Monterey, CA

Ryan Ranch DGC

3.685(based on 36 reviews)
Filter course reviews

Filter reviews

Filter reviews

Ryan Ranch DGC reviews

Filter
3 1
jonasgr
Experience: 25.4 years 10 played 8 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Beautiful environment 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 2, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Set in an a beautiful and exotic environment, the elevation makes it even better. Good variation of holes and a nice challenge for a pro player. Some very cool trees were used nicely as guardians on the fairway making me struggle with a game plan.

Cons:

Poison oak, rattle snakes
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 3
[email protected]
Experience: 6.4 years 4 played 4 reviews
4.50 star(s)

A challenge and a pleasure 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 18, 2017 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Tee pads were good. Signage and directions were good. The recently acquired riding mower has been put to excellent use by creating nice fairways. The long grass in the rough still swallows discs so it's no walk in the park.

Loved the elevation changes in and out of valleys. Loved the challenging shots around and over trees.

Very scenic. We started at sunrise both days and that was a bonus.

Players we met were friendly.

Cons:

Very few. Unfortunately hole 1 is over an something like a rough earth parking lot. But then you get right into the beautiful stuff.

Other Thoughts:

Second play was even better once we got a feel for the course.

I was playing with a newish player and there was no way she would reach the fairway from a couple of tee pads. So maybe a couple of am pads on the long/difficult holes?

There is poison oak, so take care and wear long pants.

Great course. Thank you to the volunteers!
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 1
geodude
Experience: 40 played 38 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Big ol' Jet Airliner 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 16, 2016 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Jets landing at airport fly right over head, pretty cool, well marked to next tee, multiple challenges with trees and elevation, twin warm up baskets, benches at almost every hole, shade to sit at usually, decent maintenance, nice views

Cons:

No water fountain anywhere, tees are rubber, heavy poison oak on hole 4 and light poison oak almost throughout.

Other Thoughts:

29 holes, bring extra water and a snack.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
4 2
Lorenzo1
Experience: 2 played 2 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Ryan's Ranch rocks! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 10, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Ryan's ranch DG course was a wonderful course, some wide open and long holes, loved hole #3 so much I ran back up and played it 2X. Excellent tee pads and tee-off seating in tree shade for many of first 18 holes, some very challenging holes, would definitely play it again!

Signage was good, really enjoyed the course.

Cons:

Not many, perhaps consider having amateur tee pads, perhaps a little more color or flag to mark the baskets for first timers to the course.

Other Thoughts:

Great job guys in designing this course, well done!
Was this review helpful? Yes No
8 1
Mr. Butlertron
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 21.7 years 684 played 131 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Wide Open Spaces 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 18, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Free course with donation box
- Crapper on location
- Practice baskets
- Good signage
- Rubber tees
- Variations in fairway elevation
- Long bomber holes
- Multiple pins

Cons:

- Most holes were wide open
- Lacking directional signs
- Confusing layout
- Same shots over and over again
- Lack of basket numbering
- Blind shots on rollaway hills
- No pin position indicator
- Seems like a windy course
- Baskets need more color/flag

Other Thoughts:

Fun course, but a bit repetitive for what shots it forces you to take. More often than not I just hyzered something overstable because of the wind and the fairway openness. At times the layout was a bit confusing too. I didn't have anyone to follow most of the time, which had me doing a bit of wandering between holes in some areas of the course. The satellite map came in handy for those moments. I liked that there were multiple pin placements on all the holes. Not always knowing where to throw was a bummer though. Current pin position indicators would have helped cut down the extra time I spend wandering up the fairways before committing to my more likely hyzer type drive.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 4
pverdugo
Experience: 6 played 2 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 31, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Great course, great people who play there. Great lay out.

Cons:

Lost some good disc on hole 3, thick bushes to the right and trees and shrubs to the left.

Other Thoughts:

Everyone should try this course to improve your skills, it sure helped mine.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
7 1
mashnut
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.7 years 831 played 777 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Mixed feelings 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 17, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course plays through a sprawling park with no interference from other park uses. The course makes good use of nice elevation changes, nothing drastic but you will have to throw some uphill and downhill shots. There are a couple pin placements with some rollaway potential as well.

