Monarch Dunes in SLO

[Kirk Gill]

A couple of good shapers can make Damian look good, at least for one project.

Where's this coming from? Sounds like a personal slap.

The pictures are beautiful, Aidan. And the course appears to have some unique qualities. I don't see eucalyptus trees up here in Colorado, and they add an alien look to the landscape, along with the unusual shapes on the ground. Has anyone played it? Is the unusual look complimented by strategic play and walkability?

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

It looks interesting to me as well.

[Jeff_Stettner]

Kirk,

I've played it and the course is walkable and has strong strategic elements. There is a fleet of pullcarts.

To give an example, the course requires the golfer to think about angles on the drives and approaches. Number 13 is a 420-yardish par 4 that is a slight dogleft left down a hill. The drive is somewhat blind, although there is a center target to focus on. At 140 yards in, a bumpy berm comes in from the left side of the fairway, tall enough to block the view to the green if the drive is not played far enough right. A big hitter can try and carry the berm and catch a downslope that will allow nothing more than a flip-wedge to the green. Meanwhile, the golfer that bails out to the right to avoid the berm faces a long and deep bunker guarding the front right on the putting surface.

The entire course was sandcapped and the fairways and roughs are fescue. The land was almost entirely covered with trees before the course went in. The golf course is truly unique and I enjoyed my round there. For those looking for a comparable style to the bunkers and mounds, revisit Morgan Creek in Roseville. While each course has its own style, both tracks have a lot of very cool bumps and berms and both seem to have gotten the attention to detail correct.

Unfortunately, a keep-building-them housing project will really detract from the golf. Many holes will be compromised in the long-term by housing that harkens back to the developments of the 80s. I suggest that those interested see the course soon.

[Tim Leahy]

That whole area of Nipomo is covered with Eucs. I'm guessing they've been there awhile. They look to be of similar size to the ones at Riviera which were planted in 1925.

The central coast area is full of eucs, another newer course in the area Cypress Ridge in Arroyo Grande is routed through groves of eucs that must have already been there and I was a member at Santa Maria Country Club which also was routed through some groves of eucs. They may be messy but nothing beats the smell of eucs on a golf course, Riviera, Rancho Park, Griffith Park, and Torrey Pines all come to mind.

[Joel_Stewart]

A couple of good shapers can make Damian look good, at least for one project.

Where's this coming from? Sounds like a personal slap.

Its not a personal slap, I don't know the man.  I do know he hasn't produced one meaniful golf course in his entire career, so for this one to be any different would be a surprise.  

As for the shaping, you don't think for one second that Damien himself did the shaping do you?   There are alot of good shapers out there, C&C and Tom Doak as examples owe a good portion of there careers to their workers and shapers.  All I'm saying is Damien finally got some interesting shapers and allowed them to go at it.

[Lynn_Shackelford]

I think with all these posts only one guy has played the course.  Amazing.
I have played it.  The course is very walkable, but when you add the green to tee walks through houses, it becomes more difficult.  For you non-Californians, most eucs were planted by the railroad companies in the early 1900's, and then they decided they didn't make good railroad ties.
The golf course was built to sell homes.  Play it soon because they are building more than 1,000 homes in the area, many along the golf course holes.
For a new course, the greens are very good, and hard.  An interesting variety of holes, not the best course in California but one I would recommend over anything else in San Luis Obispo County (Vandenburg, Cypress Ridge, SLOCC, Morro Bay).  I haven't played Hunter Ranch and don't know what county it is in.
For me, too many lakes/ponds and phoney dunes, but again it is there to sell homes.
It will be pretty tough, but I think more interesting when the afternoon sea breeze picks up.  The better players will enjoy it, but the average 90-105 golfer will struggle a bit.

[Aidan Bradley]

Lynn,

Hunter Ranch is in San Luis Obisbo County. About 1 hour north of Monarch Dunes. A fun course to play with a lot of variety and quite challenging when the winds come up. Below are a few holes to tease you (#3,15,#18).

Aidan.

