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Rating Index Rating
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3.5
1129 Reviews (1129)
5 Stars
162
4 Stars
237
3 Stars
335
2 Stars
190
1 Stars
205
Conditions
3.1
Value
3.8
Layout
3.7
Friendliness
4.4
Pace
3.9
Amenities
3.5
68.9%
Recommend this course
650 out of 1129 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.7
34 Reviews (34)
5 Stars
13
4 Stars
10
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
4
Conditions
3.3
Value
4.1
Layout
3.8
Pace
4.0
Amenities
3.6
StaffFriendliness
4.5
73.5%
Recommend this course
25 out of 34 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.8
107 Reviews (107)
5 Stars
44
4 Stars
25
3 Stars
17
2 Stars
11
1 Stars
10
Conditions
3.4
Value
4.1
Layout
3.9
Pace
4.1
Amenities
3.8
StaffFriendliness
4.5
75.7%
Recommend this course
81 out of 107 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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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 - $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
1129 Reviews (1129)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 84
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather

Too Soft

Course being readied for tourney which make couse very soft. Long roughs and fringes. Pace at 3 1/4 hrs because of heat.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Default User Avatar
Commented on 07/22/2019

Thank you Sarpei for your 4 star review. We appreciate your support and hope to see you again soon.

Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
First Time Playing

DONT PAY MORE THAN $20

Horrible course, not taken care of at all. There is literally homeless people living on the course, and it is not cheap to play. I played a cheaper courses that are far better than this, I would only come back if they paid me to play.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Default User Avatar
Commented on 07/15/2019

Thank you for your review. We take customer feedback seriously, and are working hard to improve the customer experience. We are under new operators and investments are ongoing to bring Willowick back to where she should be. Hope to see you again in the future.

Played On
Reviews 22
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Used cart

Faiways, rough cut almost the same

Easy to get on. Pace of play was not rushed. Course was not busy. Fairway cut is not as short as it used to be. To me with the golf now deal this is an excellent course for casual and fun play.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Default User Avatar
Commented on 07/15/2019

Thank you for your review. We appreciate your support. We are under new operators and investments are ongoing to bring Willowick back to where she should be. Hope to see you again in the future.

Played On
Reviews 35
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great course and quick play

This is a course I haven't played in years and I loved it. Greens are in great shape fairways just o.k. but look good.

Length was nice and pace of play was awesome. Our Foursome was done if 3 hrs and really enjoyed it.

Thank You,

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Default User Avatar
Commented on 07/08/2019

Thank you for taking the time to post a review. We work to provide our guests a great golfing experience and look forward to seeing you again soon.

Played On
Reviews 16
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Good challenging course

Had a nice round, a few wayward shots, but overall it was a good experience.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Not bad

Course used to be really bad. But with new management the starting to get on top of it. I'll definitely play there more. Greens are almost completely back from being punched. Fairway does have long grass in the rough is even longer. Need to really pay attention to watch a ball after you hit it. or else she have a high possibility of a lost ball.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
Commented on 07/01/2019

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

Played On
Reviews 37
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Wet weather
Used cart

Overall Good Value for the Money

I was told by the starter today that the Willowick GC is under new management, by the Billy Casper Group. It's not being shut down as previously rumored. This course has great potential, hope to see significant improvements in the near future.

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Default User Avatar
Commented on 06/24/2019

Thank you so much for your review. You are correct about the new operator "Billy Casper Golf" planning to improve conditions and create new programs and specials. We all work to help ensure our guests have the best possible experiences. We value your feedback, and hope to see you back soon.

Played On
Reviews 47
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Fun, Flat Course!

Fun, Flat Course!

Should be able to bogie/birdie or par every hole (simple layout).

Actually played the front 9 solo in one hour. Back 9 had slow players stacked up all the way through (foursomes AND fivesomes).

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 51
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
Commented on 06/17/2019

Thank you for posting a review. We take your opinion seriously, and are working every day to improve customer experience. If you wouldn't mind, we'd love to speak directly with you in order to improve our teams performance. Please contact us at info@willowickgolf.com

Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Default User Avatar
Commented on 06/17/2019

Thank you for posting a review. We take your opinion seriously, and are working every day to improve customer experience. If you wouldn't mind, we'd love to speak directly with you in order to improve our teams performance. Please contact us at info@willowickgolf.com

Played On
Reviews 2
2.0
Previously Played

Mediocre round

Course layout isn’t great, but the lack of attention it gets hurts. Also had some weird experiences with homeless and drunk people on the course. I’d play again if it’s cheap, but that’s probably it

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Poor
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
Commented on 06/12/2019

Thank you for posting a review. We appreciate your support and interest in our facility and hope to you'll enjoy the improvements that we have planned. Looking forward to seeing you at the course in the future.

Played On
Reviews 16
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

A little rough in places, but a good value.

I’m very pleased with the course, it had a few rough spots. Well worth the price

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 06/12/2019

Jimdog, Thank you for posting a review. We appreciate your support and interest in our facility and hope to you'll enjoy the improvements that we have planned. Looking forward to seeing you at the course in the future.

Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
First Time Playing

Horrible

I have played at both great and not so great courses. This experience was horrible. No Marshall to keep pace. There were random people driving around on golf carts not doing anything but making noise. Greens were patchy, uneven, and not one person repaired their divots. tee boxes and greens are literally right next to each other. Sand boxes we hard as a rock. Oh yeah... there was literally a homeless person living right off of one of the fairways. Tent set up and everything. Trash everywhere. The rough had long weeds and super tall grass, that's if it was even green. And there was cotton spread out so you couldn't even find you ball. Never again. Don't waste your time or money.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/28/2019

Thank you for posting a review. We appreciate your insights, and feedback. The course was just taken over by Billy Casper Golf with improvements planned. Hope to see you again soon.

Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Good value

Course was in good condition and good value for the money. For some reason it was not crowded at all and I was able to play alone at 8:00 am. Finished round in under 3 hours.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/28/2019

Thank you for posting a 4 star review. We appreciate your insights, feedback and support. Play quick at the Wick! :) Hope to see you again soon.

Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Previously Played
Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Default User Avatar
Commented on 07/30/2019

Thank you for your review. We appreciate your feedback and are working hard to improve the customer experience. Please let us know if there is a specific service area you are dissatisfied with.

Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 07/30/2019

Thanks for your review! Hope to see you again soon.

Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Greens were very bumpy. Entire course was bumpy and very uneven. Clubhouse had nothing in it and restaurant was closed

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Default User Avatar
Commented on 07/30/2019

Thank you for your review. We apologize for your experience and appreciate your feedback. If you would like to continue this conversation, please feel free to reach out to us at info@willowickgolf.com.

Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 07/30/2019

Thanks for your review! Hope to see you again soon.

Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Cold weather
Used cart

Not bad

This course gets a bad rap. Location isn't great; a lot of the holes aren't memorable; what's with the huge bunkers; no rakes in the bunkers; etc. But overall, it isn't as bad as described. The greens aren't horrible. Maybe a little bumpy at times, but they aren't slow. I hate slow greens. The fairways had so-so coverage. I don't care about no grass in the rough as long as there is grass in the fairway. So it's a muni with graffiti on some walls and lots of bunkers are missing rakes, but the greens are okay (despite the multiple colors) and there was enough grass on the fairways.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Default User Avatar
Commented on 07/30/2019

Thank you for taking the time to leave this review. We value your feedback and hope to see you again soon.

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