Ranch at Steele Canyon Golf Club

The Ranch at Steele Canyon Golf Club is one of three courses at this facility in Jamul, located in the foothills about 20 miles east of downtown San Diego. Designed by Gary Player and opened in the late 1990s, the course occupies rolling terrain characteristic of Southern California's backcountry, where the landscape transitions from coastal influence to more arid inland conditions. The routing takes advantage of natural elevation changes and canyon features that define the property.

Player's design incorporates the site's topography into a layout that moves through varied terrain, with holes playing across ridgelines and into valley floors. The course features strategic bunkering and green complexes that reflect Player's design principles from this period of his architectural career. Native vegetation and rock outcroppings frame many holes, and views extend across the surrounding hills and valleys.

Steele Canyon's three courses—The Ranch, The Canyon, and The Vineyard—serve a residential community and attract daily-fee play from the San Diego metropolitan area. The facility has hosted regional amateur competitions and qualifiers over the years. The courses benefit from the area's mild climate, which allows for year-round golf, though summer temperatures can be warm in this inland location. The Ranch course represents Player's approach to working with dramatic California terrain while creating a playable layout for a range of skill levels.