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Rating Index Rating
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4.4
496 Reviews (496)
5 Stars
264
4 Stars
172
3 Stars
41
2 Stars
16
1 Stars
3
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.4
Layout
4.5
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.4
91.3%
Recommend this course
463 out of 496 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
23 Reviews (23)
5 Stars
17
4 Stars
4
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.5
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.8
91.3%
Recommend this course
21 out of 23 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
51 Reviews (51)
5 Stars
32
4 Stars
12
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.3
Layout
4.5
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.5
StaffFriendliness
4.8
88.2%
Recommend this course
45 out of 51 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
496 Reviews (496)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Patio Dining 17
Drinks 13
Amazing Food 9
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 23
Water Hazards 20
Forced Carries 10
This course/club is great for:
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 25
A Weekend Splurge 17
Locals 17
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 25
Near Local Attractions 16
Convenient to the City 10

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 18
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 44
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 23
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Once you play this course you will keep coming back! Enjoy!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

pretty warm

2nd time playing was nice first time but with all the rain area has had the course was in amazing shape. all around views were nice.

played by myself so seemed slow but actually was around 2 hours for front and less than 90 minutes on hotter back side.

Enjoyed the round and will play again when i return to the area

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

Nice course

This course is always in great shape and staff is always friendly.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
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 45
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Overpriced

This course isn't worth 120 bucks. Layout very cramped in. Tee boxes were like teeing off in Rough grass and the greens were inconsistent. Fairways and bunkers were nice. Course seemed mostly insane, but for 120 I guess I expected more.

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 18
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Among the better courses in the California Central Valley

Great staff at this course with Jeff, Jim, Collen, Ed doing a superb job. No directly parallel fairways for safety and beauty. Good variety on the layout with water and sand traps coming into play. The greens are well maintained and roll true.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 23
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 23
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Beautiful course

This golf course is awesome! If you haven't played here, you really should.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 23
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Beautiful course

This golf course is awesome! Once you play this golf course you will be back.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Cart problem

Great as usual.

One problem we have recently noticed is that golf carts have restrictions (cart governors) that are too strict or tight. We have had numerous issues in areas that should be accessible but the cart will not move forward. One time we could not move forward and if we reversed we would fall into a sand trap. Needed assistance to get going again and caused a delay in play for those behind us.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 18
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Thanks to the guys in the Pro Shop. I had a great time playing the course. Course is in great condition…thanks again guys!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 23
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Fantastic Course Layout

Challenging course! Fairways & greens are nice. Staff at this golf course are great. Plan on playing here once a week.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 23
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Lovely Golf Course

The scenery at this course is amazing. The crews that handle repairs & keep up with the grounds at this golf course are always out in these fairways making it look great. Definitely will be a weekly regular for me.

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
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 23
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great course

The staff are wonderful! Greens and fairways are in excellent condition. Views throughout the entire course are incredible. Luckily, golf now / tee off has this golf course on their list so you can take advantage of the Great deals they offer! It's worth it.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 23
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Awesome

Great course to challenge yourself in golf. Fairways & greens are well done by the staff that work hard to make this course a great experience.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
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The Inn At Spanish Bay Stay & Play Package

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