Detailed description of River Course At Alisal
River Course at Alisal is a Public 18 hole golf course located in Solvang, California.
River Course at Alisal first opened for play in 1992. The course was designed by Jack Daray, Jr. and Stephen Halsey.
Par for the course is 72. From the back tees the course plays to 6830 yards. From the forward tees the course measures 5710 yards. The longest hole on the course is # 5, a par-5 that plays to 583 yards. The shortest hole on the course is # 17, a par-3 that plays to 123 yards from the back tees.
Watch out for # 7, a 438 yard par-4 challenge and the #1 handicap hole on the course. The easiest hole at River Course at Alisal is # 12, a 147 yard par-3.
River Course at the Alisal presents golfers with breathtaking panoramas of the of the foothills and the Santa Ynez Mountains and Valley. River Course features four lakes and often follows the meandering path of the Santa Ynez River, but the water really doesn't come into play unless you hit a very poor shot. Gentle mounds define the manicured fairways and bentgrass greens accented by mature live oaks, native sycamores and elderberry trees.
The moderate central California climate and meticulous maintenance provide excellent year-round playing conditions.
The fairways at River Course at Alisal appear wide but mounding along the sides requires accuracy to avoid sidehill lies. Some of the tees are elevated offering sweeping vistas of the fairways below. The greens are large and have moderate undulations making them a delight to putt, and the club keeps them consistent and true.
#7 is a most dramatic and demanding hole. This 438-yard, par-4 features a challenge everywhere you look. Hit a big fade off the tee, and your ball might wind up in a vineyard of Ken Plam's Mission Meadow Winery, which runs the length of the hole. If you hook your tee shot, it might catch the lake that runs all the way up to the green.
#9 is a 172 yard par-3 that plays down a hill and across Alamo Pintado Creek, that transverses the width of the course. Again, the prevailing wind comes into play.
#10 is the No. 2 handicap hole, a 430-yard par four, but it plays downwind with the tee shot through a chute of trees. Another stand of trees runs down the left side of the fairway, and a gaping bunker guards the right side.
#15 plays uphill across the creek.
#17 at River Course at Alisal is a 123-yard, par-3 that looks simple enough, but it's almost surrounded by water and sand.
$41 (cart included), played on Sunday, October 2012 at 6am
I am a current club member. I would strongly encourage membership to this course. We have a great group of members, fun tournaments, and great competition, on a great course. If you live in the area, we greatly encourage you to join our club.
$46 (cart included), played on Sunday, July 2012 at 10am
I PLAYED THIS COURSE ON A GIFT CERTIFICATE PURCHASED THRU TRAVELZOO. THE PRICE FOR 2 WITH CART, BAG OF BALLS, AND LUNCH WAS $70. MY DAUGHTER AND I ENJOYED THE COURSE. WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CART APPEARING TO LOSE CHARGE, BUT THE STAFF EXPLAINED THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE KEY OUR AND REINSERT IT. THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM AND THE STAFF WAS VERY FRIENDLY AND EFFICIENT. THE RESTAURANT OVERLOOKS THE COURSE AND IS VERY PLEASANT. I PURCHASED A SHIRT ON SALE AT 50% OFF AND THEY HAD A MEDIUM SIZED RACK OF 50% OFF SHIRTS. I WILL PLAY AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH IT IS ABOUT 75 MILES FROM MY HOME.
$66 (cart included), played on Monday, August 2011 at 10am
No need for a starter. We just walked out to number 1 and teed off. Only saw two other twosomes on the whole course. What a nice change from play in LA
$61 (cart included), played on Monday, June 2010 at 10am
The course shows deferred maintenance, especially the bunkers which are somewhere around a 4 out of a 10. For my money it was a touch pricy but then for this area, maybe not.
$46 (cart not included), played on Friday, February 2010 at 8am
I have played this course every January for 7 years and enjoy it very much. The staff is friendly and helpful and facilities, especially the restaurant and lovely patio are great.
$76 (cart included), played on Saturday, July 2008 at 8am
TO WHO IT MAY CONCERN:
THE COURSE ITSELF IS BEAUTIFUL AND FUN TO PLAY. BUT... WE HAVE PLAYED THIS COURSE ABOUT 10 TIMES OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS, 2 TIMES IN A TOURNAMENT WITH OUR OUT OF TOWN GOLF CLUB. VIRTUALLY, EVERY TIME WE PLAY, WE HAVE SOME KIND OF PROBLEM WITH THE STAFF. THIS IS UNCOMMON IN THE GOLF INDUSTRY. USUALLY, STAFF MEMBERS ARE ACCOMMODATING, CORDIAL, AND POSITIVE,
THE LAST TIME WE PLAYED, ABOUT A WEEK AGO, WE GOT THE TEE TIMES MIXED UP AND THEN WE WERE TOLD THEY WERE TOO BUSY TO GET US ON. THERE WERE ONLY 10 CARS IN THE PARKING LOT. WE FIRST EXPLAINED AND ASKED FOR A SOLUTION, BUT THEN COMPLAINED.
