Sandpiper Golf Course

Just a disgrace plain & simple. Greens are dead. Half sand on half the greens. They lost them somehow via some vague screwup. Never seen anything like this in my life. Bunkers are just mud. Drainage very poor with major wet spots all over. Random high grass all over with no rhyme or reason. They clearly don't care about this course and won't spend the necessary money to keep it remotely playable. Literally worst conditions I've ever seen in my life at any golf course. Needs ownership change stat.

Played in a tournament, course was in pretty good shape in the fairways, rough was a little dead, but the greens were horrible condition. The practice green was pristine, fast, and basically everything you want. but 60-70% of the greens on the course were disease ridden, horribly bumpy, and not anywhere close to normal.

I was very disappointed in the conditions of the greens. They were awful. Given the exorbitant green fees, the correct thing to do is to advise guests of the horrible state of the greens. I play Rancho Duarte GC and the golf shop always gives a discount if the greens are compromised. I will not be recommending Sandpiper. It's not worth it, literally.

The conditions at Sandpiper right now are beyond belief. They are the worst you will find anywhere, at any price. The people who manage this course should be fired and forever banned from working in golf. 15 of the 18 greens are covered in a fungus and are the ugliest, roughest things you’ll ever see (see pics). The fairways are spotty, brown and full of both wet and dead spots and so many different types of grass that even an agronomist would be confused… The bunkers are dirt and rocks, not sand, but wet, heavy dirt! And the rough is sometimes there, most of the time not. Municipal courses in LA are in better shape than this place. I have no idea how the Superintendant and Greenskeepers keeps their job, but then again maybe they dont have one and instead just use some guy off Craigslist. It is really that bad. While the views are great and the weather usually perfect, the course is a sad representation of its former self and its potential. The owners and managers should be embarrassed. Its really bad. Dont waste your money, you will be upset and let down.

One of the locals we played with called it Sandpaper, because its in such a rough condition. I thought that was funny and correct. This course is in horrible shape. Terrible in places and one of the worst conditioned courses I’ve played in years.

On top of the bad conditions, the layout is dull. If it wasnt on the ocean it would be a $25 course. There are some good holes but most are boring and rather ugly. Bunkers are not maintained, fairways are full of dead grass, pits, holes, and all sorts of turf varieties. The greens were OK, but had a lot of ball marks. I dont think they actually maintain this course, It feels more like a muni.

Anyway, I think they need to fine anyone who calls this Pebble Beach South or the dumbest one, Poor man's Pebble... Not only is this course nothing like Pebble or any course up in Carmel, its in such terrible shape that its not even worth the discounted rate. If you can get it.

If you play here and are a real, active golfer, you will be disappointed. 5+hour rounds. No marshals, no driving range or putting green (according to management, its due to covid, but this is the only course I've played this year with these facilities closed while the course remains open.. go figure?

A nearly $200 round just needs more than this! The track is good, not great. The greens are in very good shape and roll true and fast. The views - especially on the back nine are world class! 11 is a special par 3. 12-14 are just spectacular along the coastline! But I still came away sorta disappointed. I mean the course must have been shut down for 2-3 months this year and its still this beat up? Take some of the green fees and hire a real grounds crew!!

Beautiful would describe this course. View’s of the Pacific Ocean on many holes. Very tough course, especially if you leave yourself a downhill putt. Anyone in the area need to make this a must.

Scored a UnderPar deal for (2) for $275, with a free replay and range balls. Carts had GPS and UBS chargers. Pace of play was good, considering the amount of people taking pictures and enjoying the amazing scenery.

Conditions: Greens were quick, rolling around 11 but rolled very nicely. Found the bunkers to be fairly inconstant with very light rough. Fairways and tee boxes were in pretty good shape. Made the drive up from San Diego and would certainly recommend this track!

I have a friend who's a member at Birnham Wood, which is private, and HE RECOMMENDED this place.

Greens are in good shape - fairly fast/ firm, but fairways/ areas around grounds need work!!! As many workers as I saw during my round, it seems they are overwatering areas near the greens causing brown grass. Bunkers were ok, but inconsistent.

I paid $170 on a Thursday noon tee time - nope, way too overpriced with fair/ poor conditioon. Play elsewhere for now - if you're an out of towner.

Sandpiper is a beautiful course with ocean views on the back nine that are second to Pebble 'Beach. The overall condition of the course was surprisingly average as I expected much more for the price. My friend who lives out of the tri counties that receive a discount paid $200 for the round which I think is too high.

Rode the Golds (6646/72.6/130) with Gary, Ron and Mike in slightly over 4H mid day. Drizzling when we started, turned out to be a partly cloudy, breezy afternoon with temps in the 60's.

The tees were nice to play from. Mostly lush with excellent coverage.

The Bermuda fairways were lush bordering on excellent. Nice to play from.

The rough was very good but more hit and miss. Thicker closer to the fairways, with everything from hardpan to lush Bermuda all the way to thick Kikuyu the farther you got from the fairway.