[Bill Gayne]

Aidan,

We can debate the merits of the courses you photograph but what's undebatable is the outstanding quality of the photographs. Thanks for sharing.

Bill

[Richard Boult]

Looks like quite a bit of interest in Monarch Dunes here! I've played the course now 4 times - and absolutely love it!

I helped introduce the course's opening at my volunteer SLO County Golf website at golfslo.com. Check out the Monarch Dunes page. There are several links at the bottom of the page to blog posts about the course - before and after the opening. I've also posted photos I've taken of the course at flickr.com.

Course Info/Photos

www.golfslo.com/monarchdunes.asp

www.flickr.com/photos/golfslo/sets/831804

Rounds

I first played on opening day - New Years Day - in the rain. We were the only foursome to play all 18 that day. Most quit after 9. By the end of the round, the rain was sideways - we were soaked to the bone. Shot a 92 - mostly due to poor putting. These greens are tough - lots of undulations and multi-tiers! I 3-putted way too many greens. The rain didn't help. Course drained well. Only one green puddled. Didn't land in any lakes or sand traps.

Shot an 81 on the next round, 4 days later and with sunshine! I'm a 10 handicap, so this should be about my normal score here. Got a better feel for the course this day. Found the 1st, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 17th to be the most difficult for me. Long approach on par-4 1st; narrow elevated multi-tiered green on par-5 6th; undulating multi-tiered green on par-3 8th; lake with narrow fairway to elevated green on par-4 9th; and long approach from split fairway on par-4 10th.

Overall, the greens are tough. Pin placements have been difficult. The greens don't stick at all. It's designed to be a bump-and-run course and it is. If you land a green with an iron, expect to find the ball behind the green. Greens are also large, fast and hilly and well protected by sand and dunes. Dunes come into play on fairways and around greens on almost every hole! Fairways are not flat as someone indicated.

Shot an 85 and 87 on the next 2 rounds. I must have gotten a little over-confident after my 81. I've now double-bogied the 6th 4 times in a row! The hole isn't that hard until you get near the green. I don't think I've 2-putted yet and chipping up to the hole is challenging. The 10th seems to be most golfers toughest hole so far, but I've nearly parred it each round. The 10th fairway is split by dunes and sand - providing risk/reward to the left (narrow, but shorter approach) and safety to the right (wide landing area, but a long approach to the green). The 11th is the most scenic, a par-3 dropping quickly from the tee with views of Coastal agriculture, the Guadalupe Dunes and Pacific Ocean.

Interestingly, in all 4 rounds, my scores on the front and back nine have only differed by 1 stroke. They're both equally difficult, although the back is considerably longer.

Slope/Rating

The SCGA was supposed to be out last week to rate the course, but was unable to make it. They should be out by the end of the month. I'm expecting the course to be rated about the same as nearby Cypress Ridge. I shoot similar scores at each course from the Blues (Cypress) and Golds (Monarch), both of which come in about 6300-6400 yards. Cypress Ridge has a 71.2 rating and 129 slope from these tees.

2 scratch golfers I know who have played the course once shot 70 and 74. The 74 was a result of a double bogie on 9 after underestimating the distance to the lake from the tee, then getting in a difficult bunker beneath the green.

Walkability

I took a cart on opening day, but walked the course on the remaining 3 rounds. The course is very walkable, but climbing to the greens on 6 and 17 and the tees on 7 and 9 will get your heart pumping. I'm always pretty tired by the time I reach the 18th tee - right after finishing the climb up 17. Distances between greens and tees aren't as bad as nearby Cypress Ridge, however it's a bit of a walk from 2 to 3 and 9 to 10.

BTW, for now, carts must stay on cart paths. I find it MUCH easier to walk than to carry a bunch of clubs back and forth from cart to ball.

Homes

Yes, it would be nice not to have homes lining fairways, but that's getting very rare in California. Courses are being built to sell real estate, not as stand-alone business investments. The land is just too expensive. However, on this course, homes are a good distance from the tees and fairways and don't seem to detract from play. The course is 30 acres larger than most with the same play distance. In my 4 rounds with 12 "different" golfers, not one has hit a ball where a house is built, being built, or going to be built!

