The Ranch Golf Club

Overall this course wasn't as bad as everyone made it out to be. Will you loose balls ? Yes, but a great place to practice your accuracy and course management. The course plays short so lack of distance players like myself can get on the green In regulation more often than not. I played from the blue and did not have an issue from the tee box. However, fairways are a little shoggy and cart path only are annoying.

I would play again but not with my pro Vs.

Golf course is a target golf course. Many shots require straight and not necessarily long shots. Many hate the course because they lose dozens of golf balls, but if you play smart you can enjoy the course and save your balls. Greens are heavily sloped (tiered), but if you use the tiers to your advantage, you can score. Course is green, and that's 4 stars already, with no hard pan.

Very challenging course map and well designed course.. but if you are not under 90's, it is very difficult to play.. good luck..

This course is not for beginners. Extremely tight fairways, drives have to be precise. very easy to make big scores, plenty og OB, bring extra balls, other than that, very pretty course, nicely up kept, just extremely changing.

This course has quite a few holes -par 5's especially where you are forced to hit a hybrid into a layup zone off the tee or you will hit into the evironmental area. Almost every tee shot requires some sort of lay up off the tee or you will run right into the barranca.

The track itself is target golf on steroids, but is beautiful and unique. Ridiculous how many balls you lose, even if you're good, making good shots. Don't play an expensive ball. It's in great shape, because you can't drive on the fairways and it gets little play, because the beginning golfer can't play this track.
If you can make more of the $25 offers earlier, say starting at two or three and weekend twilight, your rounds per week may go up

The Ranch is a beautiful course and offers many challenging holes to play. The difficulty arises from the fact that it is very deceptive. Keeping the ball in play requires not only a good shot, but also the right club. Sounds like common sense right? But there are many holes where a 150 yard shot will actually carry out to 180 or 190 because of the elevation changes, or many other factors that come into play. In other words, bring a few extra balls. the only bad things about this course are the fact that the tees are not level, in fact they aren't even close to level. You will be hitting shots with the ball either below or above your feet, or on a mound. Also, there is no range or chipping green to warm up on, and the putting green is much slower than the actual course greens so dont putt for too long. but other than that its an interesting course and still a lot of fun to play. Plus despite the tees the course is extremely well kept. It's definitely worth the GolfNow deal.

@briand408

The Ranch is built in an impossible landscape. It is rather like a 3D video game simulation of a golf course. Hitting across canyons, up hill and down. Extremely challenging but fun.
You will see wild rabbits and turkeys. Some greens are covered in ball marks but all in all the course is fairly well maintained.
They absolutely over water. Some bunkers had standing water and many areas are mushy. This makes no sense in a severe drought.
My biggest criticism is the extreme length of play. For the second time it took 5 hours to play 18 in a foursome. Swing by Swing says it is over 7 miles from tee one to 18th green.

This is one of the most difficult courses that I've played but I enjoyed playing here every time . The course is beautiful and although I lost quite a few balls I will definitely play here again.

Your down canyons up hill Then your on top of a mountain having a drink with some fun management it was a great time do it again .

My friend and I are hackers at best, but we read many positive reviews of this course and we booked an awesome deal for $29 for green fees and a cart. As we stepped to the first tee, the view was amazing. This continued on every hole. The conditions of the course were not consistent with the build up, however. I understand the water shortage, but most of the fairways were punched up and choppy. The bunkers were unkept and hard as a rock. The greens rolled nicely, but I'm not sure anyone that plays this course fixes their divots... very disappointing. Most of the greens were littered with ball marks. Another weird quirk were two of the par 3s were under 100 yards, which doesn't fit the course at all. Everyone that says to bring a lot of balls is correct. There is very little room for error, at best. Probably not the course for higher handicaps to play for sure. Personally, I would not play this course again in the current conditions, but I will say the views on every hole were amazing. Lots of pictures taken.

This is the second time I played a golf round at The Ranch. The views and the panoramic vistas are spectacular. I had a 7 AM tee time and when out by myself and had a good round. This course takes a little getting used to and I cut 10 strokes off my score from the blue tees versus my prior round two weeks ago. Well the slope is quite high, once you get used to playing strategically, your score can come way down and not lose so many balls. I highly recommend playing here and it is just a wonderful course.

Love this course but it is really challenging. I suggest that you approach your first round or third with a light heart....every hole is different and has different challenges. Plan to laugh and make sure you are just enjoying the day, the golf and it is only a game!

Views are spectacular of Santa Clara County!

Staff is excellent also.

Beautiful scenery, great challenges, fairways and greens in top condition. This course reminded me of playing in Arizona where you have to target a lot of your shots.
Ellegant facility. My only dissappointment was how no one readied your bags on the cart and no one wiped the clubs afterward. This course looks classy and leads you to believe you would receive this kind of treatment.

Great course. Fairways are in good shape, but bunkers have gotten no love from the staff. Awesome views. Bring a lot of balls.

This Beautiful Golf Course is Tucked away in the Hills of San Jose, CA.
The Starting hole is an short par 4 that can make you believe that a good golf score is there for the taking.
Nothing could be farther from the truth. This is a Golf Course that can take on all comers from Scratch players to weekend warriors. Choose your Starting Tee correctly and you will have more fun and enjoyment. The Views are exceptional. Be sure to bring plenty of extra balls just in case you might need some. Hint, Hint.
The Bunkers could use some TLC as they have become hard and compact so stay out of them and they won't be a problem.
The staff is friendly and ready to help with your needs. Give this Golf Course a try to test your skills.

Ranch is one of most challengist course in northen california, slope rate is 147, definitely not a course for a beginner, take more golf ball with you. so number one thing is to keep the ball in play to play this course, hit it straight you will be fine, other wise is a long day, also need pay an attention to up, down, side whatever slope of lie when hit your shot, and the placement of your shot is also in account. the course is on the top of hill, so a good view, don't forget take your camera phone with you.

I played this course with my friend.
This course was very challenge able and fairway condition was very good.
It takes only about 25 mins from Santa Clara.
I am very satisfied.

The only thing the ranch could improve upon is having the food and beverage cart lady come by more often. Many times I have been ready to buy food on the course but the cart lady never comes by. Other then that is course is awesome!

This course is so beautiful with its high mountain views over looking all of San Jose. The course offers well kept greens/ fairways and is in remarkable shape. The only negative is that you have to buy something showing distances. The tee box will have a double canyon which you will have no clue if you should use a driver or a 3 wood. The course also plays narrow so if you have a slice bring a lot of beater balls. Over all a great time . . . Oh and being suntan lotion