Hoiana Shores Golf Club is tucked away on the coast just outside of Hoi An—a ridiculously charming town that looks like it was pulled straight out of a travel magazine spread. Think lantern-lit streets, banh mi that puts every sandwich you’ve ever had to shame, and the kind of beachy, laid-back energy that makes you want to forget you ever had inboxes to clear.

But we’re here to talk about golf.

And let me tell you—Hoiana Shores is the real deal.

I just got back from an 8-day trip with Asia Golf Trips, where the Founder, Scott Resch, put together one of the best travel itineraries I’ve ever had. 

And the best part? I got to do it all with my dad.

Of the four courses we played, Hoiana Shores was the clear stand out, and all you have to do is look at a few photos to see why.

The First True Links Course in Vietnam

Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., Hoiana Shores is Vietnam’s first authentic links course. If you’re anything like me, when you hear “links-style” outside of Scotland or Ireland, you raise an eyebrow. But this place walks the walk.

You’ve got firm, sandy turf that invites the ground game, wide rumpled fairways, and wind. Lots of wind. The kind that has you second-guessing your club selection and questioning your life choices halfway through your backswing.

We got lucky playing first thing in the morning, and the wind was fairly benign throughout the round. This is also the most “un-RTJ Jr.” courses I’ve ever seen. It looks like it was ripped straight out of Bandon Dunes, and if I didn’t know differently, I would have sworn it was a Coore & Crenshaw or Tom Doak design.

Everyone plays with a local caddie (which is mandatory), and honestly? That’s part of the charm. My caddie read greens better than I ever could, and it didn’t take her long to figure out which club was right for me on any given hole, despite not always being my personal first choice.

From the tips, it stretches to just over 7,000 yards, but don’t let that scare you. The layout is smart and playable, especially if you pick the right tees. There’s creativity baked into every hole, and options galore off the tee and around the greens.

The Front 9 at Hoiana Shores

There’s no “gentle handshake” here, the opening hole is the #3 index hole and is a beast of a par 4 at 472 from the tips.

The fairway is wide, but the undulating green and fore bunkers make the approach particularly tricky.

The second hole invites you to bomb it over the fairway bunker for a short wedge into the elevated green. Bail out right if necessary, but most hitters shouldn’t have any trouble clearing the bunkers with their drive. Just be ready to use some touch on your approach.

All of the par 3s on the course are exciting and fun to play, and this begins at the 5th. Despite being only 148 yards from the whites, this actually played as the longest par 3 on the course from those tees, which I love.

Give me some chances to hit it close and do something memorable. But don’t be fooled by the length, bunkers and severe greens are waiting on all the par 3s to punish errant shots. 

6 and 7 bring you wide fairways that still require smart shots. A fairway bunker jutting out on 6 will swallow your ball if you hit it too long on the right half of the fairway. I learned this from experience.

The massive bunker on the par-3, 8th is intimidating. Make sure you have enough club to clear it.

And the approach on 9 features a strategically placed bunker short of the green that will mess with your depth perception. 

Despite being the more inland of the two 9s, every hole on the front 9 was memorable in one way or another.

The Back 9 at Hoiana Shores

The back 9 starts off strong with the par 5, 10th.

Have you ever had an experience where you’re standing on a fairway and looking at one green from a different hole, and thinking “oooh, this looks cool! Too bad this isn’t the way the hole was designed.”

Maybe that’s a weird thought, but it’s one I’ve had numerous times.

I thought that was the case on 10. I looked at a really cool green complex off in the distance, thinking it was for a different hole. But nope, as we rounded the corner, it became clear it was the 10th green – and it’s one of my favorites on the course.

11 might be one of the coolest tee views on the course. It’s a short par 4 littered with bunkers. Despite being totally different golf courses, it kind of reminded me of the 11th hole at Winged Foot West.

The 11th:

The 11th at Winged Foot:

And 12 is the third par 3 on the course, playing directly into the clubhouse.

13 is the first hole I saw when I showed up to the club, and that’s all it took. I immediately knew I was going to like this place. Another great par 4 with bunkering that requires a well-thought-out tee shot.

14 is the shortest par 3, but perhaps the most fun. Bunkers everywhere. A wild green. It just screams fun. And there were more screams after my dad made is second legit birdie ever when he drained his 20 foot putt for a 2.

15 is when we get to the signature stretch of holes. A larger bunker makes visibility a challenge, but you can see the green and the ocean peeking out to the left of it. Pick a smart line. Bailout right to avoid the bunkers, but have a longer approach. Go straight over the fairway bunker, but not too long, as another one is waiting directly behind it. Stay left if you want to bomb it and give yourself the best angle into the green. 

16 is a shorter par 4 that plays along the ocean. Even a drive rolling all the way up towards the fairway bunker will leave you with a delicate approach.

17 is the final par 3, and perhaps the most scenic with the ocean and resort in the background. Congrats to Katy who was playing in the group ahead of us and dunked one for her first ever hole in one!

18 is a wonderful par 5 with water off the tee right, and exacting shots are required all the way up to the green.

Is the trip to Play Hoiana Shores worth it?

Quite simply, if you’re talking about underrated golf destinations in the world? Vietnam should be on the short list.

It may not have the breadth of golf as many other destinations, but there are a handful of world class golf experiences that are all very different from one another.

We started our trip in Hanoi, and played the parkland Kings Course at Kings Island – which required a speedboat right to get to the course.

Then a quick flight to Danang led us to spend a couple days in Hoi An, where we played Hoiana Shores and the polar opposite Normal Course at Legends Danang.

We finished the trip about an hour away at Laguna Lang Co, which basically felt like playing golf in Jurassic Park.

It’s both the variety and the quality of experiences that made this trip so special.

I’ll have a full Vietnam golf guide that I’ll post soon, and I’ll link to it here when I do.

But the short version? This was one of the best golf trips I’ve ever taken, and it exceeded every high expectation I had for it.

Definitely check out Asia Golf Trips if you’re looking to visit, as part of what made the trip so special was the insider knowledge and unique experiences that its Founder, Scott Resch was able ot provide.

The post Hoiana Shores: Insane Links Golf in…Vietnam?! appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

Considering there are more golf courses here than any other state in the country – it’s a golf writer’s mecca right?

Maybe so, but compared to other states my Florida repertoire is sorely lacking.

As such, it wasn’t until recently that I visited Palm Beach.

I wasn’t prepared for just what that would look like.

There’s affluent.

Rich.

Wealthy.

Ultra Wealthy.

And then there’s Palm Beach. It’s a new level of money I’ve never quite seen before.

And just a few minutes across the bridge in West Palm Beach, there’s a new golf enclave that’s quickly becoming known amongst the golfing elite: Dutchman’s Pipe.

What’s with the funny name? What’s the course and club all about? And better yet, how can you play it?

I’m going to tell you all about that and more.

The History of Dutchman’s Pipe Golf Club

The property now home to Dutchman’s Pipe Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, has a rich history of transformation and development.

Established in 1969, The Presidents Country Club featured two 18-hole courses and was a prominent golfing destination in West Palm Beach.  However, by the mid-2010s, the club faced financial challenges, leading to its closure and subsequent sale.

In 2016, the property was acquired with plans to develop it into a luxury resort. Jack Nicklaus was commissioned to redesign the existing course, aiming to create a world-class golfing experience. The project envisioned a 250-acre resort featuring a 7,200-yard par-72 course, a hotel, residential units, and various amenities. Despite the ambitious plans, the development faced multiple setbacks, including construction delays and financial difficulties, which hindered its full realization.

This brings us to today.

In early 2024, the Witkoff Group and Access Industries acquired the property, initiating a comprehensive transformation. The existing course underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation led by Nicklaus Design, enhancing playability and aesthetics.

The idea was to turn it into a high-end club that featured a championship golf course that was a bit longer and more spread out than some of the other private clubs in Palm Beach, where land can be scarce.

In fact, despite other new developments in nearby counties, this is the first new golf club to be built in West Palm Beach proper in over 25 years.

As part of the development plans they renovated the former Banyan Cay Resort, and turned it into a new Marriot Autograph Collection property known as The Belgrove Resort and Spa.

I stayed there for two nights during this trip, and will give a recap of that in a little bit.

First Impressions of Dutchman’s Pipe

When I first pulled up to the Club, as is the norm for a high-end club in Palm Beach, there were a number of exotic cars parked in the turnaround. I was immediately greeted by a fleet of employees eager to help with my clubs, park my car, and show me where to go at the Club.

