Courtesy of Terranea Resort
Welcome to the “Where I Played” series, in which a GOLF employee goes through one of the last days on a course she might play in the future. On this occasion, we are playing at The Links at Terranea in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.
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Playing golf on vacation is fun, but when said vacation involves the whole family, there is one individual problem that tends to arise: time.
A round of golf takes a lot out of it. And the time commitment to play a round isn’t just about a short 18-hole par; There is time to travel to and from the course, warm up (if you’re interested in that) and don’t forget the obligatory post-round libation or snack. Given all that, it’s not uncommon for a single run to turn into a six-hour endeavor, which is fine – if you’re into a buddies trip to Bandon Dunes. But unless all the holiday attendees are playing round together, it might feel a little selfish (not to mention impractical) to abandon others in pursuit of such a long pastime.
in Southern California Terrania ResortOn the scenic slopes of Rancho Palos Verdes, guests encounter no such conundrum. The course on the site, The Links at Terranea, is a nine-hole layout designed by Todd Eckenrode, and you can probably rip around it twice in the time it takes you to play a nine-hole on a full-size course. This was one of my favorite things about the property – aside from the amazing views, of course – because while I love to play, there are so many other things I get excited to do and explore while visiting the resort. Rather than monopolizing an entire day, golf at Terranea is just that part from experience. With prices ranging from $55 to $73 (and $32 to $40 for little ones!), they’re also very accessible to resort guests and local visitors alike.
My tour of The Links was fun. Played early, on a breezy gray morning – perfect weather for a walk. I chose not to skim my clubs for my short visit across state lines and outfitted them with one of TaylorMade’s course rental kits. With limited space to work with, the course chose not to create a driving range. Alternatively, there are Full Swing Golf Studio simulation bays, which are also available to rent for groups or private events. I took a few twists with the short iron and considered myself ready to go.
It’s common to think of a Class III course as “easy,” but despite The Links’ short yardage (all holes range from 104 to 173 yards, with a total length of 1,239), I can confirm that it is anything but. The course, which opened in 2009, requires precision. Sliced shots will be punished by deep, rugged green bunkers and tall, coarse thick grass. And once you’re in the green, you’ll have to navigate both sloping lines and subtle breaks.
But even if you miss every bit of green, you can’t help but be in awe of your surroundings. Walking the course up and down fresh ocean air with moderate elevation changes is an invigorating experience. The vast vista of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island can be seen on nearly every hole, and the lush landscape that surrounds the course is a sight to behold. My visit coincided with the end of California’s “super bloom” trail, which made the cliffside more vibrant and colorful than usual.
By the time you get to the course’s closing hole, No. 9, a slightly sloping 121-yard parlor in which you face the ocean just off the tee, you don’t want the round to be over. Our group of three played at a leisurely pace in less than 90 minutes. If you want more golf, another loop awaits at a discounted replay rate of $35-$50. Or invite the rest of the family to join you from across the resort for some battles in The Links’ expansive mini-game area. Other than that, Terranea offers limitless activities to fill the day.
For me, nine holes was just the right fit. I had a lounge next to the pool.