Was out at Hunter Ranch yesterday. I can’t believe it’s been a year since I’ve played this favorite course. Hunter Ranch is a super fun and challenging course that offers a good mix of strategic shot making skills and enough grip it and rip it holes to let it fly. The elevation changes make the course fun but yet it’s still definitely walkable for those in decent shape.

The greens rolled super smooth at a nice medium fast pace. Greens are almost always in excellent condition here. Right now the fairways are also in top shape. They are super lush throughout. Sand traps have some of the best high quality sand in the business. They rival any top notch course.

I can’t say enough about what a fun course this is that also has the playing conditions to match. Prices are on the rise but still worth it. If you are traveling between Nor Cal and So Cal, Hunter Ranch is a great place to stop and play to break up the drive. It’s also in the middle of the Central Coast Wine District so it’s the perfect place to go for a weekend getaway. Golf in the morning and wine tasting (or bike riding) in the afternoon. It’s surrounded by some great back roads too for the car enthusiasts. Just remember, clubs in the trunk, wife in the front seat. I always get that one wrong!!

Possibly my favorite course ever, and I've played all the big ones. It is so good! Conditions were fantastic. This place gets so much play, as evidenced by old divots, but they really do a great job of keeping it pristine. Pace of play is an issue with the sheer difficulty combined with a lot of "tourist" golf. Played twice this week. First off yesterday and played in 4 hours. I've played before in the afternoon and it was almost 6 hours. Play early! Maybe greatest 1st hole you'll ever see. Spyglass is the best!

Course in great shape. This course is great way to get the feel of golf on the water. I've gone back and forth on this course for years, but I think I've finally decided it's not a great course. Something just doesn't feel authentic. I'd recommend playing once to decide for yourself. The redo should be very interesting. Was told by staff member that it will shut down in 2026 redesign for 1 year. Really hard to believe it will only take a year but I guess they want to get that revenue back ASAP. Great piece of property for Gil Hanse to work with but probably very restricted in terms of how much earth he can move with all the environmentally restricted areas.

I'm a big fan of this place. It's all about hitting the fairways. Rough is serious and easily a 1/2 stroke penalty. Lot of interesting holes. Course is in fantastic shape. I love the local feel. A very relaxing place. It looks much easier than it plays. Must keep it in the short grass. Super challenging greens when they get rolling fast.

Love Poppy Hills. $300 is too much for me, but $100 at twilight is great. Layout is fantastic and conditions to match. Pace of play was swift. Played 2 rounds this week. 4:15 and 4:00 hours. Beautiful course.

Great, tough course. A little too tight with homes encroaching on a couple holes on the front nine, but get past those, and it's a great layout. Everyone very friendly. I wouldn't pay the rack rate. I think it's an $80 course where I live in Dallas, but this is Monterey. Deals to be found and highly suggest that route. Love the local feel. Rode as a 4-some in 4 hours. Fantastic shape, except for bunkers, which were a little thin.

Course in great shape. Fantastic service. Like playing in a garden. Super lush and wonderful landscaping. Great conditions from tee to green. Wouldn't pay the rack rate but at a discount it's a no-brainer. Rode in 3 hours.

Tee Time: 630am
Weather: Clear/overcast. Course was dry and maybe damp in some locations.
Pace of play: 4 hrs (first group out)
Tee Boxes: Most tee boxes were solid but some were not level.
Fairway: Great condition and didn't notice any issues or bare spots.
Green. Although the greens were slow, it was in solid condition and rolling very true. They have recovered from the aeration from a month ago.

Overall: Didn't think the review from prior justified the condition of the course so felt I needed to post some solid numbers. Would say overall it's about a 8-8.5 condition. Definitely recommend playing here.

With the North closed this week for aeration, it was very busy this morning with only one course open, but as it turned out, all the maintenance personal were also out on the South as well. They were everywhere! Cutting tees boxes, fairways, fertilizing the greens, rolling the greens, cutting the greens, raking bunkers etc. There were holes which when I stood on the tee, I could count six or seven different maintenance people working on the hole. Great that all this is being done to groom the course, but sure makes it difficult to focus. But hey, certainly beats no maintenance people and the course in poor condition. The downside of playing first off/early.

A little late on the review. Able to get out early, which is a key to playing here (Actually anywhere now) to avoid the 5+ hour round. Larry's recent review is spot on. Greens rolled nicely, good coverage in the fairways. Bunkers/tee boxes in good shape. Nice that they keep this course in such nice condition, without having increased the green fees like. so many other courses Recommend this course both because of condition and value for your $$

Played today. Greens are not bad for being done last week, other than being slow they putted fine. By next week they should be back to normal. Traps need work and it appears no one wants to rake them either. Fairways need mowing as they are a little long at the moment. Tee boxes all fine. Rough is not a factor. Always excellent customer service from Jasmine and her team. By far the most reasonable course in price in S CA at the moment IMO. POP at 3 hours.

Walked the oranges Monday 4/22/2024 with my buddy Matt under a cold, misty/foggy 60 degree day with up to 2 clubs wind at times. Very weird weather for Ojai. Joined by a very nice twosome Tyrell and Paul. Our POP was horrendous at 5 hrs 20 minutes behind a packed tee sheet but our group enjoyed the round immensely even waiting sometimes 10/15 minutes per tee box at times. Super friendly staff at Soule Park.

Couple notes before I get into the conditions. They are redoing the back tee on 2 as well as resodding the landing area just over the gorge. Nice touch! They also have the entire tee box on 10 closed where they are completely leveling and resodding all 5 tees. Current teeing grounds on hole 10 are down below the hill. Can't wait to see the new box there.

The greens were in very good shape coming out of maintenance last month. Pin positions can be tough on these huge Gil hanse greens. Rolling medium pace, holding shots well and chipping very firm. Rated 8/10

Biggest change we saw was the rough around the Fairways and greens is thick! 4 inches plus in most sections, wet and grabby. Puts more premium on hitting Fairways and greens here. Rated 8/10

All tee boxes we played were level and lush and in good shape. Rated 8/10

Fairways are in really nice shape and a pleasure to hit from. Rated 8.5/10

Was in front greenside bunker on 14 that was well stocked with sand. The bunkers here are really penal at Soule. Rated 8/10

Highly recommend this track. Conditions will only improve with the warmer weather coming up.