Congratulations to Sandpiper Golf Course Winner of 2018 Best Playing Conditions for Santa Barbara County.
Congratulations to all the great golf courses out there that won Best Playing Conditions for their Region. Haven’t thought of playing there? Consider this a wake up call and give their golf course a try.
Sandpiper Golf Course 2018 Winner Best Playing Conditions for Santa Barbara County
Greenskeeper.Org presents the winner for 2018 Best Playing Conditions in Santa Barbara to Sandpiper Golf Course.
We’ve waited all year for the results, and the results are in. Greenskeeper.org proudly presents it’s Best Playing Conditions Awards for 2018.
Not to be confused with our other award “Worth the Green Fee,” “Best Playing Conditions” is awarded to golf courses open to the public listed on Greenskeeper.org that stand out above the rest with our site users. These golf courses distinguish themselves by providing consistent, exceptional playing conditions.
The job of the superintendent is the life blood of the golf course industry and most important contributing factor to enjoying a golf experience. A golf course is a living, breathing organism whose health is constantly in flux. It takes enormous dedication, resources and expertise by a superintendent and their staff to provide excellent turf conditions.
Greenskeeper.org’s registered trademark and creed, “Know Before You Go”®, centers on communicating these current playing conditions. The rating system used on Greenskeeper.org is in part created by superintendents. Greenskeeper.org views it’s Best Playing Conditions Awards as it’s highest honors.
Want to treat yourself to some choice conditions? Want and experience you can remember? Consider playing at one of these great golf courses in your area.
Click HERE for our previous article: “Best Playing Conditions for 2017.”
Sandpiper Golf Course
JohnnyGK
Posted: 10/09/18 8:08a
Member Since: Dec 30, 2002
From: Thousand Oaks
Found myself in Santa Barbara late afternoon yesterday, 10/8, so decided to swing by Sandpiper Golf Club for a late Twilight round. Beautiful weather, clear day, played as a single. Teed it up at 3:45pm. Hardly anyone out there that late. It was a surreal experience. Fabulous views. Peaceful sounds. I can’t recommend a late Twilight round at Sandpiper enough.
The Review
Golf Course conditions are very good despite very dry Summer/Fall weather the region has had. Greens in super shape despite some tiny hole venting aeration (no sand). The tiny holes did not affect the putts whatsoever. Fast, holding approach shots, running out on pitch shots and smooth. Fairways in very good shape. Firm with a good padding to the hit the ball from. Light green with occasional light brown areas. Primary rough is cut low just above fairway height. There in no longer tall secondary fescue rough, likely to conserve water so they can focus resources on the fairways, so if want to cut the corner a little bit on hole 15 go for it. Bunkers in good shape, firm but decent sand. Light brown coloring in most traps. Tee boxes in good shape. Lush, groomed with some tee boxes (played the gold tees) needing to be more level.
Finished in 3 hours. I only had to skip one hole to play through a foursome. I also had to stop playing to take a couple phone calls which resulted in 20 minute delay. Add to that I took a ton of photos which I will post some on GK this week.
My Perspecitive
Some might feel like for a golf course that expansive, and actually if you are a tri-county resident (live in Ventura, Santa Barbara or San Louis Obispo County) it’s a significant price break, that conditions should always be fantastic. I disagree. The high green fee is 100% justified by the experience of playing a very fun layout with some of the most beautiful golf course ocean views anywhere I’ve played. In addition the peaceful unique ambiance of the place is special. The stretch of holes 10 – 14 on the cliffs of the ocean is simply spectacular. Holes 5 & 6 on the front nine are also excellent ocean golf holes. You can see the ocean from almost everywhere on the golf course if you look in its direction. Just a handful of holes that are mediocre in my opinion such as 8, 9 and 15. Some might not like that 18 is par 3 but its an fantastic par 3 IMO with one the toughest greens on the golf course. I love this golf course. It’s one of my very favorites. I highly recommend it.
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