The fairway bunkers were firm brown dirt and okay to play from. The green side bunkers were part thick, medium brown dirt (not sand) that was well maintained and generally good to play from.

The large greens were firm and putted medium fast. Alot of slope on these green complexes, not only back to front but also from side to side.

The customer service was excellent from everyone encountered. The Pro Shop/Starter, cart attendants and the ever present cart gal were all great. Good all grass driving range, nice restaurant on site. No GPS on the carts is the only real negative. Always enjoy this layout. Absolutely recommended.

Without a question one of the most scenic and beautiful courses you'll ever play! About 6 of the holes are situated high up on the bluffs along the Pacific coastline with striking views and mild coastal breezes. You'll love the challenging layout but careful, you might get distracted by the striking views!

I played Sandpiper on a Monday morning and it was such an enjoyable round. The course was practically empty and the weather was gorgeous. The views from this course are unbelievable, photos don't do it justice. At some points it feels like you are hitting directly into the Pacific ocean. The clubhouse is non pretentious with everything you might need. There's a lovely patio to sit on after your round and enjoy a meal or beverage while looking out into the ocean. Friendly and accommodating staff!

My first time out to Sandpiper. I’ve wanted to play this place for a while. There are a lot of positives. I had high expectations considering the greens fee, but ultimately left being happy I played, but skeptical that I would ever come back.

Positives:
-Great layout. Every hole is interesting and the routing up and down the hills is pretty thrilling. It reminds me of Ojai meets Torrey South.
-The staff was really friendly and accommodating. The facilities are nice.
-The range is all grass and you get balls with your round.
-The pace of play was good and they were keeping tabs on the timing.
-The greens were challenging.

Negatives:
-The course conditions are bad. It’s part drought and part bad agronomy. It’s not just that is hasn’t rained, there are a lot of areas that seem more like a potato field than a golf course. It was also muddy in a lot of places. There was a lot of over watered areas mixed in. Lots of mud and chunky spots.
-The greens fee is offensively overpriced. It’s $320 to play Trump National in PV. That’s really expensive, but the course is pristine. This place is in bad shape and getting $200. I can assure you it’s not going back into the course. I would rather play somewhere nice than go here just for ocean views.

Other:
-One review mentioned “blazing fast” greens. They are in decent shape, but we’re running at about an 8.

While there are things to gripe about at Sandpiper - a few pedestrian inland holes, a few poorly maintained fairways, an overall scruffy appearance - it still won me over. It's one of my new favorite courses in SoCal.
A few of the ocean holes are so thrilling - nos. 10-11-13 - that I can't wait to play them again.
I played as the second group off on a Sunday morning and by the fourth hole, I peeled back my sweatshirt and changed into shorts. We didn't encounter any breeze until late in the round. I'm glad I got out early because the wind makes scoring tougher as the day goes on.
I normally ignore the advice 'stay below the hole', but it's wise to follow at Sandpiper. A few downhill putts were wicked fast.

If you can't afford Pebble go play this course
Amazing ocean views
Course in great shape
Greens blazing at about12
A course you could play every day for the rest of your life

Played the Golds (6646/72.6/130) with Pat, Mike & Mark in clear, sunny, breezy conditions. Around 80, almost perfect golf weather! SP is currently in excellent shape, and you would be hard pressed to get better So Cal coastal weather conditions than we experienced.

The tees were lush, only the par 3's needed divot repair.

The Bermuda fairways were very lush and excellent to play from.

The rough was thicker closer to the fairways. The farther you got from the fairway, the conditions were much more mixed. Above average overall.

The fairway bunkers were firm brown dirt and decent to play from. The green side bunkers were maintained with thick, medium brown dirt (hard to call it sand) that was generally good to play from.

The greens were firm and fast. They held well struck irons well but run out on chips and pitches needed to be taken into account.

The customer service was excellent from the Pro Shop/Starter, cart attendants and the ever present cart gal. Enjoy the beautiful, picturesque layout. Definitely recommended.

Played at Sandpiper while in in the area on vacation, on the recommendation of a friend. I'm glad we did. The friend called it a 'poor man's Pebble' and he wasn't too far off (although I'm not sure that $105 for Twilight rate is 'poor'). This course is right on the ocean and 5 or 6 holes are, literally, right on the water. Even on a day with an intermittent marine layer and pretty good sea breeze, it was beautiful. Transplant the layout inland and it probably wouldn't be that remarkable....it would be a reasonable golf challenge, but nothing extraordinary. The forward tees are a pretty good challenge for the ladies (long). Tees, fairways, and greens were in great condition. Bunkers? Not so much. And be VERY careful with the wooden handled rakes....splinters. Two significant complaints: 1. Pace of play. We teed off at 2:40pm and it took more than 5 hours to finish the round. We waited on every shot. No course personnel on the course and they did nothing to move play along. 2. We paid $105 for the Twilight rate (it was $170 before 2). Yet that does not include range balls. That's an extra charge. I expect that at a muni where I'm not paying much to play. But at more than $100 per round - even for the twilight rate - I expect the basics, like range balls, to be included. We will likely return if in the area, but with a lowered set of expectations.