My previous review is outdated. Most of my criticisms have been resolved. New management has opened the restaurant. The food is decent, not gourmet, but entirely acceptable. The course is in decent condition. Certainly commendable for a municipal track. Personnel are helpful and friendly. The course does get plenty of play. Weekday round will take 4.5 hours. Week-end game will take you 5 hours. I played yesterday. The weather was warm and sunny. My playing companions were delightful. My golf expertise, as it is (14 handicap), was nowhere no be found. My final score was deplorable. Yet I had plenty of fun. If you are a golfer take my word, it's near impossible to find a better course for a meager $30 fee. read more

The tee boxes were not maintained, the grass was uneven, etc. The fairways had many brown patches. A bridge to one of the holes was closed for some reason. To charge for a senior with a cart $60 I would play at other courses.. New management has taken over and they need to do a better job of maintaining the course. read more

It used to be a very nice course. The staff is still very nice and it is a lovely setting, but the past couple of times, including today, the course itself is not worth the price. Pace of play was incredibly slow. 2 1/2 grueling hours for the front. A couple of foursomes and a bunch of twosomes made it painful. The back 9 was no better so we only played a couple of holes. Also there were several dry & bare spots. On a couple of the tee boxes we could barely get a tee in the ground. We used to love it and played often, but now we are moving out of the rotation. We'll probably give it another try in the fall. read more

Wonderful service! Nice menu...loved the tomato soup and cheddar cheese sandwich combo! Very relaxing with the nice windows to see outside. It's a favorite place and with the good service and good food!!!! I have been many times !!!! Looking forward to a return visit!!!! read more

I recently attended a wedding reception here and it was absolutely lovely! A beautiful venue, wonderful and attentive staff, delicious food, and beautiful decorations. I was very impressed and we enjoyed attending this event very much! The staff were incredibly kind, playing with some of the kiddos, making sure each guest had what they needed, and just generally being wonderfully attentive. One dish we tried that really stood out to me was a bean and spinach dish. It was absolutely delicious! read more

Course is in terrible shape ! Pace of play is super slow. We left the course after 12 holes because the groups in front of us were so slow. Tee times are too close to each other with no Marshall to speed groups up. For the shape of the course it's also over priced. Will never go back. read more

I have had some choice words and major issues with this place in the past, however, since it seems those employees are no longer with this course, I can not offer my honest opinion. I have been coming here for years, not just for the fun, entertaining, and interesting front 9, but for the extremely reasonable pricing. I usually stick to the front 9, mainly because I have 2 little ones at home and don't want to leave the wife alone with them for too long without getting home to help out. I also very much enjoy the front 9 more than the back 9. The first hole, a par 5, starts with a nice almost 400 yard straight away the doglegs to the left over a creek to get on the green, a lot more fun than other courses around Sonoma county. There are many other interestingly unique holes along this course and I enjoy them all. For the price (usually around $20 for 9 during peak hours, and sub $20 for twilight) it is hard to beat this place. The course could use a little TLC on some of their fairways, but it's nothing too bad, and certainly not something that's going to ruin your score - especially when most people are shooting 100+ on 18 ;). Staff (now) is friendly and accommodating and their cart rentals are charged per rider, not per cart, which is nice when you go out as a single rider. Give this underrated spot a try, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised! read more

Bennett Valley Golf Course - Golf Near Me - Santa Rosa, California

Restaurant now open Excellent breakfast sandwich Surprisingly good coffee Good service Full bar Great view from outdoor dining Good prices too Golf course needs member policy enforcement on divot repair Otherwise not a bad public course Beautiful place Under new management, keep up the improvements, you're doing great so far Claim this business read more

second time we attended a event here. both times from start to finish , the food , the set up , the staff extremely attention to your needs very helpful, jessica is fantastic to deal with and her attention to detail at both events one being a christmas party the most recent a celebration of life was above and beyond. sirj the point person today was simply the best. cannot say enough great things. sirj and his team made a hard day a lot easier. thank you all again. read more

I love this course with my whole heart. It's my home course and is nestled within a really nice part of town. The greens are well maintained and the fairways are lined with trees. Pace of play varies. We walked the course last weekend and it was beautiful. One complaint here-- they did not have a drink cart girl available on Saturday. It was 93 degrees and I could have really used a shot of vodka... kind of ridiculous if you ask me. I suppose I'll bring my own drank from now on. Fore!! read more

