1901 East Valley Rd,
Santa Barbara, California 93108
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+1 (805) 969 2215Pro shop
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+1 (805) 969 6174Website
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Lisa Price (Head Professional)The Course:
18 holes. Tree-lined & open parkland. Undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb.
Surroundings:
Residential setting.
Designer:
Original design by Dr Alister MacKenzie & Robert Hunter (1929); modifications by Tom Doak (2018).
34.432673
-119.615286
6 miles E of downtown Santa Barbara.
Valley Club of Montecito
The Valley Club of Montecito: this private golf club is home to one of California's finest golf courses, an excellent example of Alister MacKenzie's less dramatic and understated designs. However, there's nothing undramatic about the layout's impressive mountain backdrop. And nothing understated about the size and quantity of the course's ever-threatening bunkering.
MacKenzie's out-and-back design occupies a charmingly peaceful environment, complemented by a stunning backdrop provided by the Santa Ynes Mountains. The design is elegant, but also deceptively testing. Your full repertoire of shots will be called on to score well. On many occasions a high-flighted approach is required to clear the greenside bunkers; only that will bring you safely onto the fast, true and subtly sloping putting surfaces.
Predominantly flanked by woodland (rather than the multi-million dollar mansions of the adjoining Birnam Wood Golf Club), The Valley Club retains a pleasantly natural feel throughout.
Limited access: this is a private course generally playable only by members and their invited guests.
Private club; guests may only play if hosted by a member.
Non-metal spike facility. Walking permitted at all times. Golf carts available to rent.
Limited
Directly to the north of The Valley Club is the also private Birnam Wood Golf Club, a par-70, 6000-yard layout designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. Many of Birnam Wood's fairways are flanked by opulently large real estate ... unlike those of The Valley Club.
Montecito has been home to many A-list celebrities over the years, including Orlando Bloom, Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, Ariana Grande, Burl Ives, Steve Martin, Jack Palance, Priscilla Presley and Oprah Winfrey.
California's 10th best course in California (Golf Digest, 2023/24).
USA's 76th best course (Golf Digest, 2023).
World's former 97th best course (GOLF magazine, 2011; not in subsequent editions of this ranking).
The Sentry: known for many years as the Tournament of Champions, the PGA Tour’s 2025 season-opener gets underway on Kapalua’s Plantation course (Jan 2-5). Chris Kirk defends.
Tournament of Champions: the LPGA Tour’s 2025 season is launched at Lake Nona with the their Tournament of Champions (Jan 30-Feb 2). The 2024 edition gave Lydia Ko her 20th LPGA Tour title.
Attahya Thitikul: also known as “Jeeno”, the Thai golfer won the LPGA Tour’s 2024 CME Group Tour Championship … and an eye-watering $4 million, the richest first-prize in women’s golf.
Rory McIlroy: scooped the 2024 European (DP World) Tour season-long Order of Merit title, joining Seve Ballesteros as a six-time winner of this prestigious award.
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.
Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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