August is a good time to be a golfer.
Days are long enough for nine holes, maybe more, after work. Cool weather can still be found for those who hit the course early or late.
And while the golf itself may offer occasional frustrations, Ventura County’s array of courses deliver enough beauty to be worth it.
With the help of a handful of golfers, The Star put together a list of five public courses to try though many more of the area’s tracks are worth the trip.
Buenaventura Golf Course
This municipal course is worth a swing for sentimental reasons. After being closed by floods for more than two years, it reopened in May with a 14-hole layout though more may be added.
The 93-year-old track — some say it is even older — has long been a favorite because of its shorter layout and budget friendly rates. Ventura city officials continue to pursue plans for course reconstruction and mitigation to reduce the future risks of flooding with hopes the Federal Emergency Management Agency will foot the vast majority of costs.
Los Robles Greens
This course bills itself as a public track in a private setting and is nestled in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains.
It’s known for undulating greens, trees that occasionally attract golf balls and amenities that include a large driving range and the Oaks Bar and Grille restaurant.
Rustic Canyon Golf Course
The course is dotted with cacti, native grasses and views of the Santa Susana Mountains.
Fairways are wide. Greens are big but can be deceptive on this highly-rated layout that strives to offer strategic challenges to golfers of all abilities. For a boost before or after a round, the course’s Rustic Canyon Grill provides beverages, lunch and breakfast.
Soule Park Golf Course
This Ojai course offers spectacular views of the Topatopa Mountains and some of the best golf around.
Redesigned after a massive 2005 flood, the course offers unique challenges, including back-to-back short par fives. After a round, golfers can dine on the patio at Zaidee’s Bar and Grill and relive the day’s highlights and errant putts.
Sterling Hills Golf Course
The name doesn’t lie. This Camarillo course is hilly and surrounded by avocado and citrus groves. It was built in part to provide a public alternative to nearby private courses like Spanish Hills Club, Las Posas Country Club and The Saticoy Club .
Most green fees include range balls and a token for lunch or a drink depending on when you play.
Tom Kisken covers health care and other news for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at tom.kisken@vcstar.com.
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This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Take a swing at these 5 local public golf courses before summer ends
Reporting by Tom Kisken, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
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