River Ridge Golf Course (Vineyard)

Golf Course Review River Ridge Golf Course VINEYARD COURSE Oxnard California

Reviewed by: t8fish, Altadena
Returning from Santa Barbara on Saturday, 5/25, I decided to take advantage of the Memorial weekend $22-to-walk rate RR was offering.

I lived in Ventura for a while back in the early ’80s and had not been back to play RR until relatively recently — a few years back and long after the completion of the Lakes course. I took this opportunity to play the reconfigured Vineyard course for the first time, getting out early afternoon as a single with no one in front of me.

I’d say the overall conditions were pretty good, and actually comparable to the conditions at Sandpiper a couple of days before. Good teeing grounds, playable rough, similar fairways, green, leaning towards tight with good roll-out. Bunkers were good, clean and playable while the greens were firm and pretty quick. I noticed the first green had a bit of a cauliflower looking texture to it but it didn’t seem to affect the roll. I don’t recall seeing it on the other greens.

The holes that had not been reconfigured since the old days elicited a bit of nostalgia in me and I appreciated the familiarity. But while I enjoyed it in general, now that I can compare it to the Lakes course, I definitely prefer the Lakes. I think one reason is that the Lake course is at least as challenging but more out in front of you as to what you need to do while Vineyard has more blind shots. That’s all personal opinion and not a comment on the conditions, which were fine. Based on conditions, I’d definitely recommend it.