Teed off on time at 1230pm on Saturday, October 17th. The views at this track are tough to beat. From the 1st hole to the 18th, it's tough to find a bad view. The course is in great condition especial... Continue »

Teed off on time at 1230pm on Saturday, October 17th. The views at this track are tough to beat. From the 1st hole to the 18th, it's tough to find a bad view. The course is in great condition especially considering the heat waves we've had this summer. There were a couple of holes that appeared to have been overwatered but overall, tee boxes to fairways to greens, excellent conditions. $32 to walk is definitely worth the drive from Los Angeles. Recommended.

After hearing so many great things and reading reviews on GK, I took advantage of being in the Ojai area for an SCGA event to play Soule Park GC on Thursday, 9/17/20. Booked a 6:54am tee time to get f... Continue »

After hearing so many great things and reading reviews on GK, I took advantage of being in the Ojai area for an SCGA event to play Soule Park GC on Thursday, 9/17/20. Booked a 6:54am tee time to get finished and back to the hotel before checkout time, but on arriving I was sent out immediately with a threesome from Valencia who have been coming over to SP after Elkins Ranch closed down. Two of the guys were older than me and one younger, but these three were some of the fastest players I’ve ever been paired with, and at times I was literally out of breath trying to keep up with them, despite having my own cart! I didn’t know what to expect at SPGC – in contrast to the more traditional layout and conditions at Ojai Valley Inn GC, I found a wonderful links-like course more like Rustic Canyon GC on steroids, with expansive greens and surrounds, incorporating large mounds and steep slopes. Visually the course is straightforward until you get to the green complexes. SPGC doesn’t have the large-scale elevation changes I encountered at OVI; most of the movement here is small-scale in the greens and surrounds. Sand traps are not used extensively and were often more for alignment and visual effect. At this time of the morning and coming off a hot spell, everything was soaked from watering. Greens are firm but putts from both on and off the greens had very inconsistent runout due to all the moisture, especially on the front nine. In general, greens were medium-slow and even downhill putts were stopping on the downslopes. As a result of my unfamiliarity with the greens, I didn’t make a putt all day; there are lots of subtle slopes and non-intuitive breaks on the greens, running askew from the valley slope toward the ocean. Repeated plays are needed to decipher these subtleties. Fairway lies were good but the overall conditions very wet; the same was true of the rough areas, which were longer but very playable. I was in one bunker with soft sand. Tees were level and provided good hitting areas. I like this type of course as it gives you many options approaching and around the greens – you can fly the ball in, run it up, or bounce it on. Around the greens you can putt from the wide fringe, pitch over obstacles or use the slopes to direct your ball. My recollection of playing Rustic 2 years ago is that the SPGC contours and green features are more pronounced, and definitely require multiple plays to get familiar with the features and requirements of the holes. I would have preferred to play a little slower to better understand and appreciate the features of the course, but I had no knowledge of any of the holes and I was also aware of the need to get back to the hotel and check out, so I stuck with the threesome rather than dropping behind them. We played in about 3 hours and I wound up with plenty of time, and I would look forward to a second opportunity to play SPGC and appreciate its features. However, I seldom get up above LA to play golf, so the likelihood is, unfortunately, slim. No GPS or yardage book, which would have helped me a lot this first time; some sprinklers are marked and there are 200/150/100 plates in center. Cart paths need some attention (localized flooding after watering); water is provided in jugs, which we aren’t yet seeing in OC and LA. An enthusiastic recommendation.

Played Soule Park for the first time on Sunday, 8/30. We were the first group off at 6:20 am so pace of play was not an issue. I believe we played in 3:35 or faster. I left my house late at 4:50 am... Continue »

Played Soule Park for the first time on Sunday, 8/30. We were the first group off at 6:20 am so pace of play was not an issue. I believe we played in 3:35 or faster. I left my house late at 4:50 am and was concerned I would not get there on time. Walked into the clubhouse, told the starter who I was, he said great, I was on the tee, and off we went. We could not see our first tee shots but after that it was light enough and everyone found their ball so it was all good.

The only negative was playing the avocado tees with the rest of the group took a lot of the bite out of the course. There was a 100 yard difference between the avocado tees and the next tee back on the #1 handicap number 8. 408 yards versus 310, to a green that would have been really tough to hold with a long iron but was not as difficult with a short iron.

I liked the course. The conditions were good and there were some quirky features to even straightforward holes that kept it interesting. I played with a group in which one guy had course knowledge. That was good because there were times I was not sure where the green was, etc. I liked the short mown areas around the greens that looked like bermuda or bent grass. It was difficult at times for me to pick out where the greens started mainly because quite a few of them are raised slightly, but once again that is a course knowledge thing.

I especially liked the greens. I had quite a few problems with them on the front (20 putts!) and there were some nasty breaks, but nothing unfair in my opinion. They were difficult but fun. All the conditions were top notch. I was only in one bunker and the sand was good. We had trouble finding balls in the rough at times so it was a factor. The fairways were nice.

Overall, I look forward to playing here again. It was pretty crowded when we finished which makes the conditions that much better. It stands up well to the play. I'll be back.

Played Soule Park this morning 8/21 with a 640 tee time. We played the Orange Tees which is equivalent to the Blue Tees. This is a great unique course. I played here over 20 years ago. This was a fun... Continue »

Played Soule Park this morning 8/21 with a 640 tee time. We played the Orange Tees which is equivalent to the Blue Tees. This is a great unique course. I played here over 20 years ago. This was a fun course. The course was in great shape. Fairways were fantastic ! The greens were great. POP was 3:45. Definitely a course I recommend for anyone that hasn’t played this course. Great day on the course with Pac and Woody!