See all

Ok so I am not a golfer, I have just started and this is my second time here. My 4th time golfing period. So, the review will be point based like all my reviews. Golf course is pretty. They keep it reasonably green and trimmed. It gets a little tough for newer players that can't keep stay ahead easily. You know, we take every swing up to the 3 over par. Restaurant is fine. Staff is friendly and the food is fine. Not, oh my god but fine. Not their fault, they are a restaurant at a public course. So 1-5 Course for a beginner (expect to lose a few balls Course upkeep 4 Pro-shop 4 Staff 4 Overall 4 Restaurant Atmosphere 4 Location 4 Service 3 Food 3 Rounding slightly up read more

The pace of play at this course is the slowest in the area....and it is no contest. No Marshalls, Staff either doesn't care or just allows it because their contract is expiring. When I asked the pro shop if they monitor pace of play they responded with "it is what it is". I am sorry but for what they charge they should monitor pace to keep rounds between 4.5 and 5hrs, even when packed to the gills which this course always is. Yesterday I walked off after the 12th hole as it took 2.5hrs on the front and got slower on the back...45 minutes for 2 holes??? I actually have been playing this course a lot lately as I have considered joining the annual membership program which is very reasonably priced. When asked for a print out of the program the staff pointed to a sign on the wall covering prices...no mention of discount on merch or bringing guests like the other club I belong to. Then another staff member chimed in saying they we not offering the membership anymore and the 1st guy went on to mention the companies contract expiring soon. Restaurant is closed and they only sell room temp water bottles in the pro shop. Bring your own cold drinks and snacks if you play here. To end the story I will not be joining the membership, probably will never play there until a new company takes control and fixes the major issues of pace of play, no food and beverage and getting a staff that cares about the customer experience. read more

Worst customer service I've ever experienced in my 50 years of golfing!!!!!!! The tee boxes were narrow and in horrible shape shame on you

We're trying to save this golf course. Please help us. https://savebennettvalleygolfcourse.com read more

A nice track of a golf course that is enjoyable to play. My first time there and that never ends well since you don't know where to hit towards or the slope of the greens. I found it a nice course, in good shape with nice sloppy greens in good shape. Pace was slow but that sounds like that's normal talking to the person I was paired with. So don't be in a hurry, take your time and enjoy the day. read more

This is a treasure for Santa Rosa to have such a well maintained municipal golf course. Usually, munis are shabby and a poor golf experience. Although fees have climbed here, the new management seems to be striving to provide a high level of golf at what are still reasonable prices. The only reason I did not give a 5 star rating is that course management has a casual relationship with no smoking laws that apply to public places, even if they're outdoors. Many times, especially on the driving range, patrons smoke cigarettes and cigars with no regard for the one and only No Smoking sign, which is posted next to the ball dispenser. It sucks to be on the range and someone steps into the next stall and lights up a Camel. I have brought this to management's attention, and they responded that new signage was in the works, but a few months later, the new signage is nonexistent. I don't feel like getting into a confrontation with a smoker at the driving range, and would greatly appreciate an effort on BV's part to address the issue. read more

What do I love about Santa Rosa? Their eight designated Preservation Districts. One of them contains at least 3 streets in the downtown area with beautiful examples of gracious Victorians, Craftsmen, and post Victorian homes. But there is one "home" in particular that is a must see, the grand McDonald mansion, Mabelton, located of course on...you guessed it... McDonald Ave. It is NOT open to the public, but it nearly takes up a full city block and can be viewed easily from the curb. It is lovely, incredibly detailed, beautifully maintained, with lush gardens, a gazebo, and a carriage house, a source of pride for the city. For those of us old enough to remember, this mansion was used (with the help of a little matte painting) in the filming of Pollyanna, a Disney film released in 1960. It was built 1877 in the Victorian Stick/Eastlake style, as a second home to a very successful business magnet with powerful associations to the rich and famous, names we will all recognize. I am going to let Wikipedia do all the work so you can truly appreciate the specialness of this landmark. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonald_family And here is a map to all 8 districts, if you are as passionate as I am. Enjoy! http://ci.santa-rosa.ca.us/doclib/Documents/Historic_Pres_Districts_C_size.pdf read more

New owner otherwise just the same. Beer isn't very cold -easy fix. The indoor area could use a little upgrade. A few big plants might help it not feel like someone's garage. Lovely deck which is my singular reason for visiting. read more

Great golf course, greens are fast and well maintained. Pace of play was excellent. Highly recommend, enjoy!