Throughout my day at Dutchmans, you definitely feel a level of service that’s a step above what you get at your typical country club.

Considering the location, cost, clientele, and small membership – this shouldn’t have come as a surprise.

The current clubhouse was inherited from Banyan Cay, and has been refreshed for the new Club. It’s small, but well-appointed, and the porch overlooking the first tee is great.

However, a new larger clubhouse is scheduled to break ground soon. This will be a much better reflection of the lifestyle club that Dutchman’s is looking to evoke as it grows.

The Range

After I got a cup of coffee and changed my shoes in the locker room, I went out to the range. 

The range and practice facilities here are world class.

First off, considering how little land there is in West Palm Beach to develop – the fact they have a massive 300 yard+ range, and a two-acre short game area is very rare for the area.

Dutchman’s Pipe has everything a Tour Pro could want out of a practice facility, so it’s no surprise that there are a number of famous names who call this place home.

When you walk up to the range, the attendant will ask you what kind of balls you play.

Why?

Because they have 8 different brands for you to choose from.

Yes, on the driving range.

Pro V1s, TP5, Chrome Tour – you name it, you can hit it.

The only thing more impressive than that is the range robot that scours the range to pick up said balls.

The short game area features a number of greens at different yardages, different bunker styles, and allows you to practice pretty much any shot you could ever want from within 120 yards. The setting right on the water makes it an especially nice place to be.

The Front 9 at Dutchman’s Pipe

The front and back 9s both have distinctly different personalities.

On the front, you’re going to find holes that are slightly tighter than the back (although by no means claustrophobic).

The course opens with a cool par 4, named Devil’s Elbow.

The green is tucked over the ridge on the right-hand side of the hole. Playing 342 from the member’s tees, it’s not drivable for most, but you can cut the corner to get yourself really close to the green.

In typical Nicklaus fashion, it’s a “gentle handshake” of an opening hole, but there are some risk/reward elements for those that want to get spicy off the bat.

The par 3s at Dutchman’s are all beefy holes with yardages of 223, 233, 160, and 201 from the tips.

The first par 3, Longshot, has a wide undulating green, with an imposing bunker guarding the left half.

Pay attention to the pin position, as that will dictate your strategy off the tee.

On the 4th you immediately get a sense of why the previous course was called “Banyan Cay”. 

This 414-yard par 4 from the member’s tees has a trio of banyan trees dotting the fairway. In a world where palm trees can easily be planted anywhere you want, this is a very cool element of the course and club, knowing that these trees have been there for decades.

#5, “Waterhole” is the next par 3, and as you might guess, features a big lake carry. It’s a fun shot, and has a variety of tee box options that each make the hole play very differently. 

On 6 you get a classic “Cape” template. Bite off as much as you want on the tee shot, but get too aggressive and you’ll find the pond.

I wish I’d got a photo of the tee shot on 7, as this par 5 is one of the best holes on the course. You can tell a lot of Earth was moved here to add significant elevation to the fairway. The front 9 already had a lot of variety, but this hole keeps it going.

The approach is a tricky one with a green that slopes left to right, and water surrounding the entire right side of the green. My fade worked out pretty well for me, however, as I started way out left of the green on my approach and got it to land and roll to 3 feet for my only birdie of the day.

8 is an even longer par 5, with some strategic bunkering around the green.

And 9 gives you a little bit of everything as a par 4 with water left, bunkers beyond that, and a pot bunker directly fronting the green. 

The Back 9

Considering the land Dutchman’s site on used to comprise two 18 hole courses, Nicklaus had a lot of acreage to work with.

There’s a bit of a commute to get from the front to the back. But I’d highly recommend before doing so you grab a hot dog from the clubhouse.

The chef at Dutchman’s has a Michelin Star to his name, and this was hands down one of the best hot dogs I’ve ever had. The truffle fries also made for a delicious side.

The back 9 as a whole feels a little more open and spacious than the front. You see this right away on the par 5 10th, which at only 508 yards from the tips begs you to go “Full Throttle” – an apt name for the hole.

11 provides the easiest par 3 option on the course. Measuring just 145 from the member’s tees we played at, you’d be wise to take advantage of the opportunity. Although saying it’s easy wouldn’t really be doing it justice, as you’ve got water, bunkers, and a very undulating green to navigate.

13, “Punchbowl” has rumpled fairways that almost evoke a feeling of being on a Scottish Links. A center-line bunker forces you to be strategic with your drive. A bailout to the left will leave you with a longer approach. Go right, and the angle isn’t quite as ideal. Bomb it straight over if you want to find yourself in position A.

The “Punchbowl” style green, is a cool visual, and has some more severe undulation than some other similar greens I’ve seen.

14 is the last par 3, and forces you to carry water and bunkers from 185 at the member’s tees. Fortunately, there’s a decent bailout right if taking dead aim feels too aggressive.

15 has water all down the left side and makes the approach shot feel particularly perilous.

16 is one of my favorite holes on the back. At only 320 yards from the tips, this drivable par 4 makes you want to go for it.

But water covers the entire left side, and bunkers near the green on the right, means the landing zone with driver calls for a very precise shot. 

18 is a stout par 5. While it only plays 530 from the member’s tees, it’s a burly 640 from the tips. 

When you look at where the back tees are on many of the holes, you get a sense of just how challenging this course can be. Especially considering you’ll be looking at some decent wind during most of the rounds you’ll play.

Final Thoughts on the Course

One of the major things Dutchman’s Pipe has going for it is its location.

With no traffic, you can be in Palm Beach in 10 minutes.

To have a club with this level of service, and a fun, challenging championship golf course so close in? It’s very rare.

While a 7,300 yard course may not seem like a big deal in most places. When you consider the lengths of other nearby high-end courses? The Everglades, 5,655. The Breakers 5,778. Palm Beach Country Club 6,155.

A course of this caliber is very unique for the area.

With so many tee options, this is a course you could play every day and not get sick of. And when they’ve finished building out the lifestyle amenities for the club? It will quickly become a place you’ll never want to leave.

Want to Play Dutchman’s Pipe? Here’s how you can…

In most cases, the public will never get an opportunity to play a course that’s as expensive and intensely private Dutchman’s Pipe.

But as part of the development deal, guests of the neighboring resort The Belgrove, get limited access to play the course.

It’s not a slam dunk, however. Members always get priority, you’ll need to show proof of handicap, and you can expect the cost for the day after green fees and caddie fees to be approaching 4 figures.

But when you’re on property, you get the full membership experience – which will make for one very special day of golf.

Is it Worth Staying at The Belgrove?

The Belgrove just opened in December 2024, and I spent two nights there on this trip in January 2025.

The resort is beautiful. 

The lobby feels light and airy, and the main dining room, Society 48, is fantastic. I had both breakfast and dinner there, and each time the food was excellent.

However, the prices may be the most expensive I’ve ever seen at a resort hotel – which is saying something.

The pool area is beautiful, and in season the bar and al fresco dining looks like it will be wonderful.

The highlight may have been my room, however.

It was very well designed, felt modern and brand new, and the bed was as comfortable as any 5-star hotel I’ve stayed at.

My wraparound pool view balcony was also one of the largest hotel balconies I’ve ever had.

During my stay, there were a handful of rough edges in terms of service and around the property. But I’m chalking that up to me staying there so soon after opening. The good news is that it was nothing significantly detrimental to my overall experience, and I wouldn’t expect any major issues as the resort matures.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the resort, and I’d absolutely stay here again during my next visit to Palm Beach.

Bottom line? Whether you’re looking for a luxury resort vacation and a spectacular round of golf, or perhaps a new home away from home in West Palm Beach – Dutchman’s Pipe is a fantastic place to consider.

The post Dutchman’s Pipe Club Lives up to (High) Expectations appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

Since then, I’ve visited 3 times and I count it as one of my favorite golf destinations in the country.

I mean, there’s just so much to like.

There are 7 golf courses that each provide a distinctly different playing experience.

The Ritz Carlton Lake Oconee is one of the most unique resort hotels in the country with its beautiful lakeside setting.

And if you’re lucky enough to be a Reynolds Platinum Member, you get access to insane amenities, the over-the-top Creek Club – and now, the brand-new Richland Course.

The National at Reynolds was previously a collection of 3 nine hole loops designed by Tom Fazio.  All 3 of them ebb and flow through forests, out and back to the lake, and up and down some surprisingly diverse terrain.