A number of the holes play through the trees on the property. You'll have to shape some lines and avoid the mature oaks to score well on these holes. I felt like they offered a pretty good balance of hole shapes with some nice low ceilings for added challenge. The rest of the course is open and longer, offering plenty of chances to bomb a drive and some scattered rough to punish some errant drives.

Cons:

The grass was long on a lot of this course. I find it a bit frustrating when you have to search for a disc in the middle of the fairway, and I don't think prairie grass provides a great disc golf challenge as the rough off the fairway. The course is a little open for my tastes.

With a lot of holes where there just isn't a ton of punishment for throwing an errant drive I didn't feel like I had a ton of pressure on most of the tees. Navigation is a little tricky in spots, some next tee signs would go a long way here. The third nine feels added on and doesn't have the same level of challenge or fun as the other 18.

Other Thoughts:

Beginners will find this course pretty long, with a lot of holes that are out of range to reach on a drive but are open enough that it's easy to card a boring three. More experienced players with a longer arm will enjoy the chance to air out some drives, but technical challenges aren't the main focus of this course at all.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
5 1
Ninja_Disc_Master
Experience: 16.4 years 39 played 30 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Monterey Mandatory Play! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 15, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

1. Tee Pads - Hard rubber mat with enough length for confidence in footing for almost any throwing style.
2. Cages/Pins- Ryan Ranch "Originals" cages created for the 2011 Pro Worlds which are in pristine condition. Multiple pin locations for each hole rotated regularly.
3. Layout- Great use of the abundantly available space with a logical layout that is pretty easy to navigate and starts and finishes in the same area. The design makes great use of the trees and elevation both up and down.
4. Variety of shots- This course does require a degree of skill that could border on intermediate. You will be challenged to try a variety of shots if you want to score low.
5. Scenery- Nice clean scenic DG park with wildlife sightings and elevated views of the peninsula.
6. Signage- There is ample signs scattered throughout to help an out of towner. Pay attention as some are small, but very helpful!

Cons:

1. Course Maintenance- Tall grass in some locations could cause a lost disc. Not a huge problem unless you're REALLY bad. Some people said you need a spotter, I didn't have a problem.
3. Amenities- Trash cans at start, but would be nice throughout, although the park was NOT trashed. No bag holders if you're into that sort of thing. No "pro-shop" or disc purchase/rental in the area, but at the group meet up days a guy comes with TONS of stuff.
4. There isn't any real water hazards to speak of if you're into that kind of challenge.
5. I only played the first 18 where the tee pads were good, but it would be cool if there was both AM and PRO tees.

Other Thoughts:

This is a fun course that has a hole for every type of thrower. Most holes are technical with lots of trees, but there are some fun open bomb holes too. The locals are very friendly and can definitely help you with how to play each hole. Of the courses in the area I'd suggest this course 1st if only in Monterey for one day.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
7 0
nawanda37
Experience: 25.4 years 34 played 6 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Shades of Ryan Ranch of old 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 6, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

+ Changes of elevation. There are very few flat holes.
+ Mix of terrain, both wooded and meadow. Beautiful walk through rolling CA hills.
+ Mix of short and long holes. I love the short tech shots.
+ None of the crowds of DeLa,
+ For those who are good in the wind, some great chances to sky out your discs later in the course.
+ When it's groomed, it is my favorite spot in the area for a slow, strolling, casual game.
+ Apart from the tall grass, the course is in amazing shape. Beautiful tees and baskets, signage, etc.

Cons:

- As stated on the main page, the rough is seriously rough. You would think that the woods would be the tough terrain for keeping an eye on your disc, but it's the grass that is getting out of hand again. You can carefully watch where a disc goes into the grass, and not find it for 30 minutes. It is so thick with stinging nettles, PO, and thistles. So, if you ever miss fairways, especially in the wind, consider throwing with a spotter, or just going elsewhere until it gets cleaned up again.
- I know this is generic, but it's the easiest of the better echelon of local courses. While some holes require technical throws, probably 2/3 can be tackled with a nice, lengthy, straight shot. In many ways, this simplicity is actually a positive, but for folks coming in from well out of town, you may want to skip Ryan.
- No standout signature holes might steer some out of towners away too. #3 is a neat hole, but it is the least difficult incarnation of that hole around (Think TOTW, Stafford, and even the Snowman at Aptos). It's a fun shot though, and it feels great to get a birdie from that high in the air.
- The last set of holes are a bit repetitive.

