Ojai Valley Inn
A view from Ojai Valley Inn.
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Rating Index Rating
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4.5
996 Reviews (996)
5 Stars
680
4 Stars
212
3 Stars
68
2 Stars
21
1 Stars
15
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.2
Layout
4.6
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.6
88.9%
Recommend this course
919 out of 996 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
19 Reviews (19)
5 Stars
11
4 Stars
6
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.3
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.5
StaffFriendliness
4.8
89.5%
Recommend this course
17 out of 19 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
45 Reviews (45)
5 Stars
29
4 Stars
10
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.2
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.4
Amenities
4.5
StaffFriendliness
4.7
86.7%
Recommend this course
39 out of 45 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
Ojai Valley Inn's course consistently earns high marks for immaculate conditions, fast sloping greens, and a strategically varied layout that challenges golfers of all levels. Welcoming staff, excellent amenities, and strong value through GolfNow make this resort course a standout booking.

About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Par 70
Length 6252 yards
Slope 131
Rating 71.0

Opened in 1923, Ojai Valley Inn Golf Course is one of California's first great courses. Over the decades that the course has been open, it has hosted a number of professional players and celebrities ranging from Arnold Palmer to Will Smith. George C. Thomas, Jr., who created the Riviera, collaborated with Billy Bell to design the original golf course but Jay Morrish made the layout considerably more challenging with renovations in 1988. Ten years later, two holes from the original Thomas/Bell layout that were lost during a redesign following WWII were completely restored and incorporated into the layout. The challenging golf course is very narrow in some spots and it features undulating greens that putt fast and true. The layout is not particularly long but it requires accuracy and proper club selection in order to score well.

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Course Details

Year Built 1923
Fairways Kikuyu Grass
Greens Kikuyu Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect George C. Thomas, Jr. (1923) William P. Bell (1923) Jay Morrish (1988)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
Pull-carts Yes
Caddies 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, Amex, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No

Available Facilities

Meeting Facilities, Conference Facilities, Banquet Facilities, Spa, Locker Rooms

Available Activities

Swimming, Billiards

Available Sports

Tennis

Accolades

The Best Way To Book Is With GolfPass+ Annual
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Reviews

4.5
996 Reviews (996)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 51
Patio Dining 44
Brunch 25
Course Challenges Include:
Elevation Changes 66
Bunkers 56
Forced Carries 53
This course/club is great for:
A Weekend Splurge 56
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 56
Advanced Golfers 44
This Course's Location is:
At a Resort 68
Worth the Drive 67
Convenient to the City 12

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 36
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Ojai - Drive, Team & Conditions a Winner

The effort made to get to Ojai is fairly significant. A windy road up the mountains from Santa Barbara which will require your full attention. Beautiful scenery all along the way and the little town of Ojai is quaint. The Resort is sprawling and a tad difficult to navigate around for your first time. The Team is exceptional, everyone friendly and the Golf Course was excellent. Greens rolling true and well maintained given the early February time period. Don't miss lunch at the Pub. Good feeling overall and only I missed was wishing I had booked my hotel stays there as well.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

This course has plenty hidden features

This course was well maintained, with plenty of sand, water, and trees, with elevated tees to right to left doglegs. The staff at pro shop was not to be expected being a previous five diamond resort and spa, a lot of the ammenidies of the past years is no longer available or simply not offered. During my round of golf, myself and four other carts had to be towed back to pro shop because of inadiquite charging. I still recommend this course to all simply for the sheer beauty of the setting, landscape, and course design.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Great course with awesome features

Beautiful course in great condition. The most high-tech cart-mounted GPS system I've seen. Great times with great friends without the hassle of a crowded golf course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

One of the best courses in California

Play it from the tips and be very challenged. It has, in the past, hosted the Seniors and unless you're on the Tour, it will be a test - and a fair one. Bring all of your shot-shapes as there is no dominant bend.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0

Great Course and fun to play!

Greens, fairways, rough, sandtraps, everything was in great shape. This is a must play for any avid golfer. I live in AZ now but whenever I come into town, I always make plans to play it.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 19
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser

Super Friendly Staff, Course So So...

As I only paid $69 to play this course, it is hard to legitimately critique my experience. However, that being said, here goes. The staff at Ojai Valley was spectacular. They could not have been more hospitable. The course however, was average + at best. The fairways were very thin resulting in EVERY shot leaving a clump of mud on my ball. I suppose I could have played clean and place. I overheard someone saying that the course was being overseeded. If so, that would explain a lot. Greens were in good shape and challenging.