But after over two decades, it was time for a change.

The Ridge and Cove 9s are now the “National” course.

And they took the Bluff 9, and added an additional 9 holes to make up the new Richland Course.

And I was one of the first ones to play it.

How’d it turn out? Let’s see.

First Impressions of the Richland Course at Reynolds

One thing I love about Reynolds is how easy it is to get to. For me, I took a direct flight from PDX to ATL, hopped in my rental car, and rolled in right around 3:30 in the afternoon coming off a 6:20am flight – not bad.

In this particular instance, the timing worked out perfectly.

I arrived two days before the soft opening, right as the light was getting good. 

I hopped in a cart and essentially had the whole course to myself to get some photos.

Tipped out Richland comes in at 7,090 yards – or a more manageable, yet still stout, 6554 from the members combo tees.

With Richland, the Fazio team got creative with the routing. The first 5 holes of the course are the original 5 of the Bluff 9, then holes 6-14 are all new, and the routing finishes with the last 4 from the Bluff.

I’d played the Bluff 9 once before, so I was excited to see what changes were made and how they fit in with the new routing,.

The first thing I thought to myself when stepping up to the first tee was “this feels Augusta-ish”.

Now before you criticize, hear me out. 

The land and setting is very similar to Augusta, and considering Tom Fazio is the consulting architect on the course, it’s not surprising to see some similarities.

Specifically, you feel it in the bunkering and the pine straw.

The National Course was always considered one of, if not the toughest course at Reynolds.

Richland while very playable, definitely isn’t a slouch in the challenge department.

Given the unique nature of the design, it really does feel like there are three distinct acts to the course.

The first 5.

The second 9.

The final 4.

Let’s take a look at each.

The First 5 Holes at Richland

One of my favorite aspects of this course is that you always have something to look forward to – there’s a ton of variety.

This is true within each section of the course as well.

You’re met with a gentle par 4 opener that plays slightly uphill, but a wide fairway gives you plenty of freedom to swing away.

The second amps up the difficulty with a tricky green, and some scary bunkering. They cleared out some trees behind the green, to open up views of 3, improving the early holes’ cohesiveness.

I’d expected the Bluff holes to essentially be the same as when I last saw them, but they made some pretty significant changes to these holes.

The bunker design is completely different, for one. You used to see the grass come down the bunker face much more. But with the new course, and new technology, they were able to have steep white sand bunker faces – that are visually striking.

Here’s the 3rd hole before the renovation and after:

Fazio said they used “Capillary Concrete” to be able to achieve this. This significantly helps drainage and helps mitigate embedded balls in the bunker faces during all but the wettest conditions. 

The 3rd and 4th holes are the ones I look forward to during this opening stretch.

The 3rd is a big dogleg right par 5 with a fun tee shot, and provides your first peak at Lake Oconee behind the green.

4 is one of the best par 3s at Reynolds, playing upwards of 200 yards directly along the lake.

The par 3s at Richland are no joke measuring 193, 159, 203 and 211 from the tips.

5 takes a turn inland and lets you swing away off the tee, but forces a thoughtful approach to a slightly elevated green.

The New 9 Holes at Richland

From 9 green you head across the road, up a hill, and all of a sudden the vibe completely changes.

You’re met with a 75-acre parcel of fairly open land that makes up the brand-new 9 holes that Fazio designed.

The new holes have a different feel to the originals, which largely play through tree-lined residential corridors.

You still get hits of this at times on the new 9, but as a whole, everything is much more open – and is unlike anything else at Reynolds.

The par 4 6th is a blast to play. 

The hole dips downhill halfway down the fairway, so you can’t see the green from the tee.

But a well-struck drive will get you a big-time roll, and potentially leave you with just a wedge in.

One of the most interesting visual features of the new holes is “lovegrass” that was planted throughout the 9. It adds both a level of added challenge, but also looks stunning.

The 7th is mid-range par 3 that plays slightly uphill to a large green.

The 8th is one of my favorite holes on the property. It’s a downhill par 5 that is reachable in two for big hitters, but an undulating green and thoughtfully placed bunkers force you to be strategic, and consider laying up instead for a better angle in.

The 9th feels the most similar to the original Bluff holes with trees on both sides of the hole. But there’s still ample room to bomb a drive, and some obvious bailout spots both on the right side of the fairway and left side of the green.

Maybe it’s just because they’re both Fazio designs, but the new holes most reminded me of Hudson National in New York as I was playing them – although I have yet to see the renovation work he did on it this year.

At 10 you’re met with arguably the toughest hole on the course.

It’s a long uphill par 4, with one of the most heavily undulated greens on the course.

The newer holes definitely have more severe undulations on the greens than the original 9 – which I loved. They feel more unique, and lead to some interesting putts.

The superintendent was clearly having some fun with us, considering some of the pin positions he gave us the day we played

11 is the most fun tee shot on the course. A downhill par 4 that felt reminiscent of the 10th hole at Porcupine Creek, despite some different bunkering.

12 is an uphill par 5 that features a tricky approach as the visibility of the green isn’t great. Watch out for the sucker pin directly behind the bunker.

13 is a visually stunning par 4. Bright white, high-faced bunkers married with copious amounts of lovegrass had this hole showing off at Golden Hour.

14 is the second of the new par 3s. It features a giant greenside bunker right that will force the hole to play differently depending on the day’s pin position, and which tee boxes you choose. The further back you go, the further right the tee boxes are – forcing more of a carry over the bunker.

Overall the new holes provide a ton of variety amongst themselves, as well as a set of 9 holes that’s unlike anything else at Reynolds – which is all you can hope for when getting a new course.

The Final 4 Holes at Richland

Coming back to the final 4 holes is a little bit of a shock to the system, as these holes feel very different from the ones that preceded it.

There are a couple of ways to look at this.

It’s hard to ignore the fact that the new vs old holes do have a bit of Jekyll and Hyde vibes. They feel different, and since the new 9 sits sandwiched between the old holes – this feeling is amplified. The good news is that I think this will change over the next few years as the course matures.

The other way to look at it, is that this approach provides a ton of variety.

Every single hole at Richland feels distinctly different from each other which I absolutely love.

I’ll take a little less cohesiveness in favor of variety every single time.

And the most unique of all of the holes may come during the final 4.

The 15th is a big downhill par 5, with a lake guarding the green. It’s reachable in two, but it requires a hero carry over the water.

16 is a long downhill par 3 with a creek all down the righthand side – and is a fun way to end the par 3s.

Throughout the golf at Reynolds there are a number of holes that work prominent creeks into the course design, and these are always among some of my favorite holes at the resort.

I just mentioned 16, 12 on Oconee, 3 at Creek Club, 5 at Great Waters, and 17 at Richland is another one,

I was happy to see this element carried over from the original design. 17 is a great par 4 with a creek that splits the fairway 3/4 of the way up, and then runs all the way up the right side of the green. You really need to be careful when you get a back right pin position.

18 finishes right below the National clubouse, and forces you to be precise with your tee shot. There’s a bit more room right than it looks, but you’ll be left with a tricky approach that’s all carry out of some gnarly Bermuda rough.

Final Thoughts on the Richland Course at Reynolds Lake Oconee

When it comes to clubs or resorts that have multiple golf courses, the most important element to have (for me), is Visit Sitevariety.

I don’t want to see 7 of the exact same course.

And if there’s one thing that Reynolds excels at, it’s providing unique and different golf experiences at each of their courses. 

Richland does a wonderful job of continuing this. 

The new holes are unlike anything else that’s there, and the original Bluff holes have been thoughtfully edited to make them more cohesive with the new ones – even if they don’t totally feel like it yet.

This new 18-hole course will be exclusive to Reynolds Platinum members,  and I know they’re going to be excited.

The other members-only course there is Creek Club, which is quite simply, one of the most fun courses you; ‘ll ever play. But it’s also a wild design that isn’t necessarily a course you’d want to play every day.

Richland on the other hand is a wonderful test of golf, is more straightforward, and is a course you could play day in and day out and never get bored of.

That might be the best compliment I can give it, and I’m excited to see it in another couple of years after it’s continued to mature.

The post The Richland Course at Reynolds Lake Oconee is a Wonderful Marriage of Old and New appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

Looking for more content related to Sunriver and Caldera Springs? Here you go!

