Played Willowick for the first time on 12/18/2025. The greens were good, held well, and rolled faster than they looked. The fairways were a little torn up and soggy in places. I had no issues with the tee boxes. Somehow I avoided all the bunkers. The service was great and the course was busy, so the pace was a little slow. I did not finish 18 due to darkness and a late st... » More

Played Willowick for the first time on 12/18/2025. The greens were good, held well, and rolled faster than they looked. The fairways were a little torn up and soggy in places. I had no issues with the tee boxes. Somehow I avoided all the bunkers. The service was great and the course was busy, so the pace was a little slow. I did not finish 18 due to darkness and a late start. I really like the layout and I will be back.
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12/23/25 Early bird tee time only thing available for my partner and I on Tuesday, 7:24am. Fog had just receded as we set up the balls. First time I had to play with my hoodie on this year. This course is also a bit out of my driving orbit 1hr 20 min from O.C. Green fee price and condition of the course made up for that. Beautiful setting ,deer everywhere. Small driving range, ... » More

12/23/25 Early bird tee time only thing available for my partner and I on Tuesday, 7:24am. Fog had just receded as we set up the balls. First time I had to play with my hoodie on this year. This course is also a bit out of my driving orbit 1hr 20 min from O.C. Green fee price and condition of the course made up for that. Beautiful setting ,deer everywhere. Small driving range, good carts (no GPS), beverage cart service, 5 holes have access to bathrooms. Fairways just about perfect, rough could be trimmed, narrow mature tree lined stay out. Greens healthy and fast.....lots of slope will frustrate the best on these surfaces! Let me say it again, the GREENS protect against low scores. Staff is casual but very organized, especially the starter keeping everybody informed and ready to roll. Pace was perfect all through the round. I'll be back.
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A true hidden gem. This course reminded me very much of Quail lodge, only slightly more scenic and slightly less difficult. Blue/white combo tees of about 6,400 offered a fair challenge.

I really liked that each hole seemed to have an offset fairway bunker, one on the right reachable for the short hitter and the one on the left reachable for the long hitter. They were ... » More

A true hidden gem. This course reminded me very much of Quail lodge, only slightly more scenic and slightly less difficult. Blue/white combo tees of about 6,400 offered a fair challenge.

I really liked that each hole seemed to have an offset fairway bunker, one on the right reachable for the short hitter and the one on the left reachable for the long hitter. They were sculpted, deep and I assume penal. (luckily, I missed them all) You really had to plod and think your way around this course. You need to shape shots around trouble and possibly lay-up on some holes as a dry wash comes into play on many holes.

The first hole tees off at the highest point on the course and most of the rest plays along the valley floor. Course was built in the fifties and designed by Bob e Baldock. He is responsible for quite a few private courses in the central valley. I always seem to enjoy his layouts, but this one blew me away.

Great valley setting surrounded by green hills and sparkling white bunkers. Course was a touch winter thin but didn't affect play at all. Just a real treat to play if you ever get the chance, I highly recommend it.
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Tough,tough,tough. Might be the most immaculate course I've ever played. Not a blade of grass or grain of sand out of place. Greens were smooth as glass and speedy. 6,332 white tees might have been the longest 6,300 I ever played. Steady 10-20 mph winds pretty typical in the afternoons I was told. Course had the look of a rolling layout to it, but it was deceiving. I believe I ... » More

Tough,tough,tough. Might be the most immaculate course I've ever played. Not a blade of grass or grain of sand out of place. Greens were smooth as glass and speedy. 6,332 white tees might have been the longest 6,300 I ever played. Steady 10-20 mph winds pretty typical in the afternoons I was told. Course had the look of a rolling layout to it, but it was deceiving. I believe I read a review that said the grass was kikuyu and that explained a lot. With the wind and no roll, the course played long. Tons of deep, flash faced bunkers didn't help the cause.

If that wasn't enough the sticky grass coupled with being constantly short made the day a true chipping adventure. Bump and runs wouldn't run, lofted chips would hit the firm greens and run for miles. After only playing it once my best guess how to score here is either try sculling all your chips and maybe they get close or play as far up as possible and hit every green in regulation. LOL

I checked out the photos on Greenskeeper, and it looked like they added a ton more bunkers and took out the pond. It's a pretty course for sure. Decent amount of elevation change throughout. I saw plenty members walking but the course is surrounded by housing so they would disappear. I don't think I'd want to walk 18 especially in the wind.
One review was written over 10 years ago and I paid about 3X what SCGA charged which is probably why they don't run outings out there anymore.
If you get invited, I highly recommend it, a little pricy for a reciprocal.
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Flat 10-hole par three course that was pretty green throughout. Small, elevated greens added a little challenge to a very green course in decent shape. Easy walk and a good place to practice short irons. Clubhouse is a temporary trailer, and it looks like they are working on the regular clubhouse, so money being spent. Nice warmup if heading somewhere else.