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Rating Index Rating
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4.4
488 Reviews (488)
5 Stars
258
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
4.3
Amenities
4.4
92.1%
Recommend this course
456 out of 488 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
15 Reviews (15)
5 Stars
11
4 Stars
3
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.5
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.7
93.3%
Recommend this course
14 out of 15 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
44 Reviews (44)
5 Stars
27
4 Stars
11
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.3
Layout
4.5
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.4
StaffFriendliness
4.7
88.6%
Recommend this course
39 out of 44 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
488 Reviews (488)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great shape

We played this course twice in one week. The course was in great shape, the staff was friendly and the hot dog at the turn tasted great!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart

I was hoping for more...

When you think of Alisal Ranch, you think of an unforgettable experience, and I was hoping that this course was going to continue that experience. Unfortunately, the Ranch course and the Alisal Ranch experience is much different on the River course, and maybe it was just my wrong expectations that detracted from the round. Overall the course was "fine" - but in a world where we have many courses at our disposal, I don't think I have to come back here - but I really wanted to play here! My review stars with an unmanned or unmarked bag drop, which is fine, but I expected a bit more. Check-in was fine, but the staff there was apparently "inattentive" per my easy going wife. We were assigned a cart and went back out to grab our clubs from the bag drop and carried them around the clubhouse / restaurant and into our assigned cart. We then drove down to the ~10 person range where you have to pay for range balls in S/M/L sizes at the clubhouse. Again, fine, with the right expectations. We proceeded to hit a few balls and rolled a few putts before heading off to the first hole. We couldn't get any food or drink at the restaurant and they told us to get something at the half-way house separating 9 green and 10 tee. It was a little bit out of the way, but the woman who was working there was the highlight of the day! She was super sweet and helpful, and just a delight. The golf course was relatively full of Father's Day groups, and everyone was very nice. We were a fast-moving foursome, and two of the foursomes out there let us play through and we ultimately ended our round in about 3.5 hours, even in the wind. Not much to complain about there! I would just say that the course was just "average" as far as course conditions, dead grass spots, very beat-up cart paths, poorly healing greens from punching (or something!?), and uneven tee boxes. It would be a course I would pay $50 for, not $112. Finally, be careful if you're using the electronic scorecard! We were coming off 18 green and getting ready to take a photo of the screen and we noticed that all of our scores were erased from the touchscreen! We did go into the clubhouse and they were able to pull it up on their software up to the 17th hole using our cart number, but beware if you're trying to keep your score on the GPS touchscreen system! Overall, I am glad that we were able to play on Father's at the River Course, and appreciative of the foursomes that let this twosome play through - but there just wasn't much there that would bring me back at that price.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

So fantastic

It was a first and won’t be the last. Great course and pace. I will be back.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Continuous Improvement

The addition of the color screen, GPS golf carts is a fabulous addition to a well taken care of course.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Central Coast Gem

This course has its challenges! From tight fairways to reachable water and sand hazards. If you're a straight shooter, this is the course for you. I have Golf just about every course on the central coast of California and consider this by far the best course I've ever played and will continue to come back because of this gem of a course I challenge any golfer to come check this place out because I will guarantee a day of satisfaction when it comes to Golf.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Excellent course!

My group had an outstanding time as usual. This course is in tremendous shape, and the employees were friendly and courteous the entire time.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 19
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

River Course

It’s a better course when the greens are not perforated.

Temporary condition which means all of my ratings go up a notch when the greens are in better shape

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

World 🌍 Class Golf ⛳️ Course

Beautiful course. Challenging holes and course layout. Staff were amazing and kind in the clubhouse. Excellent customer service and care

Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 8
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Beautiful Outing

My wife and I had a golf date here. The weather was perfect and the course is in great shape.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 10
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
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