La Purisima Golf Course, Lompoc, California, Usa

The second course we played on our itinerary was an 18 holes layout located in the heart of Santa Barbara's wine county, just a few miles from Lompoc and not far from the danish village of Solvang (the area has been the filming location of  2004 movie "Sideways").

La Purisima is known to be "One of America's Best Designed Courses" and one of toughest courses too (75.6/143).

According to Golf Digest Magazine, La Purisima is currently ranked 33rd on the "America's Top 50 Toughest Golf Courses" list and due to that received several nicknames....."The Bethpage Black of the West Coast" or "La Piranha"....may be due to the many balls you may lose.

Although course knowledge here is a must, we had a great time challenging this demanding course. Four hours of absolute intensive golf. 

Blind shots, narrow and undulating fairways, elevation changes, tough greens and strategically placed hazards. A parkland style course built to be a challenging experience of pure golf.

And I may say with no doubt that designers Robert Muir Graves and Kenneth Hume Hunter Jr. really succeeded on their goal.

Since its opening (1986), La Purisima hosted the Final Stage of PGA TOUR School, the US Open Qualifying, the LPGA Santa Barbara Open, and the PGA Senior Tour Qualifiers receiving accolades from Golf Magazine (Top 100 Public Courses in America), Golf Digest (4 1/2 Star Rating Best Places to Play), and the LA Times (To Ten "Must Play Courses").

The location is great, and from the higher tees you will enjoy a 360° view of the property and the surrounding vineyards.

Do not miss La Purisima if you'll find yourself traveling around the marvelous Santa Barbara County.

Sign on the entrance wall

The Clubhouse

Panoramic View of the property

#1 Hole 542 yds par 5

#2 Hole 432 yds par 4

#2 Hole 432 yds par 4

#3 Hole 158 yds par 3 (from the tees)

#4 Hole 340 yds par 4

#6 Hole 566 yds par 5

#7 Hole 427 yds par 4

#8 Hole 437 yds par 4

#9 Hole 227 yds par 3 (from the tees)

#11 Hole 389 yds par 4

#12 Hole 609 yds par 5 (from the tees)

#13 Hole 169 yds par 3

#14 Hole 366 yds par 4(from the tees)

#14 Hole 366 yds par 4

Third shot on the 14th...and the ball buried on the sand

#15 Hole 532 yds par 5 (from the tees)

#15 Hole 532 yds par 5

#16 Hole 436 yds par 4 (from the tees)

#16 Hole 436 yds par 4 

#16 Hole 436 yds par 4 

#17 Hole 167 yds par 3

#18 Hole 410 yds par 4