The best-value golf courses in California
The public and guest-friendly golf courses in California that Course Vaults golfers say are most worth the green fee. Each course needs value ratings from at least 5 different golfers who played it; 41 courses qualify.
Soule Park Golf Club
Ojai, CA, USAValue 5.0 out of 5 from 6 golfers
PublicWilliam Francis Bell & Bob E. Baldock
- 4.4Conditions
- 4.5Layout
- 5.0Value
- 4.1Scenery
- 3.3Facilities
Can be far from LA, but an absolute gem of a William Bell design that was renovated by Gil Hanse. Under $50 walking is maybe the best deal in SoCal golf. The layout is also tremendous.
Written by
@KAbbassi
- Hidden gem
- Restaurant
- Driving range
Northwood Golf Club
Monte Rio, CA, USAValue 4.9 out of 5 from 8 golfers
PublicAlister Mackenzie & Robert Hunter
- 3.3Conditions
- 4.1Layout
- 4.9Value
- 4.9Scenery
- 3.2Facilities
You’ll love the views of the redwood trees and curse them as your ball bounces off their trunks. Knockwood.
Written by
@PG-Links
- Must play
- Hidden gem
- Views
Penmar Golf Club
Venice, CA, USAValue 4.6 out of 5 from 5 golfers
PublicDavid W. Kent
- 3.0Conditions
- 2.8Layout
- 4.6Value
- 3.0Scenery
- 2.6Facilities
Look - if you’re looking for a proper day out at a proper track, go to rustic, robles, or rancho. If you’re looking for an afternoon walk with a few beers and a few swings discussing how Harrison Ford crash landed his plane on #8 - this is the place to do it.
Written by
@moodiebanks
- Great value
- Hidden gem
- Restaurant
18 holes
Poppy Ridge Golf Course
Livermore, CA, USAValue 4.5 out of 5 from 7 golfers
PublicRees Jones & Steve Weisser
- 4.1Conditions
- 4.5Layout
- 4.5Value
- 3.9Scenery
- 3.6Facilities
Firm & fast. Nice views over the rolling East Bay hills. Definitely a new age/“woke” course with bounding hills to refocus shots hut wide of target (on the proper side).
Written by
@hammerinhank
- Must play
- Great value
- Views
Presidio Golf Course
San Francisco, CA, USAValue 4.4 out of 5 from 10 golfers
PublicRobert Johnstone & Tom Simpson
- 3.3Conditions
- 4.3Layout
- 4.4Value
- 4.2Scenery
- 3.7Facilities
#TLDR: Presidio is a world-class municipal course, but our overall experience left a lot to be desired. Scenery (4.5/5) The towering cypress trees, San Francisco Hills, and glimpses of the Golden Gate Bridge remind you you’re in a special city.
Written by
@moodiebanks
- Views
- Hidden gem
- Great value
Rancho Park Golf Club
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Value 4.2 out of 5 from 7 golfers
Rustic Canyon Golf Course
Moorpark, CA, USA
Value 4.2 out of 5 from 22 golfers
(Eighteen Hole) Balboa Park Municipal Golf Club
San Diego, CA, USA
Value 4.2 out of 5 from 6 golfers
TPC Harding Park
San Francisco, CA, USA
Value 4.0 out of 5 from 16 golfers
Poppy Hills Golf Course
Pebble Beach, CA, USA
Value 4.0 out of 5 from 12 golfers
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Rams Hill Country Club
Borrego Springs, CA, USA
Value 3.9 out of 5 from 10 golfers
Pasatiempo Golf Club
Santa Cruz, CA, USA
Value 3.8 out of 5 from 35 golfers
Oak Quarry Golf Club
Riverside, CA, USA
Value 3.8 out of 5 from 8 golfers
(Stadium) PGA West
La Quinta, CA, USA
Value 3.7 out of 5 from 16 golfers
Sandpiper Golf Club
Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Value 3.7 out of 5 from 6 golfers
Olivas Links Golf Course
Ventura, CA, USA
Value 3.7 out of 5 from 6 golfers
Simi Hills Golf Course
Simi Valley, CA, USA
Value 3.5 out of 5 from 5 golfers
(Greg Norman) PGA West
La Quinta, CA, USA
Value 3.5 out of 5 from 5 golfers
Coronado Golf Course
Coronado, CA, USA
Value 3.4 out of 5 from 7 golfers
(Champions) Omni La Costa Resort & Spa
Carlsbad, CA, USA
Value 3.4 out of 5 from 5 golfers
Encinitas Ranch Golf Course
Encinitas, CA, USA
Value 3.4 out of 5 from 5 golfers
Maderas Golf Club
Poway, CA, USA
Value 3.3 out of 5 from 9 golfers
(Mountain) La Quinta
La Quinta, CA, USA
Value 3.3 out of 5 from 8 golfers
The Links at Spanish Bay
Pebble Beach, CA, USA
Value 3.1 out of 5 from 18 golfers
(Firecliff) Desert Willow Golf Resort
Palm Desert, CA, USA
Value 3.1 out of 5 from 6 golfers
How we rank
This ranking uses each golfer’s value rating, on a 0.5–5 scale. Value is how worth the price a golfer felt the round was. Only public and guest-friendly courses are ranked, since private clubs rarely have value ratings. Every golfer counts once per course: repeat rounds are averaged first, then the course score is the average across golfers. A course needs value ratings from at least 5 different golfers. Ties go to the course with more golfers, then the higher Course Vaults score. Only open courses with a published Course Vaults score (at least 5 explicit ratings) are eligible, and a page is published only when at least 5 courses qualify. State pages include courses across California. Rankings refresh about hourly.
FAQ
Soule Park Golf Club is #1 on Course Vaults in California at Value 5.0/5 (6 golfers). 41 courses qualify for this list.
This ranking uses each golfer’s value rating, on a 0.5–5 scale. Value is how worth the price a golfer felt the round was. Only public and guest-friendly courses are ranked, since private clubs rarely have value ratings. Every golfer counts once per course: repeat rounds are averaged first, then the course score is the average across golfers. A course needs value ratings from at least 5 different golfers. Ties go to the course with more golfers, then the higher Course Vaults score. Only open courses with a published Course Vaults score (at least 5 explicit ratings) are eligible, and a page is published only when at least 5 courses qualify. State pages include courses across California. Rankings refresh about hourly.
A course appears once at least 5 different golfers have rated its value on Course Vaults and it is open to the public or to guests. Log your round and rate it in the app to help it qualify.
This page was last generated Nov 12, 2026, 3:38 AM EST. Scores and eligibility are recomputed about every hour.
