Played Sunday afternoon, 6-20. I hadn't played here in over six years, and I've been missing out! Conditions were very good to great all the way around. Tee boxes are level, fairways are plush (and... Continue »

Played Sunday afternoon, 6-20. I hadn't played here in over six years, and I've been missing out! Conditions were very good to great all the way around. Tee boxes are level, fairways are plush (and mostly green), providing good lies throughout. Greens were smooth but not too fast at all, sometimes even slow which I don't mind. I was in one greenside bunker and got out fine. POP was the only somewhat negative, with the round taking just over 5 hours, as we waited on every par 3, and some other holes to tee off. The layout is wonderful, with plenty wide fairways, with challenging but not overwhelming forced carries. I would love to come back soon!

Hit Rustic Canyon for the second time in 6 months. This course is the gem it promises, though many might find it frustrating the first time around because a lot of its details are hidden until you se... Continue »

Hit Rustic Canyon for the second time in 6 months. This course is the gem it promises, though many might find it frustrating the first time around because a lot of its details are hidden until you see them from up close—lots of gunch areas that are hard to decipher until you get past them. And the closely mown green surrounds take a little getting used to, those tight lies near the green offer options but require a deft touch. But surely there are no better course designs and conditions for the muni green fee. This place genuinely deserves all the praise it gets.

This is a walkable course and many do walk it, but there are some real slogs between green and tee, especially on the back 9. The walk from 9 green to 10 tee is the Bataan Death March, and there are several close second challenging treks to come. All of this leads to a pace of play issue. The 4.5 hour pace rating is deserved and almost entirely attributable to those 4 or 5 long distance non-playing walks. The good news is that regulars who walk there know how to stay ahead. Newbies, not so much. Also, from 8 to 16 is almost all heading uphill, gently but taxingly. The first time I played and walked I was too gassed to really appreciate the course. My recommendation is to walk the front and ride the back; the green fee is low enough to make $25 to ride 9 holes affordable. Just a thought.

The course routing is interesting. There are five par fives and five par threes. As noted, there are a lot of gunch areas splitting fairways or forcing carries. There is little elevation change on the front 9, but is well used to the extent it is there, and the back 9 has some good uphill and downhill greens. Some raised greens, some not—there is a lot of variety. Long and short par threes. One or two par fives that long hitters might reach, and both long and shorter par 4s. Shorter hitters can take advantage of the closely mown green surrounds to get extra roll, and the greens, while not unduly undulating, do have some subtle slopes that require good ground approaches. It is just a real good design, nothing seems contrived and you have to think your way around.

I played about 10 days after the greens were punched, so they were slower than usual but rolled true. The greens usually are faster than is common on tracks that get a lot of play, and can make for a real challenge on approaches and long putts. A few greens have tiers or buried elephants, but they are fun to maneuver around as local knowledge grows. The course’s signature are the closely mown green surrounds; very unusual and a nice bow to links courses, these surrounds present both challenges and opportunities. Also very interesting to look at, and the greens themselves are smaller than they appear but you can use a putter from a long way off most greens. It is a neat touch, and I don’t know anywhere else like it.

The course is very mindful of the natural environment, and nothing looks manufactured. The bunkers have natural edges, and good sand even in waste areas. The course has no frills, but doesn’t need them—it is like your countryside neighbor made a golf course out of fallow fields, but with very good fairway grass, especially considering no water holes/reservoir and the amount of play. The superintendent clearly is focused on maintenance of the playing areas, and seems very much on top of that.

The range is basic and in below average shape. I recommend practicing/warming up at the Golf Development Center off the 23 about 10 minutes away. Best mats in SoCal. (That place deserves its own review, it is five stars for sure.). The practice putting green is an extension of the 18th green, and is fine.

The scorecard includes a rated combination course, so overall length options abound.

Pro shop is very basic, but the staff is excellent there and in the separate cart barn if you decide to ride. Not much in the way of food, but enough.

I am still thinking about this course a day after playing it for the second time. And fondly. I can’t wait to return, and likely will become a regular here. You have to plan ahead for a tee time, but that is true almost everywhere these days.

I'm way late posting this review, and I just checked and it looks like they punched today so there probably isn't a ton of relevance to this review, but I had to post anyway.

Rustic Canyon is a MUS... Continue »

I'm way late posting this review, and I just checked and it looks like they punched today so there probably isn't a ton of relevance to this review, but I had to post anyway.

Rustic Canyon is a MUST PLAY. Hands down one of the most fun times I've had playing in a long time, probably ever. It's been on the top of a short list of courses I've wanted to play for years and I had a buddy who convinced me to take a day off from work, make the 2 1/2 drive and play 36. I owe that guy a hug and sleeve of ProVs for sure!

When we played the course was in really solid shape. Fairways were firm and brownish but that's how they should be. Never had a bad lie at all, was easy moving through the turf, but they bounced around which was perfect.

