Pure Links: La Purisima Golf Course
Lompoc is home to one of the most challenging and entertaining golf courses in the state of California: La Purisima Golf Course.
By Mike Miller
Affectionately nicknamed “La Piranha,” La Purisima is widely considered one of the most difficult public courses in the United States. Designed by Kenneth Hume Hunter, Jr., and opened in 1986, it was built with a singular, uncompromising vision: to provide a “pure” golf experience. In the world of La Purisima, “pure” means no houses, no distractions, and absolutely no mercy.
According to the La Purisima website, “It started with a great place — 309 acres of gently rolling, oak studded, ancient sand hills 30 miles north of Santa Barbara. Mr. Hunter developed it much like his other nationally acclaimed courses (Sandpiper Golf Course in Goleta and Hunter Ranch in Paso Robles), with no commercial development or housing surrounding the golf course land. His courses are built for pure golf.”
I have played La Purisima a number of times, and as a six handicap, I am beyond thrilled to escape the experience by carding something in the mid-80s. The course challenges you right out of the gate with a challenging par five. With water danger on the right and an elevated green, you have a chance of carding a birdie or a double bogey right from the start. The course is relentless from there, with very few easy opportunities for pedestrian pars.
From the tips, La Purisima plays 7,105 yards and offers a course rating of 75.7 and slope of 143. The front tees (white) are 6,187 yards with a 71.4 rating and 131 slope. Par for the course is 72 (36 on the front and back).
You cannot review La Purisima without discussing the wind. While the mornings can be deceptively serene, the “Lompoc breeze” typically kicks in around noon. This isn’t a gentle rustling of the oaks; it is a heavy, consistent Pacific wind that can turn a mid-iron into a 3-wood, or a simple wedge into a guessing game.
The wind, strategically placed bunkers, and deep rough are what elevates the course from “challenging” to “punishing.” The wind will expose any flaw in your ball-striking. If you struggle with a slice or a hook, the wind at La Purisima will take that mistake and magnify it until your ball is lost in the thick, golden chaparral that lines the fairways.
During a recent outing with some of my regular golf buddies, we took the short drive from Santa Barbara to La Purisima to play a morning round. We were able to avoid the feared winds, but the course still got the best of us. Tom, an eight-handicap, said, “This course is a blast but if you let up for even a minute, you will find yourself in trouble. I find the greens challenging but fair. I love playing here, but you have to bring your A-game and plenty of focus. La Purisima is also the only course I have ever walked off of, mid-round, because I was so frustrated!”
Our group is made up of walkers, and making our way around La Purisima was a challenge in areas, but certainly enjoyable. There are portions of the course that don’t have smooth paths, but overall, I would say it is a walker’s course.
Another highlight of La Purisima is its all-grass practice area, which is a rare find these days. The driving range offers plenty of space for you to hit all of the clubs in your bag. There is a short game area, also with tons of space, including bunkers. The La Purisima practice area is one of my favorites on the Central Coast. Another added benefit is the practice putting green, which is strategically placed right next to the first tee, so you can get in a few putts just before teeing off.
If you are hungry or looking to grab a beverage before hitting the links, La Purisima has you covered there as well. The Grille has a variety of burgers, sandwiches, tacos, and assorted breakfast items. At my last visit, the cook made a point to brag about The Grille’s use of fresh ingredients, and he wasn’t kidding. Every meal I have had there has been delicious, especially the tri-tip sandwich and chicken tacos. The Grille offers a large indoor eating area as well as outdoor seating, where you can sit and watch golfers navigate the challenging 18th hole.
In terms of green fees, La Purisima offers a Players Club Membership for $299, which offers two free rounds, two foursomes for $150, and a variety of other discounts. If you are a member, you can play primetime on weekends for $59 to walk or $75 to ride. For non-members, the weekend rates are $88 to walk to $108 to ride, so La Purisima is an excellent value for the experience you get throughout the day.
Don’t just take our word that this is a bucket list course for any golfer — the course has racked up numerous honors and awards over the year. It was named the 33rd Toughest Golf Course in America and 3rd Toughest in California by Golf Digest, and is a Top 5 Golf Course in California and Top 50 in America according to Zagat Survey (2005). Golf Digest gave it a 4 and a half Star Rating in its “Best Places to Play 2004.” The accolades are significant, and just keep coming!
For more details on this excellent course, visit
lapurisimagolf.com. You can book tee times on the website or call the clubhouse directly at (805) 735-8395.
Find La Purisima at 3455 E Highway 246, Lompoc.