Last week I got the chance to play The Links at Bodega Harbour with my buddy Don. We were paired up with two of their men’s club members which was GREAT because neither one of us knew the course and it’s always helpful to have someone with you that you can ask about a shot or three.
First off, my favorite thing about this course are the views!!! You can see the ocean on every hole! Loved the views out here.
Don and I played from the White tee (5,465 yards) while the other two played from the Blue tee (5,892 yards). They also have a Black tee at 6,284 yards and a Gold tee measuring 4,801 yards.
I personally have never been drawn to “links style” golf mainly because I enjoy the visual of trees, ponds, waterfalls, creeks, bushes and so on. But, as I said, the views more than made up for that for me.
I had heard about the weather, fog and the wind. The day that we went out was sunny, dry, clear and the wind was really only a factor on the 17th hole for me.
The fairways were in good shape as far as my game goes, and the greens where faster than I am used to but nothing killer like at some places I have played. The greens seem huge most of the time and that was great for me because I had a bigger target and my putting game was on. No three putts for me all day.
Houses line most fairways but never came into play for any of us. They are set back enough that unless you really hit a banana you will be okay. So many of them must be vacation homes or weekend retreats as most seemed to be closed, covered and locked up. Some are very cool looking with great decks to sit and have a cocktail with those amazing views. Great place to be during whale season. Let’s talk about some holes.
Hole #1 is an uphill slight dogleg to the right measuring 368 yards, but closer to 400 uphill. I would not want to walk this course, but there were golfers there doing that. Younger than me I am guessing. I made par on the first hole. It’s the #3 handicap hole out here, so I was off to a good start.
The next two holes, I doubled and it wasn’t looking good. #3 is an uphill par 3 that I should have done better on. But then I calmed down and on the 4th hole, the #1 handicap hole on the course, an uphill (really? LOL) par 4, carded at 361 yards I shot a bogey and felt pretty good about that.
The next hole is the 482 yard par 5 5th hole. A double blind shot basically. This is where local knowledge comes in handy. When pulling up to a tee box I automatically grab my driver since it is my favorite club to hit. I was told, “No!” My “locals” said it’s just a short shot to a black/white marker down the fairway and not to go past it. So I grabbed my 6 iron and put it right by the marker. From there it’s all downhill, as in, look down there! It was pretty far and to the right. So I took my 3 wood (not my fave club) with plans to tag it about 210 down the hill to get up a short shoot to the green. It went a little left, but no trouble. A 60 degree wedge to the green that led to a 2 putt par! Fun hole.
And now 16 and 17. So much fun! You come down off the hill to a marshland area covered with reeds, at 16 (a par 4) a 160 yard tee shot over them straight ahead gives you about 110 in. You have to take your clubs off your cart and carry them for the next two holes. They supply pull/push carts for you as you walk a neat path through the reeds to the fairway.
#17 is a short par 3 but dead into the wind. It is a 137 yarder. This is where I lost my only ball of the day by putting it too high into the wind and sending it to the side of the hill. Sad golfer! They do have a “drop zone” so I decided to use that instead of re-hitting like I normally do. Ended up with a 6 on that one.
And that takes us to the amazing 18th hole! 335 yards, downhill, par 4. Another non driver hole. From the White tee you really only want to put it about 150 yards and leave it to the left and on top of the hill. As in selling real estate, it’s all about location, location, location. Your second shot to the green is all downhill, between a couple of trees to the green. Pretty much all carry, not a lot of room for mistakes. My ball went a tad long over the hill so I had a downhill lie. I hit a 9 iron to the left, on the fringe, chipped it up, two putted and made a 5.
So to sum it up. Great views, nice condition, I was only in one bunker all day, but the sand was nice and fluffy, no water, the last three holes were my favorite. Friendly staff. When I pulled into park, they were right there with my cart. Carts had cool GPS with flyover views of the holes. Basic hot dogs at the turn, no beverage cart service that day and I shot 85. I’d go back. #TheLinksAtBodegaHarbour
