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4.2
154 Reviews (154)
5 Stars
41
4 Stars
74
3 Stars
27
2 Stars
8
1 Stars
4
Conditions
3.7
Value
4.2
Layout
4.8
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
4.9
Amenities
3.2
98.0%
Recommend this course
132 out of 154 reviews
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Average Rating
Avg Rating
0
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
0
Value
0
Layout
0
Friendliness
0
Pace
0
Amenities
0
0%
Recommend this course
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.0
3 Reviews (3)
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
3
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
3.3
Value
4.3
Layout
5.0
Pace
5.0
Amenities
3.3
StaffFriendliness
4.7
100.0%
Recommend this course
3 out of 3 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Style Links
Par 72
Length 6649 yards
Slope 130
Rating 72.5

Sea Ranch Golf Links opened in 1974 as one of the first Scottish links-style golf courses to be built in the Western United States. The front nine stretches along the rugged North Coast, offering plenty of scenic ocean views, while the back nine moves inland, incorporating the small creeks that meander across the landscape. Mature redwoods and natural sea grass rough accent the golf course, especially along the fairways to provide some challenges. The design is noted for blending seamlessly with the scenic surroundings. While the golf course can seem intimidating, four diverse sets of tees make it more approachable for a range of skill levels. In addition to the course, Sea Ranch is also popular for its practice facilities, which include an all-grass driving range and two short game areas with putting and chipping greens.

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The Sea Ranch Golf Links
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Course Details

Year Built 1974
Golf Season Year round
Architect Robert Muir Graves (1974)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - $15
Pull-carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top 25 Courses for Pace of Play in the U.S. (2023 #12) (2019 #16)
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Reviews

4.2
154 Reviews (154)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Backhoe

Hit a backhoe bucket on my second shot to the first green that probably would have been on and close but bounced back 30 yards It wasn’t there when I teed off. It was spar that could have been an eagle. Scratch that off my bucket llist

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 174
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

Good challenging course

Course just reopened after being closed from so much rain that they couldn't do any maintenance. Greens are in pretty good shape but some of the rough has yet to be mowed as it is still wet in some areas. It was a windy day but there is enough trees growing next to the course that only a few holes are in the full wind.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 18
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Overall Great Experience

I played 18 holes on a perfect weather day. The course layout is really nice - diverse terrains and good challenges. Overall the course is in OK condition. The fairways are a bit bare in spots (need aeration), but the greens were in very good shape. The provided cart is gas-driven, which I find to be less responsive than an electric cart.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Rough

Tee boxes very rough

Fairway’s bumpy and vey few green patche

Greens dieing a lot of potholes. Too much$ for the conditions. Sorry been playing along time and it’s hurting.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played

Horrendous

This place might as well close up shop, absolutely horrible conditions with a disgusting price tag... Worst course on the coast so if your on a road trip I'd advise to keep driving

Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Hidden Coastal Course

The Sea Ranch Links is a wonderful coastal California course that winds its way along the bluff above the Pacific Ocean. Several holes offer significant challenges with long forced carries or specific landing zones. I played it (again, I have visited multiple times) in mid-September and found the conditions about what we would expect for late in the season in drought-struck California. The fairways were green if not lush and the greens were in decent condition apart from several that need additional attention. The weather at Sea Ranch is coastal, so always a combination of sun, wind, fog, and clouds--which for me add to the allure. Not a ton of on course amenities, but nearby Gualala has all you need. This is definitely a course you should play on a California coast trip and if you are sweltering in some hot place, it is a great stop to cool off!

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
1.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

pathetic condition

It really must take a lot of nerve to take green fees from the public for this golf course. They must be making nothing but profit due to only irrigating greens and tee boxes. Never played a course with no grass in fairways before this one. I get the whole Scottish theme but really this course needs to be shut down and just let nature have it back.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Default User Avatar
Commented on 09/15/2022

From what I heard at the course from staff, the new management team is making big upgrades across the course. Lots of new irrigation in place when I played just a few weeks after you. All the fairways had playable surfaces that are typical for fall. California is not Minnesota and coastal CA is always water scarce. My sense is they are doing a good job with the water they have. I definitely would hate to see it revert as you suggest.

Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Rounds on Aug 4 & 5

I love this golf course and have played every year at least twice since 1984. I understand about the drought and not watering the fairways, but the greens were burnt and not likely to recover for 2 years.

I found out between rounds that the new owners have replace all of the employees, especially the course maintenance crew. What is interesting is that the prior employees had been working this course for over 10 years. I am not sure if the new owners asked how to keep the greens from being burnt but they should. The prior crew knows from experience how to keep the greens in good shape.

I was very sad to play on the course knowing that it may be the last time.

Also, the price of the round is too high given the conditions of the course. It is almost unplayable. In addition the golf carts are too old and I got one that was malfunctioning. Scary dangerous as the accelerator stuck.

I'm deeply saddened.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 30
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great layout, drought conditions

Outstanding Robert Muir Graves layout--tough. But due to drought water conditions, only the greens receive any water. Greens are decent, but only Ok, not great. Some burning areas on the greens. The fairways are real BAD. Burnt, brown, dry grass or dirt were most of the fairways. Tees not too good either. But the fairways really look poor. If you book the green fees on the same day that you play, then it's reasonable (around $45). But I would not pay any more than that. Tough car drive just to get there--very isolated.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Overpriced

The overall course conditions are average at best. Greens were in good condition and saved the day, No grass in fairways and some bunkers were rock hard. Overpriced for the condition of the course. And please invest in some battery operated carts.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played

Bring back the 20$ twilight.....!!

I love sea ranch golf links.....

It's a beautiful cow pasture.....

Y'all should quit acting like it's pebble beach.....

Prices are way to high......

I Kno inflation....

But nothing has been changed on the course.....

Same dinosaur golf carts....

Every fairway is bumpy.... Better off walking...

Dirt.....no grass in fairways.....

PLEASE BRING BACK 20$ TWILIGHT!!!!!!

Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
First Time Playing

Bumpy

Staff super friendly. Fairways need some work. Very bumpy and you have to drive the carts slow or else you destroy your back and clubs. Recommend some iron covers so you don't hear your irons banging around the whole round.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Beautiful afternoon

The course is doing quite a lot of work to improve the condition and it is working. The rough, fairways and greens are all in better condition than they have been for some time.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Walked

Outstanding layout so so condition

Played from black tee for the first time. The scenic views and challenging layout are worth the rate (twilight $45). Course is basically empty which is impossible to have for a public course after covid. Unlike some inexpensive coastal public courses, every hole here is different. I especially like the par 3s.

If you are long and accurate off the tee this course is fairly easy once you know where to aim. The greens are easy but super slow and _bumpy_. Fairways are rough too but you can't ask too much for a remote course w few players and reasonable rates. I hope they can spend more time mowing the greens at least so people aren't putting on their home carpet.

Overall I would recommend playing this course if you are near-by or driving-by to enjoy the layout and views.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great layout, upkeep needs help

Sea Ranch is located in a perfect place for a resort course. The layout is outstanding and very challenging. The course is in really rough shape, though. The fairways were bumpy and full of dead patches and the greens were like putting on a fairway. Lastly, the carts are gas-powered, and I was concerned that I was smoking my playing partner out. It’s such a shame because the course could be memorable and worth the drive. Staff was great and friendly.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
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