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 The par-3 seventh hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links, site of the 2010 U.S. Open (© Joann Dost). The U.S. Open is returning to Pebble Beach Golf Links (above) this month, meaning the eyes of the golf world will be on the Monterey Peninsula. Tens of thousands of golf fans will be there as well, but unless you planned long in advance, playing golf or finding lodging in that area could be difficult. For those driving from the Southland to Pebble, there are plenty of quality options along the way. Depending on the amount of time — and money — you have budgeted, here are some places worth checking out. SANTA BARBARA Four nice golf properties are available in this bucolic section of the Central Coast.  “For anyone in Southern California driving up to Pebble Beach, this is a perfect stopping point,” said Greg Villeneuve, vice president of golf operations at Sandpiper and Rancho San Marcos (bottom) golf courses. “It’s feasible that someone driving from L.A. County could play one of the courses that day and then drive up to Monterey, but I think, ideally, people will want to play one course the first day, stay overnight, and play the other before finishing their trip.”Sandpiper (sandpipergolf.com, top) stretches more than 7,000 yards from the tips, and its link-style layout along the ocean is both beautiful and challenging. “Sandpiper can play very difficult if that’s what you’re looking for, but multiple sets of tees do make it playable for everybody,” Villeneuve said. Rates are $139-$159, with twilight rates at $74-$89. Rancho San Marcos (rsm1804.com, bottom) also is scenic, and the back nine features some thrilling elevation changes. “You look at the scorecard and it doesn’t seem intimidating, but Rancho has some unbelievable green complexes,” Villeneuve said. “They have great undulations and speed and are really fun to play.” Located in the Los Padres National Forest, the course offers views of the Santa Ynez River Valley and Lake Cachuma, with rates ranging from $79-$104. Two properties that include on-site accommodations are the Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort, in Solvang, and the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, in Ojai. Alisal (alisal.com), which is set on a 10,000-acre working cattle ranch, has two 18-hole layouts. The River Course stretches 6,850 yards along the Santa Ynez River, and the Ranch Course is a 6,500-yard track built around a huge barranca. Golf packages, which include two nights and unlimited golf, begin at $650 per person, double occupancy. The renowned Ojai Valley Inn & Spa (ojairesort.com) features a George C. Thomas-designed course that opened in 1923 and was refurbished by Jay Morrish in 1988. The resort also includes tennis courts, a spa and spectacular dining options. Rooms start at $350 per night the week of the U.S. Open, with golf rates starting at $180. CENTRAL COAST GOLF TRAIL Six courses from Morro Bay to Paso Robles have banded together to promote the area as a golf destination. From the south, the courses include La Purisima, in Lompoc; Monarch Dunes, in Nipomo; Cypress Ridge, in Arroyo Grande; Morro Bay; Sea Pines, in Los Osos; and Hunter Ranch, in Paso Robles. All courses are only minutes off Highway 101, and since only 90 miles separate the courses from north to south, it’s possible to play a round in the morning and one in the afternoon while enjoying a scenic drive between the two. “The golf in Monterey will be busy and quite a bit more expensive, so this is a nice stopping point for people driving to the Open, since we’re about three hours from LAX and maybe two hours from the Monterey Peninsula,” said Gary Setting, manager of the Central Coast Golf Trail (centralcoastgolftrail.com). Sea Pines is the only course with on-site accommodations, and the 4,004-yard executive course — with a fee of about $15— is perfect for people strapped for time or just learning the game. Rates at Morro Bay Golf Course are $42-$51, and the 6,360-yard layout has wide fairways and ocean views. The other four courses offer more of a bite, particularly from the tips. La Purisima Golf Course is a Robert Muir Graves-designed track overlooking Lompoc Valley. Rates at the 7,105-yard course are $40-$91. Cypress Ridge is an Audubon International Signature Sanctuary course in Arroyo Grande. Though the Peter Jacobsen- Jim Hardy layout is only 11 years old, it winds through groves of 100-year-old oak trees, which gives the impression that it’s been around much longer. Rates are $30-$68. Monarch Dunes, located just south of San Luis Obispo, is the trail’s newest course, opening in 2006. The 6,806-yard layout designed by Damian Pascuzzo and tour pro Steve Pate is expertly molded around the area’s natural contours. Green fees are $30-$78, and the par-3, 12-hole Challenge Course costs around $20. The northernmost course on the trail, Hunter Ranch Golf Course in Paso Robles, measures 6,741 yards from the back tees and features undulating greens and rolling terrain. Rates are $60-$81. “I think most people driving from the south might want to hit La Purisima on the way up, then drive to Sea Pines and play one of the other courses the next day before heading up to Monterey,” Setting said. “But we also have people who stay at Sea Pines and play up to four courses in a couple of days. It’s a great value and a great experience.” |
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RSS SubscribeReaders Feedback:
Your Golf Trail is incorrect. La Purisima, in Lompoc, is not between Morro Bay and Paso Robles...neither are Monarch Dunes or Cypress Ridge or Sea Pines. Check your California map.
| Comment at 6/17/2010 |
keep me advised
| Comment at 6/17/2010 |
