Rams Hill Golf Course, one of the few Tom Fazio designed courses open to the public, opened in 2008. Fazio created a jewel on 3100 acres in the desert just outside of Borrego Springs, California. The seemingly remote resort is an hour and a half northeast of San Diego and an hour southeast of the Palm Springs area with a private airstrip just 10 minutes away.
Over 15 years there were three different owners and two bankruptcies. Previously a 36 hole private club, a 2013 rescue returned Rams Hill its original glory. Rams Hill reopened in the Fall of 2014 as a stunning 18 hole public play facility. The Clubhouse is simple but adequate. It blends nicely into the surrounding desert terrain. Enjoy the warm dry desert breezes with the wrap-around open-air patio. Limited hotels options exist in the small town of Borrego Springs, CA. It’s an easy drive from the Coachella Valley desert north or San Diego south. Golf Crest House on the 15th hole is an option for larger groups. We stayed at the historic La Casa del Zorro Resort & Spa. The historic inn originally opened in 1937 and hosted many celebrities including Presidents Nixon and Reagan.
The course provides even the most accomplished golfer a stern test especially from the 7232 yard back tees with a 75.0 rating & 141 slope. Despite five sets of tees, each hole strategy is maintained giving the course a unique character. Eight holes incorporate water hazards. Nestled in the Anza Borrego State Park, natural elevation changes, well-groomed fairways, lakes, and waterfalls compliment mountain vistas. Warm winds vary in intensity.The rough is relatively short, consistent and lush. The fairways are ideal and not cut too tight. The greens are immaculate. Consistently ranked #1 or #2 in San Diego County, this Top #10 Southern California course always has the top greens rating of Public Courses. Firm sand mixed with groomed native shrubs and light grasses populate the area beyond the first cut. Hence, errant shots incur less penalizing lies. The six thousand foot peaks of the Santa Rosa Mountains are visible from many holes.
Customer service is outstanding, value is excellent, course conditioning is superb and greens are immaculate.
And did I mention they have Titleist Pro V1 on the practice range? This gem is one to one and one-half hours from San Diego or the Palm Springs area but the adventure is worth the trip.
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