Orange County Golf Course Reviews
Rancho San Joaquin Golf Club ReviewIrvine, CA
70.5 rating; 126 slope |
Rancho San Joaquin Yardage guide, as of the date of last review
Rancho San Joaquin Golf Club Overview: A golf course that is plagued by unusually severe slopes and tiers on its otherwise well-conditioned greens makes scoring particularly trying as the correlation between good approaches and good results is unusually low. Add in the fact that the course from tee to the green is in very inconsistent shape, and you have the recipe for a not overwhelmingly positive experience. However, like the vast majority of golf courses, there are a few holes that shine, in this case on three hole stretches on each nine, and they are reviewed below:
Rancho San Joaquin Golf Club Hole 5: This is a very difficult par five, after the relatively open drive. The two lakes, on either side of fairway pinch in tight for any 2nd shot. The green is then set over the lake on the right, but any miss to the left, leaves a no-chance chip from the bunker or over it, with the lake behind the narrow green.
Rancho San Joaquin Golf Club Hole 5: This is a very difficult par five, after the relatively open drive. The two lakes, on either side of fairway pinch in tight for any 2nd shot. The green is then set over the lake on the right, but any miss to the left, leaves a no-chance chip from the bunker or over it, with the lake behind the narrow green.
Rancho San Joaquin Golf Club Hole 6: The drive on this dogleg left par four can be hit hard down the right or laid up short of the water that comes into play down the left about 250 yards from the back tee. The green is set over the water but short and badly pulled second shots can find it.
Rancho San Joaquin Golf Club Hole 7: This par four has a picturesque drive over the water from a secluded tee. The major miss is to the right and the green has one of the typical large tiers in its middle separating the front of the narrow putting surface from the rear.
Rancho San Joaquin Golf Club Hole 12: This par five, similar to #5 on the front is all about the second shot, as the landing area pinches in heavily, this time between the lake to the right and OB to the left, before it goes up to the elevated green that has some sand protection..
Rancho San Joaquin Golf Club Hole 13: This par three is over a lake, which is in play for a less than stellar tee shot. There is also sand protecting the green, making this one of the more stressful tee shots on the day.
Rancho San Joaquin Golf Club Hole 14: This par four has the unusual downhill blind tee shot as about 150 yards from the tee the ground drops sharply away over a rough covered hill to the second fairway below. Going left is really bad as there are massive trees, and the green is set against those trees and a hillside. Although blind, direction and distance of the tee are critical pieces to scoring on this hole.
