Sea Ranch Golf Links — Local services in Point Arena

I was really excited to play Sea Ranch. Given the landscape of the area, as well as the price and well designed website, I came with high expectations. The website featured a nice course guide (which you usually find at well maintained and organized courses) so I anticipated the real deal. Unfortunately, I left a bit confused about the experience and very underwhelmed.

This place could/should be a gem. With gorgeous views, amazing landscape and layout, you’d expect it on a top 50 list or something. The greens were very nice - soft, receptive, true. The views were stunning as anticipated. The club house is quaint and nice, cool gear, staff was welcoming. You’ll receive a warmup bucket of balls and a nice complimentary course guide which was cool. But unfortunately that was about it for my positives….and the round hadn’t started.

The course is quite spread out so not the easiest to walk but the alternative are old, noisy gas carts. Also, “cart paths” are non existent - they’re just matted down grass and dirt paths that were really bumpy - be careful for bumps and pot holes.

The tee boxes were in acceptable condition, though a number of holes were hard to tell where you were hitting to, so the course guide came in handy and it’s one of those courses that you’d have an advantage the second time around. Unfortunately, the fairways didn’t exist - this is what really ruined the experience. It wasn’t just fairways that were a bit hairy and hadn’t been mowed for a few days….there were true fairway cuts, everything was all bumpy like a field and the grass was all grown over. It truly felt like I was playing in a random meadow. Attached is a picture of the fairway leading up to the 18 green - no fairway or chipping area at all.

For the price, was very let down. Seems like the new ownership (from what I’ve read?) has a lot of course maintenance to do over the coming year, or they can just own the “small course on the bluffs” feel and drop the price for a...

Played here twice during my stay in Sea Ranch. Was first off at 7am both times, and loved how peaceful and serene the course was. No one else out there besides a few deer. Finished walking the course in ~3 hours both times; made for a perfect start to the day!

As for the course itself, it's not an easy track, with several holes featuring blind and/or narrow tee shots to fairways with hazards on one or both sides, and many forced carries. Accuracy and position off the tee are paramount here, as the greens are very accessible and not too tricky slope-wise from a well-positioned approach in the fairway. Since both my rounds were early in the morning, as far as wind, I didn't experience much more than a gentle breeze, but no doubt that afternoon winds would make this course play significantly tougher.

Conditions overall were about what I'd expect for a course in this price range; greens were in great shape albeit slow with morning moisture. Tee boxes and fairways were in pretty solid shape as well. Memorable holes to me were: The par-5 6th hole. My favorite hole on this course, featuring a tricky and somewhat blind tee shot. Very much a hole you have to think and plan your way through. Pick and commit to a line and yardage to be in good position for your second. Big hitters may want to take a big gamble off the tee to get on in two. The par-3 8th for the ocean view & sounds. The par-3 12th for the neat "bridge" walk to the back tee box and the daunting tee shot. The par-5 13th which has a diabolical tee shot from the back tees.

As a group, the par 3s stood out the most to me overall and provided plenty of challenge.

If staying in Sea Ranch, I'd definitely recommend that any avid golfers give this course a try, especially early in the morning if you can swing it. You won't be...

Dew sweeping this morning at Sea Ranch Golf Links in Sea Ranch. This course flies heavy under the radar for coastal golf in California. Situated just under 2 hours north of San Francisco along Hwy 1, this community course has a lot of good holes, but a lot of blind shots. Again, conditions left a bit to be desired as the rough appeared to not have been mowed in a few weeks, but the greens were fantastic. Despite the name, there is nothing "Links" about this place. The course winds thru the trees and development, although as is all of Sea Ranch, you don't really see or notice the houses at all (only on a handful of holes to begin with). Fun course worth a play if in the area, but I don't if I'd go too far out of my...