World Class Half Moon Bay

Set against dramatic cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Half Moon Bay Golf Links features thirty-six holes of championship golf as well as clubhouse facilities including a top-quality Pro Shop and a gourmet, ocean-view bar and restaurant.

For nearly forty years, avid golfers have been returning to this incomparable setting, enjoying the variety of play now offered by two award winning courses: the classic American parkland-styled Old Course and Scottish-Links-styled Ocean Course.

Half Moon Bay Golf Links has been honored to host the LPGA Samsung World Championship Tournament, the Women’s U.S. Open Qualifiers, as well as the Men’s U.S. Open Qualifiers.

OLD COURSE OVERVIEW

Formerly known as the Links Course, The Old Course was originally designed by Francis Duane and Arnold Palmer in 1973 and redesigned by Arthur Hills in 2000.

On opening day in 1973 Joe DiMaggio, Jackie Gleason and Evel Knievel joined Arnold Palmer for his foursome. How sweet it is!

We began play on a somewhat foggy morning, which quickly burnt off before we completed a couple of holes. The starter introduced us to the course, gave us some hints and secrets, and stated that “He’d put up the finishing 4 holes against any other course”.

Fairways and greens on the Old Course are lined with several species of trees, including Monterey Cypress, Monterey Pine, and New Zealand Christmas. Playing just more than 7,000 yards from the back tees, the course is defined by sharp doglegged fairways and greens protected by deep bunkering, water and barrancas. At a rating of 75.3 from the black tees, it is ranked within the top 5 most challenging courses in Northern California. However, four other sets of tees offer more manageable options.

As the starter had hinted, we found the tricky hole #4 to be one of our favorites on the front nine. The par-4 386 yarder has a 90 degree dogleg right. We listened to our golf-whisperer and chose not to use driver off the tee to try to cut the corner. The tee box is sentried by trees, the fairway by homes and a large fairway bunker serves as a landing target. It’s easy to see that many have run out of fairway on this hole.

Water comes into play on nine holes, including seven on the backside. The most dramatic instance is on the signature (and frequently photographed) 18th, which was voted by the readers of Golf Digest as one of the best 18 holes in the country. The Pacific Ocean frames the entire western length of the par-4 418 yard hole, while the stately presence of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel at the conclusion of the hole adds even more splendor and drama to the scenery. To say that this is a breathtaking view from the tee box is one of the biggest understatements ever!

Since its inception, The Old Course has garnered high praise from avid golfers and critics alike, including a recent Four Star rating from Golf Digest (one of only two in the San Francisco Bay Area that year–with the Ocean Course receiving the other Four Star rating).

OCEAN COURSE OVERVIEW

Unveiled in the fall of 1997, the Ocean Course was soon met with critical acclaim, including its ranking among Golf Digest’s Top Ten Best New Upscale Public Courses and Travel + Leisure Golf’s Top Ten Best Resort Courses. Renowned golf course architect, Arthur Hills, designed this spectacular course to pay homage to the traditional Scottish-links layout.

Absent of any trees, roadways, or residences within the area of play, The Ocean Course provides golfers with a uniquely challenging environment while rewarding them with breathtaking Pacific Ocean views from every hole.

Though not overly long at 6,649 yards from the back tees, most of the Ocean Course’s difficulty comes in the form of playing into the prevailing coastal breezes, as well as fairways with rolling terrain with numerous elevation changes all flanked by rustic native grasses, in addition to old-style bunkers guarding the greens. Although water (aside from the Pacific) is found only on the par-3 seventh, both sand and grass bunkering is prevalent on each hole.

A closer view of the water comes on the three finishing holes, which have been lauded by Golf Digest as surpassing any three consecutive holes at Pebble Beach. Our favorite hole of the day for its breathtaking views of ocean, cliffs, wildlife, the fabulous Ritz Carlton as well as the layout of the hole itself, was the par-4 16th. It teeters on the edge of the Pacific and is bordered by the native grasses that are a defining feature of the Ocean Course. The 17th is the course’s signature hole, a tough par-3 with a Cliffside green that requires a variety of club selections, depending on the ever-present wind.

The par-4 finishing hole also rides along the ocean and requires a bold tee shot over the cliffs and the natural vegetation. This 18th hole leads golfers back toward the neighboring Ritz- Carlton Hotel property where a bagpiper can be heard ushering in the sunset every Saturday and Sunday evening.

The Ocean Course was the site of the 2008 Samsung World Championship LPGA tournament and has been the regional host venue for the U.S. Open Women Qualifier in 2006 and 2008, as well as for the 2007 and 2009 U.S. Open Men’s Qualifier.

Half Moon Bay Golf Links is located at 2 Miramontes Point Road in Half Moon Bay. To book a tee time call 650.726.1800 or visit www.halfmoonbaygolf.com