Played 3/5/18 just after they had sanded the greens the night before. Was extremely disappointed that we were not informed of this when we made our tee time. Have played here before for many years, bu... Continue »

Played 3/5/18 just after they had sanded the greens the night before. Was extremely disappointed that we were not informed of this when we made our tee time. Have played here before for many years, but the condition of the course was the worst I have ever been on. No grass in fairways, brown spots, etc. After recent rains I expected better conditions. Played on a discounted green fee and it was not worth it.

Even after I swore I'd never go back except for daybreak due to slow POP, as fate would have it I ended up back at RSJ with an 11:30 tee off. 3 holes in, 1:05 had passed, what was I thinking. Fortunat... Continue »

Even after I swore I'd never go back except for daybreak due to slow POP, as fate would have it I ended up back at RSJ with an 11:30 tee off. 3 holes in, 1:05 had passed, what was I thinking. Fortunately, things loosened up after that, and we completed the round in 4:30.

Greens are nice. Everything else is a pasture. It's a toss up on what you'll get more of in the fairways - grass or goose droppings. Dang they have a sheetload of geese and mudhens.

Still, for $30-$40 in SoCal, RSJ is almost as good as you can get. Decent place to go out and work on your game.

Played 11/7. I've played here a dozen times at least, but always as a sunrise round before going to work. Had a chance to get out for an 11:30 tee time.....HUGE MISTAKE! The pace of play was brutal. S... Continue »

Played 11/7. I've played here a dozen times at least, but always as a sunrise round before going to work. Had a chance to get out for an 11:30 tee time.....HUGE MISTAKE! The pace of play was brutal. Sat in #1 fairway for 15 minutes waiting to hit approach shot. The Par 3 second hole had a group on the green, group on the tee, group on the path between 1 and 2, and the group in front of us that just sat in their carts beside #1 green waiting.

Finally quit after 11 holes and 3.5 hours, as it was becoming apparent that a 6 hour round was very possible.

Hard to understand. This is a very straightforward course, almost no rough to slow play, very few hazards - no reason for the brutally slow play other than an overload of slow golfers.

I like the course, nothing special, but a fun course to play at a good price that is in decent condition. But man, I am never coming back here except for those early morning rounds.

Played here Monday for the first time ever. Friendly greeting by staff in the pro shop, who promptly told me about their 'club' to join for about $40/month. One of my playing partners is signed up for... Continue »

Played here Monday for the first time ever. Friendly greeting by staff in the pro shop, who promptly told me about their 'club' to join for about $40/month. One of my playing partners is signed up for it, and loves the free range ball deal. I did not join and paid $35 for the senior rate, including a cart.

Teed off about 12:40pm as a 4some and finished at 5:10pm, just after sunset on a good weather day for golf. Had short waits throughout, and a major bottleneck at the par3 8th that seemed to be the norm. 2.5hrs on the front, and about 2hrs on the back.

Regarding course conditions, very much agree with the previous review by jjrauen from September. As I was fore-warned by my playing partners on what to expect, I did not have high expectations, and they were met. Tees were a bit beat up, but mostly level.

Fairways and rough were a hodge-podge of good, short bermuda, longer kikuyu, plenty of thin areas and bare spots, lush areas, wet spots, weeds, etc. Something for everyone. Roll was sometimes good, but did end up with a muddy ball off the tee a handful of times. Usually had a decent lie. Rough for the most part wasn't too penal, not much longer than the fairways, and similar traits.

The undulating course is pretty wide-open, not that many trees, so people who spray it long off the tee typically weren't penalized too much. Water does come into play on a few holes, which helps makes it interesting. JJ is spot-on regarding sight-lines off the tees. It was helpful to have someone with local knowledge to help point me in the right direction.

Was in a few bunkers, and really liked the medium-weight sand. The base seemed to be about 1 1/2 inches below.

Thought the green complexes were by far the best part of the course. Greens ranged in size from medium to massive, with a few that had very interesting bowl-shape undulations designed into them. Pin placements Monday were near the bottom of the bowls, so long lag-putting offered several options/sides of approach to get the ball within 3 feet of the hole. Interesting. Greens held shots well enough, putted at medium/medium-slow pace, and break on many holes was accentuated due to this slow pace as the ball lost speed. Greens were mostly smooth, with some bumpy spots, as typical for a course getting so much play.

