THE LINKS AT TERRANEA: COURSE TOUR + REVIEW

Golf and the ocean have a lot in common. Both can be calm or still, rough or rigid. But in the end, they always bring me peace. Having the ability to play golf beside the ocean was an opportunity I could not miss!

NEVER SAY, NEVER

As someone who is still fairly new to playing golf, resort golf courses weren’t on my list. Golf is intimidating enough without the added pressure of all the rules and regulations luxury style courses seem to come with. So for me, luxury courses were a no-go. I would rather play and be around people who are less pretentious.

During my trip to Los Angeles, someone told me about The Links at Terranea which is an oceanfront golf course located within the Terranea Resort. I immediately thought, I’ll pass. But, curiosity got the best of me and I started doing a little research. Even though it’s located within a resort, the images and reviews gave a very “down to earth” vibe. So, I jumped in my rental car and drove to Rancho Palos Verdes. And I am so glad I did!

A RESORT GOLF COURSE WITH A LAIDBACK FEEL

As I made the drive from Los Angeles to Rancho Palos Verdes I started to notice that it had a very beach community, small town vibe and not an upscale, pretentious vibe. This in itself started to make me feel relaxed.

Arriving at the resort I will say that there was a lack of “golf course this way” signage. So I had to drive around until I found what looked like a golf pro shop. 

Upon entering the golf pro shop I was greeted immediately. The staff was so nice and seemed very carefree. They gave me the run down on the course and the practice facilities. Apparently I went on a very slow day because the attendant told me to take my time and have fun. This was the complete opposite of what I thought a resort golf course would be like.

The golf pro shop was a little small but had everything you would need to play a round of golf. It was fully stocked from apparel to premium golf accessories.

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!

I’ll say this about The Links at Terranea, it had amazing practice areas. There were about three practice areas, including chipping and putting greens. The first area, the putting green, was located right beside the golf pro shop. My putting needs so much work right now so I definitely started there. It was a very nice size practice putting green. 

From putting practice I moved onto the two chipping areas which were located up a small hill. This area was cool because it gave you a slight preview of the views you were about to see on the course. What I loved most about the chipping area was that they provided golf balls for you. I thought that was a really nice touch.

The only downside is that this course doesn’t have a traditional driving range BUT they do have 3 outdoor simulator bays. One thing to note is they do close the simulator’s after a specific time. So just a heads up. My tee time was later in the afternoon so I didn’t get a chance to try out the simulator but I was still able to work on my full swing before the hitting the course.

PREMIUM GOLF CLUB RENTALS? YES PLEASE!

I chose not to bring my golf clubs on my trip to Los Angeles out of fear that they would either be lost or damaged, I opted to rent clubs. Luckily the golf pro shop was fully equipped with walking cart rentals (this is a walking ONLY course, so heads up) and premium golf club rentals.

And when I say premium, I mean it. The clubs I rented were a full set of TaylorMade golf clubs. I’ve actually never played with TaylorMade golf clubs before so I was super excited about that.

BREAKDOWN: THE LINKS AT TERRANEA

Alright, so lets get into the golf course details! This course was designed by Todd Eckenrode of Origins Golf Design. It offers 9 challenging par-3 holes woven through natural surroundings with elevation changes, green contours, and strategic bunkering.

From the very first tee shot I knew this course was going to be a challenge for me. There is rough terrain all over, which for a beginner golfer like me, means I have a potential to lose a lot of golf balls. Which in fact, I did!

Hole #3 was a favorite of mine. It was a drivable par 3 hole which I loved BUT the coastline view of the Pacific Ocean made putting a challenge because all I wanted to do was look at the view and feel that amazing Cali sun on my face…lol

Beginner Golfer tip: if you’re playing next to the ocean make sure you account for the wind which can make putting a challenge. This course was so windy!

One thing about being next to the ocean is that I found myself in the sand… A LOT! This course has strategically placed bunkers all over the place. This was a sign that I need to practice my bunker shots a lot more.

The design of this course was amazing. This course has unobstructed sight-lines. It’s so open and wide. You can see all the way through it.

With tee placements ranging from 104 to 173 yards, the course offers a short and mid-range layout for beginner and experienced golfers. So make sure you brush up on your short game because you’ll need it!

The villas and houses in the hills really add a luxury vibe to the course. It’s very picturesque and the epitome of Southern California. 

One course design I noticed was that holes 7 through 9 had multiple bunkers. It felt as though they wanted to make the end of the course as challenging as possible.

I played this course in less than 2 hours. Which for a 9 hole par 3 course is about right. Honestly I wished it would have taken longer because I didn’t want to leave. The views of the ocean were addicting.

DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY IT’S COVER

After wrapping up our round we headed to the Terranea Resort which is a short walk from the golf course. The resort is also just as beautiful as the course. We grabbed dinner and drinks at one of the hotels restaurants called Nelson’s, which also had an ocean view. The food and drinks were good, a little pricey but that was to be expected.

As I watched the sun set while enjoying a glass of wine I was very happy that I gave this place a shot. It has truly set the bar in terms of luxury style golf courses and how not everything is what it seems. This place was nothing like a imagined it to be which was a pleasant surprise. 

I really enjoyed playing at The Links at Terranea. So if you’re in the area and want to play at a luxury golf resort with incredible ocean views but not deal with pretentious private country club style people, then definitely check this course out! 

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The Links at Terranea, 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

Terranea.com/golf