The revival of Rancho San Marcos
By Mike Miller
Golf enthusiasts on the Central Coast received welcome news earlier this year when it was announced that the Rancho San Marcos Golf Course was coming back online. The beloved course closed back in 2020, leaving local golfers and residents alike wondering what would become of the property.
As an avid golfer myself, Rancho San Marcos was one of my favorite places to play. There has always been something spiritual about the course and despite just being minutes from Santa Barbara, every time I played the course, it felt like I was a million miles away from the distractions of everyday life. Another thing that I really enjoyed on my visits to Rancho San Marcos was the abundance of wildlife that could be found on and around the course. From the wild turkeys to the deer and curious coyotes, there always seemed to be something to watch and enjoy.
For the past few years, I would drive along Highway 154 and glance over at what used to be one of the best golf experiences in the area, wishing that it would one day reopen.
Then, several months ago, I began to see some green grass coming back, along with other general maintenance of the course taking place. Rumors circulated that the course was making a comeback. According to general manager Steve Battaglia, the course closed in 2020 and was sold in 2022 before reopening this April. When the news of the reopening became official, it sent waves of energy through the local golf community.
The course officially reopened as a nine-hole course, something Battaglia said he and others involved in the process were excited about. “It really came down to the fact we wanted to get it reopened in a manner that we knew could maintain the course the way we wanted to see it,” he said.
Maintaining an 18-hole golf course takes a great deal of overhead in terms of equipment, fuel, materials, and, of course, labor. Another factor in the short-term decision of moving to a nine-hole course layout was water, something Rancho San Marcos has struggled with in the past.
Players do have the option of the replay if they are determined to play a full round of 18 holes; however, many golfers are just fine with the idea of playing nine and then calling it a day. “What we have found is that there is an appetite for a nine-hole course, and the response has been good overall,” said Battaglia.
When touring the course, I stopped local golfer Brian Frazier and asked how he liked the new look of Rancho San Marcos. “I think it’s great,” he said. “I normally play 18, but that can take up a big chunk of your day, so having nine be the main option has been fine, to be honest. I can get in a quick nine, or when I do want to play 18 it’s kind of fun to play the same holes again. It offers you the opportunity to correct mistakes on certain holes in the same round of golf. I like it more than I thought I would.” According to Battaglia, roughly 30 to 40 percent of golfers opt in for the replay option on any given week.
Another focus of Rancho San Marcos is simplicity and affordability. “I really wanted to keep things simple here,” added Battaglia. It’s $40 for nine holes, and $60 for 18. Carts are available for an additional $20 per nine holes.
When the course reopened this spring, the reviews were all positive, and the layout of the front nine has not changed from its original format. Frazier, a long-time golfer in the area, said, “I think the course is in as good of condition as it was in the past, if not better. The summer heat has dried out some parts of the course as you would expect this time of the year, but it’s playing great right now!”
Rancho San Marcos offers a stiff challenge for golfers of all levels, making it a fun outing whether you are an experienced player or picking up clubs for the first time. The nine-hole course plays 3,501 yards from the tips and 2,666 from the front tees. Par for the course is 35, which consists of two par fives, three par threes and four par fours. Golfers will start off with a long par five (635 from the tips and 481 from the front tees), which will allow for a good chance at a red number right out of the gate. The No. 1 handicap hole is six, which is another long par five.
Golfers looking to get in some practice sessions should take a look at the new version of Rancho San Marcos. The facility has a full driving range (with a flat fee of $10) to go along with a chipping area and a practice green. Battaglia did note that he is also looking to add food and beverage options to the golf course.
When asked about the idea of reopening the signature back nine section of the course, Battaglia said, “I’m pretty confident that we’ll keep it at nine holes, but we’ll get through the summer and then evaluate where we are. Right now, we are happy with where things stand.”
Rancho San Marcos is also currently open for tournaments and other corporate events. The facility recently hosted an event in support of Meals on Wheels. “They needed a venue
change on short notice, so we jumped in to help,” said Battaglia.
Golfers looking to try something new, or if you would just like to rekindle your love for a former course, Rancho San Marcos is worth the trip. Visitors from outside the area who have never experienced the grounds of Rancho San Marcos should definitely add it to their upcoming travel plans. The course is a short drive from the Chumash Indian Reservation, and you can feel the Chumash roots the second you step foot on the course.
For more information on Rancho San Marcos or to book tee times, visit ranchosanmarcos.com. The course advertises days of operation as being Wednesday to Sunday, so if you are looking to walk-on, double check your calendar.