Other Thoughts:

I write this review with a heavy heart. Ryan always had a bit of a bad rep due to the thick, tall meadows. It was groomed up beautifully for the 2011 worlds, and quickly became my favorite place to play when I visited my folks in that neck of the woods. I took a group here for my bachelor party just four months ago, and the course was still amazing (a strong 4.0). Since then, despite what looks like very hard work from the disc club, it has once again gone to seed.
I am far from a professional, but I'm good enough to sit just under or over par at most courses, depending on the day (2 under at Ryan today). I'm not good enough to play this course in its current shape without losing discs (including my OOP 171g, rainbow die, rainbow foil Beast...if you find it...). I found a Nuke today one foot off of the fairway, so well hidden in the grass, that it had been there long enough that there was no grass growing under it. One foot off the fairway.
Hopefully with the Jelly Jam coming up, the mowing will continue. Until then, the course is off of my list.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
10 1
Danger
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.3 years 105 played 70 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Premier Course on the Central Coast 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 22, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

-True pro disc golf course
-Variety variety variety
-Innovative tree protection
-Fantastic use of land
-Great vibe
-DG Exclusive
-Amazing course flow
-Framed rubber tees
-Cool port-o-potty shack
-Mega re-playability

Cons:

-No dedicated practice basket
-No water
-Proximity to office buildings is a little bizarre
-Crazy huge gopher holes...watch your footing!
(really stretching for cons here)

Other Thoughts:

Ryan Ranch is a wonderful course set on an inland ridge of Monterey Bay. It truly is a quintessential California disc golf experience with field shots, elevation, and technical woods. Oak trees and various forms of underbrush create the technical parts of the course while elevation keeps the more open shots interesting. Poison Oak existed behind tee pads here and there but was a non-issue while playing.

The course starts off unassuming with a straightforward first hole down a slight hill. By hole two though, you quickly realize that this is not 'just another disc golf course' with its well defined tunnel to another downhill situated pin. Three holes in and there is no way not to be in love with it; this wonderful downhill mid-range shot is usually something you run into much later on a course but here you start right off with it.

You then continues through the woods, where you encounter large black screens to protect the oak trees. They actually add an artificial challenge because if you hit them, you are not going to bank off and still have a possible good shot. Your disc will just fall and leave you with a likely difficult upshot. We really liked this effort to protect the old trees.

After 5 holes, you head into the meadows for a few open shots, but all still have some kind of protection on either the tee, fairway, or pin. They require a solid long drive but will also demand precision to score well. Hole 7 wrapped around an active office building which was kinda weird to see while in the middle of a round. The course quickly heads back into the woods after a few open shots. The course continues moving back and forward between woods and meadows several times for the remainder of the first 18.

The final 9 were really some great holes, as well. More than a few incorporated tee + pin protection with a wide open fairway, which you don't see very often in this state. It called for some long distance line shaping and made you think hard about where you wanted your shot to land. Combined with some pretty solid elevation, these generally longer holes all presented very specific and different challenges. Keep in mind that this is where we encountered the most gopher holes, they are large and often covered by grass so keep your eyes open and be ready for unstable footing in the meadows.

I know everybody loves to say that a course has a ton of variety, I know I do it all the time; but Ryan Ranch truly had it all. Each of the 27 holes was unique with very few forgettable moments. Most courses have a bunch of wooded shots, then a bunch of meadows, then you work your way up for 3 holes, etc etc. Ryan Ranch mixed all of these aspects up so you never get used to the current foliage and situation, making it incredibly fun for all skill levels. We all agreed that Ryan Ranch is the most re-playable course in the Monterey / Santa Cruz area, and naturally our favorite (yes, more-so than DeLaveaga). It is one of those rare gems that makes a great destination course and would be awesome to have as a home course as well. Congratulations to the local club for creating this wonderful adventure.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
3 0
BENFTS
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 30.6 years 102 played 33 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 3, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

When you arrive at the course you will notice the information board and the massive amount of parking that's available. Area is dedicated to disc golf only so you don't have to worry about lots of non DG traffic. Well maintained framed rubber tees, benches at almost every hole, and nice next tee indicators helping to direct us not too familiar with the course. The course show the work and effort that go into maintaining it and presenting a great place to play. Great brand new baskets too.