The tees were flat, solid coverage and it like most tees, easily receptive to putting a stick in the ground :)

When we played the greens weren't really that quick but rolled true. Now that they've been punched I can see why they had "let them go" a bit. But zero complaints at all. I can't wait to go back when the greens are prime. I get all jittery just thinking about it!

As for the layout, I don't know what I can say. It was so easy to see why this landed in the Top 100 you can play in Golf.com's latest rankings. If you haven't played before I highly recommend trying to do a 36 hole day. Playing it the second time was even more fun than the first time. Knowing the angles, the mounds, the bounces, etc. was a game changer.

We played the morning round from the blues and the back from the whites, got three different wind directions, and complete changes in surfaces in regards to turf moisture. All around one of the most enjoyable days of golf I've had. If this course was in OC or SD it would be $200+ and it would be packed everyday.

The entire crew out there was also amazing. Just super friendly and seemed to take a lot of pride in their work and course. That stuff goes a long way with me. We didn't eat there (we went to this place between rounds as a recommendation from my buddy, https://www.yelp.com/biz/green-acres-market-simi-valley-2, and it was so, SO good) but they had a really good selection of beers and the menu looked like a really solid snack bar lineup.

Chances are I'll get out there 2-3 times a year because of the drive for me, but everyone needs to make it a priority to play. 5 stars all the way around.

Got out late Friday 5/21 teeing off around 5:45pm and getting in 11 holes playing the front and then playing 1 and 8 again just before darkness with my buddy Matt. Beautiful weather with a little bit... Continue »

Got out late Friday 5/21 teeing off around 5:45pm and getting in 11 holes playing the front and then playing 1 and 8 again just before darkness with my buddy Matt. Beautiful weather with a little bit of wind.

The fairways are transitioning to thicker lush grass which was beautiful to see. Very nice lies in the fairways. Looks like they have been watering them more and I am sure they will become even lusher in the next couple months. Rated 7.5/10.

We played the blue tees which were all level and in good shape. Rated 8/10

The greens on the front nine contained little tines that really didn't effect the speed of the greens. We felt they rolled fairly smooth. Rated 7.5/10. Without the tines they would be in the 8.5 range.

Was in greenside bunker on 3 that had nice sand. They have added some additional sand in some of the bunkers we walked by on the front.

Greenside rough is lush, beautifully mowed and uniform in length. Rated 8.5/10

Fairway rough is more thin than lush and contains some good areas and some poor areas. Rated 6/10.

Other than hole 6 which is a tough par 3 the front is scorable with 3 par 5s and a short par 4.

Highly recommend Rustic right now its in good shape.

Played here Sunday, 4/4 with a 2:00 tee time. Booked direct on their site a couple weeks ahead of time for just $38. Paired with a threesome of nice guys. We all walked and played the black tees. Sent... Continue »

Played here Sunday, 4/4 with a 2:00 tee time. Booked direct on their site a couple weeks ahead of time for just $38. Paired with a threesome of nice guys. We all walked and played the black tees. Sent off about 10 minutes late and finished about 5 hours, 10 minutes later. Picture-perfect day with little wind, perfect temperature and mostly blue skies with light cloud cover.

Course conditions continue to be excellent. Greens were a little slower than when I was here a few weeks ago, but still in great condition. Medium speed, smooth and more firm than soft, although full, well-struck shots would check up. The collars seemed to have been aerated recently with small tines and very, very lightly sanded – none of which affected play at all. Fairways have good coverage of somewhat thin grass. Rough along the fairways is mostly thin and/or non-existent, but up around the greens it’s extremely lush, dark green grass in pretty much immaculate condition, probably about 2 inches deep. Tee boxes were in good condition. I was in a couple bunkers and neither had what I would call “good” sand, but I’m not sure if they were actual bunkers or waste bunkers. (The tiny strip of sand in front of No. 1 and then right of the 17th green.)

Aside from the slow play (and twisting my ankle near the 9th tee), I couldn’t ask for a much better day.

Walked the Blacks this morning 3/29/2021 3rd out joining a really nice and laid back single and twosome. Weather was perfect with no wind and it warming up nice on the back nine. POP 3 hrs 50 minutes.... Continue »

