TheHeez
Well-known member
Sandpiper Golf Club – Par 72
Silver Tees – 72.2/131, Approx. 6,600 yards
Sandpiper Golf Club in Santa Barbara, CA is one of the courses I have been looking forward to playing for a long time. So when a buddy decided that his bachelor party would culminate with a Sunday round at ‘Pipes, I was very excited! Pic heavy but hope you enjoy!
Hole 1 – Par 5
Sandpiper starts out with a fairly straightforward par 5. Long and straight with fairway bunkers on the left side. I’m not a long hitter so I was playing this to hit in regulation. It could be reached in two but there are two huge bunkers in the front face that will swallow any miss. And we’re off!
Hole 2 – Par 4
The second hole is a long-ish par 4 that has OB right and plays down a little gully area. You need to be in the middle as there is a stand of eucalyptus trees that will block your approach from the rough. After a good drive you are faced with an uphill approach shot to a severely sloping green.
Hole 3 – Par 4
Number three is pretty boring. It's a flat hole with a couple fairway bunkers and nothing memorable to speak of.
Hole 4 – Par 3
The first par 3 is a doozy. It's a bit over 200 yards and has a series of deep bunkers guarding the front. The green is of modest size and you really have to place an accurate shot and have it come in from up high.
Hole 5 – Par 5
This bad boy gives you an idea of what is to come. It's less than 500 yards but everything is up hill, from tee shot to final approach. Left is dead off the tee and you need to be in the middle, even if it means taking a fairway wood. Once you get to the top of the hill an incredible view of the Pacific Ocean becomes apparent. Fun hole if you like hitting into a huge slope!
Hole 6 – Par 3
The Pacific Ocean is the highlight of this medium length par three. This is a simple shot with nothing to worry about but a huge cliff and the ocean to your left. Requires a mid-long iron and a well-placed shot to try and steal par. Take a moment to soak in the view because it is beautiful.
Hole 7 – Par 4
This is a dogleg left that plays downhill. An aggressive play is to try and play over the fairway bunkers that guard the inside of the dogleg. The smart play is to hit a fairway wood out the middle and leave yourself a mid iron into the green. Not nearly the views but certainly a fun hole especially if you try to carry the fairway bunkers.
Hole 8 – Par 4
This is an easy hole plays just straight ahead. You have to avoid the fairway bunkers on the left and on your second shot you got to make sure you don’t go wayward to the right with the trees and scrub that extends towards the fairway and green.
Hole 9 – Par 4
Number nine is fairly anti-climactic; it takes a modest drive to the middle avoiding the fairway bunkers to the right. Don’t miss left as the driving range runs along the entire left side. A fairly boring way to wrap up the front nine but there is plenty to look forward to on the back.
Hole 10 – Par 4
Starting the back nine in style. This hole wraps around as a dogleg left and ends up on a cliff. You have to hit a good drive and are then faced with a green that appears to be perched over the ocean as there is trouble left, right and long. Visually stunning approach shot!
Hole 11– Par 3
I’d call this the signature hole on the course. It's a mid/long par three that plays downhill and has this incredible tee shot that feels like you are launching your tee shot into the ocean. The green ends up just barely above the sand and you feel like you are right on the beach. I found out later that a seal with shark attack wounds was found near here later this day. Random…
Hole 12– Par 4
Since #11 was all downhill, this short par four is ALL uphill. The tee box is just barely above the sand and you hit away from the ocean. It doglegs hard right and there are trees and bunkers on the right to prevent you from trying to cut the corner.
Hole 13 – Par 5
This might also be considered a signature. Now back on top of the bluff this par 5 has cliff running the entire right side. This hole also features two greens, one left that could be reached in two and one right that requires a shot over a deep ravine and huge bunker facing the approach. This day we played to the right green and it forces a layup. Stunning view on this entire hole and there is simply danger everywhere!
Hole 14 – Par 4
A modest par four that is fairly straightforward but again features the cliff and Pacific Ocean the entire length of the hole! It plays slightly uphill and deep bunkers guard the opening of the green. It seems simple but this is the #2 handicap hole on the course. This was my best hole with three great shots stealing me a birdie!
Hole 15 – Par 5
After a series of stunning golf holes, you finally turn away from the ocean. A long dogleg right that has trees and junk everywhere you look.
Hole 16 – Par 4
This hole doglegs to the left but the key is to be straight off the tee. Nothing spectacular but a good little golf hole.
Hole 17 – Par 4
This short par 4 is a definite birdie hole. It doglegs slightly right but as long as you stay clear of the trees on the right, you should have a short iron or wedge with little danger to the green.
Hole 18 – Par 3
It’s always a bummer to end on a par three, but this hole is plenty entertaining. Its modest length and 100% water carry adds an element of danger. Not incredibly exciting but it was fun to have one last chance to throw a dart.
Sandpiper is a good course and presents plenty of spectacular views as well as some real challenging golf shots. It starts slow and ends slow, but that middle part is some of the best golf and best views I’ve ever experienced. All in all, I had a great round and great time at Sandpiper. The day was capped off with a chance meeting of epic proportions!
