Played Monday the 26th and I always get suckered back into playing Rancho because they are the only course that has tee times available when nobody else does. The good-Easy to walk, good bunkers and ... Continue »

Played Monday the 26th and I always get suckered back into playing Rancho because they are the only course that has tee times available when nobody else does. The good-Easy to walk, good bunkers and greens were fairly fast- The Bad- 6 hour round, spotty fairways, no rough, unlevel tee boxes and greens that will make you a bad putter. At least I was playing golf

Rancho San Joaquin Golf Course Review
Irvine California Golf Course Reviews

Played here last Friday 10/7. If it wasn't right around the corner from my house, I'd never willfully play this course. Nothing exciting, usually not in great shape and generally overpriced. If you ca... Continue »

Played here last Friday 10/7. If it wasn't right around the corner from my house, I'd never willfully play this course. Nothing exciting, usually not in great shape and generally overpriced. If you can get a decent early morning or afternoon rate, it's OK, but for their normal rates it's not worth it. Layout is pretty straightforward. Greens can be fast and tough to read, which is where the biggest challenge is on this course. They had just aerated half the greens (meaning each green was half sanded and half normal), so that was an interesting challenge. Normally the greens are in decent shape. Played early morning and fairways were pretty muddy and tore up in places.

Played at 1:50 on a Sunday and went off on time. Course was busy but moving, minimal waiting, especially for this course which is usually super slow. Finished in just over 4 hours. Overall greens were... Continue »

Played at 1:50 on a Sunday and went off on time. Course was busy but moving, minimal waiting, especially for this course which is usually super slow. Finished in just over 4 hours. Overall greens were good, some bad ball marks, pretty smooth otherwise. Fairways decent, a little wet in spots. Haven't played here in 5 years and I remembered why instantly. Expensive greens fee for a boring, dull, mediocre course.

Played at 3PM Thursday, 7/14/11, with the RUDEDOG. Enjoyed his company and the people paired with us. Course is in very good shape for RSJ, esp. the greens, which looked great, rolled well at medium-f... Continue »

Played at 3PM Thursday, 7/14/11, with the RUDEDOG. Enjoyed his company and the people paired with us. Course is in very good shape for RSJ, esp. the greens, which looked great, rolled well at medium-fast speed, and held shots. Greens were pretty fast downhill. Several greens had many ballmarks. Rough inconsistent - sometimes lush, sometimes thin, sometimes clumpy. Fairways were generally thin but with OK lies. Traps had good sand, although many were damp or poorly raked. Several tee boxes were uneven/sloped. Pace was pretty good for RSJ, as we got around in just over 4 hours. Prices in shop/grill pretty high. Still OK for a casual round.

Played on 7/10 And got out at 7am as a walk on two some. The starter was very nice and accommodating. The course was in decent shape all around. The layout is fun, not too challenging, but enough to ... Continue »

Played on 7/10 And got out at 7am as a walk on two some. The starter was very nice and accommodating. The course was in decent shape all around. The layout is fun, not too challenging, but enough to keep me intrested. The pace of play was amazing for a busy Sunday morning. 4 hrs on the nose.
The only complaints i would list are 1) no beverage cart. 2) lady in the snack bar is too busy to sell people making the turn any snacks! 3) No drinking water on the course.
I would play it again, but bring a golf bag full of water and snacks with me.

I was reluctant to play this course due to previous reviews and my own past experiences, but it was slim pickin's on the discount tee time sites, and I was too lazy to drive a long distance, so I ende... Continue »

I was reluctant to play this course due to previous reviews and my own past experiences, but it was slim pickin's on the discount tee time sites, and I was too lazy to drive a long distance, so I ended up here. I booked as a single at 10:15, but the starter let me go off early at a little before 10am. I was done and posting my score at 2:15... on a Sunday! There was actually a competent and proactive "ambassador", starting at the first tee, who monitored the pace of play throughout the round. SHAZAAM! Little or no waiting for 18 holes. Course conditions were acceptable. Tee boxes, fairways, and bunkers were standard muni (which is fine). The greens were pretty lush, but not cut as close as they might be. Let me tell you, brothers and sisters, if those greens ever get firm and fast they have the potential to really punish a sloppy or indifferent shot. As for the layout, I would say that there is enough intrigue to bring the average golfer back to the course. The par threes are a little weak. The par fives are a lot of fun, as two of the par fives have the unique characteristic of bringing water hazards into play on the second (layup) shot. It seems that they have lowered the green fee, so if the pace of play continues to be good, Rancho San Joaqin may yet be a very reasonable option in Orange County.

Played mid-afternoon Thursday 5/26/11, on a sunny day with only light breezes. Low-sweat muni course in pretty good condtion. Pace surprisingly good, based on previous rounds. Greens, fairways, rough,... Continue »

Played mid-afternoon Thursday 5/26/11, on a sunny day with only light breezes. Low-sweat muni course in pretty good condtion. Pace surprisingly good, based on previous rounds. Greens, fairways, rough, and sand in good condition, with greens medium fast. Good for a casual round.

Well, well well, I was pleasantly surprised with the improved conditions out here. Of course there is still room for improvement but at least it is better. Is it the rain? Perhaps the course will w... Continue »

Well, well well, I was pleasantly surprised with the improved conditions out here. Of course there is still room for improvement but at least it is better. Is it the rain? Perhaps the course will worsen once the dry weather kicks in. The greens were in good shape and not slow. They will aerify next week one half of each green. I will play here soon instead of 9 to 12 months from now like I have done in the past. way to go RANCHO SAN JOAQUIN!!!!!!!

Played super twilight Thursday, 3/17/11 on a warm sunny afternoon. I play this course about once per year. Course not very crowded and moved quickly as a single until I caught up with an Asian couple ... Continue »

Played super twilight Thursday, 3/17/11 on a warm sunny afternoon. I play this course about once per year. Course not very crowded and moved quickly as a single until I caught up with an Asian couple who wouldn't let me through. A twosome behind me joined me and we played slowly, as a walking 5some was 2 groups ahead. Jumped around them at #11 and finished in about 4 hours. Tees shaggy, fairways firm and thin, rough short and inconsistent. Holes 1, 3, 18 were cart path only for resodding. Wasn't in the sand. Greens were in pretty good shape - fairly firm, although inconsistent from green to green, rolled well, held shots. Some greens have been decreased in size from what I recall, I assume to save maintenance $$ - esp. #1, #11, maybe others. Downslope greens running to west/southwest were very quick. OK for a casual round.