No cart lady, and very few drinking water options on the course, so stock up. Snack bar available at the turn. Marshal was seen a few times, and engaged with golfers.

All-in-all, a fun day on the course. There are just enough attractive, interesting and challenging holes here, to spice up an otherwise mundane tract to justify a return visit.

Played here, 1st time, on Sunday 9/24/17.

Have been exploring more courses in the area lately, and decided to given RSJ a try.

Paid $67 online for 830am Sunday. Smallest bucket of balls was $10... Continue »

Played here, 1st time, on Sunday 9/24/17.

Have been exploring more courses in the area lately, and decided to given RSJ a try.

Paid $67 online for 830am Sunday. Smallest bucket of balls was $10, hit from mats to a field of dirt, with a couple of flags for targets. On scale of 1-10, rate the practice area a 3. One large putting green near 9 and 18 greens. Did not see a chipping area.

Friendly starter and staff inside Proshop. Started as a single but joined 3 others on 6th hole when pace bogged down.

Course is near a few busy streets in Irvine so, don't expect a quiet and peaceful round, although not noticeable on every hole.

Fairways were average, very wet in spots, but playable. Spotty in areas as well. Not a great deal of definition from fairway to rough. One of the trickiest aspects of this layout, especially first time around, were the sight lines from tee. I recall at least 8 tee shots which were difficult to pick a line. Unsure about which way the hole moved when there was any bend at all. The guys I played with said the same thing. (Also playing for first time). # 14 in particular is poorly designed hole which puts players in fairway in jeopardy from shots from group behind. No way to know players are in fairway below, when teeing off of 14th.

Greens average to good. A few crazy designed greens, with big bowls and sideboards, which with course knowledge and pin placement, could really change your aim point from fairway. Rolled pretty consistently slow / medium pace, and a bit on bumpy side.

Bunkers had a lot of sand in them...So much that if you took half the volume out and added to the bunkers at Oak Quarry, you'd have good bunkers at both courses. However, rather have a little too much sand than not enough.

As mentioned at the top, so many tee shots with confusing site lines make for a frustrating day, if first time there, but won't be an issue the next time, if you choose to tackle again.

Although reasonably priced for OC, green fees didn't quite match up to playing experience and course conditions, but still had a good time out there.

9/18 using teeoff $27 deal time on a busy 5 hour POP with pleasant weather and a gusty breeze for back 9 play. Fairways seemed patchy some really good areas but also lot of thin or variable length/va... Continue »

9/18 using teeoff $27 deal time on a busy 5 hour POP with pleasant weather and a gusty breeze for back 9 play. Fairways seemed patchy some really good areas but also lot of thin or variable length/variety of grass so lies were inconsistent. Rough was marginal some ares with enough sparse grass that would allow the ball to sit down to the dirt--some areas a little better. Tee boxes generally had good cover but a few were somewhat crowned.
Bunkers had a lot of deep sand--front 9 was newer and heavier providing a challenge--also requires lot of attention to keep groomed--back 9 had a better quality of sand and was more playable. Many were left with lots of footprints or were poorly raked.
Greens were quite soft and on the slow side. Multiple un-repaired ball marks on every hole.
Staff was friendly.

Due to time constraints, only able to play the back nine. (Which happens to be the nine I prefer) Off early so pace of play not an issue. Despite the recent heat, fairways were very wet, but I'm sur... Continue »

Due to time constraints, only able to play the back nine. (Which happens to be the nine I prefer) Off early so pace of play not an issue. Despite the recent heat, fairways were very wet, but I'm sure by mid-day, they would be fine. Greens the best part of the course. Some issues in the fairways on a few holes, but nothing too terrible. Not in any bunkers, but they appeared OK.

Staff was very accommodating. A bit pricey for just 9 holes, but I knew that going in. But 9 holes is better than 0 holes.

Played RSJ on 8/29.