Played here this past weekend. I completely understand the covid safety precautions, support them, and it's always great to have a chance to play a fun course. That being said. An 11:00 tee time, on a 90 degree day. First off, they wanted to limit the number of carts that we could use. Maybe buy some more, or at least tell us that when we're booking so we know what to expect? The bar wasn't open to buy any beverages, nor did we see a drink cart once in our 4.5 hour play time. The proshop had no idea when the bar was opening, nor did they offer any other way to buy a beverage. At the end of our round, the bar was finally open, but no soda machines. On top of that, the dude behind the bar wasn't even wearing a mask. The entire thing just seemed amateur. I've played a few courses during lockdown, and have never had an experience like this. I don't see myself coming back here anytime soon. read more

Great course with great customer service! I was looking for an easy course to get back into swing of things and they have a perfect 9 hole option! Amazing views of the sunrise just made it better. I will definitely be back! Thank you! read more

Love the golf course and staff but be careful when you book your tee time. We counted 4 five Somes on the course the same time as my three Some. We had the unfortunate experience of playing behind one. Two twosomes were behind five somes. Felt sorry for them. read more

Love this course! If there wasn't the risk of getting trapped in a 6-hour round I would have given it 5 stars! Although, these new COVID rules (one person per cart, flag stays in, no bunker raking) are doing wonders for pace of play. I don't play this course often but when I do I always seem to enjoy it. Even if some of the holes can test your mental state. (The giant tree in the middle of the 1st fairway?). The fairways are always tight and the greens are consistently "fast" throughout the course. Considering the amount of play it gets, Bennett Valley remains one of the better maintained courses in the county. Kudos to the staff for getting the course back up and running so us golfers has something to do during this shelter-in-place. Although, I'm not sure why scorecards have been banned... Great place to play! Make your tee time now! read more

This place is straight dope. Super solid. Guy at the counter, Alex Kobe, "forgot" to charge me for Tuesday night league on his first day. In the business, we like to say that "good things happen to good people." It is what it is. Anyway, the course is super solid. 100% dialed in. The front 9 is dope. Never played the back. Imagine it's dope too. Rented one of those rolly things for my bag, which was a bit more expensive than I would've liked, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't well oiled. Rolled down the fairways like a king this afternoon. The rolly thing also had a sweet cup holder for my vodka cranberries. That kind of attention to detail doesn't go unnoticed. Big time difference maker. Not sure what they are feeding and/or paying the maintenance crew, but it's not enough. The greens roll pure and true. The fairways were 100% dialed. The tee boxes were absolutely ripe for locker room talk. Just an absolute gem in the rough, no pun intended. read more

I don't play golf. I do, however, have memories that consist of drunken bike-riding to this golf course, golf clubs in tow, to hit balls on the driving range late at night. Followed by finding two dudes in the parking lot bumping sweet jams. Then a ride around the course on the paved trail. Which is fun. And scary when dark. And has gorgeous views of the sky. And is totally exhilarating. read more

They always keep this course in great shape. Greens are always in nice condition. Great people in the shop. I play most of my rounds as a single and haven't been a part of a non enjoyable group yet. Nice to not have houses lining every hole. No chipping green but you can chip in some open grassy areas. The pace can be unbearably slow at times but if you start early enough they can also be some of the fastest rounds you'll play. Overall a well maintained course and relaxed atmosphere to go out and play some golf. read more

One of the worst golf experiences of my life. A 3-hour front nine that, according to the golf shop wizard working that day, is "typical." How can any golf course, no matter how busy they are, be content with a 6-hour round of golf - on a Wednesday!! There wasn't even a marshal on the course! I quite after nine holes and went into the golf shop to request a credit for the nine holes I didn't play. Instead of a credit, he gave me a "rain check." Which means, if I want my money back I have to go play there again. Idiots. Yes, this course is cheap to play. But you get what you pay for. Spend a little bit more and go play somewhere else. Double bogeys all around for Bennett Valley Golf Course. read more

