While I was talking with the Cleveland Golf rep at the Rustic Canyon outing last week, he mentioned to me Sandpiper was in immaculate shape…that’s all I needed to hear to know I needed to take a ride ... Continue »

While I was talking with the Cleveland Golf rep at the Rustic Canyon outing last week, he mentioned to me Sandpiper was in immaculate shape…that’s all I needed to hear to know I needed to take a ride up there and play it. The layout alone, with its spectacular ocean holes, mountain backdrops and challenging/beautiful design makes it an always great golf experience. Add to it immaculate conditions and you’ve got one the best golf experience you will find. Played Sandpiper today with longball23 and true to the Cleveland Golf reps word, the course was indeed in immaculate condition. Last year in July, we had an outing at Sandpiper and it was in great shape yet played firm…now…wow, whole different ball game. This course is much GREENER, very lush…everywhere, even in the hazards whereas back in July if you hit your ball the hazard, you would easily find it on a thin lie to play, now, forget it, its buried in 1 to 2 feet of rough! The premium the course currently puts on accurate tee shots compared to then, is massive plus it defines the holes beautifully. In addition, the lush fairways provide very little roll and at sea level with thick ocean air, the ball does not carry as far. When you do find you ball in the fairway, it’s practically teed up. (Other then currently roped off hole 7 and a few areas of casual water from recent rains…Perfect) When you stray off the fairway, you’ll find your ball in about 2 inches of rough that is very lush. From the tee box, expect nothing short of perfect conditions. If your ball is in a sand trap, superb well maintained sand awaits. Lastly and most importantly, once you are on the greens, you will find smooth surfaces that hold shots very well and run about a 9 stimp. Some may think 9 is slow, let me say this, due to the extreme undulations on the greens, you don’t want them running faster then a 10. I’d rather see them a tad slower then too fast! Now here is the best part, the course is only $139 to play on weekdays and $74 at twilight. Also if you are a resident of Santa Barbara County, San Luis Obispo County or Ventura County, you can play the course M-F before TW for $80 as well as on Sunday after 11:00am for the same rate. This is a steal. In fact, they just moved Twilight to 2:00pm March 1st and will keep it at 2:00 October 31st. If you tee off the first hour of TW you should easily get in 18. Once daylight savings starts on 3/15, you’ll have 2 hours of guaranteed TW tee times to get in 18. I've played Sandpiper about a dozen times in my life and I can not recommend playing this course more now and over the next few months. Go for it!

Played today, beautiful conditions, light wind, overall the best greens i've ever played...lightning fast!

Played today, beautiful conditions, light wind, overall the best greens i've ever played...lightning fast!

Second time playing Sandpiper. LOVE it! Great, natural layout that works with the landscape. Beautiful, honest, no-gimmick holes. Some dramatic, seaside vistas. Some dramatic, challenging holes. Lengt... Continue »

Second time playing Sandpiper. LOVE it! Great, natural layout that works with the landscape. Beautiful, honest, no-gimmick holes. Some dramatic, seaside vistas. Some dramatic, challenging holes. Length would be a challenge for duffers but all others owe it to themselves to play here at least once!

Sandpiper is on my short list of favorite courses, but I have to say my experience Tuesday afternoon, 8/18 was disappointing -- heavily influenced by the fact that I don't get up there more than once ... Continue »

Sandpiper is on my short list of favorite courses, but I have to say my experience Tuesday afternoon, 8/18 was disappointing -- heavily influenced by the fact that I don't get up there more than once a year and the occasion is the visit of an old high school buddy. We make a round at Sandpiper a highly anticipated and mandatory part of the visit, driving up from Altadena for the day to do it.

When I arrived and looked out at the 18th green, it appeared to have been sanded. Based on a comment by another golfer in the parking lot, it had to have been done no earlier than the previous day. When I inquired in the pro shop as to whether all the greens had been sanded, the young lady said they had, but not punched, and that the sand had little affect on the roll of the greens. Further, that it was the same as on the practice green, which had been similarly sanded. From the the pro shop, the practice green looked to be rolling pretty nicely and this was born out when I warmed up there - a fairly light sanding of little distraction or effect. Putting on their greens is one of the specific challenges I look forward to.

