Full Answer
What ever happened to Soule Park golf course?
The basic bones of the golf course were always good, starting with a William Bell design of 1962, stitched around a wandering barranca that works its way through the wide valley floor. In 2005, a large flood swept across the course, forcing a redesign of Soule Park.
Who designed the original Soule Park golf course?
Soule Park was originally designed by renowned architect William F. Bell in 1962. Bell was also responsible for many other iconic Southern California golf courses including Torrey Pines (North and South) in San Diego and Sandpiper in Santa Barbara.
What makes Soule Park golf course in Ojai so special?
Soule Park Golf Course, in the Ojai Valley, just inland from Ventura, Calif., is a true hidden gem. The basic bones of the golf course were always good, starting with a William Bell design of 1962, stitched around a wandering barranca that works its way through the wide valley floor.
How much does a round of golf cost at Soule?
Soule is the kind of place where everyone is welcome. At $30-40 a round, it is a bargain and a great throwback to minimalist strategic design. T-shirts, flip-flops and plus-fours all pass muster with the dress code. The beer you sip after golf won’t drain your wallet either.
Who owns Soule Park golf course?
Craig PriceIt's not easy, but at least it's exciting. Managing a golf course is something else entirely. In 2007, with the renovation complete, Craig Price signed a 10-year agreement with Ventura County to manage Soule Park. The problem was, he lived in Pacific Palisades, a neighborhood in southwest Los Angeles.
Does Camarillo Springs golf course have a driving range?
-The driving range is on grass on Thursdays and Fridays. -More demo clubs available in the Pro Shop.
Who owns Camarillo Springs Golf Course?
Chameleon Springs LLCOasis Ranch is managed by Beverly Hills attorney Ronald Richards, who also manages Chameleon Springs LLC, which acquired the 18-hole Camarillo Springs course near the Conejo Grade last year for $4.3 million.
Who designed Soule Park?
The golf course at Soule Park was originally designed by renowned architect William F. Bell in 1962. Bell was responsible for many other iconic Southern California golf courses including Torrey Pines ...
Who designed the golf course at Rio 2016?
Hanse was the architect responsible for designing the Olympic Golf Course for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, and has recently redesigned both the North and South golf courses at Los Angeles Country Club.
What did Hanse and Wagner do to Soule Park?
Although Hanse and Wagner kept most of William F. Bell’s routing, their renovation of Soule Park was transformative. With a modest amount of tree removal, they opened up new angles on several holes. Their jagged-edged, Bell Sr.-style bunkers introduced risk-reward questions from the tee, and their subtly contoured greens added variety to approach and short-game shots. Their work brought Soule Park’s true character into relief: with its barrancas, oaks, sloping terrain, and strategic design, it was a vintage California golf course in the Thomas and Bell tradition.
What was the first task at Soule Park?
The first task at Soule Park was to make the golf course functional again. They had to replace the irrigation system, repair (and in one case, wholly rebuild) the bridges across San Antonio Creek, and recover the lost tees and greens. But since Price trusted Hanse and Wagner, he allowed them to pursue a more ambitious scheme. “Jim and I went around and looked at what we could do,” Hanse says, “what we could tweak, what we could push, where we could put bunkers that were more meaningful, change them stylistically, and build what we hoped would be a better set of greens.”
What golf course did Hanse design?
Meanwhile, Hanse Golf Course Design was on the rise. Their 2005 design at Boston Golf Club had earned positive notices, and they had begun high-profile restoration and renovation work at Los Angeles CC, Sleepy Hollow CC, and TPC Boston. At Soule Park, the debate raged on largely without their involvement. “It depresses us,” Wagner says, “because people don’t ask our opinion.”
What is the 4th green in Soule Park?
The 4th green at Soule Park. The punchbowl 5th green is the inverse of the 4th—convex instead of concave. Until you reach the top of the ridge 20 yards out, you can’t see this green at all. So going for it in two is a nervy proposition: a long iron or a wood to a blind target surrounded by dense foliage.
What did Soule Park say when he got the RFP?
