Teed it up with GK Gurus Thursday (8/5) at San Vicente Golf Resort in Ramona. The golf course was recently awarded by the leading golf course industry publication Golf.Inc as the Renovation of The Yea... Continue »

Teed it up with GK Gurus Thursday (8/5) at San Vicente Golf Resort in Ramona. The golf course was recently awarded by the leading golf course industry publication Golf.Inc as the Renovation of The Year (ROY). The layout and scenery are gorgeous. Check out the photos I just posted here. The new green complexes are an absolute blast to play. They remind me of Rustic Canyon, Olivas Links and Soule Park. Very much like Soule Park in fact.

The greens and green complexes are visually striking and beautiful. Medium sized greens, undulating in many directions, uniform bent grass (remember all new bent grass greens in SoCal eventually get poa in them so play them now for that pure bent experience), very firm (because new bent grass greens are always very firm the first year) and fantastically designed (each green unique with plenty of places to tuck pins – favorite green number 6 nicknamed “Punchbowl”). As for the conditions front nine greens very smooth, few ball marks and fast. Back nine greens very smooth, occasional balls marks and medium speed. It’s been very hot in Ramona the last few weeks as was our day of play so it’s likely the greens normally run much faster.

The bunkers were all in immaculate shape. Perfectly groomed and excellent sand quality. I was in many of them Thursday so I know!

The fairways are bermunda with a firm base so you get lots of roll. Yet there is just enough base to create consistently very good lies. They are mostly green, dry and are showing at times are light brown/blonde. Over time these bermunda fairways are going to get lusher with each maintenance season. I loved the fairways current state getting tons of run with the crisp bermuda lies creating more spin on approach shots which you need due to new firm greens.

The rough is the same turf of the fairways with similar characteristics and kept short (2 to 3 inches).

We played the white tees which measure 6346 yards, the next step up is the black tees at 6704, which IMO is too large of gap and justifies a Black/White combo. I noticed the conditions between the white tees (which were very good) had more noticeable wear and tear. The black tees had very little to no wear and tear. A few blind tee shots but I think the golf course should consider having a bell installed on hole #6, the awesome punchbowl hole, signally the green is clear. Make sure you have a player hang back on the fairway hill until everyone is putting. But overall, tee shots out there are very fun to play. There is a need to work the ball in both directions to avoid trees and at times hit dead straight to keep in play. Love that. Challenging shots.

After golf we enjoyed some appetizers/drinks on the patio on the Oaks Grille. Delicious food, fairly priced with a scenic view the golf course, surrounding area and sunset.

Highly Recommend San Vicente Golf Resort!

Played with the GK Gurus at 240pm on Thursday, 8/5/21. Read Robert’s (roarksown1) detailed review that captures all my thoughts as well. My first time here and checking out last year’s renovation of t... Continue »

Played with the GK Gurus at 240pm on Thursday, 8/5/21. Read Robert’s (roarksown1) detailed review that captures all my thoughts as well. My first time here and checking out last year’s renovation of the greens. I like the look and presentation of the greens/traps complexes and like the variety you find in the course. Very scenic setting but you’ve got to be able to control your ball on approaches. New greens are very firm and you must take that into account when planning your approaches. Unfortunately we also saw a LOT of unrepaired ballmarks, especially on the back nine, some within a foot or two of the hole (!). Greens have a lot of subtlety and repeated plays are needed to know how and where to approach various pin positions. A definite recommendation and I’d like another crack at the course (hopefully in cooler weather!!).

I have enjoyed this course for decades and now with the renovations I like it even more! Great old school course with some unique holes made even better with the upgrades. Others have commented on how... Continue »

I have enjoyed this course for decades and now with the renovations I like it even more! Great old school course with some unique holes made even better with the upgrades. Others have commented on how they are reminded of other courses by many of the holes. For me, having played here so long, I was often reminded of San Vicente when I played those courses! Lol!
Good to great condition all around with the greens and bunkering standing out.

Joined the Guru's at San Vicente yesterday. This was my first trip down to the resort as it is about 2 hours from my house. I had good intel from Rudyclub's reviews that the greens are no joke and the... Continue »

Joined the Guru's at San Vicente yesterday. This was my first trip down to the resort as it is about 2 hours from my house. I had good intel from Rudyclub's reviews that the greens are no joke and the track it a lot of fun. When Arriving we were met by the entire management staff and they were very happy to have us there. Its nice to know that they are trying hard to keep a golf course alive.

the course layout is a lot of fun. The front nine reminds me a lot of Bernardo heights and the back nine is like a mix of Woods Valley and Mt Woodson. The par threes were all a lot of fun to play ranging from 135-210 yards. Course conditions were very good for this time of the year. It was 100° today and the course did not look like it was suffering at all. Tee boxes were ok a few were starting to get chewed up a bit but nothing too bad. Fairways had full coverage and generally gave you very good lies. Rough was good as long as you didnt get too far offline. Sand traps were very good and easy to escape.

