They say it’s the greatest meeting of land and sea in the world.
Johnny Miller, World Golf Hall of Fame
California is a dream destination for many (and for many good reasons). The Golden State offers incredible scenic experiences. And it gives the chance to become a wine connoisseur, a wellness enthusiast, or even a pro golfer (even if only for a few incredible days). Let’s discover five trip worthy California golf destinations.
A unique paradise for golfers, California boasts a range of courses unmatched almost anywhere in the world. From Pebble Beach to Palm Springs, the Pacific Coast is awash with historic golf courses. It has also proudly hosted over 50 men’s major championship tournaments.
In this blog, we’ll show you five trip worthy California golf destinations through some storied golfing land. Along our route, every golfer can find a course that suits their style, difficulty and budget. And we’ll find you the perfect location to rest your tired clubs at the end of the day.
Best in the West: A California Golf Road Trip
Head to the Pacific Coast and you’re guaranteed to find an incredible variety of golf courses. From lush, tree-lined parkland clubs to Scottish-style links and resorts overlooking the ocean, there’s something to excite and challenge every golfer.
Not a club member? Not to worry. California is home to 11 of the top 100 public courses in the United States — a level of accessibility and quality only matched by the UK and Ireland.
Let’s discover five trip worthy California golf destinations you won’t want to miss on your next trip West.
Sandpiper Golf Club | Santa Barbara
Sandpiper Golf Course | Goleta/Santa Barbara
Situated on the site of a historic oil production facility on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Santa Barbara is one of central California’s most historic and challenging courses.
Sandpiper Golf Course has hosted multiple PGA and LPGA events. At over 7,100 yards from the tips, it is ready to test the best players in the world. Still, it provides an equal challenge for the high handicappers among us.
The opening few holes are parkland in feel. Before the dramatic cresting of the ridge on the 5th hole, there are stunning views of the open and expansive property — the Pacific Ocean beyond. This sample merely whets the appetite for the excellent back 9. Featuring a string of holes playing right along the cliffs, each hole is more dramatic than the last.
Sandpiper is a superbly maintained course and offers plenty of risk and reward. It can leave any golfer feeling a good score has been well-earned. Concentration is required throughout. The par 3 18th hole over water is waiting to make sure your game is still sharp after a compelling and breathtaking round.
Tips for Play: Like much of coastal California, Sandpiper can be at the mercy of the weather. This is a real attraction for those who love a battle with the elements as much as the course. Or it is a potential turnoff for others who prefer predictability.
Those teeing off early are likely to encounter what’s locally known as a marine layer — a blanket of fog that frequently rolls in off the Pacific before the warm California sun has had a chance to burn it off.
This dramatic weather event is fairly unique to this part of the world. It adds an additional dimension to calculate and contend with as you play. Just remember your layers and your camera!
Where to Stay | Santa Barbara
El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel | Santa Barbara
When playing at Sandpiper Golf Club, you’re in for a treat both on and off the course. Nearby Santa Barbara offers some of California’s most luxurious and charming accommodations.
At the top of the list is El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel. Perched high in the hills overlooking the city, this iconic retreat combines old-world glamour with all the modern amenities you could want. After a day battling Sandpiper’s challenging fairways, unwind with a treatment at their full-service spa. Or sip on a signature cocktail while enjoying panoramic views of the Pacific. Start your VIP booking with me to receive: daily breakfast credit of $45 per person, $100 USD credit, early check-in/out and a room upgrade, whenever available.
Ojai Valley Inn | Ojai, California
Ojai Valley Inn Golf Course | Ojai
In a land that places such an emphasis on newness and a fascination with the next big thing, the Ojai Valley Inn provides a much-needed counterpoint by taking immense pride in its history and celebrating an older style of golf. For this and other reasons, this location deserves a place in our trip worthy California golf destinations list.
Designed by the same architects who created nearby masterpieces such as Los Angeles Country Club, Bel-Air Country Club and Riviera, the Ojai Valley Inn golf course offers a similar style without the ultra-exclusivity (or price tag).
Routed deftly through the barrancas and valleys, this relatively short course (6,292 yards) is the perfect meeting of mountain and California golf. Here, against a dramatic backdrop of hills and blue skies, the emphasis is on accuracy and shot-making.
Tips for Play: Situated in the Ojai Valley, the course features a lot of undulation. You will likely find yourself questioning your own yardages at the many elevated tee shots with steep drop-offs to fairways far below, as well as approaches to raised greens where you can barely see the top of the flag.
Both the 9th and 17th holes feature long uphill walks and are absolutely perfect for those looking to get some cardio work in during their round. For those of a more leisurely persuasion, book a golf cart!
Ojai Valley Inn | Wallace Neff Estate Room
Where to Stay | Ojai Valley Inn
You can stay and play right at the Ojai Valley Inn itself. As much a retreat as it is a world-class golf destination, this historic property combines luxury accommodations with a serene, relaxed atmosphere that mirrors the surrounding valley.
After a day on the course, unwind at the award-winning Spa Jojai, enjoy a yoga class, or sip a glass of local wine by one of the firepits scattered across the property. And for dining, you won’t need to venture far. The Oak, the resort’s signature restaurant, offers a farm-to-table experience with fresh, seasonal dishes served alfresco beneath century-old oak trees. Start your VIP booking with me to receive a full breakfast for two, a $100 resort credit, early check-in/out, whenever available.
