THE ESSENTIAL FIVE

PELICAN HILL GOLF CLUB (OCEAN NORTH) – FAZIO AT HIS BEST

Championship Pedigree: Tom Fazio’s crown jewel consistently ranks among America’s most admired resort courses, combining clifftop golf with strategic design.

The Challenge: The par-3 6th exemplifies Fazio’s genius – demanding a dramatic carry across a deep coastal canyon to a green perched on the cliff’s edge, where precision is mandatory and distraction comes in the form of 270-degree Pacific Ocean panoramas.

What You’ll Remember: The seamless integration of striking natural terrain with playable, strategic golf – where every tee box offers an “on top of the world” feeling with elevated views of the Newport coastline stretching to Catalina Island on clear days, creating an atmosphere unmatched in Orange County golf.

PELICAN HILL GOLF CLUB (OCEAN SOUTH) – COASTAL DRAMA

The Designer’s Vision: Tom Fazio’s earliest Southern California masterpiece showcases his ability to create memorable holes that celebrate their environment, with a round that gets closer to the ocean than its sister North Course.

The Signature Moment: The back-to-back par-3s at holes 12 and 13 form the course’s oceanside crescendo – played beside the bluffs above Crystal Cove State Beach and Little Treasure Cove directly below.

Why It’s Special: The course presents a more classic feel than the North Course with several ocean-hugging holes, diverse elevation changes, and variety in both direction and strategy – with Fazio’s signature pristine conditioning and aesthetic beauty woven throughout a more compact, finesse-oriented package.

TIJERAS CREEK GOLF CLUB – TALE OF TWO NINES

Course Heritage: Ted Robinson’s 1990 design is widely known for its distinct split personality – opening with a traditional parkland front nine before transforming into one of Southern California’s most spectacular canyon experiences on the back.

The Signature: The par-4 17th represents the course’s ultimate challenge – demanding precision on both the tee shot along a dogleg left fairway and the approach, which must carry Tijeras Creek and a formidable rock wall to reach a challenging double-tiered green.

The 19th Hole: The historical significance adds another dimension to your round, as a stone monument near the 12th tee marks the site of California’s original mission, founded in 1769 before its relocation to San Juan Capistrano – adding an unexpected layer to the round.

THE RANCH AT LAGUNA BEACH – CANYON SERENITY

Links Authenticity: Ben Brown’s 9-hole gem winds through Aliso Canyon, creating an engrossing golf encounter where nature takes centre stage with deer often wandering across fairways and canyon walls framing almost every hole.

The Challenge: The canyon setting creates natural elevation changes and strategic challenges that belie the course’s nine-hole layout, with Aliso Creek meandering throughout and coming into play on several holes.

What Connoisseurs Know: Relaxed, understated and deeply connected to its surroundings, this is one of Orange County’s most peaceful golf experiences – the perfect quick escape that feels worlds away from the region’s more tournament-style courses.

MONARCH BEACH GOLF LINKS – THE ROYAL OCEANFRONT JEWEL

Tournament Legacy: Host of the 2001 Hyundai Team Championships, and consistently ranked among California’s finest public-access courses, this Robert Trent Jones Jr. links-inspired design has captivated golfers for decades.

Signature Test: The downhill par-4 3rd plays directly towards the Pacific, with the crashing surf providing both inspiration and intimidation, and ocean winds and strategic bunkering placing a premium on precision.

Lasting Memory: Standing beside the seaside holes above Crystal Cove State Beach, breathing in the salt air as you watch the tide roll in, understanding why this is one of only a handful of true oceanfront courses in California – and one that connects you to golf’s ancient Scottish roots.