Bennett Valley Golf Course, Santa Rosa, CA

I hope you read the three reviews above. I agree totally with all three, but would strongly discourage anyone from trying this course is you're even a remotely serious golfer. The staff was very friendly, but they allow fivesomes, which were unbearably slow. Really, fivesomes? Ahead of me were two fivesomes. That wouldn't be so bad if the five knew how to play a fivesome. They would wait for each rather than hit when ready. Admittedly, I was playing alone early one Tuesday afternoon, but it took 90 minutes to play the first three holes. Painful!! I quit and went back to the pro shop to get my greens fees back, which the staff gave me no trouble with. They offered to give it to me in pro shop credit, but I made it clear I would not be coming back. I drove down to Foxtail North and was able to play a much nicer course. 18 holes in 3.5 hours with several other players on the course. I hate to be negative, but come on. Fivesomes??

I played a 4.5 hour round on Monday 11/7, with three very nice locals. Nice layout, fast but true greens. Very Friendly Pro Shop staff. A muni bargan, that I would play again. My new local friends confirmed the pace is often slow, and becasue of the price you get slower players. Still worth it.

A very pretty course for a muni - unfortunately lots and lots of other people know how nice this course is so it's almost always over-scheduled and slow, slow, slow. No online reservations or discounts means the course is less competitive for the cost-conscious. More dangerous than other courses as well - the number of hack golfers who've sliced into your fairway and are trying to heroically blast back into their own is pretty frightening. Not only does they up the danger level but it slows down play even more.

Not a bad county run muni. Very friendly- fivesome, demin, kids, tee-shirts, flip-flops, beginners, first timers sharing clubs, slow play. Busy 4th of July weekend and not a ranger/marshal/ball hawker in sight. Bag drop is in front of cafe and bike rack in front of pro shop. Management seems at odds - is it a golf course with a pretty good cafe or a pretty good cafe with a golf course in the way. It is large county place trying to offer a lot of things to a lot of people. There are better places in the area.

SeniorPro2B

This golf course is a golfers golf course! For so many years this course has been under-rated. Always in excellent condition. Always making changes for the better. You will enjoy your round of golf here there is no other way to put it. Construction and upgrades are close to being finished and is a wonderful course to play and enjoy all it has to offer. Don't over look this one. And if you are looking for lessons...you have found the best two golf instructors in Sonoma County! See Bob Borowitcz or Jim Kenego for a lesson, I would not advise anyone else in Sonoma County other than Mike Piver in Sonoma. Along with being great players themselves these guy's know what they are talking about and have been around for many years both playing professionally and teaching. Enjoy your round.

Fun and Affordable!!!

One of the best values in the Bay Area. The course is tree lined and has some pretty tough holes. The biggest drawback is that they have wasted several months trying to build a new clubhouse... The Par 5 1st and Par 5 10th have both been shortened to accommodate the reovation. This critique was done on 10/20/06 and there are still several months before the clubhouse will be complete.