Decided to play Rancho Park today even though I hesitated because of the notorious slow place of play. I play this course once or twice a month depending on how much patience I have. Had a 10:12am te... Continue »

Decided to play Rancho Park today even though I hesitated because of the notorious slow place of play. I play this course once or twice a month depending on how much patience I have. Had a 10:12am tee time but Mike (funny as hell) bumped me up to a 9:36am tee time. Got paired with three elderly men. Two of them left after 9 because they were tired.

First off, the course of over watered because of the unusual warm weather we had the last couple of days. The first tee was the busiest I have ever seen. Two lawn mowers going at it down the fairway and up the fairway. Two maintenance people over watering the greens on the first green. First off, you should water the greens in the early morning hours and not when the sun is out and secondly, it should only take one person to do the job. The greens were overly wet and slow. I'm use to having the greens semi fast to medium but it felt like I was putting in my living room shag carpeting. The fairways were nicely mowed but again damp and saturated in some spots. Not much rolls with driver.

I have also noticed that this course is not as crowded as before since the rate increase. $33.00 to walk for a resident tack on another 16 bucks to ride as a single. $49 bucks a round? Yet, my playing partner payed only $20 because he had the senior rate. I have also noticed that this course is becoming an old players course. Everywhere I look there were senior citizens in droves. I have nothing against older players but come on give me a break. Same course but because they are over 60 they gets a discount? Ridiculous! For a muni course that use to cost $21 just 5 years ago. The financial system has really taken a hit for the city of Los Angeles. I have a simple solution. Reclaimed and use wasted park land and other unused land and create more golf courses. It will create more jobs, relieve over crowding on golf courses, and maybe even lower rates through out the system.

Back to the review of the course. The greens were all wet and slow for the most part and so were the fairways. The bunkers were decent. Wet for the most part but it made those long fairway bunker shots easier. I also think that they need to put up some large trees or hedges along the left side of the third hole par 3. I don't mind the foot traffic or movement of cars but when a large truck stops to yell "fore!" in our back swing it tends to be a little distracting. Over all not bad or good for the price. I finished just under 5 hours. Pretty good for Rancho Park. They seemed to have finished the driving range renovation on the right side and the new pro-shop management is nice too. I just hope this course doesn't turn into Penmar. For $49 I can got Los Verdes, Alondra, Simi Hills and even Moorpark(when they have their specials). But since it is relatively close to my home I guess I have no choice.
One last thing. If you go on Tuesday their is a really cute girl at the snack shop on the 12th tee.

Rancho Park Golf Course Review
Los Angeles California Golf Course Reviews

Because of geographics, I rarely have the opportunity to play Rancho anymore. While I have always loved this old traditional track, taking well over 5+ hours to play coupled with a short delay in gett... Continue »

Because of geographics, I rarely have the opportunity to play Rancho anymore. While I have always loved this old traditional track, taking well over 5+ hours to play coupled with a short delay in getting off on time, plus the fact that for $38.00, there are a number of fine courses elsewhere which can be played in well less than four hours for less $$, some of the "lure" has gone.

Almost three hours to make the drive home makes me re-evaluate how many more times I'll make the trip. I realize that Rancho Park won't miss me, because there are lots of people in line to play here. Too bad there aren't more courses like this closer to my home.

Rancho Park Golf Course Review
Los Angeles Golf Course Reviews

Played as the first group out on Sat. 10/22. Really foggy, so we played a little slower on the front nine. All in all the course is in really good shape, with the greens recovering nicely from the rec... Continue »

Played as the first group out on Sat. 10/22. Really foggy, so we played a little slower on the front nine. All in all the course is in really good shape, with the greens recovering nicely from the recent aeration. Tee boxes on the par threes need more love from the maintenance staff as well as the golfers who are in carts with SAND!! i generally take two extra bottles with me and then refill at the turn!! I could still use much more. Please fill divots and replace! Thanks to all the maintenance and clubhouse personnel.

