Played March 15, 2014 (slightly over due review)

During my years at UCSB I have been lucky enough to play here 5-10 times. I am always somewhat disappointed with the conditions of the fairways and... Continue »

Played March 15, 2014 (slightly over due review)

During my years at UCSB I have been lucky enough to play here 5-10 times. I am always somewhat disappointed with the conditions of the fairways and rough for the price they charge.

This was NOT the case a couple weeks ago. Santa barbara got hammered with rain in early March and the fairways have responded by greening up tremendously. The course from tee to green was the best I have seen it in the last 4 years. The tee boxes were lush, fairways were pure, and greens were immaculate and fast as hell.

I played with some members at Big Canyon CC and they said the greens were the best they have seen at a public facility in quite some time. All this being said, I wish they ran some type of resident deal or student discount similar to what Torrey Pines does because I can't afford to play here more than 1-2x per year. Come on Piper, let the locals play for a reasonable price!

all in all, I highly recommend this course right now.

Had the pleasure of playing the most scenic and best course of my life! I have played Pelican Hill N and S, Trump National, TPC Boston along with many great private courses in New England including TH... Continue »

Had the pleasure of playing the most scenic and best course of my life! I have played Pelican Hill N and S, Trump National, TPC Boston along with many great private courses in New England including THE COUNTRY CLUB in Brookline, Sandpipers layout is a very fair and a true test of golf . The most holes along ocean of any course I have played,simply,magnificent!! Worth every penny! Pro shop employees were fantastic and accommodating,thank you for a great day of GOLF! Played November 23 2013.

This course has more conditioning ups and downs than any course I've ever played. Some days it's stellar. The views, the conditioning, the experience, all top shelf. And then there's the other days, l... Continue »

This course has more conditioning ups and downs than any course I've ever played. Some days it's stellar. The views, the conditioning, the experience, all top shelf. And then there's the other days, like now. The conditioning is horrible. I get what everyone at the course is saying - it's been a very dry winter, and it's true. But still. There are DEAD areas, hardpans, fairway cut-outs, more brown than green (again, dormant and I get it), but where is the basic maintenance? The rub has always been the green fees. The views command a premium, but when the maintenance is shotty it's hard to justify. Very disappointing but I'll be back as usual. Greens were in excellent shape, though, and tee boxes ok. Bought the preferred player club package this year, so the round was free. Would have been very disappointed at full rates. If you go this month make sure to keep looking up at the ocean and not down at the fairways.

Always a pleasure to play sandpiper. For 2 reasons, their greens and views of the pacific. Let me tell you this, don't come expecting a pristine course. Lately, the fairways have burnt out and the cou... Continue »

Always a pleasure to play sandpiper. For 2 reasons, their greens and views of the pacific. Let me tell you this, don't come expecting a pristine course. Lately, the fairways have burnt out and the course has gotten very "rough" around the edges. That being said, it is a tremendous golf course with a great layout and SUPERB putting surfaces.

I'm always challenged when I come here but I only play with preferred members who get the 50$ rate. Definitely not worth 100$+ they ask for.

If you are visiting and love golf you will enjoy, but again don't be shocked when you look out and see many "brown" fairways.

Man, I REALLY want to rate this course higher than what I'm giving it, but the fairways and rough were just not on par. Played Sandpiper today after a morning round at Glen Annie. Absolutely loved... Continue »

Man, I REALLY want to rate this course higher than what I'm giving it, but the fairways and rough were just not on par. Played Sandpiper today after a morning round at Glen Annie. Absolutely loved the layout of this course, especially the back 9, where most of the memorable holes are. The front 9 is pretty flat and straight forward. You get ocean views on about half of the holes, mostly in the back 9. Tee boxes were nice, flat, and largely undamaged. Fairways were very bad. Probably below par of many decent muni courses. Many thin and brown areas. Rough ares were dry and thin. The greens were great. They were quite fast, undamaged, and rolled true. Bunkers had plenty of sand and were consistent. Service of pro shop and staff were top notch. Some of the ocean view holes on this course were breathtaking. #10-14 was a great stretch of beautiful and interesting holes. Even at its current condition, I still highly recommend this course.