THEY MANAGED TO "SQUEEZE" US IN. WE HAD TWO TWOSOMES IN FRONT OF US AND WE DID NOT SEE THE GROUP BEHIND US FOR 8 HOLES! IT CLEARLY WAS NOT BUSY. IT WAS SURPRISING THAT WE HAD TO URGE THE THE EMPLOYEE TO ACCEPT OUR $500 PLUS FOR OUR GROUP AND ALLOW US TO PLAY.
WHEN WE FINALLY MADE IT TO THE TEE BOX THE STARTER WAS GRUMPY AND EVEN YELLED AT US OVER THE P.A. SYSTEM AS ONE OF OUR FEMALE PLAYERS HAD TEE,D A BALL UP ON THE LADIES TEE BOX AND WAS JUST STANDING AROUND SWINGING HER CLUB AND WAITING. HE YELLED AT US ON THE PA SYSTEM AND SAID THAT WE WERE NOT CLEARED TO GO. I THINK A VETERAN STARTER KNOWS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WARM-UP SWING AND WHEN YOU ARE ADDRESSING THE BALL TO HIT IT, PLEASE....
ANOTHER TIME WHEN WE PLAYED THERE, WE WERE WAITING FOR THE MEN TO TEE OFF AND HE SNAPPED AT US SAYING THE LADIES TEE BOX IS DOWN THERE! THIS SAME MAN HAS BEEN THERE MOST EVERY TIME WE HAVE PLAYED. MY HUSBAND DROVE UP TO HIM AND SAID HELLO AND ASKED HIM HOW HIS DAY WAS GOING. TO OUR SURPRISE, HE LOOKED AT HIM AND DID NOT SAY A WORD! IS THIS THE ATTITUDE YOU WANT GREETING THE CLIENTS ON THE FIRST HOLE? TO BE HONEST, WE WERE HAPPY TO BE ON VACATION AND PLAYING SUCH A NICE COURSE. THE LAST THING WE WANTED WAS CONFLICT.
DURING A TOURNAMENT ON A HOT AUGUST WEEKEND LAST YEAR, THE STAFF WOULD NOT LET US USE THE PATIO AFTER THE TOURNAMENT BECAUSE THEY HAD AN EVENT GOING ON. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO HAVE ADVANCED NOTICE FOR OUR GROUP OF OVER FORTY PLAYERS, SO WE COULD HAVE MADE OTHER ARRANGEMENTS TO SPEND OUR MONEY ON FOOD AND DRINKS. THEY ALSO RAN OUT OF ICE. IT WAS A VERY HOT DAY. I AM SURE THERE IS SOME PLACE TO BUY ICE IN TOWN ONE MILE AWAY!
DURING A TOURNAMENT BEFORE THAT WE WERE ON THE PATIO SPENDING LOTS OF MONEY ON FOOD AND DRINKS WHEN THEY CLOSED THE PRO SHOP. IT WAS BEARLY SUNSET. SOMEONE COULD HAVE GIVEN US SOME NOTICE. WE HAD TO GO BACK THE NEXT MORNING TO POST THE SCORES FOR EVERYONE.
IN CONCLUSION, I WOULD SAY THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SATISFACTION SHOULD BE THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. IF A CUSTOMER IS UNHAPPY ABOUT THE WAY IN WHICH THEY WERE TREATED, THEY TEND TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH OTHERS. ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN YOU PLAY AT COURSES WHERE PUBLIC RELATIONS AND SERVICE ARE TOP PRIORITIES, THAT INFORMATION IS SHARED.
SUGGESTIONS:
GET MR. GRUMPY OUT OF THE STARTER ASSIGNMENT. HE IS QUITE RUDE, AND NOT JUST ON ONE DAY. HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN LESS THAN NICE OR CORDIAL. THERE IS A MUCH NICER MARSHAL WE SEE OUT ON THE COURSE THEY COULD USE IN THIS ASSIGNMENT, OR EVEN THE HAPPY DARK HAIRED, SLENDER CART GIRL WHO WAS VERY NICE AND ACCOMMODATING.
THE COURSE IS VERY NICE. PERHAPS WE CAN ENCOURAGE THE STAFF TO SMILE JUST A LITTLE MORE AND GREET THE CUSTOMERS AS IF THEY WERE ACTUALLY HAPPY TO HAVE OUR BUSINESS. IT GOES A LONG WAY. WE REALLY DO NOT KNOW IF WE WILL RETURN TO THIS FACILITY, OUR GOLF CLUB NO LONGER DOES BUSINESS WITH THEM BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF SERVICE. I WOULD HOPE THEY WILL TAKE THIS CONSTRUCTIVE CRITIQUE FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.
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$41 (cart included), played on Thursday, April 2017 at 1:00 PM
Walked this course by myself after a morning round at Sandpiper. Played through a foursome on #7 and was able to play in 3 hours. This is a classic flat California riverside course with cottonwood trees lining the fairways. The layout was mostly running either eastward or westward so with the typical afternoon winds from the west, be prepared for 20-30 mph winds making downwind shots hard to stop on the greens and into the wind shots very tough to keep straight. However, the course layout was fun with several doglegs and good bunkering. Greens were a bit firm but fair. I would play this course frequently if I lived nearby.