Again, a decent track to work on your game. The greens are very nice, although bordering on too soft as I was leaving ball marks with some of my chips. Greens are very green an... Continue »

Played RSJ on 8/29.

Again, a decent track to work on your game. The greens are very nice, although bordering on too soft as I was leaving ball marks with some of my chips. Greens are very green and smooth outside of the ball marks. Sand traps were another positive - lots of sand and good conditions.

Fairways and rough are hit and miss, some areas are bare or spotty. Fairways were 90% good though.

Rancho San Joaquin - Played RSJ on Thursday 08/24/2017 – 7:22 am Tee Time at the American Golf Players Club rate of $29. Went out with my best friend were paired up with a couple of RSJ regulars who w... Continue »

Rancho San Joaquin - Played RSJ on Thursday 08/24/2017 – 7:22 am Tee Time at the American Golf Players Club rate of $29. Went out with my best friend were paired up with a couple of RSJ regulars who were great company. The overall layout of the course is open and inviting, with a passive aggressive tendency exposed by a number of blind tee shots that often play into either a sloping fairway, dogleg or water. Located in Irvine the facility is attractive, inviting, with a country club feel. It is bordered along some holes by homes. During our round we saw the marshal on several occasions, he stopped to talk with our regulars, however there was no cart service, just adds at 7 and 16 to call ahead to the grill. The staff was friendly, from the pro shop to the starter. The course offers same day $21 replays. I really wanted to like this course, and I think somewhere in the future I will, but right now it’s is what could best be called a hot mess. They are working hard to make the course better that is clear by the massive number of areas in the fairways that have been re-sodded, the amount of pink foam spots and the tractor going up and down the fairways spraying something. (We discovered him below the line of sight on a blind tee). The fifth hole had a river running across the green, crossing about ten feet behind the hole. The course from tee to green was soaking wet, making even good lies hard to play consistently and impacting footing. People who are familiar with my reviews know I run to the positive side, and this course is a fun, challenging layout, but not as it played Thursday. Tee boxes are a mix of sort of level, to nope can find a spot where my feet and ball are on the same level. Mostly lush, with some divot damage but not terrible. Fairway’s are a hot mess, mud just beyond the tee’s, in landing zones, along the first cut, with tractor tire, and cart tire tracts running through. There are large tracts of good brown and green grass that is lush, but was still damp. Fairways that should have given yardage on the run, really needed lift clean and place rules. We were playing the ball as it lies, and mud cost me more than few strokes. There are few worse feelings than hitting a really good drive, then hitting a ball from the middle of the fairway that goes squirrel because it’s covered in mud. Rough – The first cut of rough is very playable aside from the wet ground, and spots of mud. The second cut is thick enough to lose a ball in, and juicy enough to make you work to avoid it. The rough around the greens especially on the down slope side of the greens was very wet, and made chipping a crap shoot from as close as foot off the green. Bump and runs were difficult to attempt, challenging me to chip onto the putting surface. Bunkers are superb, good base, great sand, and the only consistently dry spot on this course. These are among the best quality bunkers I have seen this season. Greens are the strength of this course, they are rich green carpets that run true, show little damage from unrepaired ball marks and are extremely challenging, featuring false fronts, tiers, ridges, and back to front slope. The greens played medium slow from the side or uphill, but showed serious speed on the downhill slopes that had held less moisture. Ball Washers – This isn’t something I normally review, I will comment if they are lacking such as at the Golf Club of California, where they are on the members carts, but not really an item I feel the need to review. With the amount of water, and mud in play at RSJ on Thursday I was a frequent visitor to the ball washers. Not one had clean water; all were as muddy as the course. Not good when you ball comes out looking like it’s been rinsed in Ovaltine. We tee’d off at 7:22, I have to believe they had not been serviced in a while. I will play this course again, but will wait until fall in hopes that it will present a more enjoyable experience. I really like the layout, and can imagine how fun it could be. I am just not sure if it’s so busy that It’s beat up, of if the course is missing a course superintendent. I have never recommended passing on a course, but with as much ground under repair as there is, at a normal rack rate approaching $50, there are better choices at this time, I would recommend waiting a little to play RSJ.