There are ways other than fences to keep the private country club feel to your course. Tustin Ranch uses the 1-2 punch of incredibly high rates and incredibly average golf to keep outsiders away. I ... Continue »

There are ways other than fences to keep the private country club feel to your course. Tustin Ranch uses the 1-2 punch of incredibly high rates and incredibly average golf to keep outsiders away. I was able to find the rare TeeOff single player time on a Sunday that saved well over $100 off of rack rate and still felt like I overpaid.

Check-in was a look at the computer and a "You're good to go!". So I had to ask the questions of an outsider: "Go Where?" and "Go When?". Once directed to the carts and starter - I was informed that even though I was the fourth to a threesome. They were part of a larger group that all knew each other and had made themselves into foursomes of which I would not be a part. I could go by myself or wait until I was adopted. Since it was already past my tee time - I drove solo for six holes until a threesome of locals caught me and the four sloths playing ahead of me.

The course is an obvious "Squeeze as much as you can out of the basic plot of land you were given." The course is laid out like a airport concourse maximizing the houses parked at their respective terminals. So you have all the types of holes you might expect. Straight Par 5's and a par 3 with water next to the green. Straight holes where bunkers pinch way in to force a lay-up or a perfect shot to one side. Straight holes where you have to lay up before a unlikely creek. Normal straight holes. And a short "drivable" severe dogleg par 4 like the 3rd at Monarch beach - except there is no view here to speak of.

Someone has a sore pointer finger because there is a lot of white GUR circles out there. Fairways are pretty good elsewhere but can feel like light rough in areas - rough is never deep but could be anything else. I found the bunkers to look nice but be an inch of fluff over a dense pack of sand which led to too much bounce or too much dig whichever way I tried to play the shot. Greens were good medium speed and mostly smooth.

I'm not sure if there was another soul from the "outside" playing that day. Everyone I saw seemed to know each other. I felt like I'd bought a member for a day outing instead of a tee time.

Looking for a geographically friendly course, I knew I would be able to get out at Tustin, as the staff is always accommodating and early morning tee times are not usually too difficult to secure. ... Continue »

Looking for a geographically friendly course, I knew I would be able to get out at Tustin, as the staff is always accommodating and early morning tee times are not usually too difficult to secure.

Beautiful weather, mild considering it's November. Hard not to enjoy an easy pac round without a lot of players around. Round is overall in good, not great shape. Greens rolled nicely, but a little slow for my taste, Bunkers are excellent, which was good because I was in a bunch of them. Not really much to add to the prior review. I play here occasionally because it's not too far from home and easy to get out, but agree, tends to be on the pricey side.

Was invited out to play with leef2020 and was so looking forward to it as I have never played TRanch before. Always heard good things about the course but certainly wanted to see for myself. Check in... Continue »

Was invited out to play with leef2020 and was so looking forward to it as I have never played TRanch before. Always heard good things about the course but certainly wanted to see for myself. Check in was easy enough. The starter out on the course was a very nice guy. Set a nice tone for what I was hoping to be a very fun round which it was. No one to pair up with so off we went as a 2 some an pretty much on time. POP was just about 4 hours. I thoroughly enjoyed playing here. The fairways were just fine. Bermuda and got some roll out which is always nice to see. The rough was a bit beat up. A lot of bare spots. Bunker were very soft with white, fluffy sand. Tee boxes were a little ragged but looked like they needed a good mow. The greens were slower than looked. Nice and green but didn’t roll out like I thought it would. This being my first time, I was impressed. Nice layout. Good mixture of long and short holes. The fee is pricey out here. We paid $61 which was a good price I am told. Would love to play here again though and will look out for deals as they come in. Definitely recommend.

Grabbed a deal on teeoff.com, which after applying the their promo discount, netted out at $61.60pp, including very comfy cart w/great GPS. Course is in pretty good condition overall, with just a few ... Continue »

Grabbed a deal on teeoff.com, which after applying the their promo discount, netted out at $61.60pp, including very comfy cart w/great GPS. Course is in pretty good condition overall, with just a few minor quibbles.

Played Thursday, very friendly greeting by the starter, and he got us out a few minutes ahead of our noon tee time - played w/Larryq2001 on a lovely, sunny day to start. Made the turn in 2 hrs, and finished right about 4hrs overall POP, despite a mild waits on most holes on the group in front.

Agree with the point dethman made that the tees could use a fresh cut, as the grass was long. Fairways were pretty green, rolled well and generally provided good lies. Found the rough way too many times, and paid the price. Ball would generally sit down in it, and was very grabby, resulting in a number of 'heavy' shots.

Found at least two greenside bunkers (#3, #10 come to mind), and the sand was nice to hit from. Any time I get it out and on the green in 1 shot, the sand is great. Decent white fluff, about 3/4" depth over a medium base.

Most greens are elevated a bit from the fairways, and were lush, very green and soft. Held shots well. Too much watering going on here, however. A few holes were very damp/soft around the hole, and with everyone's golf soles leaving imprint patterns to deal with, a few 4' putts were impossible to keep on line. Mostly putted at medium-speed, but a few downhill putts would easily slip 4' past. Noted that two holes - #9 and #12 had pin placements only 8' from the back fringes. With generally large greens, seemed pretty extreme.

