⭐☆☆☆☆ – Bait-and-switch pricing, rude management, and poor course conditions
I would not recommend Buena Ventura Golf Course. My experience was disappointing from start to finish, and it was absolutely not worth the time or the money.
First issue: misleading pricing on the website.
The website advertises $26 twilight golf, which already sounded suspiciously cheap. I called the pro shop to confirm, and the employee told me “yes, that’s the twilight rate.” What was not mentioned is that this price is walking only. Once you add a cart, the actual price jumps significantly. My 1:40 pm tee time ended up costing $44 per person, and because I brought my girlfriend, that became $88 total—nearly double what the website implies.
Second issue: confusing and inconsistent policies.
At check-in, I asked management if there was a cheaper option or if we could just play nine holes. I was told no, you must pay for all 18. I was then told, “You can golf as long as you can see the ball.” No one mentioned any cutoff time, curfew, or requirement to be back by a certain hour. picture below of when Told “ we don’t allow glow in the dark golf balls “ by the time you hit that is the time you should go “
So we played. By the 14th hole, it was not even dark yet, and we were using glow-in-the-dark balls. Suddenly, a manager (or supervisor) with a mustache drove up and aggressively told us we had to leave immediately—not asking, not explaining, just ordering us off the course in an extremely rude and disrespectful manner. The tone was hostile, condescending, and completely unprofessional. There was zero attempt to communicate respectfully or clarify policy.
Third issue: course conditions were terrible.
• Greens were rough and poorly maintained
• Tee boxes were beat up
• Fairways had large brown patches
• Balls constantly landed on hard dirt instead of grass
This course does not justify the price, especially considering the attitude and lack of customer service.
Bottom line:
If you live in Thousand Oaks or the Conejo Valley and are thinking about driving 45 minutes out here because you think you’re getting a deal—don’t do it. Stay local. Courses like Los Robles or Lake Lindero are far better maintained, and the staff actually treats golfers with respect.
I will never play here again, and I do not recommend this course to anyone.