Played today 3-30 early morning. Took advantage of the Southern California resident aeration green fee 60 plus 16 dollars for cart. Course conditions is decent but not as great the last two times I've... Continue »

Played today 3-30 early morning. Took advantage of the Southern California resident aeration green fee 60 plus 16 dollars for cart. Course conditions is decent but not as great the last two times I've played there. Greens was aerated about 2-3 weeks ago and need about 2 more weeks for complete healing. Took my friend there for the first time and he thought the conditions of the course was like a typical muni in Los Angeles. Course is still one of my favorites

Course conditions are impressive as ive seen in a long time, tees and fairways are immaculate, greens grand as always at Sandpiper and fast fast fast! Roughs are lush and hard to find your ball if yo... Continue »

Course conditions are impressive as ive seen in a long time, tees and fairways are immaculate, greens grand as always at Sandpiper and fast fast fast! Roughs are lush and hard to find your ball if your eye loses sight.

I play out here a lot. Its a mediocre golf course in an amazing setting. The course conditions and toughness vary greatly depending on the time of year. In the fall and early winter the course is... Continue »

I play out here a lot. Its a mediocre golf course in an amazing setting. The course conditions and toughness vary greatly depending on the time of year. In the fall and early winter the course is in its easiest but also its worst shape. Due to the shift in weather and the grasses the rough gets thin, the fairways spotty and the hazard (tall grasses) are gone. In the spring and summer the course is usually in pristine condition and plays very, very long and tough due to the think and plush rough and the extremely tall and thick weeds that line the fairways. So take the time of year into consideration as you play and or review.

As far as a great golf experience is concerned: The few holes that line the ocean (6, 7, 10,11, 12, 13) are fantastic and gorgeous. Where else can you be practically on the beach for this kind of fee? Unfortunately the rest of the course is bland at best. The guy who designed this must have been drunk or underpaid for its about as uncreative as possible... there is no real balance to the holes and some are just silly (#2 and 4 for instance). How on earth this muni like track was built on this piece of property is beyond me... what a waste of a great piece of property!

As a local its a great course to have at my disposal. With the rates being reasonable and the pace always being under 4hours walking. The rack rate is way, way too much for what it is unless you're from the midwest and the idea of an ocean view / front is worth a $100 premium.

I do wish they had a better mens club and offered more local deals. the lack of a active mens club leaves a lot of us locals dismayed for there are few true championship course in the area and not having a consistent tourney schedule leaves a lot of us out of the loop.

Sandpiper Golf Course Review
Santa Barbara California Golf Course Reviews

Wow.. Where do I start... Pros are service, tee boxes and greens but aside from that this course is no better conditions than the munis I've played. Fairways and rough were in awful condition, dead gr... Continue »

Wow.. Where do I start... Pros are service, tee boxes and greens but aside from that this course is no better conditions than the munis I've played. Fairways and rough were in awful condition, dead grass and dirt in some areas, patches of new growth in others, rough from 4" long fescue to dirt. I'm not talking out of bounds. I'm talking dirt and dead grass right in the fairway on many holes. If anyone doesn't believe me, I have photos that clearly show I'm in the fairway, approaching the green. I'm sorry to say this because they were very nice there, but if this is typical of this course condition I have NO desire to ever return. Out of the 50 or so top courses I've played in the West I'd rank it at the very bottom. It wasn't even worth the golf now $80 cost. We were so excited to play and just really were let down. Do have to say they were very cool there and even let us go out early, which is why it pains me to write this, but I feel it's important this is heard. A course of this reputation should NEVER look this poor. Played Long Beach Rec 18 last week (not my choice) and it was in much better shape. Seriously, you're right on the ocean! How can you have so many dead areas of grass? I'm sorry Sandpiper, I will not be back. You are definitely NOT the Pebble Beach of southern California.

Sandpiper Golf Course Review
Santa Barbara California Golf Course Reviews