Played 8-3-20 early morning walking with John, Gary, and Pedro finishing in a little over fours with hardly any waiting. Tee boxes were very nice, level and lush. Fairways were in great shape, lush an... Continue »

Played 8-3-20 early morning walking with John, Gary, and Pedro finishing in a little over fours with hardly any waiting. Tee boxes were very nice, level and lush. Fairways were in great shape, lush and green with great lies and decent roll out. Rough was in good condition, a little longer than fairways and easy to hit from. Was in one greenside bunker on #5 which had good amount of nice white sand. Greens were in great shape, holding shots and rolling smooth at medium/fast pace. Overall conditions really good and worth a trip out here to play.

Fortunate to play 36 holes of local golf Monday that started with a 7:20am tee time at Soule Park joined by GKers GDR23, rgm2525 and Pedro7170.

Last year Soule Pak Golf Course for second straight ... Continue »

Fortunate to play 36 holes of local golf Monday that started with a 7:20am tee time at Soule Park joined by GKers GDR23, rgm2525 and Pedro7170.

Last year Soule Pak Golf Course for second straight year won GK’s “Most Worth The Green Fee” for all of Southern California. This track has always been a hidden gem with its excellent fun design surrounded by the gorgeous beauty of Ojai. The course deserves all its praise and wonderful to read all these positive reviews. With traffic much less than pre-COVID-19 on the 101 make plans to experience this golf course. It’s currently in great playing condition with moderately fast, smooth greens that hold shots, lush fairways, mostly lush rough, excellent white sand bunkers and mostly lush level tee boxes. You’ll experience friendly service and fast Pace of Play. This golf course checks all the boxes. Check out the photos I just posted. Highly Recommended.

Out this morning 8/3/2020 at Soule Park joined by buddies Pedro, Johnny and Ron at 7:20am. Rode the Oak Tees in about 4 hrs 15 minutes with beautiful morning weather turning a bit hot on the back nine... Continue »

Out this morning 8/3/2020 at Soule Park joined by buddies Pedro, Johnny and Ron at 7:20am. Rode the Oak Tees in about 4 hrs 15 minutes with beautiful morning weather turning a bit hot on the back nine. Think we were the last group right before their senior men's club.

Covid-19 precautions included no rakes in bunkers, foam inserts in cups and masks needing to be worn in pro-shop and just outside when ordering food. Restaurant was open for outdoor seating and we had burgers for lunch which were delicious. Mats on driving range, nice big putting green and a separate chipping green. Always super friendly staff and looking at their rates online this is probably the best bang for your buck in Ventura County.

Conditions were fantastic.

Greens were rated an 7.5 out of 10 closer maybe to an 8/10. Very nice receptive soft surfaces with some ball mark damage on some of the front pin placement areas. Last 2 greens had more ballmarks than usual. Overall though very nice shape.

Fairways were an 8/10 bordering on a 8.5/10. I would say Olivas Links and Soule Park have the nicest fairways in Ventura County. If you are in the fairway you will find a green emerald lush lie.

Tees mostly level and lush with just some minor divot damage. Rated 8/10. They re sodded the back tee box on number 4 and it looks and plays great.

Rough mostly green and lush and in good shape. Rated 8/10.

Bunkers here are beautiful. Was in just one greenside bunker on 3 that was raked and contained perfect sand to splash out of. Unfortunately with no rakes walked by many bunkers that had footprints. Rating the bunker that I was in a 8.5/10.

Absolutely love the layout here. Peaceful golf with some birdie holes like 4,5,9, 11 and 18 and some tough holes like 6 and 8. Fun course to let the driver rip and some challenging big green complexes with some potato chip swales.

Architect Gil Hanse has a beauty here and Keith and his staff have really shined in keeping up this beauty.

Highly recommended.

Played here for the first time on Monday morning, July 27. Check-in was smooth and simple with Jennifer in the Pro Shop. An unusual quiet morning allowed my partner (riding) and me (walking) to go out... Continue »

Played here for the first time on Monday morning, July 27. Check-in was smooth and simple with Jennifer in the Pro Shop. An unusual quiet morning allowed my partner (riding) and me (walking) to go out as a twosome, following another pair. We played at a comfortable 4-hour pace, waiting on a few tees, but it was so serene, quiet, peaceful, we didn't care! We played the orange tees and I can't remember a bad tee box. The fairways were in good shape and the rough was mercifully short. There are mature trees on the course, but the fairways seem generously wide. You'll find several forced carries, elevation changes and water hazards. The greens are fun too, medium fast, several with multi-tiers and plenty of undulation (there were a number of un-repaired ball marks on most greens). I was able to avoid the fairway bunkers, but the green-side bunkers I was in had good sand. We had a great morning round at this impressive public course. We will definitely be back again.

Soule Park is the best inexpensive, public course you can find in So. Cal. When you walk on the course it feels like a private country club. The conditions are absolutely superb. Fairways and rough ar... Continue »

Soule Park is the best inexpensive, public course you can find in So. Cal. When you walk on the course it feels like a private country club. The conditions are absolutely superb. Fairways and rough are lush, green and picture perfect. I was in one fairway bunker and one greenside bunker. Both were excellent. Beautiful, soft fluffy sand. Easy to hit from. The greens are in great shape as well. They were running medium speed during the early part of the morning, but sped up a little in the late morning. They were relatively soft, very receptive, and rolled true. With the incredible scenery, outstanding conditions, great layout, there is no reason not to get out here and play!