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?

Played my annual b'day round at Tustin Ranch last Friday as I find the green fees here way over the top for a daily fee but it is what it is. My bud paid $124 so we split it ... comes with balls and ... Continue »

Played my annual b'day round at Tustin Ranch last Friday as I find the green fees here way over the top for a daily fee but it is what it is. My bud paid $124 so we split it ... comes with balls and lunch (we split that, too. Good grub here, for sure). Anyway, the greens were just punched last week so I won't say much other than they need a couple more weeks to mend. I rated them a 6 just cuz they're usually in good shape. PoP not a factor as the potential for rain must of scared everyone away ... we never saw a drop. The fairways are dormant, mostly, bare and patchy sum it up. Lots of tight lies and balls rolling to a low point or stopping against a clump of green, longer stuff. Rough is also inconsistent. Green complexes were spotty at best. Lots of GUR. Bunkers good, the best you'll find anywhere with great rakes (no kidding). Nice GPS and nice carts. Unfortunately, the course is not nearly in the shape it should be for the money they charge, well, that's why I only play here once a year. The bones are intact so it will probably be in better shape come springtime, but for now I'll pass.

Played Tustin Ranch Feb. 17. Fairways not so good but typical winter conditions. Some better than others. Some tight lies but overall playable. Tee boxes the same. Greens were very good, smooth, rolli... Continue »

Played Tustin Ranch Feb. 17. Fairways not so good but typical winter conditions. Some better than others. Some tight lies but overall playable. Tee boxes the same. Greens were very good, smooth, rolling true, perfect speed. They punch the greens Thursday though so will probably need 4-5 weeks to recover. Bunkers are the best in Orange County. Perfect sand! POP on a Saturday morning was 4 hrs 15 min. Great staff! Great food. Overall a great course.

Played Sat 1/27, full field shotgun. Beautiful sunny day. Scramble. Course in pretty good shape. Greens fast and mostly true, maybe a slow 11 on the stimp. Fairways mostly lush... some thin areas... Continue »

Played Sat 1/27, full field shotgun. Beautiful sunny day. Scramble. Course in pretty good shape. Greens fast and mostly true, maybe a slow 11 on the stimp. Fairways mostly lush... some thin areas. Overall a good day. The layout is interesting. A few water features. Fairway bunkering is fair and beautiful, with some interesting mounding. Greens are big, and many multilevel greens where you have to get on the right tier. It's a bit steep of a rack rate, but commiserate with the rest of OC.

Played early in the morning on 4/6 for my buddy's birthday round (We split my "guest fee"). The two of us skipped through the two foursomes in front of us (shop would not let us out early) and finishe... Continue »

Played early in the morning on 4/6 for my buddy's birthday round (We split my "guest fee"). The two of us skipped through the two foursomes in front of us (shop would not let us out early) and finished in a little under 3 hours.
The greenside bunker renovation/renewal from the past year is done and the traps look great. My biddy did have to deal with some of the lining coming up in one trap but other than that there were no other issues. Greens were rolling well and true, unfortunately the pins were on slopes all day, which was aggravating. Fairways were in nice shape with a few divot patches that needed some TLC put nothing out of the ordinary. Rough was the typical bingo card of lies and grass types, never quite knowing what you were going to get. Back tees were a little chewed in spots (#18 comes to mind). Worth a birthday visit but not a good value for normal rack rates.

I played Tustin Ranch yesterday (Apr 3 2017) with my golf buddy for a birthday deal at 3:52 PM for they had a shot-gun tournament going on that day.

Since the course was empty after the event, we ... Continue »

I played Tustin Ranch yesterday (Apr 3 2017) with my golf buddy for a birthday deal at 3:52 PM for they had a shot-gun tournament going on that day.

Since the course was empty after the event, we were able to play very fast as I and my buddy are speedy golfers. I once played 18 holes in 1 hour and 20 minutes. The course was well maintained and green was fast and true.

After playing 18 holes in a little over 2 hours, we could not help but playing additional 9 holes. We ended up finishing the round around 7:10 - 3 hours and 20 minutes for 27 holes of golf. My buddy hit a great tee shot on 18th hole, barely avoiding limbs of a huge tree on the left side, and an even greater 2nd shot to the green, 2 putted for a par. Par on the 18th hole in TR feels always like a birdie specially when the pin is located in the back of the green.

I always enjoy a birthday round in Tustin Ranch and will play again next year.