Sonoma Ranch Golf Course Review

Posted On July 9, 2018

Having already played Red Hawk Golf Club (review here), in Las Cruces we decided to give Sonoma Ranch Golf Course a try. Founded in 2000 Sonoma Ranch was deisgned by Cal Olsen. The course winds its way through a planned neighborhood, although houses generally are only on one side of the course.

We enjoyed Sonoma Ranch a lot, and the course was in fantastic shapes. The fairways were fantastic only to be out done by the greens, which were soft and very receptive to approach shots. The green ran a tad slow for me, which is completely a personal preference, but rolled true. The clubhouse is decent sized with anything you might need and also has a very good restaurant called the Sunset Grill.

Warm-Up Area:

The range as far as width and amount of hitting area is on the smaller end but we had no trouble finding space. They have a very large putting green. There is not a separate chipping green, nor any bunkers in the practice area. We finished up warming up and headed to the first tee.

Pace of Play:

Pace at Sonoma Ranch was slow, creating another 5 hour round on a weekend morning. They allowed 5 in our group and we expected to have to play quick to keep pace. This was not an issue because of how slow the pace was. Not entirely sure where the hold up was but we only finished in 5 hours because the group ahead of us picked up and headed back to the clubhouse on 15. At one time in our round, you could look over most of the back 9. We noticed on one green 6 people standing on it. We weren’t sure if all 6 were playing or what hole they were on, as this was our first time, but we did notice an open hole ahead of them and figured they were the group slowing everyone up. There were marshals driving around, but they didn’t say anything about pace of play. Their main job is to bring water around to everyone since there are no water stations on the course, only 2 bathrooms with water fountains. Check out my top 5 pet peeves, and you’ll understand my attitude towards marshals.

Holes 1-6

Hole 1 is a shorter, downhill par 4, and driver isn’t needed unless you want to try to put it on the green. A long iron or hybrid is all that is need on the tee. Keep it down the right hand side, to have a better approach angle into the green. Missing right or just short of the green, avoiding the bunker on the left, are your only miss options.

Hole 2 is par 4 that dog legs to the right. If you are a long hitter, 3 wood is what is need off the tee unless you want to try and put it close to the green. Aim at the large far bunker, taking it over the edge of the right bunker. The safer play is to keep it left of the fairway bunker, leaving yourself with a longer approach. The miss is right, or a bit long on the left-hand side.

Hole 3 is an easier par 3, straight ahead, with only a bunker short left and another long right. Take dead aim at this one, leaving your miss just right, but I don’t think you will need it.

Hole 4 is another short par 4. Shortest on the course actually and a possible driving hole if you’re willing to risk it. The play for me is avoiding the big bunker on the left and trying to place the ball just beyond it, short of the trap long on the right. With your approach, don’t be afraid to be too long, just not really long of course!

How do you follow the shortest par 4 on the course? With the longest par 4 on the course, well at least tied for it. At 472, and playing slightly uphill, hole 5 plays the longest on the course. Aim for one of the last houses on the left for your line. A good drive is needed here as the approach will be longer than most. Be short or long with your miss into the green, as the bunkers here are more penal than most.

Hole 6 is an interesting hole, but fun. You have the option to hit it short, atop the hill and have a good look at the green, or bomb it down the the bottom of the hill for a much shorter uphill shot. I chose to hit it shorter, as to avoid a downhill lie. Deep right is the only miss but be long of the large bunker short right.

Holes 7-12

Hole 7 is the first and only par 5 on the front. Your tee shot is uphill, and you will want to keep it down the left hand side somewhat to have a clear picture where to lay up to. This is not a hole to go for it in 2 in my opinion, but if you do, avoid the water on the left. Lay up down the right hand side, away from the large fairway bunker. Everything will roll back towards it. This should give you between 100-120 to the hole. Be a little long if anything, and of course avoid the water left.

Hole 8 is a beautiful par 3 over water with in continuing to run down the left hand side of the green. This hole plays downhill so you will need to club down a bit. Be short right if anything, avoiding the bunkers left or deep right. Anything long left will more than likely bounce into the water. I speak from experience!

Hole 9 is back up hill with the tee shot, with a less guarded green than most. There isn’t any bad misses here, other than the one lone sand trap short left, so take dead aim!

As you head to hole 10 you will drive back by the clubhouse, so as always this is a good time to stop if you need to. Hole 10 is a downhill par 5. The tee shot is a bit tricky as the fairway gets really narrow, so a layup off the tee isn’t a bad idea. Aim to be just right and short of the bunkers. You can still go for the green in 2 here, but the best shot is with a fairway wood from the area I mentioned just right of the fairway bunker. The lay up is pretty straight forward, just pick the number you want to be from the hole, as their are no bunkers until the green. Short is the miss here as the green slopes off quickly along the back. There’s a little room left and right but not much.

Hole 11 is a par 3, the longest one by far on the course. Short and short left are the good misses so don’t be afraid to come a bit short.

Hole 12 is a shorter par 4, that will require a long iron off the tee for longer hitters as there is a ravine before the hole. Long and deep right are your misses here, as short really isn’t an option.

Holes 13-18

Hole 13 is another short par 4 that might be able to be driven by the longest of the long hitters. For most of us, a shorter club is sufficient off the tee. If you like 50-70 yard shots then you can probably hit your driver. Hit your tee shot down the right hand side to have the best angle into the green. Avoid the two bunkers, the large one short left and the smaller one behind the green. There is a large ridge that runs through the middle of the green front to back, so take note of the pin placement and do not be on the opposite side of the green from it.

Hole 14 is the best opportunity to get to a par 5 in 2. Hit your tee shot down the left hand side to shorten your second shot. The longest of the long may run out of room. Just short or short left are good options for misses when going for it in 2, but long isn’t bad as long as the pin is in the back. I’m not really sure where the layup area would be, but clearing the ravine would be the main play. This will leave you with 70-100 to the pin. This is why I think going for it in 2 is the best option.

Hole 15 has a great looking tee shot downhill. You have 2 options. You can try to take it over the bunker on the right hand side or stay well left of it, probably with a hybrid in hand. The green is guarded on both sides by bunkers but since it plays back up hill a bit, long or deep right are the better miss options. The front of the green acts as a collection area, so if the pin isn’t there don’t be short. The putt downhill isn’t easy but I will take it over a tough chip up.

Hole 16 is a long playing par 4 up hill, slight dog leg to the right. Avoid the bunker to the left, although it seems balls tend to bounce over it. Just short or long are you two best misses, just take not where the flag is. There is a small false front on the green so be aware of that as well.

Hole 17 is a par 3 that plays slightly downhill, so pick the shorter club. There isn’t a great miss but short right is alright or just a little deep left.

Hole 18 is a tough ending par 5. The tee shot is up hill and longer hitter will need to hit it over the right corner of the hill. If you decide to go for it, avoid the water on the left, and short right is the best miss. If you’re laying up like most if us, land it between the fairway bunker on the right, but short of the water. The right hand side will give you the best angle into the green. There is a large swell on the front right of the green, so unless the pin is there avoid it. If the pin is in the front left, long is much better then right in the swell.

Overall we really enjoyed Sonoma Ranch Golf Course. Like Red Hawk Golf Club, the pace of play was the only bad thing. The course was a lot of fun to play with a good variation of holes, and was in good condition. Get out early and grab the first tee times of the day!