Sandpiper Golf Club
Sandpiper Golf Club offers a compelling links-style 18-hole layout on California’s central coast, featuring panoramic ocean views and firm greens that challenge players of various skill levels. This public course invites golfers to enjoy a strategic round along rugged cliffs with a blend of accessibility and coastal drama.
Course Overview
Sandpiper Golf Club delivers a compelling coastal golfing experience along the rugged cliffs of Goleta, California. This public 18-hole, par-71 layout stretches over 6,225 yards with a distinctly links-style character shaped by Pacific Ocean breezes and natural terrain. The course unfolds across rolling fairways that hug the shoreline, offering players dramatic ocean views on nearly every hole. Generous but well-placed bunkers guard the greens, demanding thoughtful approach shots and strategic course management.
From tee to green, Sandpiper strikes a balance between challenge and accessibility. It rewards precision with firm, undulating greens that test putting touch, while the wind offers a dynamic variable requiring adaptive shot selection. Golfers of intermediate to advanced skill levels will appreciate the variety in hole lengths, including several longer par-4s that call for accurate drives and intelligent play. For those looking to walk, the course provides a rewarding pace amid spectacular scenery, with the ocean’s salty air mixing with fresh coastal breezes.
The setting enhances the round, with bluff-top holes where panoramic ocean vistas invite moments of reflection between shots. The natural vegetation and occasional elevation changes contribute to a feeling of genuinely connecting with the landscape, rather than maneuvering through a heavily manicured course.
Sandpiper’s clubhouse offers comfortable amenities and a relaxed atmosphere, fitting for a round along the coast. The staff maintains excellent course conditions year-round, ensuring smooth fairways and fast, true greens. Whether playing a casual round or testing your skills in a scramble or local tournament, Sandpiper offers an accessible yet invigorating coastal golf experience.
Visiting golfers should consider cooler coastal weather and morning fog during certain seasons, and allowing extra time to soak in the views. Walking the course is highly recommended to fully engage with its layout and natural rhythm. Sandpiper Golf Club stands out as a distinctive Southern California venue where the ocean and golf combine for a memorable game.
Course Highlights
Sandpiper’s signature traits include its authentic links-style design influenced by ocean winds, consistently well-maintained greens, and several holes perched on coastal bluffs with expansive Pacific views. The firm fairways and challenging elevation changes provide a true test for intermediate and advanced golfers alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
Guest Reviews
Don Ariyakumar
One of the most stunning courses in Southern California! The ocean views and close proximity to the water make it an unforgettable experience. If you can, walk the course—it's the best way to truly appreciate its beauty and layout.
Chris Kesi Li
Very picturesque. Good practice areas.
T A
Ben Miller
Gorgeous course. Hole 10 is amazing and the 10/11 sequence is one of the best two holes I've played. Conditions were very good. Views were amazing. It's a challenging and fair course. Lots of longer par 4s, well placed traps. Really fun round. I was at a scramble with lunch and dinner provided and the food was good too. Wonderful experience.
Philippe Bourgault
First time I played there today, and it became one of my favorite course. The views are amazing, course is well maintained, and all the greens are really challenging. I highly recommend this course for ocean side views and challenge on the course
Colton Bellandi
Fun coastal track. Good price for the prime beach location and it being California. Only complaint was the few unfixed pitch marks on the green. Will play again.
Scott Pahnke
Sandpiper Golf Club in Santa Barbara is an unforgettable golfing experience, combining challenging play with some of the most breathtaking ocean views you’ll find on any course. Nestled along the coastline, the layout provides a true links-style feel, with several holes offering stunning vistas of the Pacific. The course itself is well-maintained, with lush fairways and smooth greens that make for a great round. The ocean breeze adds an extra layer of challenge, keeping each shot interesting. A few holes, especially those right along the cliffs, are simply breathtaking—you’ll find yourself pausing just to take in the scenery. Whether you’re a local or visiting the area, Sandpiper is a must-play course that blends the beauty of nature with a truly enjoyable round. Highly recommend!
Shuhei Kaneko
Colton Bellandi
Fun coastal track. Good price for the prime beach location and it being California. Only complaint was the few unfixed pitch marks on the green. Will play again.
Bob Craig
Sandpiper is a coastal golf course in Goleta, CA open to the public.
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Course Details
Access & Location
7925 Hollister Ave, Goleta, CA 93117, USA
Sandpiper Golf Clubhouse offers dining, pro shop, and locker facilities
Walking encouraged to best experience the course’s natural rhythm; recommend sturdy golf shoes for varied terrain
Reservations recommended, walk-ins welcome; tee times available online and by phone
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