Silver Tees – 72.2/131, Approx. 6,600 yards
Sandpiper Golf Club in Santa Barbara, CA is one of the courses I have been looking forward to playing for a long time. So when a buddy decided that his bachelor party would culminate with a Sunday round at ‘Pipes, I was very excited! Pic heavy but hope you enjoy!
Hole 1 – Par 5
Sandpiper starts out with a fairly straightforward par 5. Long and straight with fairway bunkers on the left side. I’m not a long hitter so I was playing this to hit in regulation. It could be reached in two but there are two huge bunkers in the front face that will swallow any miss. And we’re off!
Spoiler
Hole 2 – Par 4
The second hole is a long-ish par 4 that has OB right and plays down a little gully area. You need to be in the middle as there is a stand of eucalyptus trees that will block your approach from the rough. After a good drive you are faced with an uphill approach shot to a severely sloping green.
Spoiler
Spoiler
Hole 3 – Par 4
Number three is pretty boring. It's a flat hole with a couple fairway bunkers and nothing memorable to speak of.
Hole 4 – Par 3
The first par 3 is a doozy. It's a bit over 200 yards and has a series of deep bunkers guarding the front. The green is of modest size and you really have to place an accurate shot and have it come in from up high.
Spoiler
Hole 5 – Par 5
This bad boy gives you an idea of what is to come. It's less than 500 yards but everything is up hill, from tee shot to final approach. Left is dead off the tee and you need to be in the middle, even if it means taking a fairway wood. Once you get to the top of the hill an incredible view of the Pacific Ocean becomes apparent. Fun hole if you like hitting into a huge slope!
Spoiler
Hole 6 – Par 3
The Pacific Ocean is the highlight of this medium length par three. This is a simple shot with nothing to worry about but a huge cliff and the ocean to your left. Requires a mid-long iron and a well-placed shot to try and steal par. Take a moment to soak in the view because it is beautiful.
Spoiler
Hole 7 – Par 4
This is a dogleg left that plays downhill. An aggressive play is to try and play over the fairway bunkers that guard the inside of the dogleg. The smart play is to hit a fairway wood out the middle and leave yourself a mid iron into the green. Not nearly the views but certainly a fun hole especially if you try to carry the fairway bunkers.
Hole 8 – Par 4
This is an easy hole plays just straight ahead. You have to avoid the fairway bunkers on the left and on your second shot you got to make sure you don’t go wayward to the right with the trees and scrub that extends towards the fairway and green.
Hole 9 – Par 4
Number nine is fairly anti-climactic; it takes a modest drive to the middle avoiding the fairway bunkers to the right. Don’t miss left as the driving range runs along the entire left side. A fairly boring way to wrap up the front nine but there is plenty to look forward to on the back.
Hole 10 – Par 4
Starting the back nine in style. This hole wraps around as a dogleg left and ends up on a cliff. You have to hit a good drive and are then faced with a green that appears to be perched over the ocean as there is trouble left, right and long. Visually stunning approach shot!
Spoiler
Hole 11– Par 3
I’d call this the signature hole on the course. It's a mid/long par three that plays downhill and has this incredible tee shot that feels like you are launching your tee shot into the ocean. The green ends up just barely above the sand and you feel like you are right on the beach. I found out later that a seal with shark attack wounds was found near here later this day. Random…
Spoiler
Hole 12– Par 4
Since #11 was all downhill, this short par four is ALL uphill. The tee box is just barely above the sand and you hit away from the ocean. It doglegs hard right and there are trees and bunkers on the right to prevent you from trying to cut the corner.
Spoiler
Spoiler
Hole 13 – Par 5
This might also be considered a signature. Now back on top of the bluff this par 5 has cliff running the entire right side. This hole also features two greens, one left that could be reached in two and one right that requires a shot over a deep ravine and huge bunker facing the approach. This day we played to the right green and it forces a layup. Stunning view on this entire hole and there is simply danger everywhere!
Spoiler
Hole 14 – Par 4
A modest par four that is fairly straightforward but again features the cliff and Pacific Ocean the entire length of the hole! It plays slightly uphill and deep bunkers guard the opening of the green. It seems simple but this is the #2 handicap hole on the course. This was my best hole with three great shots stealing me a birdie!
Spoiler
Spoiler
Hole 15 – Par 5
After a series of stunning golf holes, you finally turn away from the ocean. A long dogleg right that has trees and junk everywhere you look.
Hole 16 – Par 4
This hole doglegs to the left but the key is to be straight off the tee. Nothing spectacular but a good little golf hole.
Spoiler
Hole 17 – Par 4
This short par 4 is a definite birdie hole. It doglegs slightly right but as long as you stay clear of the trees on the right, you should have a short iron or wedge with little danger to the green.
Hole 18 – Par 3
It’s always a bummer to end on a par three, but this hole is plenty entertaining. Its modest length and 100% water carry adds an element of danger. Not incredibly exciting but it was fun to have one last chance to throw a dart.
Spoiler
Sandpiper is a good course and presents plenty of spectacular views as well as some real challenging golf shots. It starts slow and ends slow, but that middle part is some of the best golf and best views I’ve ever experienced. All in all, I had a great round and great time at Sandpiper. The day was capped off with a chance meeting of epic proportions!