Now the greens they had recently redone all of the greens on the course and boy are they tricked out in some areas. A lot of false edges and undulations. They rolled smooth and true on every green. I didn't see a single ball bounce on a putt all day. Speaking of bounces, the greens are way to firm for my liking. It was almost impossible to get your ball to stop within 3 feet of where it landed. Everything rolled out 10+ feet. I had a few occasions where I hit the middle of the green only to find my ball off the back and 1 of them was off the back and over the road. They did a fantastic job on the redesign but I want to come back when the greens are a touch softer.

This course is now on my rotation of courses to play especially because Barona is now closed to the public. This is a very good alternative if you are looking for a casino/golf day.

Played with the GK Gurus yesterday, 8/5, teeing off about 3:00 PM.

I hadn't been to San Vicente since I was a kid when we'd visit and stay at the time shares, so this was more or less my first time... Continue »

Played with the GK Gurus yesterday, 8/5, teeing off about 3:00 PM.

I hadn't been to San Vicente since I was a kid when we'd visit and stay at the time shares, so this was more or less my first time visiting since I didn't recall much. That being said, I wish I would have paid more attention all those years ago because I absolutely loved this layout.

The course has a very traditional feel at it's core, but when I hear that I tend to think of something repetitive and boring and San Vicente is the complete opposite of that. Our group kept commenting that it seemed every 2-3 holes reminded us of a different course. Started out a little like Rancho Bernardo in, moved into some Mt. Woodson with some Cross Creek thrown in and sprinkle it all with some Pasatiempo and Barona when you got to the greens and green complexes. When I was driving home and was going over the round in my head I realized I hit every club in my bag during the round. To me that is just one of the greatest compliments I can give. From the tee shot all the way through to the approach, this course provides multiple options that range from conservative and safe to aggressive and rewarding. Each hole is like Choose Your Own Adventure experience and that makes for an enjoyable day for all types of golfers.

I want to spend its own paragraph talking about the new greens and green complexes. They went through a complete overhaul and it was money well spent! I don't know who the designer was but they definitely have a deep love and respect for the golden age of course design. You get multiple biarritz greens, a punchbowl and even pseudo Redans that make front pins simply wicked. The bunkers remind me so much of Pasatiempo and Riviera. The afternoon light created some incredibly cool looks and textures visually. They're obviously firm as they are so new but I never felt like they were unfair. I just didn't know where to miss and of course I'm just not a good enough golfer to hit big, high, spinning irons to tight pins :)

Overall the conditions were really good. I never had a bad lie in the fairways although I might consider a couple "thin" but the ground underneath had plenty of give so getting solid contact (again if I made good swings) wasn't a turf issue. It seemed the back nine had some super pure fairways, especially the 18th. A couple tees were a little beat up but there are some new ones and multiple options so I'd be trying really hard to be critical if I went that route.

On top of all that, the staff and hospitality was the best I've experienced in a long time. I got the feeling that the team there is genuinely proud of their course and facility and eager to share that enthusiasm with it's customers. That kind of attitude is contagious and I really appreciate how they handle their business. We hung around for a bit and had some drinks and appetizers and it's a great spot to enjoy some food and beers.

I'm already planning my next trip back out there because I want another shot at the course now that I have some knowledge about the greens. This is a course I could play over and over and never get sick of. Really looking forward to getting back out there soon!

8/5 guru outing with Johnny, Andrew and my worthy opponent Matt--1st time here and if it were not for the distance and time from OC this course would be included in my regular rotation, even though it... Continue »

8/5 guru outing with Johnny, Andrew and my worthy opponent Matt--1st time here and if it were not for the distance and time from OC this course would be included in my regular rotation, even though it plays tough for the kind of game(or lack there of) that I have.
We were made to feel really welcome and really appreciated for having the outing.
Fairways have good cover but are firm and while giving good roll require a more precise descending strike. Was minimal but some areas presented more of a challenge as it could be a little clumpy. Tees level and lush. Bunkers a plenty filled with deep heavy sand mostly groomed with just a few that needed a good finishing churn.
Greens are quite firm fast with difficult to read breaks. They are also large and had many pins tucked behind the looming bunkers. Also put myself in quite a few short side situations with really no chance of getting close as almost every shot ran out.
Layout is varied with water a factor on a few holes. Visually course is appealing with tree lined fairways and white sand bunkers. Greens tended to be fronted by up slopes so short stayed short. A high shot with spin is really necessary which sadly is lacking on my part. All and all a very enjoyable though humbling round. And yes I would come back and woulod definitely recommend playing here.

