Golf in Santa Barbara County
From Sandpiper's oceanfront fairways to the oak-shaded layouts at the Alisal and La Purisima, Santa Barbara County delivers scenic year-round golf. Resort, municipal, wine-country, coastal, and short beginner-friendly courses — all under American Riviera weather.
Featured Golf Destinations
Glen Annie Golf Club
Hillside 18-hole public course with panoramic Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands views — Goleta's other can't-miss public round.
The Montecito Club
Recently renovated luxury private 18 with sweeping Pacific Ocean views — Montecito's most refined contemporary club.
Twin Lakes Golf Course
Friendly 9-hole executive course in Goleta — beginner-friendly, walkable, and perfect for a quick round or first lesson.
The Ranch Course at The Alisal
Historic resort 18 at The Alisal Guest Ranch — old-California ranch golf under 300-year-old Valley oaks.
La Purisima Golf Course
Bucket-list championship 18 set in the rolling Santa Rita Hills — consistently ranked among California's top public courses.
Rancho San Marcos Golf Course
Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed championship public course winding through 300-year-old oaks along the Santa Ynez River.
Santa Barbara Golf Club
The City of Santa Barbara's beloved 18-hole municipal — affordable, walkable, and open year-round just minutes from downtown.
Sandpiper Golf Club
One of California's few true oceanfront public courses — championship 18 holes draped along the bluffs above the Pacific.
All Golf Courses(17)
Glen Annie Golf Club
Hillside 18-hole public course with panoramic Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands views — Goleta's other can't-miss public round.
The Montecito Club
Recently renovated luxury private 18 with sweeping Pacific Ocean views — Montecito's most refined contemporary club.
Twin Lakes Golf Course
Friendly 9-hole executive course in Goleta — beginner-friendly, walkable, and perfect for a quick round or first lesson.
The Ranch Course at The Alisal
Historic resort 18 at The Alisal Guest Ranch — old-California ranch golf under 300-year-old Valley oaks.
La Purisima Golf Course
Bucket-list championship 18 set in the rolling Santa Rita Hills — consistently ranked among California's top public courses.
Rancho San Marcos Golf Course
Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed championship public course winding through 300-year-old oaks along the Santa Ynez River.
Santa Barbara Golf Club
The City of Santa Barbara's beloved 18-hole municipal — affordable, walkable, and open year-round just minutes from downtown.
Sandpiper Golf Club
One of California's few true oceanfront public courses — championship 18 holes draped along the bluffs above the Pacific.
Hidden Oaks Golf Course
Affordable 9-hole executive short course tucked under mature oaks — the city's hidden beginner gem.
Zaca Creek Golf Course
Casual 9-hole short course in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley — affordable wine-country golf without the resort pricing.
Rancho Maria Golf Club
Friendly public 18 in North County — affordable, well-conditioned, and a regional locals' favorite.
Sunset Ridge Golf Club
Casual 9-hole executive course in Santa Maria — short, friendly, and ideal for after-work twilight rounds.
The Mission Club
Private championship 18 on remote coastal terrain near Vandenberg — exclusive members-only round in pristine natural setting.
Santa Maria Country Club
Historic 1923 private 18-hole country club — North County's most established private golf and social club.
Birnam Wood Golf Club
Exclusive Montecito private 18 — Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed championship course in the oak-shaded foothills.
Valley Club of Montecito
Legendary 1929 Alister MacKenzie-designed private club — one of the most historically significant courses in California.
La Cumbre Country Club
Historic Hope Ranch private club with lake-side fairways and dramatic Santa Ynez Mountains backdrop.
Golf in Santa Barbara — A Local's Guide
Santa Barbara County offers a rare mix: ocean-view coastal golf at Sandpiper and Glen Annie, wine-country golf at La Purisima, Rancho San Marcos, and the Alisal, plus affordable municipal play at Santa Barbara Golf Club. Golf season runs essentially year-round — cool coastal mornings and warm Santa Ynez Valley afternoons.
For bucket-list play, Sandpiper Golf Club is one of California's few truly oceanfront public courses. Aspirational privates like Valley Club of Montecito, Birnam Wood, La Cumbre, and the Montecito Club rank among the state's most prestigious. For beginners and value play, Twin Lakes, Hidden Oaks, and Zaca Creek offer accessible short rounds. La Purisima and Rancho San Marcos are the local golfer's favorite championship options.