Santa Barbara, SLO, Carmel, Sonoma courses

[R-Kid]

I will be visiting California in June and July. Could I get some Course recommendations for the above cities.

Doing my online research I have come up with some but I have never golfed California

Santa Barbara- La Purisma and Glen Annie

SLO - Moro bay, Monarch, Paso Robles hunter ranch.

Carmel. Pebble , Ranch Canada, Bayonet

Sonoma- Oakmont, Windsor

 

What do you think of those? Thanks in advance Ron

[ryu123]

Monterey:

 

Rancho Canada was supposed to close its two courses by Jan 2017.

 

Bayonet (& its other course, Black Horse) is a lot of fun, & not too expensive on Golfnow. Pacific Grove in Monterey is inexpensive for the area.

 

Pebble Beach is supposed to be a decent course :)

[jjr]

Bayonet is a must. Combat corner (h 11-15) can eat you up!!

LaPurisma is excellent, not sure of conditioning last few years. Sandpiper is great too. Ranch San Marcos is supposed to be really good.

Fountain grove is real good and Bennett Valley is real fun, well maintained track

[amukherjee]

Sonoma Golf Club is an exceptionally well-maintained course. It is straightforward except for tricky / deceptive greens. In order to play, you have to be a guest at the Fairmont

[slocagolfer]

I will be visiting California in June and July. Could I get some Course recommendations for the above cities.

Doing my online research I have come up with some but I have never golfed California

Santa Barbara- La Purisma and Glen Annie

SLO - Moro bay, Monarch, Paso Robles hunter ranch.

Carmel. Pebble , Ranch Canada, Bayonet

Sonoma- Oakmont, Windsor

 

What do you think of those? Thanks in advance Ron

 

I live in San Luis. First of all, it's Morro Bay, two Rs. Sorry, I'm a retired school teacher and can't help myself!

Hunter Ranch is a gem. Holes 11-14 can bite hard. Hunter is my favorite course in the county.

Monarch Dunes is excellent as is nearby Cypress Ridge. I'd recommend them without question.

If you can get on the San Luis Obispo Country Club (they take reciprocal play) you'd enjoy that too.

I'd pass Avila, Chalk Mountain, and BlackLake golf courses. Reluctantly I'd pass on Dairy Creek too. I love Dairy but they have a water availability issue and the fairways go very brown by the time you'll be there. Paso Robles Golf Course is pretty good but not up to the the ones I've recommended.

A note about Morro Bay: It's a county course and one I play frequently. The course is nice, the views terrific, and the greens diabolical. Play with a local if you can. Some times the greens run really fast, other times not so much.

[2putttom]

Windsor, It'll smile atya kick ur asz and leave ya wanting more....kinda like my first wife!

[R-Kid]

Thanks for the info. If you think of anymore let me know.

[drewsaber16]

For sure do Hunter Ranch the course is in great shape and the food there is amazing! They usually have pretty good deals out there as well!

[b.helts]

I live near slocagolfer and agree with all he's written.

 

I grew up in Santa Barbara and can add some insight there. First, La Purisima is a great track but it's ~45 minutes north of SB. I'd skip Glen Annie. The views are fantastic, the course just OK. Play Sandpiper, it's worth it. If you can get on Alisal Ranch, do it. It's a very fun golf course just south of Solvang.

[One_Putt_Blunder]

Bayonet is awesome brutal tough, but fair.

 

Stayed in Paso a couple times, but was only there for the beer. Which if you like a good beer visit the Firestone Walker Brewery. Hunter Ranch looked awesome and I will definitely play it next time we go back.

 

Monarch Dunes looked very cool as well. The 12 hole Challenge course they have there looks incredibly awesome and is on my list for next trip too.

[mark174ace]

I will be playing Sonoma GC as part of the NCGA member event on August 28th.

 

 

 

Sonoma Golf Club is an exceptionally well-maintained course. It is straightforward except for tricky / deceptive greens. In order to play, you have to be a guest at the Fairmont

[Eric267]

If you looking for an interesting experience try Northwood out in western Sonoma county. Alister Mackenzie course amoungst the towering redwoods. https://www.northwoodgolf.com/?taptheme=default

 

Also the links at bodega is a fun course. Kind of a haul but worth it to play the "poor mans pebble beach". Reasonable rates and nice views.

[aloha b.]

How about Spyglass and Pasatiempo?

[aloha b.]

If you looking for an interesting experience try Northwood out in western Sonoma county. Alister Mackenzie course amoungst the towering redwoods. https://www.northwoodgolf.com/?taptheme=default

 

Also the links at bodega is a fun course. Kind of a haul but worth it to play the "poor mans pebble beach". Reasonable rates and nice views.

 

Northwood is really nice for a 9 hole course

[b.helts]

How about Spyglass and Pasatiempo?

 

Yes and yes. Two fantastic golf courses.

[HackerD]

I also lived in SB area for many years. Sandpiper is a jewel along the ocean. I like Rancho San Marcos a lot, set in the foothills above S.B., its always been in great condition when I've played it, but I've heard that can be variable.

 

One thing to remember for courses near the ocean, they generally get pretty windy in the afternoon.

[b.helts]

I played Rancho San Marcos about 6 weeks ago and it's in pretty good shape. Greens are fantastic. The drought hit it really hard but it's bounced back nicely after this winter. There are some bare spots and it's still firm and fast but definitely worth the trip.

 

I totally agree about Sandpiper. It's one of my favorite golf courses.

[knoe07]

I grew up in central California and played a lot of golf up and down the coast. Not sure where you travels have you right now but...

Here's my list:

Santa Barbara Area: Sandpiper, Ojai Valley (about 30-40 mins South of Santa Barabara), La Purisima, Alisal Ranch (both of these are North)

SLO: Hunter Ranch is a fun, and challenging course (haven't had chance to play Monarch, but heard it's a good track).

Carmel: Spyglass (first class and a little cheaper than Pebble, I believe you have to stay at a pebble hotel to play there)

Monterey: Pasatiempo (Alister Mackenzie course), Bayonet.