I checked and it was just as I suspected. There is no worthwhile ranking of public golf courses available in Orange County. This list is going to change that. Just like my lists for Palm Springs and Scottsdale I am presenting an unbiased representation of the best options for public golf in Orange County, California.
I have received no compensation from any of the golf courses on this list for their inclusion. This is simply the definitive list of courses available to anyone who is visiting Orange County. My rankings are based on a 10 point scale and a minimum of 30 points were required in order to make the list. Every golf course covered here is worth a visit. Just click on the course name to book a tee time.
Quality: How good is the overall golf course, I take conditioning, shot options, and challenge all into consideration in just one category.
Character: How unique is the golf course? Many Orange County golf courses have a similar vibe. Courses score points here for being original and unique.
Value: Golf in Orange County is some of the most expensive in the country, so when playing golf be prepared to open that wallet. A course may be excellent but it also might set you back $400. Is it worth it? A true value is hard to find in the OC.
Fun: In this category I will assess the vibe. Is the course welcoming? Is the course enjoyable to play?
Beauty: As a golf course photographer, I have an eye for the visually striking aspects of the game. I put a number on it here in this category.
We start this list in the epicenter of orange county and just down the street from Disneyland. As the name suggest, Anaheim Hills is set in the hills of Anaheim. It is a modest option for for some interesting golf at a reasonable price. With 6’s across the board it won’t let you down, but it also won’t stoke your vibes too heavily.
Tustin Ranch was course 3/580 on my world record setting RGV Tour in 2023. Needless to say, I have a soft spot for this Orange County staple. This Ted Robinson design is a solid option for those visiting or looking for a quality golf experience. The facility is also Troon managed which gives it an additional stamp of quality.
Costa Mesa Country Club - 31 points
Costa Mesa Country Club is more of a golf factory than a country club. With 36 holes to play, Costa Mesa churns out the rounds at a low price point that pretty much matches the quality that you can expect. A big splash in the value category keeps Costa Mesa on the list. Extra value can be achieved at sunset.
Shorecliffs Golf Course - 31 points
Shorecliff’s location directly off of Highway 5 is perhaps it’s greatest advantage. The course manages to meet the minimum levels of playability and offers a heavy dose of wonky ass golf holes. This pumps up the character and fun levels just enough to make the cut. With an extremely low price point the course is popular with the locals. If you manage your expectations properly, you can have fun with this unusual routing and design.
San Juan might just be my favorite course of the 31 point crowd. It’s reasonable on just about every front which makes it an incredibly unique option for golf in Orange County. The holes aren’t spectacular, but I enjoyed playing every single one of them. The vibe at the sports bar and grill is also lively and welcoming.
Black Gold Golf Club - 32 Points
Black Gold exemplifies public golf in Orange County. You have a handful of golf holes that are wild and free with no encroaching real estate to be seen for miles. Then there are other holes that are suffocated by the nearby homes, reminding you of the constant and persistent sprawl of the human race across the state of California. Regardless of the surroundings, the golf is solid and you can find a tee time at a pretty reasonable price.
Tijeras Creek Golf Club - 33 Points
Tijeras Creek is a tale of two entirely different 9 hole courses. The front nine weaves through a real estate development and is completely uninspiring and forgettable. The back nine is a much different story as it explores the rugged hills of orange county and provides some very unique golf. Just a few holes into that back nine and you will think you are on a different golf course. The second nine is worth the price of admission alone.
Several years ago I worked on a photography project at Talega which gave me plenty of time to study the merits of the golf course. It wasn’t hard to pull some beauty out of the Fred Couples design. As I take an honest look at the golf course it provides a solid value and some solid golf holes. There is room for improvement at Talega with an increased maintenance effort, but you will enjoy this round of golf without worrying about losing your shorts on the green fee.
Coyote Hills Golf Club - 33 Points
The golf course at Coyote Hills is a solid option for public golf. There are some dramatic views from elevated locations and some good fun golf holes. This Cal Olson / Payne Stewart design won’t knock your socks off but it also won’t empty your wallet.
Oak Creek Golf Club - 34 points
As we move into the 34 point category, we start to deal with some heavy hitters. Oak Creek is a Tom Fazio design that pushes the green fee over $100 but delivers a forest feel in the middle of Irvine. As a golfer that has seen many Tom Fazio designs, this one is nothing special and the maintenance of the property leaves something to be desired when compared to other Fazio creations.
From the logo, to my memories of playing the golf course, everything about Strawberry Farms makes me smile. It is a fun upper tier golf course that won’t send you down bankruptcy lane. The golf course plays through canyons and around a large 35 acre reservoir with very few homes spoiling the view. The logo is a strawberry on a golf tee and it helps Strawberry Farms stand alone at 35 points.
This little number lies in the heart of Laguna Beach and provides one of the most unique golf experiences in Orange County. The Ranch is just 9 holes, measures 2221 yards and has 4 par 4’s and 5 par 3’s. The Ranch manages to hang some big numbers on the board in the fun and character categories. You can often hear the live music that plays nightly as you come down the final stretch of golf holes. It is a dang good time, but comes up just short of the orange county golf medal podium.
We have arrived at the top 4 golf courses in Orange County and we have a 4-way tie on the top of the OC public golf pyramid. Arroyo is one of only 3 courses to score a 9 in the quality category and there are no real weaknesses at Arroyo. The course winds its way uninterrupted through the rolling hills of Mission Viejo.
Arroyo Trabuco garnered some attention during the 2023 PGA Championship when its Head Professional Michael Block made a run at Oak Hill Country Club. After 3 straight 70’s Block was only 6 shots off of the lead going into the final round. Paired up with Rory McIlroy, Block proceeded to ace the 15th hole and finish in the top 15.
Pelican Hill is the only golf course on this list to earn a 10 in the quality category. It is clearly the gold standard for golf in Orange County. The green fee certainly reflects this fact and most golfers will shy away from a tee time due to the price tag for a round of golf here. For those that pony up the cash to pay they will be rewarded with 36 splendid holes of golf.
There are only 4 golf holes in Orange County that touch the Pacific Ocean and Pelican Hill has 3 of them. Fazio has expertly wedged in a short par 4 and two par 3’s along the coast on the South course. The 13th hole features a spectacular double green that reminds the well traveled golfer of a little place called Pine Valley.
San Clemente Golf Club - 38 points
There were only 2 10 point scores handed out on this list and the most obvious 10 is in the value category at San Clemente Golf Club. It is without a best deal in Orange County. It’s no secret either, most of the tee times are tough to get as the locals love to snatch them up as soon as they become available.
The golf course isn’t far from the pacific ocean and it winds along the hillside and through some of San Clemente’s finest real estate. There are several holes that stick out as favorites starting with the downhill 8th hole and the short par 3 9th. The uphill 14th and the 18th are favorites as well. Just typing this makes me want to book a tee time.
“California Cool” are the words that Eric Lohman, the GM of Monarch Beach, uses to describe his golf course. I would whole heartedly agree with him. In addition to being the very first golf course that I played on my world record setting RGV Tour, Monarch Beach also has 1 of the 4 golf holes that touch the pacific ocean here in Orange County.
The attitude at Monarch Beach is also one of the most fun in Orange County. There are cornhole boards on the first tee and a nice little snack shack that makes you want to hang out for an hour. If you can’t have a good time at Monarch Beach, you fun bone might just be broken.
