid-19 however no advise instead people put a branch or a stick on holes (I wish they would have said no flags)

They need to figure this out. See a video on YouTube from Golfholics they show a video how this golf course managed the flags to stay on greens.

I have played Willowick so many times before.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Walked
Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/11/2020

Thank you for your review. We appreciate your feedback. Hope to see you again soon.

Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played

Golfing again

Golf course conditon didn't come close to being readyfor play. The day we played, work was being done to i.mprove overall play conditon but it's still going to take awiile.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/11/2020

Thank you for your review. We appreciate your feedback and support. We plan to catch upon maintenance now that we have our team back Hope to see you again soon.

Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

COURSE WAS BOOKED SOLID BUT WHEN I GOT THERE THE STARTER LET A THREESOME AND THEN 2 TWOSOME'S GO OFF WHILE OTHER PEOPLE WERE WAITING SETTING A LITTLE BACKLOG, BUT SURPRISED AFTER THE FIRST PAR THREE PLAY WENT ALONG AT A DECENT PACE.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/11/2020

Thank you for your review. We appreciate your feedback and support. Hope to see you again soon.

Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/11/2020

Thank you for your review. We appreciate your feedback and support. Hope to see you again soon.

Played On
Reviews 38
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played

Still the same

This course could be a gem. The fairways are choppy and full of bare spots. The greens have several different types of grass growing on them. They are not true rolling true. Nonetheless, it's better than staying home.

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

SMH

Course has an overall easy layout with wide fairways that provide tons of forgiveness. The same length in grass makes it tough at times because you can be in the fairway and still be hitting a shot out of the rough. The craziness of this course comes at about the 5-6th hole when you run into what would be a restroom at other courses- here it looked like a trap house. Crazy graffiti all around course and even some homeless entrapments on the back nine. Never seen that before, never thought I would on a golf course.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/11/2020

Thank you for your review. We appreciate your feedback and support. We are working with our local authorities to continue cleaning things up. Hope to see you again soon.

Played On
Reviews 9
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 04/29/2020

Thank you for your review. We appreciate your support and feedback. Stay safe and come see us again soon :)

Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Decent

Nice course greens are a little patchy and bumpy but overall decent. Allotnofssand bunkers in front of greens.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Default User Avatar
Commented on 04/29/2020

Thank you for your review. We appreciate your support and feedback. Stay safe and come see us again soon :)

Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

Sad to see it go

I'm amazed they get any play at all. The desire to maintain the course is gone!! I played the Wick for years but now they should make up their mind either closed it or maintain it!

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Default User Avatar
Commented on 04/27/2020

Kevin,

Thank you for your review. We are committed to bring the Wick back up to speed. We'll get to work and hopefully you'll have an opportunity to play the conditions that you expect shortly. Thank you.

Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Default User Avatar
Commented on 04/27/2020

Thank you so much for your 4 star review. We value your feedback, appreciate your support and hope to see you back soon.

Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Terrible Condition

After a long winter up north, I was excited to play some golf. Without swinging a club for 4 months, I had a hard time paying $150+ for a round of golf, that's why I golfed here. To course condition is BRUTAL!! Bumpy greens, irrigation issues, dead spots everywhere. I won't be going back.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Default User Avatar
Commented on 03/09/2020

Thank you for your review and feedback. We appreciate your constructive insights and are working everyday to improve our conditions.

Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
Commented on 03/09/2020

Thank you for your review. We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you again soon.

Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

The Wick

Great place to workout your swing! You save money because you will not lose a ball here, no water hazards and fairways are parallel for most of the holes

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
Commented on 03/09/2020

Thank you for your review and feedback. We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you again soon.

Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
First Time Playing

Poor Condition

I wish I knew how poor the condition was before I booked. Bumpy greens, irrigation leaks, terrible fairways. One of the worst conditioned courses I’ve played in a while. The pace was good, but it usually is at 6:30am. I joined another group and it was enjoyable. To bad for the bad condition. I won’t be going back,

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Default User Avatar
Commented on 03/09/2020

Thank you for your review and feedback. We appreciate your support and look forward to continuing to improve course conditions.

Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Previously Played

Holiday Golf

Had an afternoon t time was told pace was ok.From the first tee it was slow expected for holiday golf but 3 hrs for 9 holes is absurd.The course had no Marshal to regulate pace.This course is in really bad shape.The greens,bunkers,t boxes, and especially the fairways are a mess.For that this course charges you woukd think something wiuld be funneled back into the course.DON'T .The one redeeming quality is the staff.They do their best to make yiur round bearable.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
Commented on 02/24/2020

Thank you so much for your review and kind words describing our team. We value your feedback, and hope to see you back soon.

Played On
Reviews 51
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
Commented on 02/24/2020

Thank you so much for your review. We value your feedback, and hope to see you back soon.

Played On
Reviews 25
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Oldie but goodie....

Used to playing here for years. Course has new management and supposedly will have a new fleet of carts next week. Fairways are extremely BUMPY! So, if you have a really bad back, this old course is not for you!

For the money, and if you don't mind some noise in the community around the course, than it's a good place to play. Greens are very decent, and although they look flat, they can fool you! Good chipping and putting will make your numbers here.

Conditions Fair
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Default User Avatar
Commented on 02/24/2020

Thank you so much for your review and kind words. We value your feedback, and hope to see you back soon.

Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Don't waste golf time at this place...

This was perhaps a nice golf experience...50 years ago. Now, it's terrible. Out of carts constantly. Cart we had died on front 9. Fairways?....Well, they don't really exist; and what there is, consists of dry and hard patches of dead bermuda and crabgrass. 90% of the terrain is so bumpy it's difficult to walk or ride on. Greens were OK, but needed to be cut when we played. Cart paths are 50/50 concrete and old dusty dirt paths. Layout doesn't make sense most of the time and is packed together so that you're in danger of being hit by errant shots all around the course. A couple of protective fences in the obvious danger zones, but mostly in disrepair and looked terrible. If it's your first time playing course, the layout is so screwy that it's extremely difficult to know where the next tee box is, and that's if you're going to a hole where there's actually a sign. Some holes didn't even have a tee box sign...and if they did, they were facing in a direction that made it impossible to navigate your way to the next hole. Pace of play is horrid...long wait on every hole. Pro shop is a joke. A few hats, a couple sleeves of balls and boxes of lost & found items. Bathrooms locked at 5:00 because of vagrancy issues. I realize this place is old...but it's a mess. It was obviously left without attention and investment for many years. Not coming back. Don't waste your time. There's far better public/muni golf options in the area, for the same $$.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Default User Avatar
Commented on 02/24/2020

Thank you so much for your review and constructive words. New carts have arrived and we are addressing the other topics that you raised. We value your feedback, and hope to see you back soon.

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