Golf near Santa Barbara

[Golfingdad]

Has anybody played either Rancho San Marcos golf course or the River Course at Alisal?  The wife and I are going to Santa Barbara wine country in a couple of weeks and are going to play a round of golf while we are there.  According to the hotel's website, those are the two courses nearby.  They both look pretty nice so I imagine I can't go wrong either way, but was just curious if anybody had any insight.

Also, the wife is a total beginner and would prefer for us to play as a twosome if possible.  I told her not to get her hopes up, but all I can do is ask.  We are going to play on a Thursday afternoon so that might help things a bit.

[Beachcomber]

I haven't heard of either of those courses... But have heard excellent things about these two courses in the area...

1.) http://www.lapurisimagolf.com/

2.) http://www.sandpipergolf.com/

La Purisima is supposed to be affordable and an awesome track.  They play a lot of SCGA and USGA qualifiers/tournaments there.  I wish I could play them with you!

[Big C]

Play Rancho San Marcos. It is a gorgeous course and you won't regret it. I am actually planning a trip for my dad to do a weekend of Sandpiper, La Purisma and RSM - but if I had to choose one course to treat him to, I would say Rancho is the best bang for my buck.

If you do end up playing there, be sure to go out to dinner and drinks at the Cold Springs Tavern afterwards.

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by Beachcomber

I haven't heard of either of those courses... But have heard excellent things about these two courses in the area...

1.) http://www.lapurisimagolf.com/

2.) http://www.sandpipergolf.com/

La Purisima is supposed to be affordable and an awesome track.  They play a lot of SCGA and USGA qualifiers/tournaments there.  I wish I could play them with you!

Originally Posted by Big C

Play Rancho San Marcos. It is a gorgeous course and you won't regret it. I am actually planning a trip for my dad to do a weekend of Sandpiper, La Purisma and RSM - but if I had to choose one course to treat him to, I would say Rancho is the best bang for my buck.

If you do end up playing there, be sure to go out to dinner and drinks at the Cold Springs Tavern afterwards.

Thanks for the tips.  We ended up at the River Course at Alisal, which, as it turns out was perfect for us.  I had never heard of Rancho and only vaguely of LP, but we drove by both during the trip and they both looked great.  But Alisal turned out to be right in Solvang, and our hotel was about 3 miles away so that worked out well. Additionally, Thursday afternoon was real quiet ... we didn't wait on a single shot all day, nor did anybody wait for us ... except for the two singles we let play through on consecutive holes in the middle of the back nine.

I played from the tips (6,800 or so) and shot a very mediocre 87.  My only excuse (other than I just stink) was that it was realllllly windy.  The first hole was a downwind 565 and I was green high with a driver and a 4 iron.  OTOH, there was a downwind 225 that I didn't get close to with a 3 wood.  Fun day though.  Coincidentally, this is the course:  (I think that is the 7th hole)