Cons:

No running water! All of the tee signs were wrong and don't have any indicators for the alternative placements but I was told that the signage was for the worlds layout and was left over. No practice basket, we used the basket closest to the kiosk but the basket was in play for other golfers and we needed to move over and over again as groups would play through.

Other Thoughts:

I held off on reviewing this course mainly because when I last played it the course was very new and did not quite need a review until the work was completed. I am very impressed with the course, club, and golfers on the course. I can't say enough about how this place has turned 180 degrees around with the work put in for the worlds. I will be going back soon to play the monthly which had a great turnout.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
9 0
DutchViking
Experience: 18.6 years 54 played 17 reviews
4.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 24, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

This course is looking amazing! 27(or 29?) holes
Every kind of shot in the book! Left and right, short and long, wooded and open. Chances to open up and rip your biggest bomb, as well as dialing back the power and carefully picking your technical line to the basket.
Great teepads, great teesigns, and great baskets.
Lots of spectacular elevation changes
Beautiful views of surrounding hills and rigde (locals say Clint Eastwood lives up there)
Plenty of awesome downhill bombs
4 par 4s and plenty of long holes requiring strategically placed drives with the second shot in mind.
Lots of great pin locations, some with serious roll away potential.
Donation box, benches, local disc golf club info board, trash cans and plenty of parking.
Just installed, a new bathroom! Making this great course even better.

Cons:

This course can be very windy at times, so bring your overstable plastic. 
Some poison oak here and there, mostly off the fairway or near trails to the next hole, really a minor issue.

Other Thoughts:

This course is completely unrecognizable from the first time I went there. First time there was tons of poison oak, tons of overgrowth and I lost 2 discs on the first 3 holes. I didn't have fun there my first time, but I did see the  potential for a sweet course, so I held off on my review.
Then the Pro Worlds came to the Monterey bay. Ryan Ranch was mowed, cleared, and painstakingly improved otherwise. Ryan Ranch went from a diamond in the rough, to a diamond. The brilliance of this property now shines brightly. It is truly stunning to see what it looks like  now compared to only 1 year ago. So bottom line, this is a great course with lots of fun shots that will challenge any player. Go play it!
Was this review helpful? Yes No
7 0
Eagles Wings
Experience: 29.4 years 1 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 5, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

I've really enjoyed playing Ryan Ranch. They've done a ton of work in preparation for the Worlds. Most notably the clearing of rough and the removal of a good portion of the poison oak. This course can giveth and taketh away. You'll need every shot in your bag to conquer it but even if you don't, you'll enjoy the battle. I believe the 27-hole layout averages about 400 feet per hole. So you better bring your big boy pants.

It offers a good balance of short & technical and long & strategic. Risk and reward is the prevalant theme. There is a good balance of left, right and straight holes. Along with some really fun elevation shots

Wear good hiking shoes. I've never stepped in more gopher mounds in my entire life but it didn't take away from my disc golf experience. There is a donation box on hole #1. Make sure you support all the hard work the club has done. Right now I rate the course a 4 but with the coming installation of new tee signs and some more clearing of rough, it could become a 4.5.

Cons:

There was no bathroom or water so make sure you bring the appropriate items. The poison oak has been cleaned up a lot but it's still there so bring some Clorox wipes to clean off your discs. When I was there last the tee signs were in transition but I saw evidence of some new ones that I believe will be in by the time Worlds begin, if they're not in already.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
14 0
Discette
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 28.2 years 681 played 64 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Pro Worlds 2011 Layout 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 17, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Land dedicated just for disc golf.

Lots of elevation change

Prevailing winds create extra challenge. Bring your wind game!

Lots of hard work has been done by local club - Stinging Jellies - and it is evident. There is a nice kiosk next to parking area and first tee with information and lost & found. Well-constructed and maintained tee pads consist of framed boxes filled, leveled and prepared for rubber tee pads. Benches on most holes.

The course is on a rugged piece of property just a few miles from the ocean. Typical California coastal desert vegetation. Oaks, grasses and foxtails are abundant. Some of the moss covered oaks are protected with netting, creating additional challenge while preserving the trees.