First time back here in 3 years, and very glad to have played. Had played the course a lot in the early 1990's after opening. Course is a good challenge, not a lot of trickeration - you just need to execute the shots. They are offering a monthly membership now - $42/month (including transaction fee) that provides discounted greens fees, and will consider joining in the spring for 2-3 months, with a plan to play 2x/week for that period, then play elsewhere. Was told by staff that they will do their heavy course maintenance in February - nothing planned this fall.

Played here mid afternoon, still trying to get game into shape. Check-in was easy, but starter seemed very... slow. Made a lot of mistakes in getting groups out. After getting out there, course wa... Continue »

Played here mid afternoon, still trying to get game into shape. Check-in was easy, but starter seemed very... slow. Made a lot of mistakes in getting groups out. After getting out there, course was packed and slow. Waited on every shot. Tee boxes were pretty shaggy, needed a good mow. Fairways were tight and in good condition. Not much rough to speak of. Bunkers were somewhat thin IMO, could see the liner on one or two. When I practiced on the putting green, I was excited as it was smooth and rolled fast. But the greens on the course were soft, bumpy, and slow. A fair amount of unrepaired or poorly fixed ball marks. Course is ok, definitely not worth rack rate, but if a member or a discount, maybe worth it in the heart of OC. POP was far too slow at 4h45m. Not sure if I'll be back or not.

First off as a single at 6:16am. I enjoy playing Tustin Ranch, but I always encounter an abnormally high amount of maintenance to deal with. While I'm used to it and expect it, it none the less can ... Continue »

First off as a single at 6:16am. I enjoy playing Tustin Ranch, but I always encounter an abnormally high amount of maintenance to deal with. While I'm used to it and expect it, it none the less can be some what distracting. (At Coto I know all the maintenance crew and have an understanding with them)

Overall the course is in good, not great shape. Considering the bunkers were redone not all that long ago, I thought they were much too compacted. Greens rolled well, but were too slow for my taste. Fairways were very soft and did not provide much roll. (Or maybe it just feels that way because my drives are so short now?)

Other than the heavy maintenance, which I expect, my other complaint is there are too many carts on path holes on this course. Additionally this is a rather pricey place to play, so perhaps my expectations are higher than normal ?

Played Tustin Ranch on 8/16/18. My first time out here since 2004. My prior visits here were underwhelming considering the price to play. And I've never been a big fan of Ted Robinson designed courses... Continue »

Played Tustin Ranch on 8/16/18. My first time out here since 2004. My prior visits here were underwhelming considering the price to play. And I've never been a big fan of Ted Robinson designed courses. Had an affordable chance to come back, so I decided to erase my brain and have an open mind.

First off, the staff and facility are top notch. Well run. Carts were nice, comfy, and had a nice GPS system that actually had correct pin placements. Water stations were well stocked. Beverage cart came by several times. The course itself is a much better layout than I remember - a really good mix of holes, not tricked up, and not too punishing.

Conditions - they are definitely putting water on the course. For August, it was surprisingly green and soft. The greens are a strange mess. Really really soft, to the point of being spongy. Really bumpy as a result, and it is hard to putt a straight line. Ball marks are huge and deep, so there are several left over marks everywhere. Several greens are having fringe replacement, so large patches of fringe are bare, marked off, waiting for sod replacement.

Fairways and rough are ok. Most of the lies are good, but lots of places where grass is having problems. Sand is pretty good, bordering on a bit thin in spots.

I am really torn on this course. On one hand, it is a top rate facility, and the course itself is really a nice layout. But the conditions are quite strange for August, and I can't tell if it is fall maintenance beginning or just general poor conditions in many spots.

I have hopes that TR will shape up nicely and be more worthy of the mid-upper class of public golf courses. But right now, there are many options within 30 miles that are just as good and half the price of TR (or even less). But this last visit at least gives me incentive to come back much sooner than the last 14 year gap.

I read my review from April and I could say "ditto". Starter again was great to get out before the "regulars", but of course that meant lots of maintenance to deal with. Again six holes plus par 3's... Continue »

I read my review from April and I could say "ditto". Starter again was great to get out before the "regulars", but of course that meant lots of maintenance to deal with. Again six holes plus par 3's which were PCO, so taking a cart does not really help much for getting around quickly. Overall course is nice condition, although a few of the greens are showing some wear. All the bunkers I was in were great, and I was in plenty of them.

As previously stated in my prior review, crazy expensive to play here. ( I was gifted a year's membership which provides two free rounds and two discounted rounds, plus other benefits) That's why I'm playing here now, otherwise the course to too rich for this senior to play on a regular basis.

I was able to secure the first time out, which was good because they were very crowded. I appreciate the starter working with me to get out early. The only downside is that I had a lot of maintenanc... Continue »

I was able to secure the first time out, which was good because they were very crowded. I appreciate the starter working with me to get out early. The only downside is that I had a lot of maintenance to contend with. ( I am very careful to not create a problem with maintenance because I want to insure that the next time I play there are no issues)

The course was in reasonably decent condition. However because they are "working" on the course, so they had carts on path on 6 holes, ( plus par 3's of course) so it was just as easy to walk rather than take the cart.

Greens were nice, still a little slow however. Both bunkers I was in were great. Most of the rough was good, but there were some areas which needed attention.

I like Tustin Ranch, but the fees are crazy expensive. Yet, they were busy, so I guess there must be a lot of rich people playing golf these days?