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Rating Index Rating
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3.8
443 Reviews (443)
5 Stars
119
4 Stars
197
3 Stars
92
2 Stars
22
1 Stars
13
Conditions
3.4
Value
4.1
Layout
4.2
Friendliness
4.2
Pace
3.7
Amenities
3.7
89.1%
Recommend this course
396 out of 443 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.1
19 Reviews (19)
5 Stars
7
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
5
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
3.5
Value
4.2
Layout
4.3
Pace
3.7
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.2
84.2%
Recommend this course
16 out of 19 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.9
40 Reviews (40)
5 Stars
14
4 Stars
11
3 Stars
12
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
2
Conditions
3.4
Value
4.1
Layout
4.3
Pace
3.8
Amenities
3.8
StaffFriendliness
4.3
87.5%
Recommend this course
35 out of 40 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
The thoughtfully designed layout features genuinely challenging holes while keeping parallel fairways separate for a smart, enjoyable round. Welcoming staff and outstanding value for money make this a favorite among local regulars.

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 6390 yards
Slope 124
Rating 70.7
Book a Tee Time at
Rancho Maria Golf Club
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Course Details

Year Built 1965
Golf Season Year round
Architect Bob E. Baldock

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes

Food & Beverage

Bar, Snacks
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Reviews

3.8
443 Reviews (443)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 6
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 10
Elevation Changes 8
Narrow Fairways 7
This course/club is great for:
Locals 14
Walkers 11
9-Hole Rounds 8
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 9
Worth the Drive 7

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Tee boxes need help

Course plays well. From easy to difficult holes. One major downfall and it’s always the same for years, the tee boxes are horrible. They are all uneven. Many to where your feet are above or below the ball depending on what side of the box your on. Makes for a very uncomfortable set up to the ball.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 37
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Decent muni course

Great value but the course needs some work, especially the fairways. Greens are pretty good, slow but in better shape than the fairways.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 26
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Like the course, friendly staff.

I’ve played the course before and have had a great experience. The only reason I had a problem was the pace of play this round. I was behind several groups that were playing a scramble. Such were the circumstances.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

The course condition was horrible

The course was under aeration and we were asked not to play second half. Regretfully , I was not notified about this matter by Golf Now. I think this kind of information should be conveyed to vip customers.

Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Potential

I play this course on a regular basis, the staff is always nice, the setting and views are great, the separation of holes is fantastic (no holes running side by side) the routing and overall variety of holes and shot requirements are all very good. However, this place needs some restoration. There are certain areas around the course that really need some repair and improvements. Some of the tee boxes are absolutely terrible, holes 8, 9,12,13,14 really need to be completely redone. The white tee on hole 9 is one of the worst Ever!

All along the edges, where the rough starts there are large clumps of grass/ weeds that have grown and then mowed creating thousands of really bad lies if your ball ends up at the rear of one of these clumps. Everyone I usually end up playing with are always worried about getting injured by hitting down through these clumps.

It would be great to see the owners spend a little rehab money on this place, this course has great potential but unfortunately it’s not being utilized.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great time.

The day, the price and the friendly staff all really good.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Big Potential

Have played this course several times this year. It’s very unique, there are no side by side holes. The property is massive, with giant fields and ravines in between the holes, which will someday probably be full of houses. The course was built in the 50’s, and is pretty fun to play due to the variety of holes and the peaceful and scenic setting. The course really needs a complete update starting with the extremely tired clubhouse, removal of several hundred dead/dying trees and improvements in irrigation. Many of the green settings look and play similar due to the same right and left bunkers guarding the front of half the greens, they need to brake this design up a little, which would make the approach shots a little more interesting. This course sits on a beautiful property with fantastic potential, with some money reinvested back into this course it could be one of the best on the central coast. Not sure if that will ever happen in Santa Maria, however if they ever develop the space between holes, they will definitely need to modernize the course. I enjoy playing here, but really wish it was a little better around the edges. Hope the owners decide to inject a little money and pride, could be great!

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 33
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

John B Reviews Rancho Maria

Don’t get out of the fairway to have fun and score well. If you get in the rough just punch out and keep going. Holes are pretty straight forward. Really fair tee boxes. I played from the white tees about 6100 and wife plAyed reds about 5200. The carts look like hot rods as they don’t have tops. My wife enjoyed driving the cart. The course is rustic and challenging . My wife made an Eagle from 57 yards with a lob wedge on hole 10. We will be back.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 22
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Fun Day

My wife and I met some new friends today from our home town. Fun day on the course. The greens were slow! Overall a very good value.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Diamond in the rough

First off with the drought hear in Cali. I did not expect to see great fairways. But they were in great shape because the course has its own wells. So my wife and I had a 12pm start time and were ready a little early and had no problem getting out. Tee box's, fairways and greens were in great shape. Greens were a bit faster than I expected and had a lot of slope to them. The course is for the most part tree lined, rough was not to high, but if you sprayed it past the trees your in Baranca or worse.

Played in 3.5 hours. Bloody Marys were great also. Will definitely play here again next time we are in the area.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 52
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

At least the weather is nice.

I want to like this course but when the staff realizes you have one of “the free tee times” (meaning the Hot Deal), they are not so friendly. Not a positive way to start the round. Not only that, they make you wait until the hot deal time and make you play with the other players who booked the other two hot deals. No one had teed off for over 30 mins, but we had to wait and then play as a foursome. Poor course management every time we play there.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Very Enjoyable

Very enjoyable round of golf. I like a lot about the course but many of the TEE BOXES are terrible.. They are uneven, with mounds and depressions. You should have a level lie on the tee box.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1000
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Top 1 Contributor
California Advisor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked

Walked the Whites (6148/69.3/120) as part of a SLO Co. Golf tournament. Played with my neighbor Mike and 2 other nice seniors. 4.5H POP under breezy, partly cloudy skies in the 60's. $26 to walk mid morning.

Older, parkland style course with some interesting holes that has few homes anywhere around the course. Few true water hazards but a decent amount of lateral and OB that can catch really errand shots. The courses main defenses are the sloping greens and the hundreds of 40+' tall trees that line all the fairways.

The tees were mediocre. Decent coverage, but most needed leveling.

The fairways had decent coverage, much more thin than lush.

The rough was thin and not tall. However, it was penal because of how uneven it was. Could be hard pan, weeds or lush within a 10' circle, and many more times than not, you had a poor lie.

The sand traps were decently maintained but needed more sand. Too thin around the greens.

The Poa annua greens were fairly quick, especially above the hole. I actually liked the greens even though I had a terrible putting day.

Quick efficient check-in. Marshall out patrolling trying to enforce POP. No drink cart, but they had an open restaurant at the clubhouse. Very basic carts, no roof or GPS. Course has basic 100/150/200 yard stones and stones on the tee boxes for yardages. All grass driving range. Nice layout that is a little rough around the edges, but still a fun course to play. Recommended.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 32
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Just pleasant!

Easy check in, course was in good condition and very playable. Not jammed up- we were able to play smoothly and had a very enjoyable round!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Best public course on the central coast of California.

Rancho Maria is a fun and challenging course. It is in very good condition for the amount play it gets. Kudo's to the course superintendent. My best golf advice is keep it away from trees, a lot of roots. The grill serves tasty and well priced food.

So if your looking for a good time and great views I recommend it. Home town golf at its best. Cheers!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Nice layout. Super fast greens

I always enjoy this course but the pace is slow. The greens were perfectly manicured but way to fast. The layout of the course is varied and super fun.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart
Difficulty Fairly Easy
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