The Sea Ranch Golf Links

Definitely a fan of Sea Ranch Golf Links. It’s not really a links-​style course (if you’ve ever been to Scotland and seen a real links course, then you’ll know this isn’t one). However, it is a very fun course that plays pretty tough depending on the weather. The course wraps around the ocean and there are a couple of holes that are truly amazing (the par 3 8^th hole has a magnificent view of the Pacific).
In general, the fairways are very tight, so you must watch your tee shot. Many fairways have OB or trees very close by so you can shoot a high score very easily. Many holes switch between requiring a draw or a fade for the tee shot, so that makes things a little more difficult.
The putting greens, when I played, were in great condition — surprisingly so. There were very few ball marks and the greens rolled incredibly true. It was like putting on a swanky private club’s greens. It was super odd to me, because the fairways and tee boxes weren’t in nearly as immaculate of condition. At least they put maintenance into the most important aspect of the course, though.
If you go in the morning, like I did, this course can be absolutely sublime. I saw wildlife roaming everywhere — there was a family of deer crossing the driving range and birds of all types chirping about. Also, there isn’t heavy traffic during weekday mornings, so you might have the whole course to yourself!

I agree with Bob L.‘s review relative to the course and staff so much I’ll just leave it at that rather than repeat his comments.
So why two stars? Please course managers, please read this…
You have a course situated next to the ocean with the purest air available, and you are ruining it with those awful smelly two-​stroke oil burning golf carts! As much as I enjoyed my two rounds there last week, I would not play again (or recommend it) unless you upgrade to electric carts.

The course at Sea Ranch is a one hour and 40 minute drive from my house and is well worth it.
The staff in the pro shop is very friendly and helpful
The course is great, links style, in good shape, challenging, views of the ocean that can’t be beat. This is the place to go. Unspoiled, easy pace of play… doesn’t matter your handicap, there are tees for all skill levels.
Deer all over the place too :)
Played a couple days ago and am looking forward to going back
They have some specials running too… online and in the Press Democrat.
Thumbs Up!

I’m not even going to bother to write a review of this tremendous and beautiful course EXCEPT to assert that when Mark Twain said «Golf is a good walk spoiled», he was talking about The Sea Ranch Golf Links.
I’m posting a bunch of photos to prove my point.

Forget driving to Bandon or flying to Scotland! Less than three hours from San Francisco we have Sea Ranch Golf Links, which provides all the unspoiled beauty and challenges a true golfer could hope for in a course. When calm, it is a lamb, but when the wind is up… it is a lion.

Called to set a tee and prior to setting up asked if all greens wipers open and not sanded or plugged. Was told all was fine and then set up a tee time. Drove up from San Fran and when arrived we were told that the front 9 were closed and we would have to play the back 9 twice. Very, Very disappointed to travel all that way and not to be able the front 9. If we were told this in advance, we would of waited until the whole course was open. I wouldn’t be upset if we made a tee time without asking, but we asked and were given false info. A long way to go to be disappointed on April 30
Mike
San Bruno

The course is challenging, especially on a windy day. They seem to maintain the greens, but this is a true links course. The Asian dude that works in the pro shop is a real dush bag. The rest of the staff was outstanding. I would recommend this course if you are up in the area.

I’ve seen The Sea Ranch Golf Links advertised on Golfnow and EZLinks. If you’ve had a chance to read any of my other reviews in The Epic breakdown of NorCal Golf, you know I weight my ratings heavily on bang for the buck.
I hate to admit it (I’ll explain), but TSRGL is excellent bang for the buck… If you happen to be up on the northern Sonoma County coast or if you’ve got a day to kill. It’s not close — to anything. But that’s probably part of the charm. If you hit this place on the shoulder seasons (which probably have the best weather anyway), you’ll most likely have the course to yourself. At least that’s been my experience today (post Labor Day September).
The course itself is probably what I expected. A poor man’s Pebble is probably a stretch, but the course does have some great Ocean views. The layout is more challenging than the yardage suggests. You can tell they put a lot of their energy into maintaining the greens and surrounding areas. The fairways and bunkers… Not as much. I haven’t played a whole lot of links style golf to benchmark the conditions against, but don’t expect crisscrossed now lines or anything. The bunkers were crap… Mostly mud. The greens really were in great shape.
I got a Friday afternoon round for $ 40 and some change. It was definitely worth that.
My biggest gripe with the place…
I play the first six holes and just had a few really bad bounces… Good shot that just caught the wrong tuft of grass. Seeing as there was nobody else out there, and being the golfing prima Donna that I am, I stopped by the pro shop and politely asked if he had an issue if I started over. Pretty much verbatim, «Actually yeah, I do have an issue with that». Looking back on it, he was probably in the right — even though the parking lot was empty, I was probably the only one on the course, I had only played 6 holes, I had driven 3 hours to get there, etc. It would’ve been a cool gesture, but instead he came off as a dick and immediately ruined my attitude about the place. I 100% realize that I probably sound like a little bitch right now, but whatever… It’s my review dammit :).
The course was fun. The views on the front nine were great. The little paths and bridges between the holes on the back nine were cool. The guy in the pro shop rubbed me the wrong way, but I probably didn’t get enough sleep last night. It was worth the $ 40 round.

First of, folks go to
before you head up here and get yourself a discount tee time. I got a 1:20 tee time for $ 16 with a cart !!! Are you kidding me, that’s less than what I usually lose in golf balls or spend on beer at a course. I hooked up with a father and son who made 2 hour drive from Santa Rosa for the same $ 16 deal.
The course does take some local knowledge, lots of blind shots, holes where the fairways run out of room etc. but i had a GPS, and the course was so empty that we would drive up ahead and scout out the holes if we couldn’t tell what was going on. There was no one in front of us for at least 5 or 6 holes and no one behind us for about the same. I guess that’s why they have discount tee times.
I ended up really liking the course and the experience of having it all to ourselves, not like 6 hour marathon at any bay area muni.
PS. Pick the right tees the back tee’s are brutal, at least they would have been i still got knocked around from blue tees.
PPS, not much amenities in clubhouse, just hot dogs, beer, sodas and chips. but really that’s all you need. Go north to Bones Roadhouse afterward, about 5 minute drive or less from golf course.