There is a great variety of holes using the elevation and vegetation for challenge. You will need all the shots in your bag. There are tight holes, and wide open holes, uphill holes, downhill holes and everything between. Then you get to add the wind. Chances are you will need a "get out of trouble shot" for when you end up in the oaks.

Final nine holes are on the upper part of the course. They are more wide open, but longer and make good use of elevation changes. High grass lines a couple of fairways.

It was easy to navigate course with Pro Worlds 2011 online map found on this site. There was temp signage in place with new permanent signs to be installed soon.

Cons:

As with all courses in this area, Poison Oak is abundant! Be well prepared if you have a problem.

No restroom facilities of any kind on my visit. Although there are ample opportunities to rough it.

Not recommended to play alone. Lost discs would be a concern. Oaks are thick and rough meadow areas with tall grass make finding discs difficult.

For World's layout, I didn't care for the uphill walk from 26 basket to 27 tee as I was fairly well exhausted by this point in time.

Other Thoughts:

Again, this is course in on rugged western terrain. Combined with elevation changes, this is a demanding 27 hole course. You are not likely to play any more disc golf later in the day after playing this course.
Recommend sturdy hiking shoes. Wear long pants and/or gaiters to protect from the abundant stickers and fox tails.
Good idea to use spotters.
I played the World's layout, but there are multiple pins on the holes. Other layouts may not be quite so challenging or long, but players will still have to cover the same amount of terrain.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
9 0
Lupus Yonderboy
Experience: 16.4 years 2 played 2 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Awesome Course! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 27, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

This is a serious, serious course. Excellent variety of holes, elevation change, etc. There are quite a few bomber holes, technical holes, tight windows, up, down, whatever you want! I am very glad that I made the trip down to play this course. I think that the pros will have an awesome time here during worlds.

The rubber teepads are all pretty level and decent length. Some have clearly been put in very recently (the whole course is a work in progress... but appears near completion!). Baskets are in good condition.

Cons:

Coming from a home course where there is little to no wind, the wind had a huge effect on my game here. Though I estimate it was fairly mild compared to what it could be (I have visited Monterey several times before, not playing DG), the wind was constant and definitely impacted my disc and shot selection. However, if you are used to windy courses it shouldn't be a big issue.

As other reviewers have mentioned, the poison oak is borderline ridiculous. Though almost totally confined to the gully that contains holes 3-5, it is extremely widespread in that area and very, very juicy this time of year. Let me say it again - there is an abundance of it all around those holes to the point where on my return trips (and there will be several!), I think I might skip those holes altogether. The wind just makes it very tricky to land safely (especially on 3).

The grass can get extremely high here... think waist to chest high. Most of the first 18 is pretty clear of tall grass, but the final 9 seems to be way more overgrown. I know this course is a work in progress and it takes an enormous amount of effort to clean that all up, so it gets a pass for the most part. Beware though, it is a nightmare to search for discs in grass that thick and tall at this time.

Other Thoughts:

I thoroughly enjoyed myself here and will definitely be back! Apart from the oak and the tall grass, the course is AWESOME.

Thank you Stinging Jellies (the local club) for putting together such a nice course.

It is definitely NOT a course for beginners. The wind and length on some of the holes can be borderline demoralizing if you aren't at least intermediate level.

Also -- since it was my first time here, I didn't play any of the "alternate" holes (playing from one tee to a different hole's basket)... many of which were 700+ feet. If you are a very skilled player, they seemed pretty intriguing and challenging. Definitely something to check out if you know what you're doing.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
18 0
discRabbit
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 25.4 years 1329 played 136 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Solid Bomber Course 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 22, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Out of all of the courses being used for the 2011 Santa Cruz World Disc Golf Championships, I think that Ryan Ranch will probably go down as the Open Men's favorite. Ryan Ranch is prime territory for the big gun who knows how to manage the wind and has the power to clear the low lying trees and bushes that dominate the landscape here. This isn't to say that there aren't holes where deadly accuracy (hole 9) or a few tricks (hole 4) aren't going to come in handy, but this course won't pretend to hide its bias towards the big bombers. As soon as you show up to the course, you know right off the bat that the locals really care for this park. Tee one has a pristine and well secured and totally leveled rubber flymat with its very own broom for sweeping off the frequent blowing dust and dirt. I'm sure that this care and maintenance is only likely to improve with the coming of Pro Worlds to Santa Cruz. The final loop of holes seems like it may have been added on a bit later than the front 18 because it does look like it needs more work to catch up to the cared for feel of the front, but again, I'm sure this will soon be rectified this summer. For having such low tree cover, I did feel compelled to use a variety of shots off the tee, most often going with big sky or long range hyzers but also some controlled straight fairway drives and a forehand or two. Also, the course utilizes bushes fairly well in order to create areas that you need to avoid - they don't quite reach the level of adequately punishing errant shots because most pro players are going to be able to get up and down even from poor drives on most of the open holes, but the designers have made great use of the available coverage.