Fescue Fairways

Fescue, a rarity on golf courses, loves well-drained soils such as the sandy soil found on the Nipomo Mesa. I observed that these fairways don't grab your club like bermuda and the ball sits up so nicely on fescue. Fescue is also very disease-resistant and goes dormant during droughts.

Velvent Bentgrass Greens

Velvet bentgrass greens fell out of favor nearly 50 years ago when courses began their heavy reliance on petroleum-based fertilizers and pesticides. Mismanagement coupled with poor seed production put velvet bentgrasses into obscurity. However, velvet bentgrass has the finest leaf texture, highest shoot density and smoothest playing surface of all turfgrasses. Velvet bentgrass also possesses exceptional drought, shade and disease tolerance, good wear stress tolerance and good heat tolerance.

Eucs

The Eucalyptus trees on the course were NOT planted - and they're not lined up in nice rows. Between 1 and 2 million eucalyptus trees were removed for this large development! 30 acres were left as a Monarch Butterfly preserve. You have to wonder how did they ever get this development though. I've heard that 5 wells were dug to water the course/lawns.

Bunkers

All the bunkers are filled with sand excavated during course development. The Nipomo Mesa is essentially sand. The native sand makes for great sand play - unlike construction sand found at nearby courses. Made for easy dune building too - and looks much like the natural dunes just west along the coast.

If you're ever on the Central Coast, make sure to play this unique course! Tell them Golf SLO sent you

[Jeff_Stettner]

Richard,
Thank you for your insight. As my previous post suggests, I found Monarch Dunes to be a worthy addition to California golf and will be a return destination for me when I am back in the area.

I have one point I wanted to flesh out. While golfers might not have hit the homes during your rounds, the number of tees that have homes immediately adjacent is somewhat disturbing. Next time you are there, take a look at the 17th tee for an example of the kind of squeezing that I had hoped had died in the last decade. I understand the need for the housing to pay for development (I can't believe the prices that I heard!), but the houses do detract.

[Richard Boult]

Jeff, I'm not particularly disturbed by homes being located near tees, especially when they're behind me as they are on Monarch's 17th. However, I'd certainly never want to own one. I'm more concerned with homes encroaching on fairways and greens, which few seem to at Monarch Dunes. Overall, I like the housing development and understand that Shea's Trilogy Division makes quality homes, but... I certainly agree that its construction detracts from the golf experience. If you desire quiet, it's probably best to get a Sunday tee time.

That's definitely one major benefit Hunter Ranch has over Monarch Dunes - no homes! But, believe it or not, I haven't played Hunter Ranch yet. I just started playing golf regularly last year and am rewarding myself with a round at Hunter only after my index goes under 10 - which it just did last week with a 75 at Dairy Creek

[Bill_McBride]

All over Northern and Central California there are long straight lines of eucalyptus trees that were planted as windbreaks after 1900.  When a golf course gets built after the fact, that's the result.  Sonoma Golf Club has a bit of that near the entrance.

They are messy buggers, aren't they?  

[RJ_Daley]

I didn't see this thread in January past, when it was active.  But, I don't want to miss this chance to compliment Aiden.  This photo is like a 9 layer cake.  I think it is just wonderful and if it already hasn't won a prize, it ought to...

[Garland Bayley]

Using the search function which does seem to be working again has not enabled me to find a photo tour of this course. I also checked Richard Bouldt's GolfDelicious directory to no avail. Does anyone know of a photo tour of this course?

[Tim Leahy]

Using the search function which does seem to be working again has not enabled me to find a photo tour of this course. I also checked Richard Bouldt's GolfDelicious directory to no avail. Does anyone know of a photo tour of this course?

Here's one from another web site:

http://www.hookedongolf.com/courses/northern_california/monarch_dunes.html

But I am pretty sure that someone did one on GCA too.

[Garland Bayley]

...
But I am pretty sure that someone did one on GCA too.

That's what I thought too. I was looking for it to add a few pictures of my own.