Played this course for the first time today and had a wonderful experience all around! Played as a single and got paired with a father-son who were most pleasant. I received wonderful service from the pro shop as well as the bartender. As for the course, it was in beautiful condition and played very well. Lots of birdie and par opportunities but some very challenging holes as well. I will definitely be back read more

We're lucky to have such a beautiful public golf course in Santa Rosa. I've played here many times and the course is in beautiful shape, in spite of the drought. The pricing is reasonable, even with the new increases. (Eat your heart out golfers in L.A.) What's bad about Bennett Valley? It's always slow, probably because of the course's popularity. There are also always a fair number of lousy (beginning or occasional) golfers who take way too many strokes and show up regularly on adjoining fairways. It's a very tough course, especially for short hitters. It would be nice if the forward tees were moved up a bit. The holes are very long, especially for most women. B.V. is still one of the most beautiful and challenging courses in Sonoma County. read more

Went here for my first time to golf. In the beginning the guy at the front desk was very rude. Then when we were waiting for others to finish the first hole the guy said oh I can tell it's your first time. You are losers. Of the bat I was already appalled at the fact he even said this to us as a group. And then as we kept trying to make sure we were on his schedule not ours. We got our food. Decent but could be better for the price I got a margarita and I have never had such a terrible margarita in my life. Seems like your bartender/ server needs to learn how to pour drinks. As we went to the side so everyone else could go on he then proceeded to come to us saying oh you need to hurry up. Mind you he didn't say anything to anyone else this whole time only us. I feel if someone is spending set amount of money and yet you are super rude. I'm disappointed with how they treat customers here. Will not come back. read more

Poor condition, poor service, poor management. Sad to say but this course isn't going to make it . Save your money

This is a municipal course, and as such, seems to strike a good balance between course maintenance, player satisfaction, challenging golf, available services, and competitive pricing. There is a tendency towards a lot of players on the course and nearly everybody is put into foursomes, an effect particularly noticeable on commonly busy times that the course is utilized. This is a great course for beginners and those learning to improve upon their gamesmanship. It is also a course for more experienced golfers as well. The greens and fairways are kept in good condition in my opinion, and they are frequently improving the grounds. It is a relatively flat course with rare water hazards. It is also reasonably affordable, and overall it is a solid place to walk a nice eighteen holes. read more

I've been in the Santa Rosa area for about five years, but only last week got out to play Bennett Valley. I had heard the horror-stories about six hour rounds and merely average course conditions, but had a whole day to myself and decided to go for it. Course: overall, the course was in really good shape for early August. Fairways were green and lush, with little signs of drying out. The greens were in good condition too, though a little slower than I would have preferred. One other nice thing: the tee boxes were flat and well-maintained. Staff: The thing that impressed me the most was the friendliness of the staff, from the guys in the pro-shop, to the woman in the beer cart, to the men and women in the restaurant/bar. To a person, everyone had a smile on their face and accommodating. It was really nice to be treated well, even though the course traffic was high and everyone was busy. Difficulty: I'd rate the course difficulty as above average, which is good to see from a Muni with high volume. The pin placements on the day I played were challenging (did someone upset the greens keeper?), and there were plenty of trees to navigate if you couldn't land it in the fairway. Overall the course is pretty flat, with only a couple of holes showing significant elevation changes. Of the Par 5s, i think only a couple would be reachable in two for the average/good golfer. The Par 3s were fairly easy, and the Par 4s offered challenges equal to the overall difficulty of the course. I only have three small complaints, and that's why this review is 4/5 stars: 1. A couple of the holes (#1 and #3 IIRC) had huge oak trees planted right in front of the green, making approach shots unfairly hard. Having played it once now, I'd know where to "miss" and avoid them, but as a first-time player of Bennett Valley it was disheartening to see a good shot be punished by an obstacle. 2. As the course is mostly flat, walking is pretty common. I took a cart out for my round, and it didn't have any GPS (which makes sense for a Muni I guess). Further, not all sprinkler heads had yardages on them, and finding the 200/150/100 markers was super-easy. If you have a range-finder I'd bring it along, otherwise gauging distance can be a bit of a chore. 3. Finally, the round did take 5.5 hours, and for the back nine it was just me and a playing partner. We waited on every, single, shot, for the entire round. To be fair, the starter did tell us it was crowded before we started, so it was not unexpected. That said, the two groups in front of us played every shot like it was Sunday at the British Open. They took their own sweet time, and for that I wish there had been a marshal handy to tell them to pick up the pace. Bottom line: I'd play here again. read more