Cons:

You might get the picture from the opening thoughts but this course definitely plays to those who can reach at least 400' in golf distance pretty consistently. If not, many of the 400' and even higher 300' holes which play slightly or very much uphill will feel pretty boring because you'll be left with a putt that has only a very outside chance of going in but an approach that is too short to miss. My girlfriend who is an open women's player played this one with me and could have passed on it for the most part for just this reason. Most of her throws off the tee were with the same disc, same line, just trying to achieve as much distance as possible. Nearly all of her upshots then consisted of medium range putters or spike hyzers for easy threes on most holes. This aspect will not play as a con for the Pro Worlds because most of the top players will be able to reach the vast majority, if not all of the holes on the drive. But it should be noted for those at different skill levels who may have a vastly different experience of the course. Something I would do differently if I returned to this course in the future would be to play the last loop of holes FIRST before the other loops because after playing the first 18 holes, these extras just didn't offer the same variation and felt like a bit of a boring way to finish. Starting off with this loop to warmup, you'll save the best for last and finish on a more positive note!

Other Thoughts:

Overall Ryan Ranch is a really solid course that is only going to get better with the coming of Pro Worlds. The big guns like Avery are going to eat this course up while the snipers will probably have to play catch up on courses like DeLaveaga and CSUMB. Those who are up for an open air challenge are going to love coming out here to crush, while those who like more technical courses will probably be better off at the nearby Southern courses like the front 9 at Pinto Lake or Aptos High School.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
16 0
bazillion
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 24.1 years 55 played 37 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Oak Grove on steroids 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 19, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Setting: Rolling coastal hills, sweet ocean breeze (some may think this is a con - not me), excellent scenery / views, lots of places nearby to park non-playing family members while you go out and chuck a few. The terrain is typical for the area and features lots of oak trees (there are NO windows in oak trees) and dry (in the summertime) yellow grass (choose your disc color carefully or be prepared to spend some time looking for your plastic).

Layout: Out and back for 18, out and back for another 9. The whole course plays over varied terrain that seems to be on two levels - this means plenty of flat shots and plenty of elevation changes, sometimes both occuring on the same hole. Taking the land as a unit, I'd be hard pressed to find a better place to put a course.

Holes: As others have stated, #3 is the signature hole here. It's a long downhill bomb that just begs you to throw everything in your bag at it. Just freakin gorgeous. Other than that, I was very impressed with the variety of challenges presented. Every hole was a puzzle to be figured out and each one had its separate satisfaction, doled out to you if - and sometimes it was a VERY elusive "if" - you made it go right.

Other "pro"s: I could tell that the local club has put a whole lot of work and love into this course and I'm sure that by the time the 2011 Worlds rolls into town, it'll be a venue that the pros will remember for a long, long time.

Cons:

The main "con" in my book was the large flat area where most of the third nine plays, more or less. I don't mind large flat areas, but large flat areas where heavy equipment has left ruts in the ground means a significant risk of twisted ankles, which is an automatic safety ding for me. Run a roller over this area once or twice and it should be fine.

Other Thoughts:

This was my first time playing this course (October) and I had the disadvantage of not having a guide to help with navigation and a bum knee that let me down after 18. Plus, the course was still in the "tourney" layout, which evidently does not match the map here on the site. Again, I'm not familiar enough with the course to speak about its various layouts, pin positions, etc., other than as I found them today.

Oh by the way, the course is directly under the approach pattern for the local airport, so if sounds tend to distract you, be prepared to wait until the occasional Learjet, crop-duster, or ultralight moseys through the local airspace.