Rancho Park Golf Course Review
Los Angeles Golf Course Reviews

This is a review of the Par-3 course at Rancho Park, which is situated off to the left side of the second hole on the big course. Lots of golfers who play the big course aren't even aware of the Par-3... Continue »

This is a review of the Par-3 course at Rancho Park, which is situated off to the left side of the second hole on the big course. Lots of golfers who play the big course aren't even aware of the Par-3 course.
I play this course most Saturdays and Sundays around 7 a.m., usually with my brother. It takes about an hour to an hour and a half to get around. The course is 998 yards long, the shortest hole being about 80 yards and the longest 145 yards. The tees are mats, not grass, so if you don't like to hit off mats, go elsewhere. The greens are maintained by the same crew that handles the big course maintenance, they are often in better shape than the regular Rancho greens because the traffic is a little less. There is a good-sized putting green, and a separate chipping area with a sand bunker for practice.
This is a short course, but it's no pushover. The greens are quite small, and some even have a fair amount of undulation to make life more difficult. Two of the shortest holes, nos. 6 and 7, are protected by some pretty tall trees that can grab a wedge shot that's even two or three yards off. The greens on nos. 5 and 6 are effectively postage-stamp sized because of the slope of the green. Kikuyu grass rough throughout can play havoc with chip shots. If you land in one of the three bunkers on the course you can pretty much kiss par goodbye, as you will have an extremely delicate sand shot and no green to work with.
When you tell someone that you play the Par-3 course, they inevitably will make some comment like "That must be a great way to practice your short game." My answer is always yes, it's great, but I never see them out at the Par-3 subsequently.
Another benefit of playing the Par 3 is that it gives you 9 shots at a hole-in-one every round. I've scored 5 aces here over the years, and another hole-out par after a hooked tee shot over the fence. My brother has had two aces in the last year.
The last time I played, which was this past weekend, I managed to shoot my age for the weekend (58 total, 9 holes on Saturday and 9 on Sunday).
So this course has a lot going for it, if you want a fast round with reasonable challenge and especially practicing shots from 140 yards on in.

Played 5/7/11 first group out, walking. Greens were almost completely recovered from punching and were great, if a tad slow. If people could just keep up with the group in front of them, this course w... Continue »

Played 5/7/11 first group out, walking. Greens were almost completely recovered from punching and were great, if a tad slow. If people could just keep up with the group in front of them, this course would be great all the time. But, alas, the group behind us (2nd group) was about two holes behind after 7 holes. A bit more aggressive marshaling would help. Oh well it's Rancho!

A very decent track considering the price, location and business of the course and range.
The course requires accuracy from the tee and sharpness with the irons as the fairways are reasonably tight a... Continue »

A very decent track considering the price, location and business of the course and range.
The course requires accuracy from the tee and sharpness with the irons as the fairways are reasonably tight and the greens are small. The course is not overly long but will punish bad shots because of the tree-lined fairways. Once in the trees, take your medicine and punch out unless you want to take a 6 or 7.
Not a great deal of slope on the greens but putting can be difficult as the greens are pretty slow and bumpy.
The range is good, however I personally do not like hitting off synthetic mats. The chipping area is small and the green is like concrete and is not receptive at all (unlike the ones on the course).
It's my local course so I play regularly and try to avoid peak times as it's one of the busiest Municipal courses in America.
Worth the twilight rate, but would hunt out a cheap deal online elsewhere if peak play was the only option.
Solid public course.

Played 1/29 2nd group out. Greens are real nice right now. Love this track!
birdies4me

Played 1/29 2nd group out. Greens are real nice right now. Love this track!
birdies4me

played at 6:45 this morning. The pace of play was great for Rancho, finished in 4hours and 45 min. That is pretty good for Rancho. I thought the course was in pretty good shape.The greens were slow i... Continue »

played at 6:45 this morning. The pace of play was great for Rancho, finished in 4hours and 45 min. That is pretty good for Rancho. I thought the course was in pretty good shape.The greens were slow in the morning from the due but when it dried, the greens were nice. PEOPLE FIX TOUR DIVITS PLEASE

Since moving to Coto de Caza 14 years ago, I do not get to play Rancho with the same frequency that I did when I lived in L.A. That said, while I love Rancho and thought the greens were as nice as I c... Continue »

Since moving to Coto de Caza 14 years ago, I do not get to play Rancho with the same frequency that I did when I lived in L.A. That said, while I love Rancho and thought the greens were as nice as I can remember, I don't know when/if I'll be back. 3 hours to play the front and almost 6 hours for the round. Way too long, however much I enjoy this place, it's not worth it! (Then almost a 3 hr drive home if traffic, makes for along day) Course was nice, but a lot of bare spots in the fairway and around the greens??? Rancho is Rancho, so I guess I got about what I expected, except for the better than I remember greens.