Our unique stretch of Highway 1 boasts mild year-round weather, picture-perfect ocean views, sandy beaches and wine country — ideal conditions for golf. There’s something for every golfer here, from beginners to pros, casual players to serious enthusiasts. Find the right course for you, perhaps on the coast in Los Osos, Avila Beach or Pismo Beach. Many skirt the Pacific Ocean, just steps away from the sand and waves. Others boast views like rolling vineyards in the Edna Valley, or dunes and eucalyptus groves in Nipomo. When it comes to ambiance here on our golf courses, the options are practically endless. Wherever you choose to hit the links, you’ll find yourself wanting to return as soon as possible.
Golf courses along Highway 1 also offer a variety of challenges. Novices will enjoy helpful staff, practice facilities like driving ranges and putting greens, and access to professional instructors for youth and adults alike. Intermediate golfers can expect a range of courses, allowing them to choose how quickly they’d like to grow. And experts will feel right at home on any number of tracks — but never comfortable enough to feel unchallenged. See for yourself: pack your clubs and come experience what makes our stretch of Highway 1 so perfect for golfers.
Experience Golfing Along Highway 1
Sea Pines Golf Resort
This 9-hole executive course makes for a fun and challenging round of golf for novices and seasoned players alike. Take your time on the 62-par course, located in Los Osos, with views of Morro Rock, the Morro Bay Estuary, and coastal dunes. This course was built in 1954 to capitalize on its position on the edge of the vast Pacific Ocean. Here, find practice spaces like a driving range, putting greens and a chipping area. Sea Pines Golf Resort also offers golf lessons for adults and juniors, as well as disc golf and foot golf courses. After a round or two, enjoy a meal or snack at the Clubhouse Bar and Grill, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Clubhouse also offers fireside indoor dining, sports on several large-screen TVs, and a cozy patio. And don’t miss the Sea Pines pro shop for a wide variety of apparel and branded gear.
Morro Bay Golf Course
Built in 1923, the iconic Morro Bay Golf Course is famous for generous panoramic ocean views from every one of its 18 holes. Located within Morro Bay State Park, the 71-par course features kikuyu and Bent/Poa grass fairways, greens and driving range. This course was once known as the Cabrillo Club, a pioneering property with a beautiful Spanish-style clubhouse. At the time, designers Quintin Miller and E. W. Murphy planned for just 9 holes. Today, these comprise the back half of the course. In 1934, the State of California purchased the course and clubhouse to include within the Morro Bay State Park.
In terms of style, Morro Bay Golf Course feels like a classic Pebble-Beach-like track. The tree-lined fairways and greens are difficult to read, and putts break toward the water regardless of slope. Terrain is hilly, with minimal shaping by human hands. As an added perk, the course is designated an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary by Audubon International, making for plenty of beautiful birdsong.
Dairy Creek Golf Course
This 18-hole course lies directly on Highway 1 between Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo. The property once straddled the San Luisito and El Chorro ranchos, land granted by the Mexican governor in 1841. Not long after, these ranches were consolidated and became focused on dairying, as so many others in San Luis Obispo would become. Hence the golf course’s name: Dairy Creek.
Designed by well-known architect John Harbottle in 1994, Dairy Creek is a links-style, par-71 course with kikuyu grass fairways. It features dramatic changes in elevation, rocky gullies and water hazards, as well as tricky bentgrass greens. At 6,548 yards, with sea breezes whipping around nearby Hollister Peak, this is a challenging course, even for veteran players. The design incorporates the surrounding landscape, which is home to a host of native plants and wildlife. Dairy Creek also includes one of the finest training facilities on Highway 1, with a driving range, practice greens, bunker and chipping greens. Moreover, it offers a nine-hole par 36 course ideal for beginners, with a mix of par-3s, -4s and -5s. Beginners to experts can all practice their game at Dairy Creek’s Toptracer facility.
Laguna Lake Municipal Golf Course
This 10-hole par 32 irons course lies just off Los Osos Valley Road in San Luis Obispo. The Laguna Lake Golf Course is well-known for its approachable, comfortable style. Hop into one of their electric carts and enjoy the peace and quiet of the surrounding landscape. The Laguna Lake Golf Course sits adjacent to the picturesque Irish Hills, a popular destination for hiking and especially mountain biking. The hills make a dramatic backdrop to the design of this course, which was built in 1975. Laguna Lake Golf Course makes golf lessons available with a PGA pro for adults and juniors. After playing a round or two, don’t miss the opportunity to grab a bite at the 11th Hole Grill, open for breakfast and lunch. Laguna Lake Municipal Golf Course is a great value, with options for twilight play, family play, and free golf for kids under 17 through the summer. The course even offers complimentary golf for guests who visit on their birthday, with valid ID.
San Luis Obispo Country Club
This well-regarded country club course boasts views of Edna Valley wine country throughout, with rolling vineyard hills around nearly every turn. Built in 1957 as a private facility, it is open only to members and guests of members. The 18-hole par 72 course measures 6,800 yards long from the Championship Tees. Member tees are 6,400 yards and Ladies’ Tees measure 5,800 yards. The course is meticulously maintained, with large rolling greens and deceptive slopes. These, along with several sharp doglegs and strategically placed hazards make this a challenging course for even the most seasoned player. The bunkers were recently remodeled for better shaping, drainage, and Pebble Beach sand. Kikuyu grass covers the greens and fairways, which are lined with well-kept trees and shrubs. The course also is home to the Straight Down Championship, hosting golfers like Fred Couples, Tom Lehman, John Daly, and Loren Roberts.