All in all I had a tremendous time here and look forward to coming back again and again to play this central coast jewel. I'd recommend it to anyone in the Monterey area.

Was this review helpful? Yes No
12 0
Magiken
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.3 years 74 played 74 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Huckin’ at the Ranch 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 5, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

• Course is relatively easy to find
• Nice location with some interesting scenery in the valley area
• Warm-up areas
• Baskets are in good shape and seem to all have hole number markers
• A nice variety of shot shapes
• Most of the tee pads on the first 18 are in good shape (rubber mat type)
• Most of the holes have tee/distance makers, although some are inaccurate or contradictory where there are two markers.
• Multiple basket positions and pads throughout the course
• I like the Karma Box for lost discs
• Benches
• Dog Friendly

Cons:

• Not the easiest course to navigate. Could use some more "Next Tee" signage.
• Signage is a bit inconsistent overall
• Tee pads on 19-27 are practically non-existent.
• Poison Oak around the back part of the course is thick. (Holes 3-5ish)
• No restrooms/water that I could see.

Other Thoughts:

Tips
• A map or course guide/friend is an extremely good idea. We got lucky that we got in behind a friendly group that knew where to go. Thanks guys!
• A spotter is not a bad idea, although not quite required. There are a couple holes where you may wish you had one though.
• Pack out your trash people! Although there's a dump nearby, which incidentally provides a sparkling aroma on #2, so it's hard to say how much garbage is blown in from there versus dropped by naughty discers.
• Bring water and use the restroom before you go out.

Random Thoughts:
Ryan Ranch is an interesting course, in that, almost every basket is dead straight ahead, but yet, on each hole you're presented with new challenges on how exactly to get there. It also seemed quite long to me with many holes over 350 feet (which I like), and the short one's being quite nasty. Speaking of which, this site has every hole listed as a par 3. Ouch! I personally believe in the ~400 foot par 4 and ~500 foot par 5, but that's just me. With those set of rules, I threw +3 for the full 27. Without them, I probably threw +8.
Additional random thoughts on the holes:
• #1 is a great starter hole because it's wide open and long thus allowing you to get a bit warmed up.
• By #2, your warm-up is over because you're presented with a left to right that is unforgivable if you go right and not particularly nice if you go too far left.
• #3 is this course's 'Top of the World' shot. It's a beautiful deceptively long downhill bomb into the valley with planes coming in for a landing overhead. Very cool.
• #4 is an OK slightly uphill shot but #4A is one of the meanest holes I've ever seen. Straight up hill through the trees and hard right with Poison Oak all over the place. Yowza!
• #5-#8 is where you can open 'er up a bit but do pick your landing spot somewhat carefully.
• #9 & #10 will absolutely make you pay for going left. Don't go left. Really.
• #11 almost got me my first ace thanks to a friendly ricochet off a nearby tree. Disc ended up UNDER the basket. Good times.
• #12 is a very difficult hooded forest shot. Stay low or dive bomb it I guess. I don't have that shot in my bag though.
• #13 & #14 I can't recall much about for some reason. Brian freeze apparently.
• #15 & #16 you can open 'er up again. #15 basket is tucked into the hollow on the left.
• #17 is an elevator up and out shot.
• #18 you'll want to steer clear of the reedy area to the right. Nasty in there. Tip: #18 basket is the one on the left.
• #19 is all about the landing spot off the tee.
• #20 is trying hard to take the title of meanest hole from #4A. There is an extremely narrow spot between the fenced parking lot and the tree line that you'll need to hit on your first throw. So yea...I had to climb the fence. If you don't see #20s basket in the open, it's past the tree line and to the left. I mistakenly thought the pole marking one of the baskets positions was an object pin. Figured it out later.
• #21 and #22 are fairly straight forward.
• #23's tee position is tricky. I'm guessing there are two. I found the one in the tree grove thanks to a large arrow dug into the ground. Never found the one on the map.
• #24 LET FLY!!!
• #25 Barely found the tee area. Only found a pole. Perhaps there's a basket somewhere. I also saw another tee pad nearby. Maybe #23's?
• #26 LET FLY AGAIN!!! Just don't go left. Yea...I went left.
• #27 Looking back, I'm pretty sure I used #26A tee area for #27, so I'm not too much help here. I didn't realize 'til later I should've walked way right to find it. But hey, it was a tougher shot and I parred it, so there.

