The Mission Club
Putting Lompoc golf on the map
Story by Mike Miller photos courtesy of Mission Club
As an avid golfer living on the Central Coast, I love playing new courses for the first time, but I am rarely motivated enough to leave the core three or four courses that are closest to me after visiting a new track. That is, before I recently discovered The Mission Club in Lompoc. After playing this course, I will be going back!
As an avid golfer living on the Central Coast, I love playing new courses for the first time, but I am rarely motivated enough to leave the core three or four courses that are closest to me after visiting a new track. That is, before I recently discovered The Mission Club in Lompoc. After playing this course, I will be going back!
I joined a group that I play with on a fairly regular basis and made the drive to Lompoc not really knowing what to expect. Let me just say, I may have found one of the best hidden gems on the Central Coast.
The Mission Club originally opened in 1962 and was designed by esteemed architect Ted Robinson. The course is a challenging one that will make golfers of all levels think about shot placements for all 18 holes.
The par-72 course stretches to a modest 6,546 yards from the tips (black tees), yielding a slope rating of 130 and a course rating of 72.1. From the women’s tees (silver), golfers will be looking to navigate 5,819 yards. While not intimidatingly long, the course’s true defense lies in its tight fairways, strategic bunkering, and, most notably, its smallish, undulating greens.
“Our course is an awesome challenge that not a lot of people know about and we’re hoping to change that,” Director of Golf Stephen Douglas said. “It is not a long course, but you have to know where your ball is going. The pride of the course is our greens; they are undulating and fast and they can be treacherous.”
The design features are a delightful mix of doglegs requiring precise placement off the tee, so club selection and accuracy are important.
I thoroughly enjoyed my inaugural round at The Mission Club. We played on a beautiful weekend afternoon and the pace was perfect. I always walk while playing, and I found it to be a very enjoyable trek.
My affinity for the course was probably enhanced by the fact that I played well, much better than I normally do when playing a course for the first time. My round consisted of six birdies, but only three pars and a slew of bogeys. I was able to limit the damage to my overall score by only carding one double bogey on the day, which I was actually quite proud of given how hard the greens were to read for a first-timer.
During my visit, I was also struck by the friendly vibe throughout the facility. From the time we checked in at the clubhouse to the time we walked off the 18th green, everyone was accommodating and welcoming. “The community here is awesome. It is a very mellow vibe and people enjoy their time here,” added Douglas.
The Mission Club was an exclusively private club until 2017, when it became semi-private and opened tee times to the general public. According to Douglas, The Mission Club holds tee times for men’s and women’s club events two days a week and members can book tee-times two weeks in advance, but aside from that, the general public has full access to book available tee times.
“We get a lot of outside play and host a number of tournaments throughout the year,” Douglas said. “In fact, we host about 20 charity tournaments a year, which is something we are very proud of.”
Douglas also started the Rocket City Open last year, which is a 36-hole gross competition open to all amateur golfers. “We plan on making it an annual event and want to expand the field. It’s a lot of fun and we play it in late August, so the course and competition are excellent,” he added.
The Mission Club also has a terrific practice area if you need to tune things up a bit ahead of your round, or just want to hit a bucket of balls and work on your short game while traveling through the area. The thing I really appreciated about the driving range was that it’s natural grass, something that is seemingly harder and harder to find these days. The putting green also offered me a sneak peek into what I would see on the course, which was much appreciated. And if you need lessons or a club fitting, The Mission Club has you covered in that area, as well.
If you are hungry and need a bite to eat before, during, or after your round, the Hook and Slice Bar and Grill has you more than covered. Whether you are just looking for a basket of fries, a poke bowl, wood-fired pizza, or a juicy smash burger at the turn to get you back on track for the back nine, they have what you need and more. The Mission Club also offers a more formal dining experience with The Range, which is open three days a week and is home to some of the best steak offerings in the area. The Range also has a ballroom for your larger events.
Whether you are visiting the Central Coast or are within driving distance to Lompoc, this course offers a country club experience for you and your family. Memberships at The Mission Club currently start at $525 a month and can offer unlimited golf at both The Mission Club and La Purisima Golf Course, as well as access to the club’s gym, pool, and pickleball facilities, among other benefits.
“The Mission Club is a wonderful community with lots to offer. It is such a unique experience,” said Douglas. “For example, we have viewing parties on the 18th green where you can literally see rockets being launched. We are so close that the clubhouse shakes when they take off.”
To a book tee time and learn more, visit missionclubgolf.com or call (805) 733-3535.
Even if The Mission Club is a little out of your way during your Central Coast travels, take my word for it — you will not be disappointed. It’s worth the drive!