Moreno Valley Ranch (Pete Dye, 1988) Reborn After 5-Year Closure

[Mark Kiely]

Pete Dye-designed Moreno Valley Ranch was one of the courses that kick-started California's "Inland Empire" golf boom of the late '80s/early-mid '90s. Unfortunately, the 27-hole complex closed in August 2015. Fortunately, it reopened last Wednesday as an 18-hole course now called Rancho Del Sol Golf Club.


The new version loses the Lake nine, which had a couple nice holes that played up against the foothills, but also felt the most "residential" to me of the three nines. Valley/Mountain was always my preferred combination, so I'm happy those are the two nines to survive.


I played it Saturday and really enjoyed it! I always loved MVR, so I'd anxiously been following along ever since the 2018 announcement that it would be coming back.


A few changes I noticed:


The 3rd hole on Valley is a par 5 that now has sort of kickplate/backstop mounding behind the green. I seem to recall more severe, penal, typical Pete Dye mounding all around that green originally.


I also seem to recall the green of the short par-4 4th on Valley used to be more elevated and plateaued. It seems like now it's on more level ground with the fairway.


On the Mountain nine, I believe the fairway of the par-5 8th used to have rough if you drove it through the top level. It's now continuous fairway down the hill.


The biggest change that's been made is the former short par-4 9th on Mountain (which plays as No. 18 in Rancho Del Sol's routing) is now a par 3. They kept the tee boxes from the old hole and built a new green complex approximately where the middle of the fairway was on the old hole. As a result, the green currently sits out in the middle of a big empty space and is moved away from the apartment complex that was close behind the old green. I know part of the whole re-opening plan was to build more residential properties around, so I doubt it will stay that way for long.


For the most part, the course is very similar to what existed previously (although some bunker shapes seem to have changed to more rough-edged style in vogue today), and I couldn't be more thrilled to have it back! I could've sworn I saw some architect credited somewhere for some of the new work, but when I tried to find that info again yesterday, I struck out. Anyone know who worked on the re-do?


Also, if Tom Doak reads this, I'd love to know if you played a part in the original project and what input you can share.

[Tim Leahy]

Glad they could save it. When I lived in Glendale it was worth the hour drive to play there on a weekend to play a round in around 4 hours compared to 5 more hours on courses nearer to LA. Loved the elevated tee shots and great greens.

[David Ober]

As a full-fledged and lifelong Inland Empyrite() and avid golfer, I played there many, many times. They used to hold a Nike Tour event there also, and when I worked at The Press-Enterprise newspaper, we were one of the main sponsors of that tournament so i was always involved in one way or another.


When the course was in good shape, it was an absolute blast to play. The green were, for many years, fantastic and there were always a fun variety of shots to be played. Also glad it's back. Will head out there soon for a round....

[Tommy Naccarato]

FWIW, the course, like many Dye courses, was designed by Brian Curley.


Sadly, the Lake Nine was the better of the three nines known as, The Lake, Valley & Mountain. 

[Mark Kiely]

Sadly, the Lake Nine was the better of the three nines known as, The Lake, Valley & Mountain.

Care to elaborate? What did you like about the Lake nine so much?

[Bill Seitz]

Sadly, the Lake Nine was the better of the three nines known as, The Lake, Valley & Mountain.

Care to elaborate? What did you like about the Lake nine so much?

I can't speak for Tommy, but I think the Lake had some pretty good holes and suffered from the lack of aesthetics.  Valley-Mountain was more fun to play, I thought, because sometimes pretty and goofy is fun, and the Mountain nine is both pretty and a little goofy.  I always though it was funny that the Valley nine had a big lake that came into play on about four holes, while the Lake nine had one pond that barely came into ply on one hole. 


Used to go out there a lot to practice when I was at UC Riverside.  They had a great driving range, and I think the facility opened around the time that I was there.  Just a ton of space, and really nice grass.

[Mark Kiely]

I always though it was funny that the Valley nine had a big lake that came into play on about four holes, while the Lake nine had one pond that barely came into ply on one hole. 

My understanding was that Lake was named for being closest to Lake Perris, not for any architectural features of the course. But yes, it can be confusing when "Valley" has a prominent lake that's the defining design element of four of its nine holes.


My problem with Lake was that nearly every hole was lined on both sides with houses, iirc.

[Mark Kiely]

A few photos from Saturday...


First green with par-3 2nd green beyond:
DSCN0167_EDIT by Mark, on Flickr


The kickplate/backstop feature I mentioned behind No. 3:
DSCN0179_EDIT by Mark, on Flickr


Artsy view of the uphill par-3 12th between the ice plant and pine needles:
DSCN0197_EDIT by Mark, on Flickr


Looking back on the par-5 15th:
DSCN0223_EDIT by Mark, on Flickr


Do-or-die par-3 16th:
DSCN0226_EDIT by Mark, on Flickr

[Pat Burke]

Which jones did they use in the Nike Tour events?

[Mark Kiely]

Which jones did they use in the Nike Tour events?

Valley/Mountain, the two that survived.

[Pat Burke]

That’s what I thought.
I was still injured when I played that and wasn’t really sure


I’m glad it reopened

[Robert_Ball]

Wow, a course actually being resurrected?! This is good news. I was a MVR member for two years, played a lot of golf there, and caddied in the aforementioned Nike Tour event.


Based on the bunker pics, and Mark's description of Valley 3, somebody must've done some work there before it closed.


I agree with ranking of Lake as the best 9. 5-7 were really good. It seemed to have had the best bunkering and angles, tee to green. On Valley I don't recall any benefit to getting close to the lake- you just avoided it. And that northeast stretch of holes was not good. The Mountain land is pretty severe. Too bad about the short par 4 ninth. I liked it although there was never a point to hitting driver.

[David Ober]

A few photos from Saturday...

How were the greens rolling, Mark? In terms of both trueness and speed? When the greens used to be good out there, you could really get on a roll with the putter and make a bunch.

[Mark Kiely]

A few photos from Saturday...

How were the greens rolling, Mark? In terms of both trueness and speed? When the greens used to be good out there, you could really get on a roll with the putter and make a bunch.

They were very smooth, about medium speed, but the most noticeable aspect was how extremely soft they were. I don't know if that's a result of them being rebuilt a couple years ago and not played on, but for now they are way too soft. Standing over a putt almost felt like standing on a mattress or a giant sponge.


So they roll decently but hopefully they firm up soon. We are in the middle of summer, so maybe they're just taking precautions so they don't burn out, but I've never experienced greens this soft anywhere before.

[David Ober]

A few photos from Saturday...

How were the greens rolling, Mark? In terms of both trueness and speed? When the greens used to be good out there, you could really get on a roll with the putter and make a bunch.

They were very smooth, about medium speed, but the most noticeable aspect was how extremely soft they were. I don't know if that's a result of them being rebuilt a couple years ago and not played on, but for now they are way too soft. Standing over a putt almost felt like standing on a mattress or a giant sponge.


So they roll decently but hopefully they firm up soon. We are in the middle of summer, so maybe they're just taking precautions so they don't burn out, but I've never experienced greens this soft anywhere before.

That is disappointing to hear. I do remember them kind of being like that "near the end" a few years back before closing. NOT a fun surface to putt on, and even worse to chip/pitch to. Full shots are fine, because they are dart boards -- at least you know the ball will stop. But chipping and pitching to a surface like that is just demoralizing.