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Tiny Treats

If you’re planning a trip up north but don’t want to spend all day on the course, consider playing these three tracks.

BY JOEL BEERSPublished: March, 2006

Golf getaway weekends are a nice thought. But checking in, warming up and playing 18 holes can drain the best hours of the day away, leaving you with little to show from your trip than a golf score.

Southland residents who drive a few hours north on Highway 1 and sample the delights in San Luis Obispo County can get their golf fix without sacrificing any sights or attractions.

The coastal region about 90 miles north of Santa Barbara has 14 courses within 30 miles of each other.

The area is rife with history, nature and sites ranging from wineries and historical missions to Hearst Castle and great golf.

“In many ways, the Central Coast remains to be discovered as a golf destination,” said Gary Setting, whose family has owned Sea Pines Golf Course for more than 20 years. “Literally, you can drive a couple of hours north and stay and play for what it would cost just to stay in Santa Barbara or Monterey, so golf is oftentimes free.”

Most of the courses in the area are championship length, but three are challenging and enjoyable and only take a couple of hours to play: Pismo State Beach Golf Course, a nine-hole, par-27 facility next to the ocean; Sea Pines Golf Course, a nine-hole executive course with lodging available; and River Oaks Golf Course, a six-hole course that allows players to hone or develop their games.

The most complete facility of the three for travelers is Sea Pines, which has a par-31 executive course, full-service bar and grill and a 44-room resort.

“We call ourselves the Starbucks of executive golf,” Setting said of the tree-lined course near the back bay of Morro Bay that also has numerous water features.

River Oaks Golf Course is the newest of the three and is perfect as a base for excursions into the area. Wine tours and chartered buses are available on site, and the Seasons Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The six-hole course has three sets of tees to alter the approach shots to the greens.

Pismo State Beach Golf Course is owned by the city and ideal for beginners or high-handicappers. The par-3 course has no bunkers but enough water on seven of its nine holes to make players think. Fees are less than $10, and the course is close to sand dunes for off-track driving and camping before or after the round.

The region’s main attraction is Hearst Castle in San Simeon, home to one of the most eclectic art collections in the world.

Adventurers can take advantage of the hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails or kayaking tours. If you’re into nature, catch a glimpse of migrating whales or watch birds and sea mammals along the coast.

There are also two Spanish missions, a number of wine-tasting tours and rich nightlife and quaint neighborhoods in nearly every city — from San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles to Cambria and Pismo Beach.