I dont often play in Santa Barbara so I dont know what a typical green fee is, but I doubt I would ever pay the regular rack rate at Ojai Valley.

Many thanks to Golfnow.com for the opportunity to play a new course at an affordable rate!

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Challenging course with fabulous scenery

I bought the pre-paid rounds at GolfNow for $59 and that is a great deal. Since it was pre-paid, the rain did not deter me, but took away from what could have been a perfect day of golf. The staff inside is OK, but the staff working outside (starter) is exceptionally cordial and accommodating. Ask and you shall receive. The course is not long, but don't let that fool you into thinking you will easily score well. Direction is important, but placement is key, whether into the fairways or greens. The course was soggy that day, but obviously meticulusly maintained. The finishing holes are as difficult as it gets and drop dead gorgeous!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

A great test of golf; extremely fun to play this old gem!

Course was over seeding fairways and green surrounds. They offered an $89 green fee instead of the $180 rack rate. Even with the over seed the course was in great condition. The greens were excellent running about 9-10 on the Stimpmeter. When over seeded areas grow in the course condition will be excellent.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

The course was great to play and enjoyed the day

The greens and fairway were great and I enjoyed the day. The course is great and got a great deal on the green fees price on Golfnow. I would recommend you check discount sites for cheaper green-fees before paying the usual amount . I would also recommend that you send a weekend at the resort, its a great place just to chill and catch-up with the one you love.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 25
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

A REAL HIDDEN TREASURE !!

THE COURSE WAS IN PERFECT SHAPE, THE GREENS WERE SO PURE AND THE FACILITY WAS WAY ABOVE BOARD TO MAKE YOUR DAY LIKE HEAVEN !!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser

Greens are the stars

I realized by hole 3 that this was going to be a course that was all about positioning - and that the greens were going to be pristine all day long. As good as the greens are - and they are really good; true, fast (probably rolling 11,) - the rest of the course was surprisingly "municipal." Bunkers were shaggy and unraked, grass was growing in on the edges, fairways were sparse and had serious growth problems in spots. I got several really bad lies in the fairways because there just wasn't enough grass. The ball ended up on hardpan with tufts of grass behind or in front. Most of the tee-boxes were pure dirt with little, if any, spare grass growth. Many of the tees look as if they may have recently been re-seeded, so this is perhaps being addressed.

On consecutive, short par-4's (6 & 7), there are tree limbs hanging over the fairway about 70 yds off the tee that force you to hit a punch iron shot to get the ball out there in the fairway. Perhaps interesting on 1 hole, but 2 in a row? Seems more like cutbacks in the tree-trimming budget than the architect's design. A strong finish, as holes 14-18 are the class of the course.

When I arrived, there was no one at the bag drop area, so I unloaded my own clubs, chose a cart, and strapped them on myself before parking my car 300 yards away. Again when I left, there was no guest service staff to take my cart, clean my clubs or drive me to my car. Seems there have been staff cutbacks, which is understandable. For as few people on the course as there were, I also thought it was strange to only see the beverage cart 1 time during my entire round. She came by while I was on the 9th green. I asked if I'd see her again on the back-9 because I knew I'd want a drink later. She said yes, but I never saw her again. The starter was very friendly and accommodating.

Overall, a solid course, but the only spectacular feature is the greens. If you're a high-handicapper, the chipping and putting could be frustrating.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Featured
Verified Purchaser

Great veiws, stately trees and great greens

Ojai is a nice little get away town and ojai valley inn has a long and storied history. The course is fun,not to tough. The greens are very good and have hidden tricks (some breaks you can't see).The staff is more than accomodating, the whole experience is 2 thumbs up. JMJ

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Best course in Ventura County

This course was absolutely awesome!!!! The entire course was perfect. Couldn't believe the price I got through GolfNow.com. This was the third time I've used GolfNow, but by far the best deal ever. I will continue to use GolfNow in the future!!!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 19
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Deserves it's reputation

The course was wonderful. The staff was so welcoming. You would have thought you were a VIP and not there at a discounted round. It was a super day.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Very nice course, scenic

Helpful staff. Usually in very good condition. Par 3s are very difficult from back tees.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Great Value, worth the drive. Beautiful setting.

Did not play on the 20th due to course maintainance.. Have played several times previously. Always in good shape. A pleasure to play. During the week, early is best. Not crowded.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
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