• Crosswater Golf Club
• Why Sunriver is the Ultimate Family Golf Destination
• Caldera Links Golf Course

The post This Might Be the Most Exclusive Golf Course in Oregon appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

What makes it so good? This video will give you the low down.

Check out Our Other Kohanaiki Posts

• Kohanaiki Golf Course: Is it Rees Jones’ Best? – The centerpiece of the club is the golf course. Here’s what makes it so great.
• Why Kohanaiki is the Most Insane Golf Club You’ve Never Heard of – A full tour of what makes Kohanaiki so unique.

The post Why Kohanaiki is the Ultimate Family Destination Club appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

—

Our Ohio golf trip was already a mix of high highs, and low lows.

The golf so far, having played Scioto, Muirfield, Village and The Golf Club was excellent.

But I’d suffered a severe bout of food poisoning on day 1, and broke my camera lens on day two.

So, just as I thought we were breaking out of our food poisoning/lens breaking bad luck we woke up to one phone call you NEVER want to get.

You see, the night before, Columbus was hit with an absolute MONSOON.

For a couple hours the roads were flooded, everything was soaked, and frankly, we didn’t think much of it, because the weather was supposed to be great the next day.

But at 7am, we got a phone call from the pro at Double Eagle Club, which was our scheduled round for the day, to inform us that due to the course getting hit with SO much water, we would be unable to come out and play.

This was a true disappointment, because not only is the course supposed to be very good, it’s also one of the hardest tee times to come by in the country.

So here’s to hoping it’ll work out next time.

Now it was time to scramble…

We had to be in Cincinnati early the next morning for our round at Camargo, but we also wanted to get a world class round of golf in – so we began looking at drive times and options.

The first thought was Inverness Club, which is the one club that was high on our list that we wanted to play, but simply couldn’t get that far north.

Considering it would have been a brutal drive back down to Cincy, we ruled that out.

Then we discovered that Louisville is only a 3 hour drive from Columbus – and then only an hour and a half from Cincinnati.

And I bet you can guess what’s in Louisville?

That’s right, Valhalla!

We made a phone call to see if they’d be willing to let us out on the course that afternoon (see this post for strategies on playing private clubs), and luckily they were pretty open and happy to accommodate!

So we set out for Kentucky.

As we’re driving down there, the realization hit me – our VERY FIRST Eighty Club member Jude was a member at Valhalla. He’d been living out of the State, but I figured I’d shoot him a text to see if he was free.

As luck would have it, not only was he in town, but he was excited to come out and join us at the Club.

When we arrived we met Jude and a few of his friends before heading out to hit a few quick balls and then on to the first tee.

Valhalla, ranked #84 in America by Golf Digest for 2019-2020, is a course that was built for major championships. It’s a big, demanding golf course, that to be honest?

I liked more than I expected to.

There’s a lot of variety in the hole designs, and a routing that makes for an enjoyable and beautiful walk.

I LOVED the short par 4, 4th.

I HATED the LONG par 4, 6th. (But that was the only hole I really disliked).

A random connection I have to Valhalla actually came from my wife. Back in 2008 she was designing apparel for Nike Golf, and actually designed the pattern that would go on the uniforms for the US Ryder Cup team.

As a thank you, she received a sterling silver Tiffany’s julep cup that was engraved with a logo featuring the Ryder Cup and Valhalla.

So every year come spring time, I make Mint Juleps in that cup. Now it feels more official since I’ve seen it in person.

As would be the case with most of my rounds on this trip, I started the day strong, before limping in for the finish.

These courses tend to just wear you down with how demanding they are, and it really puts into perspective how mentally tough the tour pros are to be able to handle it week in and week out.

Valhalla also had one of the coolest features I’ve seen at Club yet – their all new man cave.

It features a bar, putting green, and two full simulators that members are free to use at any time.

Playing Bethpage Black over a few cold ones after the round, was one of the more unexpected and enjoyable surprises of the trip.

Photos from Valhalla Golf Club

In my travels, I’ve often found my favorite courses are not the ones with the biggest Championship pedigrees. They tend to be long, difficult, and often relatively un-interesting Championship layouts.

This was exactly what I expected Valhalla to be.

But fortunately, I thought the course was scenic, had a fun routing, and a really enjoyable blend of holes. 

Don’t get me wrong, it’s still going to beat you up, but you’ll have fun in the process

More from our Ohio (Errr, and Kentucky) Golf Trip

• Scioto Country Club
• Muirfield Village Golf Club
• The Golf Club
• Camargo Club
• Full Ohio Golf Recap and Favorites

The post Valhalla Golf Club: A True Championship Course with PGA Pedigree appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

For years, I’d done a pretty good job of playing at a bunch of new courses each year as I grew Breaking Eighty and my golf travel IQ.

Then COVID hit.

I didn’t get on an airplane for 21 months.

During that time I also had my first kid, which as you might guess, doesn’t lend itself well to travel.

Well, in 2023 I made up for lost time.

It started with 4 days at Bandon Dunes in January.

In February, I spent the month in Australia with my family playing courses that I legitimately never thought I’d get to play like Barnbougle Dunes and New South Wales. Not to mention half a dozen more I have yet to write about here on Breaking Eighty.

In May it was Paynes Valley.

June, Oakmont followed by Kohanaiki.

August brought rounds at Hualalai, Merion, Aronimink, Baltusol, Quaker Ridge, and Wykagyl.

But it was my first round in September that was the one I’d been waiting a decade to play:

Friar’s Head.

I’ve listed Bandon Trails among my top 10 favorite courses for years.

Coore and Crenshaw have worked on some really special projects.

But the mystique around Friar’s Head has always intrigued me. 

Insane views on Long Island?

Extremely exclusive, small membership – with an initiation fee most of us couldn’t ever fathom?

And that’s all completely ignoring the fact that it’s routinely listed among the top 25 courses in the World.

It’s the ultimate golf day, and one that, unfortunately, most golfers will never get to play.

Somehow I won the lottery and last Summer got to spend a day at Friar’s Head.

I’ve played a lot of really special golf courses and had some unbelievable golf days.

My day at Friar’s Head was one of the top 3 golf days of my life.

Let me tell you about it.

Getting to Friar’s Head

I’ve traveled a fair amount within the Pacific Northwest with my friend Jeff, but we’d never taken a golf trip.

So after years of talking about it, I finally convinced him to come to New York with me.

We went all out, playing all of the aforementioned courses across Philly and the NYC area.

But the night before Friar’s Head, which was our last round of the trip, was the only night we stayed in Manhattan.

I splurged and got us a room at the Park Hyatt, and told him I was taking him on the cocktail tour of his life. It started at the #2 bar in the world, Double Chicken Please. It ended at the Dead Rabbit, the former #1 bar in the world, and there 7 world-class bars in between.

Our tee time wasn’t until 1, we’d be fine, right?

The hangover was bad, but it was the traffic jam getting out of Manhattan that caused the biggest headache.

1 hour to go 4 blocks.

If we missed this tee time, I’d never forgive myself.

Fortunately, once we got out of the city the Long Island Expressway traffic was fairly light and we pulled onto 3000 Sound Avenue about 30 minutes before our tee time.

We were escorted to the wonderful range and practice area, where we hit a few quick balls (Pro V1s, of course) before heading back towards the first tee where we met the members who were hosting us.

They were friends of a friend who (very) generously agreed to have us out. It took all of about half a hole to realize just how welcoming they were – and honestly, this is really what made the day so special.

The Front 9 at Friar’s Head

Despite being so excited to play this course, I didn’t know that much about it.

I purposefully refrained from doing much research ahead of time.

I’d also heard stories about how strict they were about taking photos on the course. Not wanting to make an awkward ask of the people hosting us, I left my camera in the car.

Big mistake, considering it was a chamber of commerce day and they said the photo policy has been loosened quite a bit over the years.

So here, you get iPhone photos

The opening tee shot isn’t overly challenging with a big wide fairway. But then the approach is to a severely elevated, deep green. It doesn’t take long to figure out you should trust your caddie with, well, everything.

The opening on the Kings Course at Gleneagles is the most similar opening hole I’ve seen. The approach also has vibes of the approach on the first hole at Bandon Dunes.

There are a lot of impressive viewpoints around the course. Simply looking back at the clubhouse from the first green is one of them.

The second tee shot is the next. An elevated tee shot that plays downhill and gives a great view of the front 9.