Walked the Blacks this morning 3/29/2021 3rd out joining a really nice and laid back single and twosome. Weather was perfect with no wind and it warming up nice on the back nine. POP 3 hrs 50 minutes. Not much has changed since my review 2 weeks ago here. The greens and tees are both nearing a 8.5 or 9 out of 10 shape. Looks like they reseeded many tees over the last month and they are lush and green and beautiful. Level stance on mostly every tee. 9/10 The greens were again rolling firm, holding shots with spin beautifully. Very little to no ballmarks on the greens. Whenever they punch them it will be a shame as they really are in great shape. Had an interesting front pin on the par 3 4th hole today. They had the sprinklers on when we were on the tee. We all hit darts right at it. We walked up to Lake Rustic round the cup with standing water. I guess they are trying to get a lot of water on the greens maybe with warmer weather coming up. 8.5/10 Fairways contained semi-lush to thinner lies which is how this links course is meant to be played. 6/10 Was in one bunker on 15 greenside that had just enough sand to splash out of but was on the firmer side. Greenside rough is a 9.5/10. Thick, uniform and lush. Fairway rough just outside the edges of the fairways is in the 5 or 6/10 range with varying lies from semi-lush to thin to compact ground with no grass. Just a picture perfect morning for golf on an awesome course. Highly recommend Rustic.

Walked the Blacks this morning 3/15/2021 teeing off as a single in light sprinkles and colder weather around 8:40am. I caught a threesome on hole 10, really cool guys from Pasadena and we finished the... Continue »

Walked the Blacks this morning 3/15/2021 teeing off as a single in light sprinkles and colder weather around 8:40am. I caught a threesome on hole 10, really cool guys from Pasadena and we finished the round together. Weather was in the 50's with a 1-2 club breeze.

Man I love Rustic.

The greens were in great shape today. Mark's comment of firmer is spot on. I could putt these greens any day anytime. Very smooth roll. If I had to guess maybe a 11 on the stimp even with some overnight rain on them. Rated 8.5/10.

Tee boxes were very lush and level and in good shape. Rated 8/10

Fairways have a yellowish color and are in between thin and semi lush and provide a decent hitting surface at present time. Rated 6.5/10

Greenside rough is green, beautiful shape and lush. Rated 9/10.

Fairway rough is rough "around" the edges. Could be grass, could be hardpan, could be dirt. Probably the only part of the course that needs work. Rated 5/10

Was in greenside bunker left of 15 that had wetter compact sand that had enough sand to easily splash out of.


Highly recommend Rustic Canyon. In the coming months the fairways are only going to get lusher and if the greens and tees stay the same like they are today golfers are in for a treat this Spring and Summer

Played here today with a 1:30 tee time. $38 booked direct on their site about a week ago. Paid $8 more in the shop for a push cart. Paired with a riding twosome and another walking single. Started rig... Continue »

Played here today with a 1:30 tee time. $38 booked direct on their site about a week ago. Paid $8 more in the shop for a push cart. Paired with a riding twosome and another walking single. Started right on time and POP was not terrible but not good. Front-nine back-ups at 3rd tee & 6th tee, back nine back-ups on 10, 11, 15, 16 & 17. The riding twosome quit after 17, but the other guy and I played the 18th hole in near total darkness, finishing around 6:30. We had to be the last group to finish. Not exactly sure why things move so poorly out here… maybe the tough green complexes? Anyway, despite playing terribly most of the day, very happy I was able to finish after the 90+ minute drive to get there.

Conditions are pretty darn good. Greens are great, quite slick, very smooth and definitely more firm than soft. A few holes seemed really beat up on the collars, and I’m not sure why. Like right in front of the 15th green looked like somebody had a driving range session from there with tons of weird divots. Fairways might be the low point of conditions, but they’re not bad. They are a little clumpy, though, with a mix of grasses. Seems like a dormant bermuda base with some sort of green grass growing in little clumps. Rough is a mix of really lush rye in spots and dormant, thin bermuda in others. Blue tee boxes were mostly good. I was in one bunker and it was very well maintained and had good sand.

Always a treat to play here. Love the drive in and how you get a “preview” of what’s in store. Wish it was closer to home, easier to get a tee time, and had better weekend POP. Otherwise it’s just about perfect.

Played 3-2-21 afternoon walking as a foursome on a TeeOff deal for $13.50, and finishing in a little under 4 1/2 hours. Tee boxes were very green and lush, mostly level with minimal divot damage on pa... Continue »

Played 3-2-21 afternoon walking as a foursome on a TeeOff deal for $13.50, and finishing in a little under 4 1/2 hours. Tee boxes were very green and lush, mostly level with minimal divot damage on par threes. Fairways were yellow and firm with tight lies, just how they should be on a links course. Some of the fairways had some minor bare spots here and there but nothing major. Rough along fairways does no exist at Rustic, its either the same as the fairways or its dirt. Rough around the greens does exist, it's in really nice shape, green and lush about 2-3 inches. Was in one greenside bunker that had a decent amount of brown sand that was nice to hit from. Some of the aprons around the greens had been punched awhile ago and are almost healed up. There are some bad spots on the aprons, bare dirt that cannot be putted through but only a few spots that I saw. Greens were in really nice shape, rolling smooth and fast, and playing semi-firm. Personally I love the look and how the course plays right now, really gives you that true links feel.