What an absolute treat to play San Vicente Golf Resort with the GK Gurus yesterday at twilight. You simply can't ask for a more welcoming, helpful or engaging staff than the one they have in place the... Continue »

What an absolute treat to play San Vicente Golf Resort with the GK Gurus yesterday at twilight. You simply can't ask for a more welcoming, helpful or engaging staff than the one they have in place there right now. It feels like they very much care about your experience and it comes across in every aspect of your day there. Before we get to the fabulous course layout and conditions (and those amazing greens and green complexes!), some of the intangibles upon checking in and warming up. The pro shop is small and modest, but has everything you need. Carts have a rudimentary GPS system, but it's helpful on a tough track like this one. The driving range is a bit underwhelming to be fair with all manner of different golf balls and a short, narrow and generally dirt landing area - not the end of the world. There is a convenient snack shop near the pro shop and thankfully and water and ice machine to help on those hot Ramona afternoons. As for the course itself, it's definitely one of the more fun rides you'll ever take in a golf cart. Their new renovations have been spectacularly well received and there's just no shortage of interesting, fun holes here. You're going to experience something unique and cool every set of three or four holes, and it's always a bit different. Want lakes/water hazards? No problem. Want elevations and blind tee shots? We got you covered. Want some open bombs away parkland style or some slick and narrow, tree-lined holes? Not an issue. Want some long and short and well-guarded and tricky par 3s? San Vicente is your huckleberry. And it's not just about the shape or design of the holes, but the variety of settings around each of these sets of holes that's astonishing, not to mention the very cool mountain views. It's just a very unique experience. Conditions require we first talk about the greens and green complexes ahead of anything else. They're incredible. Since they're very new, they're incredibly firm and fast and simply a great challenge. If you're above the hole, you're in trouble, but in the best possible way. Approach shots must be perfect or you're rolling right off the back edge. There were a few too many ball marks around for anyone's liking, but overall they're just great. And the many different tiers and slopes make for an exciting round, none more fascinating and beguiling than the rectangular, Pine Valley-esque 15th hole green. What a mind-bender! Fairways were mostly in very good shape despite the hot temperatures, with a few thin spots off the fairway for good measure. But mostly good lies all afternoon. The rough was playable in most areas if it wasn't into the natural areas where you would find all manner of mayhem. The bunkers were in good shape with lots of sand and rakes available again. The only sub-par aspect in any way were some of the thick tee boxes that hadn't been cut in a while, with one or two slightly sloping, but we're just nitpicking here at this point. POP was great as found a sweet spot (our group went out first) and never waited on a single hole, so any slow moving for the round was definitely on us as we played very deliberately and made every shot count. This is a course with no shortage of danger around many corners, but it's also incredibly rewarding when you put the right shots into the right places. It's just a super fun experience that will make you want to come back for more. Can't thank the fine folks at San Vicente enough for creating a truly terrific golf experience for a group of golfers like GK who will truly appreciate their efforts. If you have a chance, reward these people with a little bit of your business. I know they'll make it worth your while to make the trek out to Ramona. And you won't likely regret it.

I had not been to San Vicente since 2014, so was excited to return and experience the renovation. Able to snag a first time off, so pace of play not an issue. We rode in an unhurried 2 1/2 hours, wi... Continue »

I had not been to San Vicente since 2014, so was excited to return and experience the renovation. Able to snag a first time off, so pace of play not an issue. We rode in an unhurried 2 1/2 hours, with no maintenance issues. I had a decent recollection of the course itself, but ALL the greens and greenside bunkers have been renovated, so the course has a new feel to it. The greens were great ! Rolled true, but as expected, being new greens, are very firm and not at all receptive to any kind of shot. That, coupled with all the new undulations, made for a much more challenging putting experience, which I did not excel at. Anything on the "short side" no change of getting it close. Greens are fun to putt - just need some local knowledge now. With all the new bunkers, it made hitting to the greens rather difficult. Fairways were good, a bit thin at times, but nothing to really complain about. Bunkers could be good if the sand was not so compacted. Enough sand, but needs to be "turned over" to allow the club to get through it. The staff was great. Friendly and very accommodating. A positive experience all around. Worth the almost 200 mile round trip.

Played 6/27/21 2pm shotgun after Member/guest tourney. Fairway's continue to fill in with mostly good lies. Firm with good roll. Greens firm and fast with lots of undulations. The green complex's hav... Continue »

Played 6/27/21 2pm shotgun after Member/guest tourney. Fairway's continue to fill in with mostly good lies. Firm with good roll. Greens firm and fast with lots of undulations. The green complex's have easily added 3-5 strokes over the old flat greens. It will take a few rounds to learn the greens and they will still be difficult. New traps in fantastic shape. Over all in good to very good condition and improving.