The two 9s each roughly form circles is a bit of aa figure 8 routing. The back 9 plays counterclockwise on one part of the property, and then when you hit 10 it plays (mostly) clockwise around a separate part of the property – with a finishing stretch near the Long Island Sound.

The 5th is one of the great short par 4s in golf, measuring around 300 yards. There are no yardages on the scorecard, so you end up playing holes from a variety of fun distances.

It’s also welcome after the monster par 3, 4th.

That said, short doesn’t mean “easy”. As if you don’t strike your drive well you could easily find yourself in a gnarly bunker to the right of the green.

And if you do strike it well, there’s another bunker right in the middle of your ideal line that could also swallow your ball.

The par 5, 7th is a standout hole. A wonderful uphill par 5 that brings you back into the dunes and is one of the more visually stunning holes on the front.

The greens on the course are among the best I’ve ever played in terms of variety and interest. The 7th is particularly interesting given how massive it is and with fairly severe contours and mounding.

The downhill 9th is arguably the signature hole (or at least the signature photo spot.)

For years, the only photo I saw of the course was from 9 teebox looking back down at the clubhouse and over the sound.

It’s truly one of the best views in golf.

The Back 9 at Friar’s Head

The back 9 starts out with a long, 200-ish yard par 3. The signature here is the large mound that guards the left side of the green and feels more reminiscent of something built in Scotland 100 years ago.

The par 5s at Friar’s Head are cool in that they feel like they’re transporting you into different environments of the course.

2 takes you down into the meadow, then 7 is back up into the dunes.

11 brings you back down again, and then 14 takes you up into the dunes and is the beginning of a world-class finishing stretch of holes.

Seriously, the stretch of 14-18 is among the very best stretch of golf holes I’ve ever played.

14 is a risk-reward par 5 that has a little bit of everything. 

You can bail out left to stay safe from a massive bunker, but it makes the hole significantly longer.

The more of the bunker you take on, the shorter the hole gets, but your margin for error increases in step with the aggressiveness of your line.

The green is set in a natural amphitheater and has a bit of a false front to it. 

Notice the stairs going up to the 15th teebox. The only better walk, is the one walking off the 15th.

15 is a downhill par 4 that heads straight out towards the Long Island Sound.

It’s another fantastic view. If you’re a better player than me and don’t pump it into the waste area right (exactly where you don’t want to be), it can be a chance to score as the green isn’t quite as intense as some others on the course.

But the most memorable moment of the round is the one that everyone had told me about, the bridge from 15 to 16.

I haven’t played Cypress Point, but I imagine the walks to 15 and 16 elicit similar feelings to what you get walking to 16 at Friar’s Head.

16 is a fantastic par 4, that is deceptively difficult. This is one of those holes you need to play a few times to understand it. The obvious play is to go out to the right. But what you don’t realize is that if you’re short, you’re actually leaving yourself with a much longer shot than if you go over the ridge left.

It’s hard not to get on the tee at 17 without thinking “how cool would it be to hit a hole-in-one here?”

It’s the last par 3, the shortest hole on the course. But despite appearing “easy” on paper, anything less than an ideally struck shot can end up in the waste bunker where bogey or worse quickly becomes the most likely outcome.

Finally, 18 is a challenging par 4 that requires two very well-struck shots in order to give yourself a fighting chance. I had one of my better drives of the day, and then hitting the green in front of the clubhouse and making an easy two-putt par was a great way to finish.

The Showers at Friar’s Head

No proper article about Friar’s Head would be complete without mentioning the showers.

The showers here are the only thing more legendary than the course itself.

For years I’ve always heard about Merion being the gold standard of golf showers – and to be clear, they’re very good.

But the showers at Friar’s Head? They blow them away. Literally.

This is the closest thing you’ll experience to getting blasted from a firehouse short of walking out of a burning building.

I’ve never experienced anything like it. If you visit, do whatever you can to experience this as it is truly the best shower in golf.

Final Thoughts on Friar’s Head

Awhile back I wrote about bucket list courses that actually exceed expectations.

Friar’s Head is the perfect example of this.

Yes, we had a spectacular day. Yes, the company was phenomenal. A lot was working in our favor.

But Friar’s Head is one of those courses you could play day in and day out and never get bored. There are so many nuances and interesting elements that you could play dozens of rounds and still find something new each time.

I’d like to think I’ll have the chance to visit Friar’s Head again in the future. But if I don’t? I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity and for what immediately became one of the best golf days of my life.

The course is amazing. The setting and the experience is even better.

The post Friar’s Head Golf Club: One of the Best Golf Days of My Life appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

Every person I’d talked to before the trip said things like:

“You’re going to The Preserve? You’re going to love it.”

“It’s such a special place…”

“It’s unlike any club I’ve ever been to…”

Naturally, when you hear these things over and over, your expectations begin to rise.

After being intrigued by both the golf and the property in general for years, I recently had the chance to visit the Santa Lucia Preserve for the first time.

I stayed at the Hacienda on the property for two nights with my wife, and the experience was everything I’d expected it to be.

But is buying a home or joining one of the two different clubs at Santa Lucia the right move for you? What’s the experience like?

In this post, I’m going to share my experience, and help you decide if this is maybe a place you should consider visiting if you’re in the market for a relocation, second home, or national membership.

There’s a lot to cover here, so let’s jump in!

What is the Santa Lucia Preserve?

In order to properly talk about the Santa Lucia Preserve, you first need to understand what it is.

The Santa Lucia Preserve is a private nature preserve minutes from Carmel-by-the-Sea, California that resides over 20,000 acres of land

At the Santa Lucia Preserve there are two separate clubs: The Preserve Golf Club and The Ranch Club.

The Preserve Golf Club provides access to the golf clubhouse and golf course, while The Ranch Club membership consists of everything else on the property (gym, tennis, pickleball, lake, equestrian etc.).

There are 297 homesites at the Santa Lucia Preserve, but when you’re on the property, you’ll rarely notice them.

There are nearly 100 miles of trails through the Preserve, where you can hike, bike, or ride your horse through some of the most beautiful property in the country

We’ll talk more about all of that later on, though.

The Drive and First Impressions

When driving from Carmel to the Santa Lucia Preserve, my first thought was:

“There’s no way there is a 20,000-acre property 5 minutes from here.”

Sure enough, we pulled up to the gatehouse mere minutes from downtown Carmel.

We checked in with the attendant, and when the gates opened we began what is legitimately one of the best drives of my life.

There’s Highway 83 from Banff to Jasper.

Highway 1 close by on the California coastline

And driving through the Scottish Highlands.

But when it comes to the entrance to a golf club, the drive up to The Preserve is something really unique and special.

It’s 8 miles to the Hacienda and another mile past that to the golf clubhouse.

During that drive,  you’ll go through forests and across stunning ridgelines. During the 20-minute drive we saw coyotes, deer, hawks, turkeys, and more.

The drive feels like a buffer from real life to the peacefulness of being on The Preserve property – and I loved it.

The Hacienda at Santa Lucia Preserve

When we arrived at the Hacienda at about 4pm, the first person we encountered was a member riding up to the clubhouse on his bike.

Immediately he introduced himself and said “check out these chanterelles I just foraged for on the property,” as he opened up a bag that had to have 10 pounds of glorious fungi inside.

This experience encapsulates what it’s like to be at the Santa Lucia Preserve. Strangers don’t remain so for long, and there are special little things that happen frequently – no matter where you are.

The Hacienda was built in 1924 by George Gordon Moore where he spent the better part of two decades making the property into a playground for the region’s elite.

After he fell on hard times in the 1940s, the Santa Lucia Preserve was converted back to cattle land by the Oppenheimer family before being sold to the current developers in 1989.

It would take another decade before the Ranch and Golf Clubs became a reality, but what they’ve evolved into has become something unique in the global private club landscape.

Inside the Hacienda there are 9 guestrooms, with another 7 located in the neighboring guest house next door.

Once you get past the reception area, walking in feels less like walking into a club and more like walking into someone’s home. There’s a grand room with a bar and a wonderful stone fireplace.

The main dining room is behind that.

The Hacienda is the primary hub of activity for members. The courtyard is stunning, and I can only imagine how cool dinners and events are out there in the Summer. We visited in December, and while the weather was very pleasant, it definitely wasn’t prime season for outdoor gatherings.

Staying at The Hacienda

Fortunately for us, there weren’t many other people staying on property the nights we were there – so we were treated to the Catallina Munras room, which was a special experience. 

