A day (or two) at Dairy Creek Golf Course

For links, Toptracer, disc golf, camping and more —Dairy Creek’s got you covered

By Mike Miller
Photos courtesy of Dairy Creek Golf Course

Whether or not you are a golf enthusiast, the Dairy Creek Golf Course should be on your list of stops this summer. In addition to a nine-hole golf course, this San Luis Obispo facility has much more to offer including camping, world-class practice facilities, a state-of-the-art Swing Time facility, disc golf, great food, and much more.

“We like to say that we have a championship nine-hole golf course here at Dairy Creek,” said Josh Heptig, golf course superintendent for San Luis Obispo County. “It is not an executive course or pitch and putt experience. We had to scale back from 18 holes to nine holes due to water restrictions, but we made the most of the situation, and we’re very proud of the experience we offer.”

Dairy Creek offers a par 36 challenge, which includes three par 3s, three par 4s and three par 5s. Heptig added, “We are very proud of how the course has evolved. It plays as long as 3,400 yards for those golfers looking for a challenge and it’s in beautiful shape right now.” You’ll find five sets of tees at each hole to accommodate golfers of all levels. And if you’re looking for a full 18-hole experience, the replay option gives golfers a second chance at holes they didn’t master on the front nine.

Rather than letting the space previously occupied by the other nine holes go unused, Heptig and other county leaders struck a deal with the Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo Mustangs to make it their golf teams’ home practice facility. “It is one of the premier facilities in college golf and has been a really great recruiting tool for their program,” said Heptig. The Cal Poly Mustang Golf Academy is outfitted with a student lounge, team locker rooms and kitchen, and a swing lab, which opens out to the driving range. “We’ve had people come visit from programs like Stanford and they have told us that they are jealous of the facility, so it really is a great addition to the grounds here,” said Heptig. The facility is even available for rent when the teams aren’t using it.

Dairy Creek also offers a Swing Time facility, which is equipped with state-of-the-art Toptracer technology. Swing Time uses launch angle, speed, curve, and other data to deliver instant feedback and a fun experience for everyone. There is a selection of famous golf courses as well as fun games like Angry Birds, but no matter what you choose, each shot provides instant feedback on your swing. The best part? You’re actually outside, hitting on a driving range, with views of the beautiful SLO mountains in the distance.

Because it’s so interactive, Swing Time is fun for golfers of all ages and levels, even those who have never picked up a club. According to Heptig, the facility opened in 2020 and it has been a go-to Central Coast destination since. Swing Time utilizes the same technology used during PGA broadcasts and allows golfers to monitor aspects of their game with real-time data they can put to good use the next time they hit the links.

But don’t let the technology intimidate you if you’re new to the game. It really is accessible to all. “The Toptracer experience is fun for everyone, even the large percentage of people who have never played golf before. It’s a great social event and it has really added to the fun here at Dairy Creek,” added Heptig. While you’re waiting your turn, you can watch sports and other shows on the big screen TVs scattered around the facility.

Along with the Toptracer tech, the Swing Time facility is also equipped with a number of televisions so players can watch sports, movies or other shows of their liking while sharpening their golf skills. The building is also covered and offers heaters when the weather gets chilly.

Want some help with your swing from a real live pro? Dairy Creek has you covered there too, with several local professionals who offer lessons and general instruction.


For a different kind of golf, get out on their disc golf range! Dairy Creek is looking to host major competitions there in the near future. Heptig also added that the county is finalizing plans to add a zip line and electric go-carts to their already robust offerings.

With so much to do at Dairy Creek, you might need more than a day to do it all. Thankfully, Dairy Creek also offers a campground to extend your golf adventure. The park features 61 campsites, 43 of which are full hook-up with electricity, sewer and water, and 18 which are primitive with water nearby. Each site at the campground can accommodate approximately six to eight people, and either a couple of tents or an RV. The maximum trailer length at some of the sites is 40 feet, but there are a couple of pull-through sites. Restrooms and coin-operated showers are available on the premises. According to Heptig, Dairy Creek is currently in negotiations to build 48 camping structures on the grounds, which are slated to be complete in the next 10 to 12 months.

The design of Dairy Creek and all of its offerings have been influenced by the local community noted Heptig. “I have been tasked with being as entrepreneurial as possible with this facility, but I have gotten a ton of great ideas from the public. We have held 16 public meetings to ask what people want to see at Dairy Creek, and they have really been a big help with the vision. There is something for everyone here and we are proud of what we are building,” he said.

Last year, Dairy Creek hosted a fun community event called Park Palooza, which served as a fundraiser for the Humane Society and San Luis Obispo County Parks. The fun event offered a color run, car show, live music, food and drink vendors, and much more. Heptig said that the plan is for Dairy Creek to host more large community events like Park Palooza in the future.

“Dairy Creek has a great team of people working the facility and it’s a fun, exciting and dynamic place to be,” concluded Heptig. But there are lots of other courses to check out while you’re in the area. The Morro Bay Golf Course and the Chalk Mountain Golf Course are also excellent choices.

Dairy Creek is at 2990 Dairy Creek Road, San Luis Obispo. For reservations, menus, hole-by-hole video tutorials with tips and suggestions on how to play the course, and more, dairycreekslo.com.