Pelican Hill Golf Club | Newport Coast
Pelican Hill Golf Club
A short drive from Los Angeles (or San Diego) and you will find yourself coasting past the pristine sands of Southern California’s coastline. In Orange County, you will find Pelican Hill — a premier hotel and golf resort.
Featuring two Fazio-designed 18-hold championship courses, the flagship North course and the more-than-respectable South course offer pure California golf experiences. With hush fairways, deceptive green complexes, and fascinating routing through barrancas, down valleys and along cliff-sides, you are also treated to phenomenal vistas of the Pacific Ocean.
The North course features some of the best par 3’s anywhere on the West Coast. The cleverly designed 197-yard 2nd hole and the beautifully located 170-yard downhill 6th hole are prime examples.
After your round, head to the 19th hole Pelican Grill & Bar to revel in your golf game with your fairway friends. Sit in the clubby bar or outside on the terrace with views across the North course to the ocean and Catalina Island.
Tips for Play: The frequent elevation changes and blind tee shots at Pelican Hill make finding your yardages difficult, on both courses. With the challenging green complexes, players can be found wishing for another shot at the course with the benefit of hindsight.
Booking multiple rounds on either course is definitely advised to give you the opportunity to learn from your first-round experience. Those staying at the resort will receive a big discount on green fees!
Garden View Bungalow | The Resort at Pelican Hill
Where to Stay | The Resort at Pelican Hill
It’s hard to imagine a more fitting home base for your golf getaway than The Resort at Pelican Hil. The resort’s luxurious bungalows and villas are designed with classic Italian-inspired architecture. They offer spacious layouts, plush furnishings, and private terraces with stunning garden, ocean or golf course views. Start your VIP booking with me to receive an upgrade upon arrival, full daily breakfast for two, a $100 resort credit, and early check-in/out, whenever available.
Redhawk Golf Club | Temecula
Red Hawk Golf Club
Drive an hour or so inland from Orange County (or Los Angeles or San Diego) and you’ll find yourself in pristine wine country and the picturesque Temecula Valley. Nestled between the wineries (and casinos) is Red Hawk Golf Club.
Red Hawk borrows topographical notes from more famous courses such as Augusta or Oakmont. It puts as much emphasis on perfectly manicured flora and arresting vistas as it does on course design. Expect to find massive flower displays and beautifully shaped water features as you make your way around this undulating course.
The signature hole is the downhill par 3 8th, featuring dramatically tiered tee boxes. The hole also has an island green accessible by a beautiful old bridge, very reminiscent of the Hogan Bridge at Augusta. At 32 yards deep, the 8th at Red Hawk is not as intimidating as the 17th at the PGA Stadium Course in La Quinta. Good club selection is paramount for a respectable score. Top tip: Long left is okay. Long right? Not so much.
Tips for Play: Long par 4’s feature prominently at Red Hawk. Control over those long irons and fairway woods is essential. First timers will quickly discover a wide variety of hole shapes and lengths. Expect to play every club in your bag!
The real standout features at Red Hawk are the impressive greens. They are thoughtful and often two or even three-tiered. Make sure to stop at the enormous practice putting facility to get dialed-in before your round.
Temecula Creek Inn
Where to Stay | Temecula Creek Inn
When planning your visit to Red Haw Golf Club, my top choice for your home base is the Temecula Creek Inn. This charming resort sits on a stunning 300-acre property that perfectly captures the spirit of the Temecula Valley.
Torrey Pines Golf Course | La Jolla
Torrey Pines Golf Course
The last stop of our trip worthy California golf destinations is at one of the premier courses in the United States. It is also potentially a jewel in the crown of public golf: Torrey Pines Golf Course. Sitting atop the bluffs of La Jolla, Torrey Pines is owned and operated by the City of San Diego. And is completely open year-round to residents and tourists alike.
The two 18-hole Championship courses are dripping in history and nostalgia, The North and South courses host the annual Farmers Insurance Open (January 22-25, 2025). And the South course hosted two U.S. Opens — only the second municipal course ever to be given the honor.
If you follow golf like I do, it’s impossible to not conjure images of John Rahm roaring to victory in 2021. And there’s Tiger Woods hobbling on one leg through a playoff to hold off Rocco Mediate in 2008.
As Torrey Pines is frequently used for professional tournaments, the courses are set-up tough for mere mortals. The rough is thick almost everywhere and the greens are kept at a lightening pace. Coupled with the changeable coastal weather, you have one of the toughest tests of golf to be found anywhere.
Tips for Play: Because of Torrey Pines’ global popularity, securing a tee time can be notoriously difficult. The vast majority of tee times are booked via a daily telephone lottery at 7AM for seven days in advance.
Theoretically, all telephones in the world have an equal chance of getting one of the “lucky rings,” however there are suspicious that those with a Southern California area code may be luckier than others.
So if you have any friends or family in the area, you may want to ask them for a favor to increase your chances of getting tee time. And if they’re successful, you’ll have a handy gift in the shape of a bottle of wine from the Willamette or Temecula valley from your road trip.
Gallery Balcony Room | The Lodge at Torrey Pines
All great golf courses every golfer should pay at least once. Reading this article brought back fond memories of all the challenging and scenic holes on each course.
Can’t wait to share with my clients who are golfers. Thanks.