Named after a historical figure in the area, the room itself is very large and well-appointed. 

The bed was very comfortable, as expected. 

But the best part were the French doors that opened up to a balcony overlooking the property. Getting coffee and going out here every morning was one of my favorite parts of the trip.

The Hacienda is available for Ranch Club members and their guests to book rooms and stay on the property. National members also have some privileges for booking rooms here as well.

It’s a short walk from here to the primary Ranch Club facilities and about a mile to the private lake.

Dining at Santa Lucia Preserve

When it comes to dining on the Preserve property, there are three primary options: the golf clubhouse, the Hacienda, and The Nest.

One nice part about the dining options is that regardless of whether you’re solely a golf club member or a Ranch Club member, you can eat at any of these spots.

When you look at the three options as a whole, you’re treated to 3 very different dining experiences, which is always nice to see at a place like this.

Dining at The Hacienda

If you’re looking for a special meal, this is the place to do it.

We dined here both nights we stayed on property and had two very different, yet equally enjoyable experiences.

The first night we walked into the bar, and a member immediately started talking to us and asked if we’d like to join him.

We got cocktails and enjoyed wonderful conversations about our kids, our love of golf, travels, and more.

Notably absent was any conversation about work. People here seem to care much more about who you are and what you enjoy, rather than what you do.

It was refreshing.

The conversation was so enjoyable among the now 8 of us sitting at the bar, that we didn’t get around to ordering our dinner until two hours later.

But the best part was when the Executive Chef came out in the midst of this and graced us and a couple of the members with a special treat:

“A5 wagyu with chanterelles from the property.”

It was among the best bites of food I had all year, and a good showcase of what was to come.

The following night we did a proper coursed-out dinner sitting by the dining room fireplace. From the lobster salad to the crab cake, and the stunning shrimp and scallops – it was a meal to remember. 

Once again when you’re at the Hacienda, it feels less like a club, and more like friends gathering in someone’s home. It’s a special experience unique among many of the clubs I’ve visited.

Dining at the Golf Clubhouse

While the Hacienda is built in a valley surrounded by a beautiful front lawn and sprawling fields in the back, The Preserve Golf Clubhouse provides and entirely different experience.

Perched on top of a hill, it offers more elevated views of the property and is a beautiful modern facility. 

The patio is spectacular, and the main dining room has walls of windows that brighten up the space. It provides a nice alternative to the cozier and more intimate feel of the Hacienda.

Both the shrimp tacos and chicken salad we had for lunch were excellent.

The Nest Coffee House

The Nest is the third and most casual dining option at Santa Lucia Preserve. It’s located at The Ranch Club, a short walk away from the Hacienda.

It’s essentially a small coffee shop in an adorable building that has served a variety of other more utilitarian uses throughout the years.

The Nest serves everything from coffee and pastries, to ice cream, and snacks – while also acting as the defacto gift shop.

It’s adorable and was my wife’s favorite building on the property.

The Ranch Club

The Santa Lucia Preserve is unique in the fact that it has not one but two private clubs associated with it, the Ranch Club and The Preserve Golf Club.

This allows members to choose the experience that works best for them and their lifestyle.

The Ranch Club consists of everything on the property that isn’t golf.

The main Ranch Club amenities are located a short walk from the Hacienda, and are fantastic.

There’s a beautiful gym, studio room, and separate pilates studio where there’s an assortment of regular classes.

The Ranch Club has bocce ball, tennis, pickleball, bikes, a wonderful pool, and a whole lot more.

Considering we were here for less than 48 hours and that golf was the primary focus, I didn’t get to experience as much of the Ranch Club as I would have liked. But it’s safe to say it’s an incredible playground for families and people who love the outdoors.

The Preserve Golf Club

The Preserve Golf Club was built in 2000 and the clubhouse was finished in 2003.

It’s consistently rated as both one of the best golf courses in California and the United States as whole.

The Preserve Golf Club is a Tom Fazio design that has impeccable conditioning and a beautiful routing that spreads out over 365 acres.

I did a full tour and recap of the golf course which you can find here:

The Preserve Golf Club: As Peaceful as Golf Gets

Conservation and Property at the Santa Lucia Preserve

Part of what makes the Santa Lucia Preserve so special is their commitment to the environment and being stewards of the land the Preserve resides on.

Whether it’s doing things like switching to a draught-resistant form of grass on the golf course, or putting thoughtful guidelines on what members can build on their property – when you’re here, the environment comes first.

There are 297 homesites at The Preserve, and the average lot size is 44 acres.

With each property, a portion of the land is dedicated to the home site or building envelope. The remainder of the land is held under conservation easement, and must be kept natural.

The combination of these building guidlines and large lot sizes mean you rarely see homes when you’re out exploring the property.

You’re able to spend time in nature without feeling like you’re part of a housing development.

On the drive in, you won’t see many homes, but you’ll see handful of signs at the end of their driveways. Members have some fun with this in naming their properties.

One of my favorites was the “10 Minutes Inn” because it’s located about 10 minutes into the drive towards the Hacienda.

This felt similar to how members at Kohanaiki customize their golf carts with their own stickers or wheels, and is a nice way to show a little personality.

Final Thoughts on the Santa Lucia Preserve

Visiting the Santa Lucia Preserve was easily one of the highlights of my year. 

From the moment you enter the gates, there’s a peacefulness about the property that is unmatched by any private club I’ve been to.

Whether you’re looking for a dedicated golf club or you’re looking for a lifestyle club ripe with tons of amenities and activities, there’s something for you here.

It’s not the flashiest or most famous club near the Monterey Peninsula – nor do they want it to be.

This is for people who are looking for something different. It’s for those who value nature, privacy, world-class golf, and being around other people who are looking for the exact same thing.

All of the membership options carry a premium price tag, but if you’re looking for a spot to retire, build a second home, or have a national club membership that’s easily accessible – then the Santa Lucia Preserve should be on your shortlist of clubs to consider.

The post Why Santa Lucia Preserve is the Hidden Gem of the Monterey Peninsula appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

Long Island…

St. Andrews…

Melbourne Sandbelt…

There may be a few others, but no one will argue that this area of California’s coastline is about as good as it gets when it comes to golf. Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, Cypress Point, Monterey Peninsula Country Club – all world-class golf courses.

So it’s not necessarily a surprise that what is perhaps the most unique course of all of them has remained largely a secret: The Preserve Golf Club.

The Preserve is nothing like those coastal courses, there isn’t an ocean in sight.

The crowds of Monterey and Carmel are nowhere to be seen here.

It’s the most remote, non-remote course I’ve ever played.

And of all the interesting golf destinations I’ve visited in 11 years of traveling for golf – it’s among my favorite places I’ve seen.

What makes The Preserve Golf Club so special? Let’s find out.

What is The Santa Lucia Preserve?

Before we can properly talk about The Preserve Golf Club, you need to understand a little bit about the property that it resides on.

The Santa Lucia Preserve is a 20,000-acre nature preserve set just minutes outside of Carmel and Monterey.

To put this in perspective, the town of Carmel is 1 square mile.

The Santa Lucia Preserve is 31 square miles of wildlife, old-growth redwoods, and one heck of a golf course – among many other things.

History of the Santa Lucia Preserve

The land was established in the 1830s as part of the Mexican Land Grants.

For years the property was a working cattle ranch, until the 1920s when a gentleman named George Gordon Moore came around and decided to turn the property into a playground for the region’s elite.

Rumor has it, Mr. Gordon served as the inspiration for the iconic Jay Gatsby, in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic, the Great Gatsby.

Mr. Moore built a Hacienda in the center of the property which served as the hub of activity and held many lavish parties throughout the years. Not surprisingly, it’s still a hub of activity to this day, as part of the Ranch Club at Santa Lucia Preserve.

Moore fell on hard times in the 1940s, and the property was eventually sold and reverted back to cattle land which is how it operated for decades up until 1989 when the developer of The Santa Lucia Preserve purchased it.

A decade of permitting and planning would then lead to the Santa Lucia Preserve as we see it today.

The Preserve Golf Club is a private golf club that opened in 2000, and the clubhouse was finished in 2003.

The Santa Lucia Preserve is unique among high-end golf destinations for many reasons. But one of which is it’s two-club model.

The Preserve Golf Club has a membership solely for golfers. 

The Ranch Club is the private membership for everything else the property offers (there’s a lot).

