The Ritz Carlton hotel at Half Moon Bay is conveniently located an easy 25 minutes away from San Francisco International airport, and is a lovely place to spend a day or two in transit.
For those journeying to or from the magical Monterey peninsula or Bandon Dunes in Oregon, San Francisco is a popular place to stop over.
You can stay in the heart of city, or for a more relaxing alternative the Ritz Carlton is worth consideration.
The hotel is situated right on the point of a spectacular bluff with rolling surf as a gorgeous outlook.
The hotel is excellent in all respects - service levels, spa, wine tasting room, restaurant and a spectacular ocean terrace to sit back and watch the action on the 18th hole, and the whitecaps beyond...
Oh yes, and there are two golf courses - The Old Course designed by Arnold Palmer is known for the dramatic closing hole along the clifftops.
It is the only ocean side hole - but it sure is a beauty!
And that 18th hole provides entertainment for those on the Ocean Terrace all day..(see pic top of page)
The second course is called the Ocean Course- perhaps taking liberties- as only three holes actually approach the sea.
It is a pleasant course with plenty of variety.
The land is not outstanding golfing terrain, but has some interesting moments
The Ocean course heads inland immediately crossing a creek on the second hole into an adjoining paddock where the bulk of the course is sited.
It is a well designed course- sound strategically, and in good condition. However at times it does feel a little contrived..
It is not a course I would travel any distance to play, but the hotel is world class and well located for travellers, so a game of golf here adds to the experience.
Notable holes include:
The seventh hole is a pretty par 3 over a pond which exhibits classic strategic design principles
The green is angled from right to left away from the tee, and is protected by a little pot bunker right of the green which really needs to be avoided.
But if you leak left you really need to be up to avoid the pond..
The routing eventually brings the golfer back to the ocean on the sixteenth tee.
It is a downhill par 4 with ocean left and behind the green.
It's a spectacular hole and a good test of golf.
A barranca crosses at an angle just in front of the green providing a testing approach shot.
Position off the tee is crucial!
Sixteen is by far the best hole on the course.
Hole seventeen is a shortish par 3 along the clifftop.
Club selection is vital as the sea breezes are in play
It's a nice hole
The final hole is a longish par 5 up and along the cliffs with the Ritz Carlton hotel as an imposing backdrop.
However after a tee shot over the creek back to the hotel land, the sea and cliffs are unsighted (even though they are never far away).
The Ocean Course is a nice way to spend the day- and the Ritz Carlton awaits you after the game!
Golf Tours
The Travelling Golfer can tailor a Golf Tour to Pebble Beach Resort, or Bandon Dunes Resort to suit your group.
For Further information on suggested tour destinations see Golf Tours USA
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