This course winds through the housing development on the same property as the hotel. There are houses bordering all but the final 2 holes and thus is tighter than the Ocean course. It is also longer a... Continue »

This course winds through the housing development on the same property as the hotel. There are houses bordering all but the final 2 holes and thus is tighter than the Ocean course. It is also longer and more highly rated, 75.2 for back tees and 73.4 for the blues. Most of the holes have a more traditional, country club feel. I tended to forget I was near the ocean and felt I was playing an old William P. Bell layout here in Southern California. I also concentrated very hard on not spraying the nice houses with my shots.

The conditions were near pristine—no exaggeration. I think this course gets less play than the ocean course so there were less divot marks in the lush fairways. The sand was consistent and the rough was more punishing than that on the Ocean course but you could still find your ball and hit from it. The putting surfaces were unblemished with medium fast to fast greens on which the ball rolled true. The layout has a number of blind dog legs and tee shots that require you to work the ball more than the Ocean course. Despite this, I found that I didn’t end up in the trees (or houses) bordering the fairways often. I readily attribute this to the generosity of the width of the fairways rather to any skill on my part. Any reasonably hit drive will probably leave you with a viable approach. Pin placement then becomes the key which ranged from easy to difficult (but never ridiculously difficult, I thought.)

I’m sure other reviewers have mentioned the final 2 holes are a departure being right on the ocean and incredibly scenic. The par 4, 18th is as dramatic as any, I think, that you’ll find on the coast. From an elevated tee, the approach rises back up to an elevated green. Unless you’re a long, consistent hitter, consider leaving the driver in the bag because there is trouble at the end of the fairway, and you probably wouldn’t want to embarrass yourself in front of anyone watching from the patio.

At less than 40% the cost of Pebble Beach, I think these courses are a much better value.

Half Moon Bay Golf Links Course Review
Northern California Golf Course Reviews