Rancho San Marcos
where the golf gods play
Rancho
San Marcos Golf Course is arguably the choicest real estate on Highway 154.
With
ancient valley oaks, a rich California history and a pristine natural setting,
it’s no wonder that in the 10 years it’s been open, Rancho San Marcos has
enjoyed a quick rise to the top as one of California’s most notable courses.
After
eight long years negotiating with the planning commission, Rancho San Marcos
was realized in 1998 under the genius of legendary golf architect Robert Trent
Jones Jr., who designed the 6,814-yard par-71 course to seamlessly nestle among
the rolling landscape that runs for 300 acres along the Santa Ynez River.
The
original vision of an historic property, combined with wide open spaces and the
convenient location that was seemingly miles from nowhere, propelled Rancho San
Marcos to the top. Publications such as Golf Magazine named the course among
its top ten places to play; a 4-1/2-star rating on Golf Digest’s places to play
list followed, and in 2004 the course was ranked tops in Southern California by
Greenskeeper.org.
Part
of what makes Rancho San Marcos unique is the visible history dotting the
property. Dating back to the early 1800s, the ranch originally was established
as a Santa Barbara Mission outpost with a chapel, living quarters, granary,
wine cellar, and dwellings for the Chumash Indians. The property also included
a wine press, pottery kiln, threshing corral and livestock pens. Two resident
padres oversaw the Chumash labor force and produced products such as hides and
tallow to be shipped back to Spain.
For
decades following, the property underwent a long and convoluted history of
family feuds and boundary disputes until 1938, when Dwight Murphy bought the
property and acquired the legal title to the name Rancho San Marcos. Murphy
eventually sold the property to Robert S. Odell with Allied Properties, a
company that owned Santa Barbara Biltmore and the Cliff House Hotel in San
Francisco.
Now
under the new ownership of Ty Warner, the property was closed in spring 2007
for some badly needed upgrades and repairs, due in part to the 1998 El Nino
season. The course reopened in July 2007, boasting rebuilt holes number 1, 3
and 15, as well as complete bunker renovation, a significant enhancement to the
turf quality, and many other improvements that add to both the ambiance and the
playability of the course as a whole.
In
the first years the course was open, the turf quality was so impeccable that
golf carts were restricted to certain paths. During renovations, the cool
season grass was replaced with warm season grass, and a thick Bermuda grass
sprang up in July just in time for the reopening.
The
goal in changing the turf is to maintain an impeccable level of terrain even in
the hottest months of the year — not an easy task in a drought-prone valley.
Tom
Endy, general manager and director of golf, praises
Ty Warner for embracing the community and the course operators during the
purchase and renovations.
“Ty
Warner really has incredible vision for this property, and has made it a
priority to embrace us all and make this a community place to enjoy. We are
here to serve the community,” Endy said. “We’re here
ready to do business.”
Part
of the revamping includes a user-friendly format with negotiable group rates
and outing packages that include logo divot repair tools, logo ball markers,
t-shirts and logo golf tees.
The
club employs a full staff of golf professionals who offer private lessons,
tournament packages and a level of expertise that ensures the golf experience
is as pleasant and rewarding as possible.
“We’ve
had a very positive response, especially to the bunker renovation. Many people
have commented on the increased playability and how pristine the course is
now,” Endy said.
“Hole
number 1 is now a true par-5. We’ve spread it out a bit, so there’s no more
bunching at the beginning, and with the widening of hole number 15 you can
actually see the ball down the course,” he added.
But
what makes Rancho San Marcos unique and charming is the incorporation of its
historical buildings along both the front and back nines.
As the course unfolds, so does the history of the property, with ranch and
dairy buildings, an original horse pasture, and the incorporation of two
ancient valley oaks used on the 4th hole as the portal for a perfect shot down
range. On the holes leading back to the clubhouse, cart paths intersect a
150-year-old stagecoach trail and pass by a protected Chumash adobe structure.
Nothing
was left to accident in the renovation, right down to moving a massive oak tree
just 25 yards to improve site line, and the addition of a liquor license so
golfers can enjoy a cold beer or glass of wine as they perch on the clubhouse’s
open patio to reflect on nature’s glory and an afternoon where the golf gods
play.
Rancho San Marcos
Golf Course
4600 Highway 154
Santa Barbara,
California 93105
805.683.6334 - Phone
805.692.8805 – Fax