A round at Rancho San Marcos costs less today than it did before the course closed in 2020, partly because the course is smaller. With nine holes in play since April 2025, the rate card is short and easy to read. Every figure on this page is taken from the rates published by the course and dated, because golf prices move.
Green fees as listed in October 2026
The course publishes its prices on the course's official website. In October 2026 the rates were:
| Round | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nine holes | $45 | the standard round |
| 18 holes | $70 | the same nine played twice |
| Replay | $25 | a second nine after a first round |
| Twilight nine | $30 | Wednesday and Thursday, 2 to 4 pm |
A cart is not included in any of these prices. The 18-hole price is the better deal for anyone who wants a full round, since $70 is $20 less than paying for two separate nines.
Before the visit, check the current prices with the course. Rates published by a golf course are the course’s own offer and can change at any time, especially in a reopened business still finding its rhythm.
Carts, pull carts and walking
As listed in October 2026, the cart prices are:
- riding cart, nine holes: $20 (for two people)
- riding cart, 18 holes: $40 (for two people)
- pull cart: $5
- riding cart free after 2 pm, Friday to Sunday
Walking is allowed, and with only nine holes in play the walk is a reasonable one for most players. The routing does climb, though. Robert Trent Jones Jr. laid the course across three zones from the valley floor toward a ridge above Lake Cachuma, so a walker should expect some elevation. The course tour describes the front nine hole by hole.
Nine holes or 18: choosing the round
Because today’s course is a single nine, the choice between the two main rates is really a choice about time and stamina rather than about which holes to see. The 18-hole round covers the same holes twice, so the second loop is a chance to replay the holes that went wrong the first time, or to move to a different set of tees.
Some points help with the decision:
- Time: a nine-hole round fits easily into a morning or an afternoon, while 18 holes needs an early start because the course closes at 4 pm.
- Price per hole: nine holes at $45 works out at $5 a hole; 18 holes at $70 comes to about $3.90 a hole.
- Flexibility: players unsure about a second loop can start with nine holes and add the $25 replay afterwards, which totals the same $70 as booking 18 from the start.
- Walking: the climb toward the ridge is felt more on the second loop, so walkers planning 18 holes may want the $5 pull cart.
The length of the nine, 3,501 yards from the back tees and 2,666 from the front, is set out on the scorecard page.
Practice range and short game area
Rancho San Marcos has a driving range, a chipping area and a practice green. The range prices listed in October 2026 are:
- putting and pin area with a small bucket: $10
- small bucket: $10
- large bucket: $22
For a short visit, a small bucket and a nine-hole round comes to $55 before the cart. A player warming up for the 18-hole replay round might want the large bucket instead.
Opening days and hours
The course lists its hours as Wednesday to Sunday, 7 am to 4 pm, with tee times from 7 am. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. At the April 2025 reopening the local press reported a Thursday to Sunday schedule, so Wednesday was added later.
The 4 pm close shapes the day. A nine-hole round takes most groups around two hours, which means the last practical start for an 18-hole round is around midday. The midweek twilight rate between 2 and 4 pm is the cheapest way onto the course, but it leaves time for nine holes only.
Tee times, events and group bookings are handled by the course itself. Its pro shop number is listed on the contact page together with the reason this guide cannot take bookings.
Course rules worth knowing before arrival
The course lists a few house rules:
- no dogs
- no coolers
- no outside beverages
These are common on daily-fee courses that run their own food and drink service. The old Davy’s Stable Cafe is no longer operating, and the general manager has spoken of plans for food and beverage on site, so it is wise to bring what is allowed and check what is available on the day.
How today’s rates compare with earlier years
The rate card has changed a lot over the years, and the comparison helps explain the present price.
| Period | Weekday round | Weekend round |
|---|---|---|
| 2019, 18 holes | $65 (Mon to Thu) | $89 (Fri to Sun) |
| Spring 2025, reopening | $40 for 9 / $60 for 18 | same |
| October 2026 | $45 for 9 / $70 for 18 | same |
In 2019 the course was still a full 18-hole layout, with a twilight rate of $50 midweek and $70 at weekends, a tri-county resident rate of $39 and $55, a $40 junior rate and a $20 cart. The dress code asked for collared shirts, no denim and soft spikes.
When the course reopened in April 2025 with nine holes, the reported prices were $40 for nine and $60 for 18. By October 2026 they had risen to $45 and $70, while the weekday and weekend prices had become one flat rate.
Some older links to this guide point to the membership pages of the course’s earlier website. In the 2010s its online pro shop sold gift cards and Southern California Golf Association (SCGA) memberships, which come with a GHIN handicap index. Golfers who need a handicap today can join the SCGA directly at scga.org or through a club.
Planning the cost of a round
Three examples, using the prices listed in October 2026 for one player sharing a cart with a partner:
- Nine holes on a Saturday afternoon: $45 green fee, cart free after 2 pm, so $45 in total.
- 18 holes on a Wednesday morning: $70 green fee plus half of the $40 cart, so $90.
- Twilight nine on a Thursday: $30 green fee plus half of the $20 cart, so $40.
For comparison with other public courses in the area, including Sandpiper, La Purisima and the city-owned Santa Barbara Golf Club, see the guide to Santa Barbara golf courses. The scorecard page shows which holes make up today’s nine, and the course overview explains how the 2025 reopening came about.