Valley Oaks Golf Course is a 27-hole public facility in Visalia designed by Robert D. Putnam (Bob Putman) of the Jay M P Design Group. The original Valley and Oaks nines opened in 1973, and the Lakes nine was added in 1996 to expand the property to its current three-nine rotation. The course is managed by CourseCo, Inc. and operates out of an address at 1800 S. Plaza Street on the south side of Visalia.

On the course

The layout is parkland in character, routed across flat Central Valley terrain through mature stands of native oak, eucalyptus, and tall pine that frame most fairways and provide shade through the long Tulare County summers. Players combine the three nines into 18-hole rounds as Valley/Oaks, Oaks/Lakes, or Lakes/Valley, with each nine playing to a par of 36. Yardages from the back tees run 3,230 on the Valley, 3,334 on the Oaks, and 3,241 on the Lakes, with bermudagrass through the playing surfaces. The Lakes nine, as its name suggests, brings the most water into play, while the Oaks and Valley nines rely more on tree lines and bunkering for definition.

Who it suits

Valley Oaks is the primary public-access course in Visalia and draws a mix of local league players, walk-on daily-fee golfers, and tournament groups. Reviewers consistently describe it as an accuracy-over-distance test where keeping the ball below the trees matters more than raw length, making it a reasonable fit for mid- and higher-handicap players as well as juniors. On-site practice facilities include a Toptracer-equipped driving range installed in summer 2025, along with a putting green, a junior golf academy, and the Iron Wood Grill clubhouse restaurant.

Architect: Robert D. Putnam · Opened: 1973