Villa Toscana and Hunter Ranch
In Paso Robles, just an hour and a half to our north, lies
a luxurious option for a golf getaway. The Villa Toscana Bed and Breakfast,
built on the Martin Weyrich Winery, has the feel of a
small Italian village. Just a couple of
miles away lies the Hunter Ranch Golf Course, which is
probably the best course in the Central Coast area.
Hunter Ranch was the dream of the late Ken Hunter, who
developed La Purisima and Sandpiper. Hunter actually
designed the course, which has received four-and-a-half stars out of five from
Golf Digest, which called it the best kept secret in California. The course is
set in rolling terrain about four miles east of downtown Paso Robles off of
Highway 46 east. The clubhouse sits high on a hill overlooking the course and
most of the town as well.
There are many distinctive holes on the course including
the 424-yard par-4 second. This dogleg to the right plays slightly uphill all
the way. The drive must negotiate a fairway bunker and large tree guarding the
right side. The second shot is fairly long and must avoid a large oak tree on
the right. Once you reach the green, the difficulty is not over. The putting
surface is steeply sloped from front to back giving most putts a lot of break.
This is one of the best par-4s I have ever played. A bit later on the front
nine, the golfer is given back to back par-5s. Number six plays 509 yards and
is slightly downhill. A dogleg left of this hole is reachable in two for many
players, but it requires accuracy. Large oaks in the middle of the fairway and
near the green must be avoided. The seventh hole is one of the toughest par-5s
in the state. At 586 yards, it plays slightly uphill and a double dogleg to the
left. Again, oak trees on both sides guard the drive and second shot. The green
is well bunkered, making par a very good score on this one.
There are so many good holes at Hunter Ranch it is hard to
pick which ones to write about. Number 11 is a real tester though. This par-4
plays 396 yards straight away. The drive is played to the top of a plateau.
From here the golfer must play a downhill approach entirely over water to the
peninsula green. This shot will get your heart pumping, and I would suggest
adding half a club to the yardage.
Number 14 is a difficult par-3 at 186 yards. The shot must
carry a large gorge which is a lateral hazard. The green is very narrow in
front, but much more receptive in back, so take enough club.
Overall, the course plays 6,741 yards from the blue tees,
6,292 from the white tees, and 5,639 from the red tees.
Hunter Ranch has an excellent practice facility, which
includes several chipping and putting greens. The clubhouse includes the
well-appointed golf shop, and a restaurant for indoor and outdoor seating. The
entire golf facility is spacious and well-laid out, enhancing the experience.
Villa Toscana is about three miles from the course, back
toward Paso Robles, and located on the Martin Weyrich
Vinyard. This is the top of the line in bed and
breakfasts. There are eight suite rooms and one separate, fully private
“winemakers residence,” including a two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath suite,
with a detached garage, patio and spa. All of the rooms include views of the
vineyards, are quite large and finely decorated. They are named after one of
the winery’s award-winning wines.
Guests enjoy a lavish breakfast and buffet at the bistro
just steps from the rooms. In the afternoon the chef serves hors d’oeuvres and,
of course, a selection of Martin Weyrich wines.
The charming Italian Tuscan feel pervades the grounds, and
it would be easy to imagine that you were at a small European winery.
If you are more interested in how the wine is made, tours
are available daily at the adjacent winery. Villa Toscana would be a great spot
for a wedding party or a retreat. The Cucina Kitchen
and catering facility is available for parties and special events.
Villa Toscana is about 10 minutes from downtown Paso
Robles. For more information visit www.myvillatoscana.com, or call (805)
238-5600. The website has extensive photos of all the rooms.
For Hunter Ranch Golf Course, visit
www.hunterranchgolf.com or call (805) 237-7444.