Ojai Valley Inn Course
Ojai, CA, USA
Ojai Valley Inn’s golf course whispers of Hollywood’s Golden Age glamour, a retreat where Bing Crosby once graced the fairways. Carved into the gently rolling hills of the Ojai Valley, the parkland layout, originally designed by George C. Thomas Jr. in 1923, presents a classic test. The routing winds through mature oak and eucalyptus groves, demanding strategic shot-making rather than brute force off the tee. Occasional blind shots and subtly contoured greens reward those who understand the course's nuances, a quality enhanced through thoughtful renovations by Jay Morrish and later, Beau Welling. While not a regular fixture on professional tours, Ojai Valley Inn has hosted numerous high-profile amateur events and remains a favored destination for discerning golfers seeking a refined experience. The course emphasizes playability and visual appeal, making it enjoyable for all skill levels while still providing a challenge for experienced players. The valley's unique "pink moment" sunsets bathe the course in a soft, ethereal glow, adding to the overall ambiance. The Inn and club maintain a discreet elegance that attracts a loyal following, drawn not only to the golf, but the Valley's artistic spirit. It's a place where relaxed California sophistication meets classic golf tradition, a quiet haven far from the frenetic pace of modern life.
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Unranked
Best in USA
Unranked
Best in CA
Public: #63
7.4
47 players
The course itself is very much target golf. You have to hit the exact shot it requires or it penalizes you unfairly. You can hit a good drive but be left with a ball shin high. There isn’t a lot of room for error and there aren’t multiple ways to play each hole (which I think is a hallmark of strong architectural design). The front 9 is better than the back but none of it outside of hole 10-13 are walkable with long distances between tees and fairways and greens to the next tee. There are 4 very good holes on the course. There’s plenty of elevation change. A lot of the hefty rate goes towards the country club amenities the course provides, even though we got stuck behind a group of 7 for the entire front 9 until we finally were allowed to play through. A course being hard for the sake of being hard is pointless. A course should be able to be played different ways. Golf is an art not a science. It should be equally enjoyable for a 18 handicap golfer and a scratch player. ojai valley doesn’t do that. If you want to make a course hard that’s fine. Make challenging green complexes. Place strategic bunkers and hazards. Create penal rough. But shrinking fairways and forced carries is lazy golf course design All that being said it’s a fine course, with very good conditions on the tee boxes, fairways, and roughs. The greens were ok, with almost none of the pitch marks being repaired. The golf course itself I don’t think is worth the price, the amenities and access to the rest of ojai valley inn could be (but that’s up to you to make use of it). I’d almost always rather play Soule park down the road.
For $120 (after 2pm) - it's the most affordable resort course in the Greater LA area. You get the amenities baked in with the price - range balls, cart, valet, and some great restaurants on property. I think the course is fantastic too. It’s a shot makers course. Pace is (generally) excellent but there have been instances reported where the staff is lenient on groups sizes. IMO Ojai Valley Inn is the greater of the two in Ojai (soule park being the other) - but that’s probably a hot take. It’s an epic day out if you relish the experience beyond simply golf. Play it.
Public courses closest to Ojai Valley Inn.
FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Ojai Valley Inn has a Course Vaults score of 7.4 out of 10 based on 25 explicit golfer ratings.
Ojai Valley Inn was designed by George C. Thomas and William Francis Bell.
Yes. Ojai Valley Inn is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Ojai Valley Inn is 70.
Ojai Valley Inn plays 6,292 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Ojai Valley Inn is 128.