Bottom Line:
I sense a lot of love in this course. The baskets are all in great shape and numbered. There are nice benches around the course, as well as trash cans. You can also see progress being made on the tee pads and signage. Unfortunately, that progress is a bit uneven as you move through the first 18, and 19-27 still feel a bit like a work in progress. With that said, I suspect over the next little while that the love will finish things off nicely and this course will really shine. Overall, this is a very fair and fun course that I would probably slot in the intermediate skill level zone depending on your feelings about par. I also suspect that in the winter months this course gets a lot tougher as water flows and grass grows. But don't let all this stop you from going because we had a good time out there and quite enjoyed the scenery. I look forward to going back and seeing the progress. Good job Jellies!
Was this review helpful? Yes No
14 0
The Valkyrie Kid
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 46.4 years 1562 played 1507 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Compares Favorably To Cali's Best! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 24, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Check out the course rating distribution on Ryan Ranch to see the controversy about rating this course. What other course has as many 5's (2) as 1.5's (2)? The ratings and opinions are over the board. We played it in late August when it was brown and parched and the grass was fairly short. Others write of playing it when the grass is green and two feet tall and finding your disc is impossible.

All I know is that is a wonderful piece of land for a course. The local club seems to working hard putting in the proper signs, teepads, garbage cans, benches and everything else that finishes off a course. It all takes time. This is a large sprawling park. Volunteer labor only works so fast. The baskets are PGA Mach 5's. The teepads that are finished so far are very well done rubber mats, grippy and extremely level. The terrain is rolling hills with plenty of open space, patches of mature trees, plenty of up and down throws, some extremely fast and tricky greens and basket placements. # 3 kind of stands out for me as it's signature "Top of the World" throw. It's not quite the epic throw toss as DeLa's but you'll want to throw more than a few here. This course has some really pretty vistas of the surrounding area and the low flying planes preparing for landing at the nearby Monterey Airport kind of add to the ambivence. The course will easily challenge the advanced to the pro player while bringing us recreational players to tears at times. There is a Kisok at the beginning with a little shaded bench to relax after a grueling 27 hole marathon. Somewhere between 8 and 10 holes play over 400' depending on which tee you're throwing from. There's a little box for returning lost discs at the beginning.

Cons:

There's lots of poision oak here. Long pants/gaiters are a good idea. It's a long/hot hike. Bring water and sun protection. A spotter is good idea on many of the holes. Navigation is currently a little dicey. It's not a beginner/family friendly course. I'd like to see the trash/pile of wood cleaned up on the # 1 fairway, it would look a little better.

Other Thoughts:

I think this course compares very favorable to Napa's Wilderness Park. Same kind of rugged terrain, same feel to it, same challenge, same frustration level. Also pretty similiar feel to Stafford Lake, although not quite as epic. We're not quite there with DeLavegea. They've had many years to improve their course. Another course I see similarities with is Lake Casitas down in the LA area. The one thing it has over Ryan Ranch is a little more in the scenic beauty department. This is a great piece of dirt for a course. It's only going to get better and better with time. If you played it earlier, I'd suggest coming back and giving it another chance. I hope I get another opportunity for it to kick my behind!
Was this review helpful? Yes No
3 1
CubbieBlue
Experience: 22.8 years 102 played 6 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Potential to be great 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 27, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Distances varied tremendously which is great, plenty of ace runs, never anybody there (good and bad/sad), lots of open room on most holes to work with. FREE

Cons:

Hard to find where to park the first time there and could definitely use a dg sign off the main street if the city allows, overgrown tremendously if you don't have someone else with you don't bother playing, I spent close to two hours of my round looking for two lost discs, definitely leaves a sour taste in your mouth for the course. Lots of holes don't have cleared out set fairways, sign distances aren't entirely accurate, hard finding where the next tee box was, basket #'s weren't entirely accurate, lack of trash containers around which led to trash all over the course especially hole 3.

Other Thoughts:

Even though I had a disappointing first round at this course I can see potential. If the club really worked on this course, clearing out, signing the course better and cleaning up it could be one of the top courses in the state, whoever designed the course you could tell knew what they were doing and made the holes a lot of fun with a mixture of tough and easier holes. Good luck guys!
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Top