Here is what to expect. Make a tee time (which wont matter because the course is overbooked all the time) Pay a inflated price (because the county built a restaurant right next door the quality of a hospital cafeteria) Proceed to play a six hour round (because the average golfer out there is 85 years old and cant hit anything over 50 yards, which may make things tough when you wait 4-9 minutes PER SHOT) At the turn, you may want to leave, because you have already been there all day. You may walk in, but you decide to walk in and confront the woman working like I did, who resembles your fifth grade teacher that made you hate life. Me: "yes, hi, um... I dont want to be a bother, but... this pace is ridiculous. The FIVESOME in front of us, that you promised wouldnt exist has clogged this course." Fifth grade teacher you hate: "your pace of play is okay..." Me: "uh , yeah, i mean i think 2 and a half hours is a little bit much, for the three of us. The FIVESOME wont let us play through, and i dont think i have ever seen a course that has FIVESOMES going out at all. They usually clog up the course." Fifth grade teacher you hate: "just depends on the fivesome..." ^^^That was the moment this woman turned away myself and my playing partner from this golf course for the rest of our lives. I really wanted to let her know that, but she just smirked at us, and i just walked out. Play at your own risk. Derek, you have always been cool man, have a good life brother. P.S. Remember Bennett employees, you may be busy right now with your...older clients...but dont turn away your younger players, we are the future... and we do spend the same money as they do. On second thought, younger players pay more to play, isnt that ironic? read more

I grew up playing this course as a teenager and attended summer golf camps by club pros Jim Knego and Bob Borowitz. Over the past 10 years they have redesigned nearly every green turning what used to be a pedestrian back nine into a challenging finish. The greenskeeping team does a tremendous job maintaining the course given how much public play it gets. It is one of the best deals in the North Bay. You can get a cart but it is easy to walk as it is reletively flat and tees are close to the greens. The Blue tees play to a long 6600 yards and #2 at 441 yards is one of the toughest 4-pars in Northern California. There is a large putting practice area and a range with both grass and matt tees. A brand new clubhouse and restaurant with a friendly staff make this easily the best muni in the county if not the North Bay. read more

what an amazing day!! got a great deal online and were able to get a noon tee time...the weather was pristine...mid 70s, sunny and clear...we were able to get out a little early cuz the starter fit us in between a couple foursomes....we were able to play as a twosome which allowed us plenty of time...with the recent rains, the fairways were in great condition and they were cut so that even in the rough, our balls were findable!! not that we were ever in the rough!! hahaaha.....i think it was our goal to hit under trees, into sand, just so we had a good practice round to deal w hazards!!...we tried hard to emulate woods and mickelson and how they would deal w trouble....can't say we achieved this but hey, we keep trying until we get it....the greens were in great condition and there wasn't any recent aeration to deflect our putts...we can make our own bad putts!! all in all it was a beautiful day for golf and we finished at the 19th hole of Legends!!! cheers!! read more

I played here twice a couple weekends ago and it was B-E-A-UTIFUL. the course is well manicured and the pace of play was perfect for our group. We showed up around 7 and there were already so many people there it was quite surprising. However, after seeing and playing the course, I can see why! Interesting note, the greens play really well, especially in the morning, as the greens firm up they can get a little squirly, but overall, a great experience! I came again another time by myself and played with 2 local club members. They were both really easy going and were ok with the fact that I was horrible compared to them. They were patient and understanding! read more

I played the course with my 8 year old for the first time this summer. They have special markers on the cart path for the kids to tee off at. I had a fantastic time golfing with my son. Derek in the pro shop was very helpful and he told me about the NCGA youth on course online class. He said that if my son finishes the class that his green fee is only $3! read more

Very affordable and the greens are in great shape. The front nine is a gem. The back nine, well, the holes tend to look the same after a while. The pro-shop people could be nicer. I won't eat at the restaurant...$12 hamburgers. Fun course. read more

Great pitch, Course is maintained very well. Staff was really nice ,spent the whole day had a wonderful time! Close to home so can't complain read more