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Rating Index Rating
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4.4
473 Reviews (473)
5 Stars
247
4 Stars
168
3 Stars
40
2 Stars
15
1 Stars
3
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.4
Layout
4.4
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.3
94.6%
Recommend this course
442 out of 473 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.2
23 Reviews (23)
5 Stars
12
4 Stars
6
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
3
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.1
Value
4.2
Layout
4.4
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.4
StaffFriendliness
4.7
82.6%
Recommend this course
19 out of 23 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
63 Reviews (63)
5 Stars
31
4 Stars
25
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
3
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.4
Layout
4.5
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.4
StaffFriendliness
4.7
93.7%
Recommend this course
59 out of 63 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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$120 in tee time credits
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Reviews

4.4
473 Reviews (473)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Best in Central Coast of CA

Overall, this is the best in the area. The carts have club/ball scrubbers and perform like new carts.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 18
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Private golf experience for public golf money

I feel spoiled every time I tee off at the River course at Alisal. From the perfect amount of elevation, to the picturesque backdrop, you're going to enjoy yourself even if you're not scoring well. This is what public golf courses everywhere aspire to be.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Experience review

Staff is pleasant, restaurant and staff was great, course is challenging and in good condition so everything was great.

We had a very bad experience with the cart girl. We would wave her down and she would drive away and or she would park at the restrooms by hole 4 and sit there for over 1/2 hour and make you come to her the point of a cart is that they come to you.

She also didn’t take credit cards and just has a bad attitude. The course and people are fantastic but the cart person put a bad thought in mind and I do t like that. It’s not the first time she has done this as well. The course should consider another replacement.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 28
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 34
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great layout, needs attention

Love this layout but course has definitely degraded since last visit. Many denuded tee boxes; stray grass types growing in the wrong places is getting out of control; and just general maintenance and upkeep is lacking. Even got shot in the leg with a pretty healthy stream of water when flushing in the on-course bathroom! (Too funny actually…) I know it’s hard to keep up with all the leaves this time of year but I lost two balls very close to the fairways. Hopefully this was just a single point in time because it really is a nice track. I know these guys can do better….just re-condition one hole at a time…and make it right.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once 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 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 10
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once 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
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice course

Pretty nice course. I might recommend a lunch time tee time. I gets a little chill and foggy for early morning rounds in the mountains

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 26
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
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