Avila Beach Golf Course
Situated on some of the prettiest real estate off Highway 1, the Avila Beach Golf Course frames ocean views of San Luis Bay. Opened in 1969 and designed by Olin Dutra and Desmond Muirhead, the championship course comprises 18 holes, par 72, over 6,364 yards. Throughout the track, kikuyu grass fairways and bentgrass greens extend across hilly terrain along oak-lined corridors. The front nine greens are often elevated and are closer to the coastline. The back nine cross a tidal estuary with multiple forced carries and multi-level greens, making this a truly challenging — and scenic — course.
Avila Beach Golf Course offers visitors several amenities to complete their golf experience. Practice facilities include a driving range and putting greens, with a full-service restaurant and bar. Start your game at the well-stocked pro shop, and finish with a glass of local wine and appetizers in the restaurant. With views of the sun setting over the Pacific, these are the makings of a terrific day on the course.
Pismo Beach Golf Course
Literally steps from the sand in Pismo Beach, this golf course is one of Highway 1’s best hidden gems to play. The 9-hole par 27 executive course was built in 1966 by the Le Sage family, which prioritized excellent soil and wide ocean views. The property covers 29 acres of Pacific oceanfront, beside the rolling Pismo Sand Dunes. Most holes on the 1,465-yard course are straightforward par-3s, with a couple of longer par-3s and -4s. The track centers on a large pond favored by migratory birds. This water hazard makes for some challenging shots, like three forced carries, one of which measures 155 yards in length. Visit the pro shop for gear, and hit up the clubhouse for breakfast, lunch, or a snack. And let the sounds of seabirds and crashing waves be your soundtrack for a relaxing game, right on the beach. Tip: For the best value, show up after 1pm for unlimited golf and cart rental.
Cypress Ridge Golf Course
In building a world-class course, pro golfers Peter Jacobsen and Jim Hardy took into account the natural landscape around Cypress Ridge Golf Course. They also sought to create a challenging track that would keep golfers guessing and coming back time and time again. The result is a Peter Jacobsen Signature Course and a Signature Sanctuary, as certified by Audubon International for its commitment to sustainable development. Located in Arroyo Grande, this 18-hole par 72 course was built in 1999 with rye grass greens and fairways. At a length of 6803 yards, Cypress Ridge offers very challenging back tees, sharp dogleg holes, and fast and true greens. For practice, visitors will find a well-maintained driving range, chipping area and putting green. While prices are a good value for this top-notch course, the twilight rates are unbeatable. And be sure to visit the pro shop for tees, balls, and other gear. The Grill at Cypress Ridge offers classic American fare as well as a full bar stocked with local wine and beer. Sit on the patio and enjoy the ocean views after a game for the full treatment.
Blacklake Golf Resort
This Nipomo golf resort is unique on the Central Coast for its three 9-hole courses that can be mixed and matched. Play 9, 18, or 27 holes for an experience customized to your preferences or skill level. The Canyons course features elevated tees, rolling terrain, and sea breezes. Alternatively, the Oaks course is sheltered from the wind, with fairways that meander through an oak forest, making it slightly more challenging. Of the three courses, the Lakes track offers the widest fairways, perfect for beginners.
Blacklake was built in 1965 and has long been regarded as a top-level golf destination. Spend time in the practice facilities that include a driving range, chipping area and putting green. Hit the pro shop to learn about golf lessons or to purchase branded logo gear, balls, clubs and tees. And don’t leave without enjoying a bite from the Blacklake Bar and Grill, open every day for breakfast and lunch. Take your meal out to the patio, order a drink from the full bar, and soak up the scenery.
Monarch Dunes Golf Club
Visitors to the Monarch Dunes Golf Club have the option to enjoy not one but two courses. The original track, commonly referred to as “The Old Course,” is an 18-hole par 71 championship course. Opened in 2006, it was built within Woodlands Village, a large master-planned community with views of windswept dunes and the Pacific Ocean. The Old Course is a links-style track designed by architect Damian Pascuzzo and pro golfer Steve Pate of Pascuzzo and Pate Design. Not long after it opened, The Old Course was named one of GOLF Magazine’s Top 10 New Courses — the only one from California to make the list. Two years later, Monarch Dunes opened a 12-hole par 36 Challenge Course. Measuring 1,750 yards, the Challenge Course is memorable for its 8,000-square-foot greens, which sometimes change up to four feet in elevation.
Both courses lie within view of five different lakes on the property, all of which are fed by stormwater. With velvet bentgrass greens and long, tree-lined fairways, Monarch Dunes is as scenic to play as it is challenging. Pick up some practice time at the driving range or with an instructor, and check out the golf shop for last-minute golf gear. Start and finish your game with comfort food and a drink from the full bar at the Butterfly Grille for a perfect day.