Bottom line, the actual greens were not as lightly sanded as the practice green. They had a generally thin, streaky layer of sand, but a definite LAYER of sand nonetheless -- some greens even a bit more uniformly covered than others. The greens did roll faster than one would expect and I made some putts, but in the end it didn't offset the rooster tails of sand on longer putts, the disconcerting visual effect of a sand-mottled surface, and the general uncertainty over how the line and speed would be affected.

It was a consensus between us and the twosome we were paired with that it really detracted from the experience, especially when you are anticipating Sandpiper level conditions. The pro shop was closed down when we got back and I wasn't going to file my complaint with the guy who is wiping off clubs. I will probably forward some comment to the management for their future consideration of how to handle the same conditions.

Apparently this is done about once a month and the effect wears off quickly, but it is worth calling ahead to avoid the same circumstances. In all other respects, from service to non-green course conditions it was the same Sandpiper and those aspects were very good. For the purposes of readers of this review, you could probably go out there today and have a very nice experience and you will find some pretty quick, sand-less greens.

The exception on our day was the pro shop's underestimation of how the sanding would impact the experience. As it was, we walked away feeling a bit let down in that regard and it took the luster off, what is for us, a special golf day trip.

It had been some 18 years since I had played this course and the main change has been the trees have grown in and have made the course much tougher to play. The length seems to have been shortened he... Continue »

It had been some 18 years since I had played this course and the main change has been the trees have grown in and have made the course much tougher to play. The length seems to have been shortened here and there but this is quite a challenging and very scenic layout. Before it was just punishing and long. I will want to return now yearly to enjoy it without such long break.

Having run many GK Casual Outings now, I can’t say enough positive things about the staff and service of Sandpiper Golf Course. As an outing director this is exactly the kind of service you want to ma... Continue »

Having run many GK Casual Outings now, I can’t say enough positive things about the staff and service of Sandpiper Golf Course. As an outing director this is exactly the kind of service you want to make the day go very smoothly. I highly recommend anyone planning an outing to utilize this course.

Regarding the course, loved the layout and conditions were satisfactory. I hoped for better conditioned fairways and more consistent greens but none the less, it was a terrific golf experience. Certainly worth the green fee in my opinion. Rather then go into great detail about the conditions and so forth, please read the posts below as they are very accurate. Thank you everyone that played – we’ll be doing this one again!

This course has fantastic views, challenging holes and fairways, and excellent service. The cons of the course are some patchy areas on the fairways, and the brutal gusts of wind. This is an extremely... Continue »

This course has fantastic views, challenging holes and fairways, and excellent service. The cons of the course are some patchy areas on the fairways, and the brutal gusts of wind. This is an extremely nice course to play in and fits the name of "poor man's pebble beach."

Played in the GK outing. Can't add too much to what has already been said. Greens were slower than advertised but rolled well. I would like another crack at this track sometime. Views were as advertis... Continue »

Played in the GK outing. Can't add too much to what has already been said. Greens were slower than advertised but rolled well. I would like another crack at this track sometime. Views were as advertised. If you haven't played in a GK event yet get off the dime and sign up. I play in everyone I can and have never been disappointed in the courses, customer service, fellow playing partners and especially bang for your buck.

Played in the GK outing last Friday and had a blast. Like other GKers have indicated there were some fairways which had some bare spots on them so that was a little disappointing. I also do not thin... Continue »

Played in the GK outing last Friday and had a blast. Like other GKers have indicated there were some fairways which had some bare spots on them so that was a little disappointing. I also do not think the greens on the course were as quick as advertised but thought the practice green was very quick. Took some time to get adjusted to the greens on the course. The wind was about a 2 club difference once the marina layer burned off. There are some great holes along the ocean, it was really breath taking. I almost forgot that I was playing golf. I thought the sand was great and nice and fluffy so you really had to blast the ball out. Like I said I had a great time and thanks to Johnny and everyone else for setting this up.