Today we’re talking about golf, but I’ll do a full recap of our 3 day stay at the Santa Lucia Preserve where I’ll share more details about the Ranch Club, Hacienda, real estate, and the land itself.

First Impressions of The Preserve Golf Club

The gate for The Santa Lucia Preserve is only about 5 minutes from downtown Carmel.

But once you’re through the gates, you’re immediately ushered into a world unlike anything I’ve experienced.

It’s close to 9 miles from the front gate to The Preserve Golf clubhouse – and the next 20 or so minutes are a journey unlike any I’ve taken.

You’ll start by winding your way up to a high point on the property where you’ll see expansive vistas of the property.

My wife kept saying “Simba, everything the light touches is our Kingdom.” Because quite literally, everything in sight is part of The Preserve.

After a few miles, the drive unexpectedly whisks you down through a valley of stunning redwoods. Coyotes, deer, turkeys, and hawks all met us on our initial drive.

It’s a magical ride, and it sets the stage for a round of golf that mirrors the experience of getting there. I mean this because The Preserve contains surprises around every bend, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, it changes in unexpected and delightful ways.

The hardest thing to comprehend is how such a spectacular and large piece of land, minutes from the crowded golf mecca of Monterey, could last nearly 200 years without being divided.

But I’m sure glad it did.

The clubhouse is perched on top of a hill, and as with everything at the Preserve, it blends in seamlessly into the landscape.

The course is set across 365 acres of the property, was designed by Tom Fazio, and opened in 2000.

In 2016 The Preserve, in alignment with their ethos of conservation, switched to a draught-resistant form of Bermuda grass for the fairways. The result is a wonderful playing surface, that was in perfect shape in mid-December and just starting to go dormant for the season.

Looking out from the back of the clubhouse, you can see the first tee, 18th hole, and a large hill of land directly ahead. I’ll stop short of calling it a mountain, but there’s certainly some elevation. The course is built around this land feature, and the routing feels seamless and natural.

Off the front of the clubhouse, the driving range plays downhill into the valley.  It gives you a peek into the wonderful conditioning you’ll find on the course.

But the drive, the views, the land – none of it means a whole lot if the golf isn’t equally as good.

So what makes it so special?

Let’s find out.

The Front 9 of The Preserve Golf Club

The opening hole of The Preserve has just about all of the elements I like to see when beginning a golf round.

First off, it’s a scenic par 4 stretching just over 400 yards from the Gold tees (which play about 6600 years total). Watching the downhill tee shot hang in the air against the backdrop of the Santa Lucia Mountains is one that never gets old.

The first hole isn’t overly challenging. It allows you to hit any club you want depending on how aggressive you’d like to be to kick things off.

The 2nd is an introduction to a wonderful quartet of par 3s. It’s again, not overly challenging, but will provide a tricky up and down if you miss the green.

The 3rd is when the golf course really gets started.

It’s a short par 4 with a downhill tee shot to an uphill green. One thing I love about The Preserve is that the course features a number of short par 4s. Most aren’t necessarily drivable, but they all feel like they’re giving you a chance to make a low score – even if some are deceptively challenging. 

4 is a double-dogleg par 5 that gives you all kinds of options for how to play the hole. Long driver? Cut the corner.

Want to give yourself a short wedge in? Play smart up the center and position your 2nd shot based on the day’s pin location.

5 is a short par 4 to one of the highest points on the course. Make sure to stock up at the comfort station before heading up the hill.

And 6 is a long downhill par 3, with a bunker on the right that you definitely don’t want to be in.

My favorite part about 6 is that it has one of the most unique views on the course. One of the coolest parts about The Preserve is there are layers of land. For instance, there might be a small ridge behind you, a valley, and then a larger mountain. You see this when looking towards 6 green.

Look off to the left and you’ll see the valley (called the “Savannah”) that the next set of holes are set in – with more mountains surrounding it.

Despite all being part of the same piece of land, the views and experience are very different depending on where you’re at within the property.

7 through 11 represent my favorite stretch of holes on the property.

The par 4 7th, is the only par 4 that might actually be considered drivable. But at 329 from the Gold tees, doing so will be a stretch for most, despite being downhill.

That said, if you play smart, it’ll give you one of the best birdie chances on the course. 

8 is a wonderful par 5 and is one of only 2 holes on the course without a proper greenside bunker.

The view across 8 green to 9 is one of the best on the property, as you head directly toward the mountains.

The Back 9 at The Preserve Golf Club

While I wouldn’t consider the front 9 at the Preserve to be easy necessarily, the challenge definitely ramps up on the back 9.

The 10th is the last of the shorter par 4s on the course. But don’t let the length fool you. If you miss the fairway right, it may be harder to find your ball than you think (not that I’d know anything about that.)

There’s also a severe false front that will send any ball that’s even slightly short, tumbling back down into the fairway.

11 has one of the best-looking tee shots on the course, and is tucked back into the base of the mountains.

Fun fact, a short walk from 11 green is the “Redwood Grove.” This is a gorgeous area used for weddings, events, or just scenic picnics for members and their guests. There are also stories of boxing matches being held there back in the 20s and 30s.

On 12 tee you’ll find the 2nd comfort station on the course. These are stocked with all kinds of snacks and drinks, and are always one of the most welcome amenities to find at a golf club.

This also marks the turn back towards the clubhouse. The Preserve doesn’t loop back after 9, so when you’re out there, you’re out there. And I mean this in the best way possible.

Service at The Preserve is as good as it gets.

One example of this is, often if members want to walk 9 holes, staff will leave a cart out at their preferred spot so that they can catch a ride back in.

The 13th is my favorite par 5 on the course. It also marks the transition from the Savannah back into the woodlands to finish the round.

A solid tee ball over the fairway bunker will cut some distance off the hole. But whether going for it in two, or positioning yourself for a short pitch on your 3rd shot, watch out for the bunker guarding one of the more challenging green complexes on the course.

The 14th is a stunning mid-length par 3. You feel enveloped by nature with trees surrounding the hole and a peak hovering over the backside of the green. The bunkering is fantastic, and a left pin makes going flag hunting especially dangerous.

15 is a hole that makes you long for the “easier” par 4s of the front 9. I think this is the hardest hole on the course. Uphill and measuring nearly 440 yards from the Gold tees – this is a true par 4 1/2, and one where a bogey feels like a par.

The final par 3 16th is the most fun par 3 on the course, as at only 130 or so yards, it’s your best chance for making an ace.

And should you inevitably miss, go find the hidden spot behind the tee where the hole gets its namesake: “Scotch.”

The par 5 17th is the only hole on the course without a bunker, and honestly, it doesn’t need it. The elevated views are spectacular, and the green is challenging enough to not need extra protection. But if you can get your second shot over the ridge about 100 yards out, you’ll have a good shot at getting it to bound down the hill toward the green.

Layup short of it? Pull out your putter. Considering the fairway is probably rolling a 9, you can easily putt from here as well.

The 18th is a wonderful way to finish the round.

With a big forced carry over a canyon, this is a hole where anything can happen.

Stay left to try and clear the bunker to give yourself a shorter approach, or bail out right – but prepare for a big second shot if doing so.

The amphitheater green at the foot of the clubhouse fits the setting perfectly.

Final Thoughts on The Preserve Golf Club at Santa Lucia

The Preserve Golf Club is adventure golf at its finest. When you embark on the first hole it truly feels like you’re setting out on an expedition.

There are over 100 miles of nature trails set within Santa Lucia Preserve, so it’s no coincidence that the entire course routing feels like one giant nature trail. It gives you a little bit of everything from both a golf and scenery standpoint. 

But it’s what it makes you feel that truly sets this course apart from others.

When you’re at The Preserve you feel like you’re in your own private golf nature sanctuary – because you are.

You’re unlikely to find many other people on the course while you’re there. So it’s a rare opportunity to experience true peace and tranquility while playing golf.

This is the antithesis to everything else golf on the Monterey Peninsula represents. I’ve rarely played a golf course that allows you to feel so connected to nature and the land as you do at The Preserve.

If you’re looking for a golf experience that will transport you someplace else entirely, all while retaining the convenience of being near one of the most storied destinations the game has to offer, there are few better spots in the world than The Preserve Golf Club.

The post The Preserve Golf Club: As Peaceful as Golf Gets appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

Beautiful views?

Tons of activities?

Fantastic golf?

Ease and accessibility?