When the Soule Park RFP came out, he was searching anxiously for his next opportunity. “I was looking at everything at that point,” he says. “I really was looking at everything.”
How many members did Soule Park lose?
The brouhaha grew loud enough to reach the ears of the Wall Street Journal ’s John Paul Newport, who reported that the senior men’s club at Soule Park had lost 45 of its 175 regular members .
How much rain did Ventura get?
The city of Ventura took almost 15 inches of rainfall between December 27 and January 10, just short of the average for an entire year. Up the 101 Highway, in the coastal hamlet of La Conchita, a landslide buried 13 homes and killed 10 people.
Where is Soule Park in Shangi La?
One of the jewels in this Shangi-la called Ojai, is the Soule Park and Golf Course along the foot of Black Mountain. When it was suggested that our tree planting program, to further beautify the area, be dedicated to Zaidee Soule, we thought it an excellent idea. We also felt we should find out further facts about Miss Zaidee and the Soule family who left us such a lovely legacy to see what made them tick.
When was the Ojai Valley News article published?
This article was published in the Ojai Valley News on June 12, 1974. It is reprinted here with their permission. It has been slightly edited for accuracy.
Who was the mayor of Ojai in 1922?
In 1922, [one year after] City of Ojai was incorporated, Early Soule was elected as Chairman of the Board of Trustees – the equivalent of mayor in today’s government. [He succeeded Glen Hickey who served for only one year. Soule served as Chairman for four years] until 1926.
Does Soule Park have a tree planting program?
Unfortunately, park and golf courses require cuts and fills and unsightly wire fences, The Soule Park Tree Committee believes that the tree planting program will dress up the scars of progress. It is certainly most appropriate to dedicate the program to Zaidee, Nina and the Soule family. If they could speak we feel sure it would have their whole-hearted approval.
Is old timers memory better than forgetfulness?
As a result we have interviewed a number of Old Timers, some native to the area. We have found in most cases that their forgetery is better than their memory, but let us pass the story along to you.
Where is Soule Park Golf Course?
Soule Park Golf Course, in the Ojai Valley, just inland from Ventura, Calif., is a true hidden gem. The basic bones of the golf course were always good, starting with a William Bell design of 1962, stitched around a wandering barranca that works its way through the wide valley floor.
How much does Soule cost?
Soule is the kind of place where everyone is welcome. At $30-40 a round , it is a bargain and a great throwback to minimalist strategic design. T-shirts, flip-flops and plus-fours all pass muster with the dress code. The beer you sip after golf won’t drain your wallet either.
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Is Soule Park the best golf course in California?
Why Soule Park Golf Course is the best course you’ve never heard of. Soule Park Golf Course, in the Ojai Valley of California, is fun and affordable. Our knowledgeable crew of course raters have played golf just about everywhere. Many of those courses you’ve probably heard of, but some are less renowned — at least for most golfers.
Pros & Cons
Excellent variety from hole to hole, heavily contoured greens with lots of twists and turns, beautiful setting, well-maintained, surprisingly affordable.
Intro to Soule Park Golf Course
Much of Soule Park's character comes from its enviable environs. Situated at an elevation of about 750 feet in the Ojai Valley and surrounded by mountains that rise to more than 5,000 feet, the course would be a slice of golf heaven even with a relatively pedestrian design.
Playing Soule Park Golf Course
Step up to the elevated tee at the par-4 first (382 yards) and it's immediately clear that Soule Park doesn't give you a warmup hole. The irrigation pond down below will swallow just about any miss left, so picking a target on the right side is advised.
Conditions & Pace of Play
Every maintenance crew has an off week now and then, but for our money, Soule Park is one of the best-maintained courses in the region. The fairways are lush and tightly mown, the greens roll fast and true, and the tee boxes are generally well-grassed and supple.
Parting Thoughts
We don't mean to damn Soule Park with faint praise by repeatedly bringing up value; it's just that courses of this quality are generally not found in this price range. Even at $100 a pop—which another of Hanse's courses, Rustic Canyon in Moorpark, will run you at peak times—Soule Park would be highly rated for its layout, locale, and conditioning.