One may not travel specifically for the purpose of playing 1,300 yards of golf.
And yet, the golf grounds at Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. are far from your typical short course.
Situated oceanside on the Palos Verdes Peninsula cliffs overlooking the Pacific and Catalina Island beyond, the par-3 pleasures across the nine-hole Links at Terranea are short on distance but long on aesthetic, milieu and short/mid-iron marvel.
A mere 30 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport and the cityscape din surrounding, the Links’ match of quietude, test and, yes, fun, seems a world away from the nation’s second-largest metropolis.
Situated amid the high-end, on-site resort spoils and swaddle, the nine holes prove far more than a modest accent across the property’s 102-acre spread; rather, tranquil Terranea’s mighty mite card may well be the most memorable par-3 in the American West. Links Love
Debuted in 2009, Todd Eckenrode’s Links at Terranea design was crafted with equal parts wisdom and prescience.
“When you’re talking about nine-hole par-3 courses – yeah, there aren’t many that look like this,” says Marc Marini, director of golf operations at the Links. “Ocean views everywhere, it’s intelligently bunkered, the greens are really good and the course architecture is very smart.”
Said smarts start from the walking-only grounds’ unique ability to provide interest for sticks and squids alike. Far from a pitch-and-putt, some seriously game greens offer ongoing undulation to keep scoring in check for all, while a primo short game area (that once saw LPGA pros getting prepped for their former, nearby event) plays on par with wedge work areas found at the region’s top clubs.
Individual private instruction via the eponymous Academy is also offered, as are tailored course experiences for couples and families.
“It’s a nice test for the really good player, and also a great fit for the beginner,” continues Marini, one of the Links’ three PGA teaching pros on-staff. “Between the greens, wind factors and elevation changes, it plays tougher than most people think it will. But at the same time, if you wanna’ take a kid out here, or a beginner golfer just looking to have some fun, then yeah, go play up (at 716 yards) and you’ll have a great walk.”
Between ample group and conference business, juniors, couples play and resort guests just looking for kicks, Eckenrode’s foresight, if even by happenstance, comes by way of the game’s ongoing, post-pandemic health. Just as national round counts continue to evidence strength, the burgeon of short course and par-3 popularity proves prime in an age where time is the new currency.
“Some look at the course as an amenity; and that’s fine,” says Nick Untermann, general manager at Terranea Resort. “If you’re not somebody who plays all the time, you can still go out here and have a great time with just 90-minutes of your day.”
As for those seeking more than an oceanfront stroll, the three most popular words at The Links may well be: Let’s play again.
“If you are an avid golfer and you either want to practice or test your short game, then this place is a jewel,” Untermann adds. “I have friends who come out here from golf destinations like Palm Springs, San Diego; they come out here and are legitimately challenged.”
With holes ranging from 104-173 yards, the routing through ample flora and native grasses finds a match in natural beauty with some astute bunkering and undulated targets. Though nary a water hazard is in-play, rest assured, there is trouble to be found.
“No. 5 is a good example,” Marini details. “You’ve got a downhill tee shot that’s only around 115 yards, but there’s a center bunker right in front of the green. And if you hit five feet past the bunker, the green is pitched away from you, so you’ll roll off the back.”
Engagement both preceding and ensuing is found on the tough, uphill 172-third, an aptly-named “Punchbowl” seventh hole and the downhill 173-yard eighth. The home hole provides a nice closing test with a 121-yard carving shot to a well-mounded green.
In concert with a genuine appraisal of shot-making there’s the omnipresent Big Blue, a unicorn for courses of any length. As the man said: They ain’t building any more ocean.
“It’s kind of a hidden gem here,” Marini says. “Yes, we’re on the Pacific, but it’s not just that – this is also a really, really good golf course.”
A Full Resort Scorecard
While the crash of caps against cliffs proves a Terranea soundtrack, the resort tune isn’t necessarily one of hymnic whale music.
Rather: This place is active.
Featuring 580 rooms, five restaurant options – ranging from casual to bars to the property’s signature/upscale mar’sel – along with four pools, the 50,000-square-foot Spa at Terranea and a full menu of on-site activities, The Links, whether played once or back-to-back, allows for ample time to explore the Terranea spread.
“For some guests, it’s just a pleasant surprise that we have an on-site golf course,” adds Marini, “and it’s perfectly designed to fall in line with allowing time for people to enjoy all the other activities here.”
Amid a property reinvestment that may usurp $120 million across a three-year upgrade and refresh plan, recent resort updates have been made to the Spa and (awesome) casitas, while an in-process renovation of bungalows is underway.
“It’s an exciting time,” enthuses Untermann. “Historically, Terranea has been good, some would say ‘very good.’ But we’ve never been excellent, exceptional – the best. And that’s our intention.”
Coupled with a golf day, guests take in a full array of on-site activities, all of which combine to make Terranea a one-stop-shop. Kayaking, snorkeling, archery, falconry, and nature walks along well-groomed trails are all on a day’s scorecard, while live music can be enjoyed at various property sites every single day of the year.
“The list of our options here goes on and on,” Untermann adds, “and that’s because there’s an appetite for it.”
The property event calendar rolls out sans cease, leaving little reason to leave during one’s stay (though, for those who want to explore greater L.A. or swing at nearby championship level courses, a complementary Lexus is provided).
And though fitting 9 or 18 into one’s Terranea day may prove but an added property bonus for some, the pleasing Pacific-side stroll and game wedge test are ever-proving an itinerary circle for myriad guests. With short course popularity surging, Terranea’s nine hole card has signaled its own port-of-call.
Concludes Untermann of The Links tee sheet: “It’s not slowing down.”