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From our Directory of the most recommended golf courses
Sandpiper Golf Club
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Rating: 3.4
Pace of Play
3
Greens
4
Service
2
Value
5
Design/Layout
3
Sandpiper Golf Club is located just north of Santa Barbara near the airport. The course was designed by William F. Bell and opened in 1972, and is bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountain range. It's 7067, par 72 from the back tees, with a 74.6 handicap, and 137 slope. The course is Bermuda-grass throughout with long and wide fairways, along with large, quick, and undulating green complexes. Six of the holes play along the ocean, with excellent views of the Santa Ynez Mountains as well. A real treat to play as it is one of the few public courses on the Pacific between Monterrey and San Diego.
Published by: nickr
Posted by: oneswingthought
Apr 13th, 2012
Good track, holes along the water are really nice. Try to play early cause later in the afternoon the wind really picks up. Some really memorable holes, theres a par 3 down hill wheere the green is on the beach. Also some really good risk reward par 5's. Little pricey for an every round course but Definitly fun to mix it up. People have called it the 'poor mans pebble beach,.
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Posted by: Colin
Jun 8th, 2010
you start off with some flatter holes with tall Eucalyptus trees lining the fairways. Not much trouble on these holes as you can miss left and right and end up in other fairways. I forget a lot of the middle holes, but when you get to the back nine, thats when you start hitting from elevated tees and the holes get a little trickier along the ocean cliffs. There is one little stretch of holes that could be considered similar to Pebble. The 11th is a relatively short downhill par 3, (I think its the signature hole), where you are hitting straight out towards the ocean. The beach is right behind the green and has a great view of the ocean from the tee box. The next tee is in a similar spot to where the 8th tee at Pebble would be. Right after the par 3 (Pebble's 7th), you move to the tee box that is also steps away from the ocean on a par 4, hitting straight up the hill.The next few holes are the ones along the ocean cliffs and look similar to Torrey, kinda flat, a few ravines to hit over, but fair. I don't remember a whole lot more about the course but do remember leaving there very impressed and had a ton of fun. Unbelievable setting if you catch the right weather (when is it not nice in SB) and a great course overall.
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Posted by: Colin
Oct 18th, 2009
The course is right along the Pacific. but doesn't have a lot of water on the course. There are a lot of bunkers though, on every hole. Most holes are straightforward, but quite long. The seventh hole is the toughest on the course. It has a sharp dogleg to the left and there is a nice big bunker in the middle of the fairway. It's best to keep to the center on this one and go a little short off the tee. The eighteenth hole features the one and only water hazard. You'll be shooting across a large lake to make it to the green,
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Posted by: jbass
Sep 30th, 2009
A couple of holes on the front are on the ocean, with number 6 (par 3) being the most fun. If the wind is howling as it usually is, you have to hit the ball over the ocean and expect the wind to bring it back. The back nine is where you get to play more along the ocean. Number ten is a deceivingly tough short par 4. Go long on your second shot and you are down on the beach - take a drop and add the penalty shot to your card. Number 11, same thing. Favorite hole is 13. It is a par 5. If you are a long hitter you might reach the green in two, A great hole. Some of the rough has been mowed this year (definitely a good thing), though if you go hard right on hole 15 you will not find your ball. It is that way on many of the holes. Five yards in the rough, easy to find your ball, but 10 yards in the rough, where the grass is brown, thick, and two feet tall. All of this is a beautiful course with great views out over the Pacific.
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Posted by: dannyp
Jun 18th, 2009
Sandpiper golf course review by Dan Perry The course starts out simple enough, with the first hole right off the clubhouse. Then, you go back and forth a few times until you reach the 5th, which is an uphill par 5.The best part of the hole is that the closer you get to the green, the more the ocean comes into view. I remember seeing a few kite-flyers just south of the golf course. I got to tell you; there’s nothing like being stuck on a plane for 4 hours, then within a couple hours, standing on a golf course overlooking the ocean. The difference is like night and day.The 6th is a par three that runs parallel to the ocean, so lots of wind to deal with. The tenth hole isn’t long (only 381 from the black), but the approach is directly into the wind. The shot is also great in that there’s a drop-off behind the green. The 11th is a 224 yard par 3, but is so far downhill, the camera doesn’t do it justice. It’s a very interesting shot, because you need to adjust not only for the wind (which is right in your face), but the drop in elevation as well.The best part of the 11th is that once you’re on the green, you’re probably 20 steps from the ocean. You can see it, hear it, and smell it. I can even smell it now as I type this. What a place to be.The 12th, 13th and 14th all border the ocean, so it’s all OB on the right. One of the best views on the course is from the 12th tee box, looking back towards the 11th green. As you work your way through the rest of the holes (trying to make up a few shots you lost from the distraction of the wonderful views), you finally come up on the 18th. It’s a great finishing hole for two reasons. One, it’s a par 3, which is rare, and 2, it’s all carry over water, with the wind at your back. As you can probably tell, I loved playing this course. I was lucky enough to have had perfect weather, and to have the time (as a single) to really enjoy the course and the views it had to offer. If given the chance, I’d gladly play here again.
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