Golf Course Spotlight: Rancho Del Rey Golf Club

For public golf courses near Merced this month, the pick is Rancho Del Rey Golf Club, a semi-private 18-hole course at 5250 Green Sands Avenue in Atwater. Non-members can book tee times by phone or online, and it combines a classic parkland layout, a full driving range, and a clubhouse restaurant in one easy stop north of Merced.

Rancho Del Rey Golf Club is one of the most accessible 18-hole layouts in the area for public play in Atwater. The course was designed by Bob E. Baldock and opened in the 1950s, and it has been a semi-private club ever since, which means members get priority but the public can still book tee times. It sits on the flat, oak-lined valley floor about 10 miles north of Merced via Highway 99, with the Sierra foothills on the eastern horizon. For a full round, a warm-up, and a meal without leaving the property, it is a strong late-season choice while the fall weather holds.

Where Is Rancho Del Rey Golf Club?

The course is at 5250 Green Sands Avenue, Atwater, CA 95301, just west of Highway 99 in the northern part of Merced County. From downtown Merced the drive is roughly 15 minutes; from Turlock it is about 20 minutes; and from Winton, Livingston, and McSwain it is a short county-road trip. The club is open daily, generally around 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with seasonal adjustments, and the phone number is (209) 358-7131.

Public Golf Near Atwater: Course Highlights

Rancho Del Rey is a tree-lined parkland course: the fairways are framed by mature oaks and cottonwoods, the terrain is gently rolling valley land rather than flat, and the greens are reachable from several sets of tees. The signature stretch runs through the trees near the middle of the course, where accuracy matters more than length off the tee. The layout was designed by Bob E. Baldock, a prolific California architect, and opened in 1955 (some directories list 1963), making it one of the older continuously operating courses in the county.

Off the course, the practice area is a real asset: a full driving range and two practice putting greens let you warm up before the round. The clubhouse includes The Handicap Cafe and Lounge, so you can grab breakfast before teeing off or a meal after the round without leaving the club. It is a complete day out, and because the course accepts public tee times alongside members, it serves everyone on the same terms.

Difficulty: Par, Yardage, and Slope

Rancho Del Rey is an 18-hole, par 72 course. From the Blue tees it plays 6,703 yards with a published course rating of 72.5 and a slope rating of 124. The White tees measure 6,314 yards at a 70.2 rating and 121 slope, the Gold tees play 5,930 yards, and the Red tees play 5,601 yards. For context, a slope rating of 124 is a moderate challenge for a valley course: not a punishing layout, but with enough water, trees, and bunkering to keep every shot honest. With four sets of tees, players of every level can find a comfortable distance, which is part of why the course works for leagues, casual groups, and beginners alike.

Green Fee Range

Green fees commonly run about $37 on weekdays and $47 on weekends for 18 holes walking, with a weekend peak near $50. Rates vary by day, season, and whether you add a cart, and online booking pricing can differ from walk-up pricing, so there is no single fixed rate to quote. The club does not publish one flat public fee schedule, so confirm the current rate for your day when you book by phone or online. Third-party directories list the course consistently in the $37 to $50 range, and that is the honest, commonly published picture as of this writing.

Current Tee Time Deals

As of this month, no twilight or weekday rate special is posted directly on the course's own site, so none is claimed here. Online booking partners that list Rancho Del Rey have at times offered weekday two-players-with-cart deals and similar booking specials, and the club runs senior programming, but those change frequently. The reliable move is to call (209) 358-7131 or check the online booking page for your date and ask what applies, since deals are often day-specific and seasonal.

Book a Tee Time

Tee times at Rancho Del Rey are bookable by phone at (209) 358-7131 and online through the booking partners that list the course. There is no membership requirement for public play. Use the links below for the course's official website and its online booking page, both of which open in a new tab.

Other Golf Options Near Merced

If you want another 18-hole public option, Pheasant Run Golf Club in Chowchilla is an open, bookable public course. For a quick and inexpensive round, Forebay Golf Course in Santa Nella is a public 9-hole course playable as 18 from alternating tees. Hidden Hills Resort & Golf Club near La Grange offers public resort play a bit farther west. The two private clubs in the area, Merced Golf & Country Club and Turlock Golf & Country Club, are membership courses and are not open to public tee times.

Past Picks

October 2026: Rancho Del Rey Golf Club in Atwater is the first course featured in this series. The Golf Course Spotlight runs each month during the active golf season, April through October, and every past pick stays archived here so you can build a year-round list of public courses across Merced County and the nearby Central Valley. From November through March the series takes a seasonal pause, and the next new course feature returns in April 2027. These courses are open to all golfers on the same terms, and Monica offers equal service to all.

Enjoy the links, Merced. And when you are ready to talk about your home, Monica is here: schedule a free consultation with Monica Franks, The Seller's Agent, and learn more about Monica's approach on her about page. And if you want more ways to spend a fall day outdoors, the Trail or Park of the Week on Lake Yosemite Regional Park covers the lakeside loop and day-use details in Merced.