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Rating Index Rating
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4.4
484 Reviews (484)
5 Stars
254
4 Stars
171
3 Stars
40
2 Stars
16
1 Stars
3
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.4
Layout
4.5
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.4
91.5%
Recommend this course
452 out of 484 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
13 Reviews (13)
5 Stars
8
4 Stars
3
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.4
Layout
4.5
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.3
StaffFriendliness
4.7
84.6%
Recommend this course
11 out of 13 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
42 Reviews (42)
5 Stars
25
4 Stars
11
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.3
Layout
4.5
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.4
StaffFriendliness
4.7
88.1%
Recommend this course
37 out of 42 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 6830 yards
Slope 125
Rating 72.7

The River Course at Alisal enjoys a scenic backdrop provided by the foothills of the beautiful Santa Ynez Mountains. Stands of mature live oaks, native sycamores, and elderberry trees sway against the vivid hues of the mountains. Though scenery abounds, don't get too distracted because the golf course demands a fair amount of attention. It's a challenging but not punishing layout that features a variety of hazards that will reward length and accuracy. Seemingly wide fairways are bordered by mounding and the large greens have subtle but tricky undulations. One of the toughest holes is the par-4 seventh, which has a challenge waiting for you everywhere you look. A beautiful vineyard runs the length of the hole on one side and on the other, there is a lake that runs all the way up to the green.

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River Course at the Alisal
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Course Details

Year Built 1992
Golf Season Year round
Architect Jack Daray, Jr. (1992) Stephen Halsey (1992)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
GPS Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Golf Simulator Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Indoor Practice Yes

Policies

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

Food & Beverage

Bar, Grill

Available Facilities

Clubhouse
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Reviews

4.4
484 Reviews (484)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 26
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

6-some

Great course. Great staff.

Only issue was that a 6-some was allowed to play by the marshal. It disrupted the round for several groups. The marshal made an attempt to skip the group up a couple holes but they bogged things down again on the back nine. It disrupted any chance of playing at a normal rhythm

.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 77
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 27
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Lovely course

The course was very well kept and the scenery was beautiful. The course had its challenges but was not too punishing. Fun to play.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Course has potential

The tee boxes need some help and the greens are shaggy. But standard layout and good for the price I reckon.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 44
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Very Nice

Really enjoyed the course and amenities Lunch was excellent at the Ranch course lounge

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 28
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Nice time of Year to play Alisal

For current conditions: Greens are fairly hard and true. Fairway nicely maintained. Check weather report for wind conditions. If foggy on the coast it's windy at Alisal. Overall a pleasant experience and a great location in Solvang. Worth the drive.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Best course in the Area

Very tight but fun course in the area. Always have a blast playing this course. It is in great shape every time I play a round. In my opinion….my favorite place for a round of golf on the Central Coast.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

The golf course was good value for the price. The cart paths could use some work.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Bueatiful

We had a beautiful day playing this scenic and challenging course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 28
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

Good but not Great at Alisal

I have mixed feelings about this course. I want to like it but always find it slightly disappointing, especially considering the relatively high rates. I only come up if I get a deal. It's a pleasant drive to go up to Solvang if you are from SoCal, and you can make a day of it in the Santa Ynez valley. The setting of the course is scenic and breezy. The layout is reasonably interesting. It's a relatively new course designed to be accessible to resort-level players. Meanwhile their older, more traditional 18 on the ranch is only open to people staying at the resort. The River Course is just dumbed down a bit too much for me. Other mid-level players may like it fine.

The greens I find the most frustrating. They are rolling nice now and are pretty hard, but almost every green is flat as a pancake, and pretty large, so you are in for a day of lag putts and tap-ins. Pace of play this particular Sunday was very poor. I got to know the foursomes behind and in front of us, as we met at every tee box. Overall I just wish it were 10% more challenging, but I am a low handicap player. Up the road in Lompoc, La Purisma is a much better challenge. But the river course is a pretty. pleasant place. People rave about the restaurant too. I haven't tried it but it is always busy. Oh, and at any of these area courses, beware the poison oak!

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Nice course

This is a nice course, being on the Central Coast is great. When you finish your round you can go for a bite to eat in Solvang.

Today was very windy which was a little bit of a struggle for us playing.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Beautiful day of golf

A windy day, but it was fun & sunshine out! Pace of play a little slow but not too bad. FaIrways had good roll, greens consistent, pretty flat course. We will play this again when in the area.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
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