Whatever it is you’re looking for, I can’t imagine many more perfect places in the world than Hualalai.

Well, unless you’re looking for snow-covered mountains, if that’s the case, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Recently, I had the chance to spend 4 days with my family at the Four Seasons Hualalai, and the entire experience lived up to every (high) expectation we had for it.

But I also got a chance to take a peek into the other side of Hualalai, that most Four Seasons guests may not even know exists:

The members-only club, Hualalai Resort.

Today, I’m going to share with you a little bit about what makes The Hualalai Resort so special, intriguing, and let’s be honest, expensive.

I’ll give insights into the golf courses and help you figure out if The Hualalai Resort may be a good fit for you and your family.

Ready? 

Let’s go.

What is The Hualalai Resort?

There’s a good chance you’ve heard of the Four Seasons Hualalai. It’s one of the most highly-regarded Four Seasons resorts in the world and one of the very best resorts in Hawaii.

But along with the world-class resort, there’s also a club component.

The Hualalai Resort is the private, members-only side Hualalai.

In order to be a member at Hualalai you have to own property within the Hualalai gates, and when you join, you get access to not just the amenities of the Hualalai Resort, but a whole slew of additional benefits only for Club members.

It’s this resort component that separates the experience from that of the nearby Kohanaiki Club.

So what are the benefits of being a Hualalai Club member? Let’s find out.

Ke’olu Golf Club: The Private Course at Hualalai

There are two golf courses at Hualalai.

Hualalai Golf Course, is by far the most well-known of the two.

This is simply due to the fact that it’s the one that’s both available to resort guests, and because it gets national TV coverage each January when it hosts the Mitsubishi Electric Championship.

Here’s my full Hualalai Golf review. And if you’re into video, check this out:

But tucked up away from the resort is Ke’Olu. It’s the private members-only course, which also has its own clubhouse as well.

Ke’olu was designed by Tom Weiskopf and it opened in 2002.

It provides a wonderful one-two-punch for members who golf.

Despite the fact Hualalai host the Champions Tour tournament, most will agree that it’s Ke’olu that provides a more demanding test of championship golf.

While I was there I had a chance to play the front 9 of Ke’olu, as the back 9 was in the final stages of transitioning from Bermuda to Paspalum grass.

It’s scheduled to re-open in November 2023.

The Ke’olu Front Nine

The course opens with a downhill, dogleg right par 4. 

It’s the ultimate introduction to the course. A wide fairway and spectacular ocean view lull you into thinking you might be in for an easy round.

But once you get to the green, you realize, things may not be what they seem.

While Hualalai has some of the more visually dramatic green complexes with greens that spill into sand and lava rock, Ke’olu’s greens present more of a challenge.

You see this on the opening hole. A miss right will leave you with a very tricky up and down for par.

The par 3rd is visually dramatic with lava on all 4 corners of the hole. But it’s not just beautiful.

The bunkers fronting the green and the rocks make gauging the depth of the green challenging. So trust your yardage and commit to your shot.

Your inclination might be to think that Ke’olu is inferior to Hualalai in terms of views because of its position higher up on the property.

While yes, Hualalai is the more dramatic course, it never gets old hitting your drives directly into an ocean backdrop as you do on 4 out of the first 5 holes at Ke’olu.

The 4th is a par 4 with both an undulating fairway and undulating green, putting a premium on hitting accurate shots.

The par 5, 528-yard 5th hole is a chance to get on the green in two. But with a pond down the right-hand side, be careful not to slice.

On 6, you’re introduced to the front 9’s Golf Hale. As is common at many of the high-end clubs in Hawaii, you’ll find it stocked with copious snacks and alcohol that are all included in your annual dues. 

While it may not have the comfort station views of say, Quivira, it’s always a welcome addition to a course like this.

The 6th also happens to be one of my favorite holes on the course. Depending on your tee selection it may be drivable. There’s a very clear aggressive line down the left, or you can layup and make your birdie with finesse rather than power. 

Despite the short length, be sure to avoid the bunkers, as making a par out of one of the deep fairway traps would be…impressive.

The 8th is one of the toughest holes on the course. It plays parallel to #2 on Hualalai straight uphill with a lava field to the left of the fairway.

The lava juts out on the approach making it tricky to judge your distance and a left pin position is extra dangerous. Be sure to check the pin sheet for help knowing which side of the fairway to favor on your drive.

An uphill par 4 finishes out the front 9 with the green tucked below the clubhouse.

The Ke’olu Back 9

I took a cart tour of the back 9, and it appears as though reseeding is coming along very nicely.

As you’d expect, both Ke’olu and Hualalai are in phenomenal condition, and it’s a real treat getting to play the courses.

The stand-out hole on the back 9 from my tour was the drivable par 4, 16th. 

You can hit any club in the bag and have no less than 3 different lines you can take to get home – each with its own risks and rewards.

I look forward to getting back to properly experience the rest of the course on my next visit.

Golf Benefits for Hualalai Resort Members

As a member of the Hualalai Resort, you get full unlimited access to both golf courses.

At the Ke’olu clubhouse, you’ll find a members-only driving range, as well as a stunning members-only pool.

That said, having access to the Trackman Range at Hualalai is also a pretty killer benefit to be able to use for all of your practice.

Along with the Ke’Olu clubhouse, members have access to the Golf Hale at Hualalai which has two Trackman garage bays that hit directly out onto the driving range, as well as the only Top Golf Swing Suite in Hawai’i.

Other Benefits of Being a Hualalai Club Member

Sure, there’s something to be said about building a nice cabin out in the woods and having nothing but nature around you.

But at least for me personally, I’d go crazy.

One of the most appealing parts about Hualalai to me is the sheer amount of benefits you get and the energy that surrounds the club and resort.

When you’re a member at Hualalai you get full access to all of the amenities of the Four Seasons resort. Just a few:

• Hualalai Tennis Club
• Hualalai Sports Club
• Hualalai Spa
• All pools at Hualalai
• Members’ pricing at all Hualalai Restaurants

I cover a lot of these resort amenities in my Hualalai video recap.

You also get access to the members-only Canoe Club.

This is the hub of activity for much of the membership, as there are two pools, a restaurant, and plenty of space to hang out and socialize – all while overlooking Uluweuweu Bay.

Along with this, there’s the “Resident’s Beach House” which is the closest dining option at the resort to the water. Unlike the Canoe Club, this is also open to resort guests. Although while we were dining there, it definitely felt like members far outweighed guests – which was a nice change to the other resort restaurants.

The Energy of Hualalai

Along with all of the benefits you get, what I think is going to draw a lot of people to Hualalai is the energy.

With some destination clubs, if you’re there in the off-season it can feel really quiet.

For the right person, this is wonderful. You often can feel like you have the club to yourself, you’ll get extra attention from staff, and you truly feel like you’re at your own private home away from home.

While there are certain times of year that are busier than others at Hualalai, the fact it’s one of the most sought-after resorts in the world means that there’s a consistent energy that’s there year-round.

You can head to any of the restaurants or pools whenever you want and be surrounded by excitement and activity.

If you play tennis or pickleball, there will always be a revolving door of guests and visitors excited to join you for a match.

The downside here is that the community can feel less like a true private club since there’s the resort component that goes along with it.

But if you’re someone who feeds off of variety and activity, then won’t find many places in the world than Hualalai.

Final Thoughts on The Hualalai Resort

After spending 4 days at Hualalai it’s impossible not to see the appeal. It’s impossible not to want to return year after year, and now I understand why so many people do.

The vast majority of club members and homeowners at Hualalai started out as resort guests. 

So if Hualalai seems like the kind of place you’re looking for when it comes to a second home or retirement destination, planning a visit and enjoying the resort is the first step.

The golf, the food, the pools, the spa – it’s all world-class.

Of course amenities of this caliber in a location as stunning as the Kona coastline don’t come cheap. You can expect to pay well into six figures for the initiation fee, and sizable monthly dues for such unparalleled access. Despite the cost though there’s currently a waitlist for prospective buyers. Most homes that become available sell within hours, and don’t even hit Hawai’i MLS.

If that doesn’t speak to the reputation and offerings of the Hualalai lifestyle, I’m not sure what else does.

All that to say, if the Hualalai is within your budget and you’re looking for a community that promotes an active lifestyle in a beautiful setting, then you won’t find many better spots in the world than Hualalai.

The post The Hualalai Resort and Ke’olu Golf: This Might Be Heaven on Earth appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.