Southern California Golf Guide: The Alisal Ranch

Activities

The Alisal Dude Ranch is a 10,000 acre working cattle ranch that's been in operation since 1843. It's been open as a retreat since 1946 for guests seeking outdoor pursuits like horse back riding, backpacking, fly-fishing instruction as well as two championship golf courses - all with five star hospitality and service. Since the Ranch is geared towards families, none of the activities require prior experience.

Horse Packing

The Alisal owns 100 quarter horses and there are 50 miles of trails through oak and sycamore trees along scenic canyons and verdant valleys to choose from for your horse packing adventure. Whatever your skill level or interest, you'll find something to suit you. One of the most popular activities is the morning trail ride out to the historic part of the ranch. At the Adobe Camp, riders are treated to an outdoor pancake breakfast while being serenaded by a singing cowboy on guitar and a cowboy poet.

Cowboy fun

The Alisal puts on lots of ranch related activities and events - rodeos are a popular tradition where guests can take part in team penning, team sorting, pole bending, and steer branding. The wranglers will also put on quick draw demonstrations and show off their rope skills. After all that activity, you'll be treated to a hearty Western steak barbecue - and more country music than is good for anyone.

Other activities

The Alisal has a private 100 acre lake in the foothills which offers a tranquil setting for guests to go fishing, boating, and kayaking. Other activities include tennis, bike riding, hiking, nature walks, and volleyball.
The petting zoo is a family favourite where guests can help look after ponies and bottle-feed goats, calves, sheep, and exotic miniature horses as well as participate in egg gathering, grooming and exercising the animals in the livestock enclosure.

Indoors, Western evenings are another Alisal favourite. Guests are treated to an oak barbecued dinner accompanied by country music and line dancing with instructors. Winemaker dinners are hosted by the Alisal's own vintners or some of the region's most eminent wineries who serve their best reserves. You can also take organised tours of nearby wineries.

Background to the Alisal Ranch Course

Architect:
William Bell (in 1955) who also designed Torrey Pines and Sandpiper in California

Type:
Parkland

Landscape:
Although the heavily wooded course is hard to play, it's secluded and picturesque to walk around. The sixth hole has good views of Solvang, a quaint Danish town, and the Santa Ynez Valley, famous for its wine making.

Playing the course

The Alisal Dude Ranch has two courses, The River and The Ranch; the latter is recommended if you only have time to play one. The Ranch Course has surprises in store. Following the line of the floor of a beautiful valley, it is home to hundreds of mature trees which form the major hazards on the course, along with barrancas (dried out river beds), where you'll need to watch out for rattlesnakes if you lose your ball.

The Ranch is away from the coast and gives the impression of being shadier and cooler than many other courses in the area. Maybe it's because of all the trees, which force the golfer into exercising a certain amount of course management. This is neither a hilly course to play, nor, with the ready availability of buggies, strenuous - unless you find yourself fleeing from one of those pesky rattlesnakes.

Course view (click for enlargement)

Score card

Address:
The Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort, 1054 Alisal Road, Solvang, CA 93463, USA

Website:
www.alisal.com

Phone number:
(+1) 805 688 6411

Courses and lengths:
Two 18-hole courses, Alisal Ranch (blue 6551 yards, white 6122 yards, red 5752 yards) and Dude Range (white 6099 yards, red - 5710 yards).

Dress code:
Collared shirts, no blue jeans, and soft spikes only.

Tee times:
Tee times start as early as requested, generally 7.30am, and can be scheduled as close as four minutes apart

Handicap:
No certificate required but you have to be a Ranch guest or a club member to play the Ranch Course; the River Course, is open to the public.

Green fees:
$100 per round.

Packages:
Golf Classic, Golf Getaway, Women's Golf Adventure as well as packages geared more towards ranch life including Cowgirl and Mother-Daughter Cowgirl Boot camp.

Other costs:
Buggies $16 per rider.

Facilities:
A driving range, putting green, practice bunker, club house with restaurant and lounge, locker rooms with shower facilities, and a small but friendly pro shop with regular special deals on equipment.

Location:
35 miles northwest of Santa Barbara just outside Solvang. It's halfway between San Francisco and San Diego and approximately three hours drive from Los Angeles, along Highway 101.

More information

Adventure Golf: Southern California