Rancho San Marcos Golf Course

4600 Highway 154
Santa Barbara, CA 93105 • (805) 683-6334

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LOCAL WEATHER

Santa Barbara, CA (93105)

64°F
Fair

[Full Forecast]

Humidity: 70%
Wind: S at 7mph

Sunrise: 5:53 am
Sunset: 7:55 pm

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Rancho San Marcos GC Website

Rancho San Marcos GC

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1. chaptowngolfteam

Posted: 05/02/13 1:51p
Member Since: Feb 9, 2009
From: Arcadia, CA

Got an amazing deal on golfnow.com for $19 including cart for this morning at 6:50AM. The layout of the course is great and very challenging to somebody playing it for the first time. The tees were ve... Continue »

All Reviews by chaptowngolfteam

7 Likes.

Rated
8.5 Conditions

2. weeman68

Posted: 04/03/13 9:29a
Member Since: Apr 21, 2010
From: pasadena

Course appears to be greening up compared to previous reviews but the fairways are still a bit thin in spots and on the firmer side. Rough is generally non existent and thin and like the fairways there a couple of different growths in it. Tees were generally lush but I played from the tips and back there there were a few uneven and lumpy tees. Sand was usually the nice marbleized stuff but it looked like it had not been conditioned in some time so it was fairly compacted but with good soft coverage underneath. One trap, however, was thin and more claylike.

Greens were very nice - lush bentgrass with some grain in them and medium fast speed. Very true. Definitely the highlight although greens 13 & 14 both had visible small tine holes in them - no sand - although it did not affect my putts.

Layout is exceptional playing through an oak-studded valley on the front nine, while the back has more undulation and elevation change. Fairways are usually generous but with large bunkers. Plenty of roll out so course played shorter then the stated yardage. Greens are large and undulating with distinct sections. Most of them you do not have to fire at the pin as you can direct the ball to the flag with some course knowledge about the putting surfaces. They are well guarded, however, usually by large traps on one side and tightly shaved grass bunkers on the other. Finding these tended to result in a tough up and down as you were frequently short sided and chipping from a tight lie making it hard to get the ball up in the air quickly. Seems like short is often a good miss.

As to my previous point about course knowledge on how to approach the greens, overall course knowledge here is an absolute plus. Without GPS in the carts or a visual of the layout on some holes, it is hard to know where the hole goes, especially on the back nine. On more than one occasion I hit for a dogleg that turned out to be going the opposite direction.

However, all in all one of the nicest courses in SoCal and for the discount rate you pay about the right amount right now for the conditions.

All Reviews by weeman68

7 Likes.

Rated
7.9 Conditions

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RSM_HeadPro
Member Since: Dec 11, 2007

Hole #18 Los Padres (542 Par 5) It is safe to say that Robert Trent Jones Jr. saved the best for last with this beautiful par 5. This elevated tee shot leaves you with some stunning views of the property and some added distance to your drive. Three bunkers guard the left side of this fairway and a hazard runs along the entire right side of this hole. Placement off the tee is very important. The fairway narrows considerably on your approach and there are a total of five large, deep bunkers within the last hundred yards of this hole. If you are going to lay up, make sure you lay back far enough to stay out of the trouble that awaits anyone who gets a little greedy with their second shot. Hint: The wind is almost always at your back so for the longer hitters, have a go at carrying the last fairway bunker on the left. If you succeed you will be rewarded with a nice bounce off a downhill slope leaving you a solid middle to long iron and a good putt away from an eagle finish. The approach shot always seems to play a little shorter than the yardage and a miss short or to the left side of the green will leave you a manageable up and down for birdie or par to finish the round.

Hole
18

RSM_HeadPro
Member Since: Dec 11, 2007

Hole #17 Stage Coach (450 Par 4) This is a great par four that runs along the edge of the mid-mesa with stunning views of the property to your left. Accuracy off the tee will aid you in negotiating this difficult par 4 that has two large fairway bunkers protecting the right side of the fairway. From the fairway you are left with a middle iron approach shot to a deep very undulating green that features a large bunker to the right and a deep grass bunker to the left. Hint: Short is not a bad miss on the approach and should leave you a manageable up and down. If you find the pin in the back right, long is not a bad play and should leave you an uphill chip shot. “Do Not Challenge a Back Left Pin”

Hole
17