I am spending some time up here in Pismo and decided to play Monarch Dunes which I haven’t played in a few years. I have played this course many times but on this most recent outing they charge 125 to walk and 150 to ride during the week and 175 to ride on the weekends. It’s considerably less if you live here and you’re a senior citizen. Before I get to the review, regardless ... » More

I am spending some time up here in Pismo and decided to play Monarch Dunes which I haven’t played in a few years. I have played this course many times but on this most recent outing they charge 125 to walk and 150 to ride during the week and 175 to ride on the weekends. It’s considerably less if you live here and you’re a senior citizen. Before I get to the review, regardless of where this course is located for the price they are charging there should be a GPS system detailing course and green views why they don’t have it is beyond me. On to the review, the course design is really great in my opinion but today so many areas are roped off so there is more walking involved which is fine but it just slows down play. Most of the tee boxes are fine, some are a little scruffy but for the most part level and ok. Fairways are ok but again at this price point it should be way nicer, maybe not desert nice but a lot nicer than what it is, I mean some of the fairways remind me of El Dorado or Lakewood. Lots of unkept rough or dead tree limbs and dead grass which start to creep up into the fairway. Greens are firm with little to no ball marks and roll probably 9-10 on the stimpmeter. We teed off at 10:45 and were a twosome and didn’t see anyone until hole 6 and I noticed a lot of private carts so maybe that’s a good thing because the course probably has a strong membership. Bunkers were nice and soft and very fluffy and easily to play from. All in all I enjoyed myself and I played here mostly out of nostalgia but at their rate I’ll stick with my memories and choose other very good options that are close by. Would recommend if only one has a deal of some sort of discount..
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Played last week early morning walking for $27(sr rate), finishing in a little under 3 1/2 hours. Tee boxes were in good condition, mostly level with good coverage. Fairways were in nice shape, mostly lush with a few bare spots, decent roll out and nice lies. Rough was playing 1-3 inches longer than fairways with some thin and bare spots here and there. Was in one greenside bun... » More

Played last week early morning walking for $27(sr rate), finishing in a little under 3 1/2 hours. Tee boxes were in good condition, mostly level with good coverage. Fairways were in nice shape, mostly lush with a few bare spots, decent roll out and nice lies. Rough was playing 1-3 inches longer than fairways with some thin and bare spots here and there. Was in one greenside bunker that had a good layer of nice white sand. Greens were in pretty good shape, playing on the soft side, rolling at medium pace with some being a little bumpy on the back side were they haven't completely healed from being punched. As stated two holes are playing with temporary greens making two short par fours even shorter. The 10th hole tee box has been moved up about two hundred yards because of some work being done on the road that runs along the course, turning it into a short par four. Overall decent conditions and still fun to play with even with some of the minor temporary changes.
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This was my 2nd round playing here. Really enjoy the mountain atmosphere, huge trees parallel to most fairways ,slight breeze drifting up from the valley below ,slope on every hole to force position golf. Good drives are rewarded here, but the greens will frustrate. Greens fast so be below hole or a birdie becomes a bogie. Can't believe I fixed only 1 ball mark as surfaces are ... » More

This was my 2nd round playing here. Really enjoy the mountain atmosphere, huge trees parallel to most fairways ,slight breeze drifting up from the valley below ,slope on every hole to force position golf. Good drives are rewarded here, but the greens will frustrate. Greens fast so be below hole or a birdie becomes a bogie. Can't believe I fixed only 1 ball mark as surfaces are firm! Rough 2-4". Traps ok, wet but gettable. Teeboxes in excellent condition. No GPS, good fairway markers. Driving range available, putting and chipping area convenient to proshop and restaurant. POP on Tuesday morning 4:25. $45! I'm getting out here more often. Great staff and special thanx to maintenance for course grooming care.
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With only one course open, it was really crowded this morning. Course is in nice overall condition. Greens have pretty much recovered from the recent aeriation. Fairways have good coverage, and the areas that were of concern have been recently resodded to address the issue. Fairways are as nice as they have been for a while and presents very well. Tee boxes and bunkers well mai... » More

With only one course open, it was really crowded this morning. Course is in nice overall condition. Greens have pretty much recovered from the recent aeriation. Fairways have good coverage, and the areas that were of concern have been recently resodded to address the issue. Fairways are as nice as they have been for a while and presents very well. Tee boxes and bunkers well maintained.
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Was able to get some dry skies yesterday and got out for 18. Lots of rain here lately.

Course actually played very well for the amount of rain we have had. As the course is located in lush farm land no doubt the reason the course drains so well.

Tees in good shape and all playable.

Fairways good coverage and good lies all round. Even got some good ... » More

Was able to get some dry skies yesterday and got out for 18. Lots of rain here lately.

Course actually played very well for the amount of rain we have had. As the course is located in lush farm land no doubt the reason the course drains so well.

Tees in good shape and all playable.

Fairways good coverage and good lies all round. Even got some good roll out on some of them.

The rough up here in N CA on most courses is kept pretty high vs S CA. And many of the courses fairways are wide with large areas of rough. Provides one with plenty of thinking and ways to play out of it to save strokes.

In addition to the rough this course has several large water hazards and lots of OB lining some of the holes.

Traps here could use some more sand IMO. The sand seems hard and coarse and you really have to power the ball out.

Greens were all clean and chipped/putted just fine all round.

Had to change out some of my irons to hybrids to play into the greens as they are all elevated most surrounded by bunkers and if you don't hit it high enough you will not hit them in regulation.

Fun course to play and reasonably priced. $37 with cart for Sr and Vets. $21 to walk.
And the prices in the grill are like they were in the 70's and not tax.

If you are in the area give it a play. It is not inside Travis AFB but outside so no issues with entry to it.
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