[Garland Bayley]

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At this point, I found the 9th hole with its pond so contrived and ugly I put away the camera and had lost most of my interest in the course.
Unfortunately, the back 9 is much more interesting than the front 9, with #10 being one of my favorite holes of my trip to KP.

[Damon Groves]

I played last October and a very good course with some good strategic design. I played with three retired guys who shot no better then a 91 and they had a great time and were not beat up by the course so I have to disagree with Lynn. I think the course plays well for a good range of abilities. Also, the course is in Nipomo which is not SLO and while for everyone other then Central Coast folks it does make a difference.

I would definitely recommend it as well as the par 3 course. I ton of fun with some very nice greens that are in very good condition given how new they are.

As for the eucalyptus, they were planted extensively in Southern Cal and the Central Coast in the 20's and can be very beautiful. I went to UC Santa Barbara and there are some huge ones between campus and IV. While I agree they are not native to this area they have become so much a part of the landscape they clearly are home here. Just like the stupid palm trees that are all over. I hate to disappoint and destroy the So Cal image but they are not native either.

In short, definitely play Monarch Dunes and stop at Jocko's for dinner.

[Greg Tallman]

David,

Only drawback from a purists viewpoint, houses on some of the holes, otherwise looks like a fun experience.
Aidan.

Once again I ask... if the ocean is not a plus purely from a view and experience standpoint how are homes a detracting factor assuming they are infringing on the lines of play???

[Forrest Richardson]

I spent the day there a few months ago. Did not play due to my arm, but I spent time at every hole and was blown away by the 12-hole par-3 course. It looked to be a very fun and enjoyable 1+ hours — I plan on going back soon.

Lynn — for the record, the Portuguese immigrants planted the eucalyptus because they figured it would give them income to sell ties to the railroads. Many of these immigrants worked on the railroad lines. Ahhhh, but little did they know (as you pointed out) that eucs make for awful railroad ties. Currently I hear that China is willing to pay significantly for the timber. Apparently they make it into furniture and it is nearly worth it for them to hire loggers to fell the tree and export them all the way to China. How odd.

I agree with the notion that the 18-hole course will continue to be compromised by homes. However, it remains one of the most interesting residential development courses I have ever seen. I could care less about the "dunes" — to me they are simply interesting forms and I give a rat's arse whether they are intended to look natural or whatever. I liked them, especially since they were not identical by any means. (to me, the forms at the Castle Course are nearly all identical — that I have not warmed up to...)

My favorite holes were 10, 18 and a few of the holes (13-16 as I recall) where there were some wild rides up and down. I have yet to speak with Damian, but I did drop him a note to tell him my overall favorable impression. Aidan's photos, by the way, are terrific.

[Tim Gavrich]

The bunker style is almost identical to that employed by Pascuzzo at The Ranch in Southwick, MA, which I believe is the best public course in the greater Hartford area.  Has anyone played both, by chance?

[Garland Bayley]

David,

Only drawback from a purists viewpoint, houses on some of the holes, otherwise looks like a fun experience.
Aidan.

Once again I ask... if the ocean is not a plus purely from a view and experience standpoint how are homes a detracting factor assuming they are infringing on the lines of play???

Ocean? What ocean? Why are you asking about an ocean at this land locked course?

[Garland Bayley]

...
My favorite holes were 10, 18 and a few of the holes (13-16 as I recall) where there were some wild rides up and down. I have yet to speak with Damian, but I did drop him a note to tell him my overall favorable impression. Aidan's photos, by the way, are terrific.

I agree! The front 9 to me was a big disappointment. As I said above, I put away my camera after seeing the tee shot on the 9th. Then when we eventially found the back 9, it turned out to be the best 9 of my trip to the area, La Purisma, Hunter Ranch, Cypress Ridge, Dairy Creek, and Monarch Dunes.

The 18 I would like to play again the most? Twice around the back at Monarch Dunes.

[Craig Sweet]

According to my browser the photo's have been moved or deleted...

[Garland Bayley]

Aidan's pictures can be found at.http://www.golfcoursephotography.com/results.asp?KW=Monarch//Dunes