The hardest golf courses in Newport Coast, California
The hardest 18-hole golf courses within about 25 miles of Newport Coast, California, ranked by USGA slope rating from each course's longest men's tees, with course rating as the tiebreaker. 38 courses have complete, verified tee data.
Also covers San Clemente, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Yorba Linda, Corona and 10 more nearby towns.
Shady Canyon Golf Club
Irvine, CA, USASlope rating 144, 74.7 course rating, Black tees, 7,012 yds
PrivateTom Fazio
- 3.5Conditions
- 3.7Layout
- 3.7Scenery
- 4.6Facilities
Very barranca-happy layout. Greens had good form, but a little too soft for my liking.
Written by
@Lazstradamus
- Driving range
- Restaurant
- Bar
South
Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club
Coto de Caza, CA, USASlope rating 139, 74.0 course rating, Black tees, 6,950 yds
PrivateRobert Trent Jones, Jr.
- 4.5Conditions
- 4.0Layout
- 4.0Scenery
- 4.8Facilities
- Driving range
- Hidden gem
- Restaurant
Eagle Glen Golf Club
Corona, CA, USASlope rating 139, 73.5 course rating, Black tees, 6,898 yds
PublicGary Baird
- 3.0Conditions
- 3.0Layout
- 3.0Value
- 3.0Scenery
- 2.3Facilities
Ocean North
The Resort at Pelican Hill
Newport Coast, CA, USASlope rating 137, 73.5 course rating, Black tees, 6,945 yds
PublicTom Fazio
- 4.1Conditions
- 4.2Layout
- 2.5Value
- 4.9Scenery
- 3.5Facilities
Layout was top notch with ocean scenery as the backdrop for most of the holes. Difficult track, even in the fairway it would frequently be an uphill/downhill lie. Greens were lightning fast. Played at twilight for $175 about a year ago - saw rounds going for $400+ now.
Written by
@KirklandBomber
- Driving range
- Views
- By water
Big Canyon Country Club
Newport Beach, CA, USASlope rating 136, 74.1 course rating, Black tees, 7,062 yds
PrivateDesmond Muirhead
- 4.0Conditions
- 3.3Layout
- 4.0Scenery
- 4.3Facilities
Not a good piece of land for a golf course, it makes the best of it. Always in great condition
Written by
@nxttw4sho
- Driving range
- Must play
- Pristine
Tijeras Creek Golf Club
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, USA
Slope rating 136, 73.8 course rating, Black tees, 7,003 yds
Talega Golf Club
San Clemente, CA, USA
Slope rating 136, 73.5 course rating, Copper tees, 6,951 yds
Monarch Beach Golf Links
Dana Point, CA, USA
Slope rating 135, 72.5 course rating, Black tees, 6,645 yds
Coyote Hills Golf Course
Fullerton, CA, USA
Slope rating 135, 72.2 course rating, Coyote tees, 6,510 yds
Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club
Mission Viejo, CA, USA
Slope rating 134, 73.7 course rating, Black tees, 7,011 yds
Tustin Ranch Golf Club
Tustin, CA, USA
Slope rating 134, 73.5 course rating, Black tees, 6,842 yds
Black Gold Golf Club
Yorba Linda, CA, USA
Slope rating 133, 73.1 course rating, Black tees, 6,756 yds
Strawberry Farms Golf Club
Irvine, CA, USA
Slope rating 133, 72.9 course rating, Black tees, 6,700 yds
Oak Creek Golf Club
Irvine, CA, USA
Slope rating 133, 72.5 course rating, Black tees, 6,850 yds
(Ocean South) The Resort at Pelican Hill
Newport Coast, CA, USA
Slope rating 133, 72.0 course rating, Black tees, 6,580 yds
Mesa Verde Country Club
Costa Mesa, CA, USA
Slope rating 132, 73.0 course rating, Los Verdes tees, 6,808 yds
El Dorado Park Golf Club
Long Beach, CA, USA
Slope rating 130, 72.8 course rating, Pros tees, 6,904 yds
Skylinks Golf Course
Long Beach, CA, USA
Slope rating 130, 72.6 course rating, Championship tees, 6,909 yds
Shorecliffs Golf Club
San Clemente, CA, USA
Slope rating 130, 71.1 course rating, Blue tees, 6,244 yds
(Destroyer) Navy Golf Course
Cypress, CA, USA
Slope rating 129, 72.8 course rating, Blue tees, 6,780 yds
Santa Ana Country Club
Santa Ana, CA, USA
Slope rating 129, 71.5 course rating, IV tees, 6,503 yds
Lakewood Country Club
Lakewood, CA, USA
Slope rating 128, 73.0 course rating, Championship tees, 7,033 yds
San Juan Hills Country Club
San Juan Capistrano, CA, USA
Slope rating 128, 70.1 course rating, Blue tees, 6,327 yds
Newport Beach Country Club
Newport Beach, CA, USA
Slope rating 127, 71.9 course rating, Championship tees, 6,618 yds
(Los Lagos) Costa Mesa Country Club
Costa Mesa, CA, USA
Slope rating 126, 71.2 course rating, Championship tees, 6,542 yds
How we rank
This ranking uses published scorecard data from each course’s longest men’s tees, the same tee set for every course. Only 18-hole courses with a yardage for every hole, a total that matches the hole-by-hole sum, and a par between 54 and 80 are included, and the tees must carry a single slope rating (55–155) and course rating. Courses whose scorecard duplicates another course’s are left out until the data is fixed. Courses are ordered by slope rating, then course rating, then 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. City pages include courses within about 25 miles of Newport Coast, so nearby suburbs can appear. Rankings refresh about hourly.
FAQ
Shady Canyon Golf Club is #1 on Course Vaults in and around Newport Coast, California at Slope 144 (74.7 course rating · Black tees · 7,012 yds). 38 courses qualify for this list.
This ranking uses published scorecard data from each course’s longest men’s tees, the same tee set for every course. Only 18-hole courses with a yardage for every hole, a total that matches the hole-by-hole sum, and a par between 54 and 80 are included, and the tees must carry a single slope rating (55–155) and course rating. Courses whose scorecard duplicates another course’s are left out until the data is fixed. Courses are ordered by slope rating, then course rating, then 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. City pages include courses within about 25 miles of Newport Coast, so nearby suburbs can appear. Rankings refresh about hourly.
Slope rating is the USGA measure of how much harder a course plays for a bogey golfer than for a scratch golfer, from 55 to 155 (113 is average). Course rating is the expected score for a scratch golfer from the same tees.
Yes. It includes qualifying courses within about 25 miles of Newport Coast, not only courses whose address is in the city.
This page was last generated Nov 12, 2026, 4:00 AM EST. Scores and eligibility are recomputed about every hour.
