Sandpiper Golf Course, Santa Barbara

Some say that no golf course in America can rival the history and beauty of the Pebble Beach Golf Links in Northern California, however few visitors can or want to shell out the $495 greens fee.


A few hours south, in Santa Barbara there is a gem of a course that charges less than a third of what Pebble Beach does. This stunning par-72 seaside course is flanked by mountains and sits right against the Pacific Ocean.


Perfectly manicured, you will not believe you are on a public course. Beneath its beauty lies a challenging 7,000-yard tract that has played host to PGA and LPGA events. On several holes, retrieving wayward shots might require beach attire and a snorkel. Its difficult to name a signature hole at Sandpiper but the most obvious candidate is the 11th hole, which is 224 yard par 3 hitting straight into the ocean . Most tend to over swing here and slice it right into the lagoon. If you manage to get on the green, you will need to be putting like Luke Donald to birdie on this tricky green where the wind comes into play as well as sloop. The views are absolutely gorgeous. With almost a half-mile of ocean frontage, there are 5 fairways where if your ball goes too far astray, you will need to get it little scuba gear. Some courses promise ocean vistas - few can promise the actual ocean. Recommendation; play twilight and with the money you save, upgrade your accommodations to the Bacara Resort down the road. And please do not forget to try the local Pinot Noir.   Green Fees:

RATES	Mon - Thur	Fri - Sun, Holidays
Daily Fee	$139	$159
Junior	$95	$95
Twilight	$74	$89
Replay	$74	$89
Titleist Rental Clubs	$60	$60
Cart Fee	$16	$16
Spectator Fee	$25	$25

Twilight Times – Mar-Oct after 2pm, Nov-Feb after 1pm