| |
Rancho San Joaquin Golf Course1 Sandburg Way
Irvine, CA 92612
Phone: (949)786-5522Fax: (949)786-2053
This course is located near the University of California at Irvine. It is one of the finer public courses in the Orange County area. This well-manicured course was built atop an old landfill and the maintenance crew and course designers took great care in making this course especially beautiful. Every hole has its own unique characteristic. Most of the fairways are medium in width and feature large landing areas. There are some elevation changes throughout the course. For example, hole #14, a 367-yard, par 4, is highlighted by a drop of more than 60 feet in elevation from fairway to green. The greens are in good condition and full of subtle breaks. Water hazards (several lakes) come into play on seven holes. Robert Muir Graves redesigned the course in 1972. There is a practice center adjacent to the course consisting of a putting green and an extensive driving range. On Sunday mornings, golfers are required to use a cart. This course is managed by American Golf. The 5,794-yard ladies' tee also has a men's course rating of 66.7 and slope of 109.
| Holes: 18 | Greens: Poa Annua Grass | Fairways: Bermuda Grass |
| Tee Information: | | Tee | Par | Yardage | Course Rating | Slope | | Gold | 72 | 6453 | 70.6 | 118 | | Blue | 72 | 6229 | 68.9 | 112 | | White | 72 | 5794 | 66.7 | 109 | | White (L) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Greens Fees: | $20-$49 | | Course Type: | public | | Dress Code: | Collared shirt, no cutoffs, denim OK | | Season: | Open all year | | Guest Policy: | |
|
* Update this Course: Update/modify the details for this golf course's listing.
Course reviews for Rancho San Joaquin Golf Course
Average Golfer Review
(3.0 Stars):
Number of Reviews: 3
Review this course and share your experience with other golfers.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
|
Wide Open--But Not a 'Gimme', May 18, 2006
|
reviewer: K.P. O'Brien
from Tustin, CA
|
| Of the many Southern California Golf Courses I've played on for the last 20+ years, Rancho San Joaquin is probably situated somewhere in the middle. With that said though, most golfers do not have an average response to it: Usually they like it or choose to omit it from there preferred list of golf courses.
The layout is fairly wide open with its outside borders defined by public streets & some surrounding townhouses.
The fairways are reminiscent of a well-played municipal course (firm with tight lies in some areas). The greens vary from fair to average condition--all can be quick and challenging to read: Holes #9 & #10 are noticeably contoured with hole #4 having the severest front-to-back slope (staying below this hole is a must).
Many doglegs put a premium on accurate tee shots. Bunkers are peppered throughout and the water hazards can quickly inflate a good round of golf (the water on #6 is totally obscured from the tee box--stay on right-side of fairway here!).
Two of the side-by-side par-3's are straight uphill--although a stiff breeze is usually at your back. Speaking of wind, being near the ocean, the seabreeze comes up as early as late morning and by early afternoon it is a factor to be reckoned with--it can almost play like two different courses. So, take an extra club when the wind is in your face. Played smartly, you may shoot your lowest round on this modest length setup (I did!). Beware, play can be slow especially during the afternoon when the twilight bargain-hunters arrive. |
| |
3 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
|
 Who is responsible for the TRAGEDY at Rancho?, Jul 14, 2004
|
reviewer: Carl Williams
from Irvine, CA
|
| Just for the record; Rancho San Joaquin is my home course, and I've played at least 30 full rounds over 5 years. My handicap is currently 12, and I've played nearly every course in Orange County.
This is a great "track"! I love the layout of this course because it's a great challenge for any golfer playing at the intermediate level. If I had a billion dollars, I'd buy this place, CLOSE it down for a year, and get it back into shape! The current daily fees for this course is a total JOKE when you compare it with other courses in the area. Costa Mesa Country Club has MUCH better conditions, and the fee is much more reasonable.
The problem is with the course maintenance, and I'd like to know who is responsible?! Does the AGPA hire the groundskeeper and maintenance staff?? Read the review of this course at the AGPA.com site, and then PLAY it...I think you'll get a laugh! It's false advertising to say the least! The fairways are in HORRIBLE shape, and it seems like the greens have been punched and sanded for the third time this year! Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it normal to expect this kind of maintenance just twice a year?
The fairways are a JOKE! Dirt patches and crab grass is rampant! There isn't any "rough" to penalize a missed fairway. In fact, you might suggest a missed fairway will give you a BETTER lie in some areas!
If you want to play a course in Irvine that gives you a return for your greens fee, I would suggest Oak Creek or Strawberry Farms. But if you don't have $130 to spend on the weekend, you should probably stay away from Irvine golf. Rancho is a RIP OFF at $60.00.
The course condition has steadily declined over the years...I hope the trend will reverse itself soon! |
| |
13 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
|
 This course helped my game!, Jan 25, 2004
|
reviewer: Dave Foster
from Mesa, Arizona USA
|
| With it's many doglegs and elevation changes, this course will quickly teach the beginners how to setup their approaches, while giving the lower handicap players a reasonably challenging round.
5 of the first nine pins cannot be seen from the tees. If you spray your tee shots, you will surely be struggling to make par.
The par threes are deceiving with two short downhills, and two 150-ish up hills. These have been my achilles heel.
There are not to many water hazzards, but they are well/poorly place depending on your tendancies. They can easily swallow your ball if your not carefull.
The traps are typically limited to wrapping the greens, but watch out for the 5th hole, with its deceiving horizontal sand at 230 yards out.
The grounds are well kept with mid speed greens that exactly match the practice green. Prepare for an even mix of wide and narrow fairways, and many misleading doglegs, both slight and sharp.
This course has made me a better golfer, and I can't say that about many.
Enjoy! |
| |
*All Greens Fees provided are subject to change. Please call the golf course to confirm the current fees.
|
