Off the Fringe, “Golf’s best short read.” The award winning newsletter, sent twice monthly, that provides an unconventional perspective on the golf world.
Bob Kennedy
Vandenberg AFB
2007-04-12
$31 (cart included), played on Thursday, July 2006 at 10am
I must admit, I am biased. This was the first golf course that I ever played. I played it back in 1964 as a senior in high school. I knew then that it was a beautiful venue, I just did not appreciate at that time that not all golf courses were equally blessed. I next played Marshallia Ranch Golf Course in 1994, 30 years later when I returned for the Lompoc High School class of 64 reunion. It was like visiting an old friend who had not changed a bit. I am talking about the course. The reunion was also terrific, I was so lucky to have gone to such a great high school with terrific kids who were all very nice.But, I digress. The course is located about 5 miles from the Main gate of Vandenburg AFB, near Lompoc / Santa Maria California. It lies near the coast, so even in the summer, bring a jacket as the cool ocean breeze and fog can keep it cool. The course looks and feels like the 6800 yards it is. the 2 par 5-s are each about 550 yards. The course has beautiful cypress trees lining the fairways, great elevation changes, is located away from man made structures, and is a real delight visualy as well as a difficult, but fair golf challenge. The only thing this course lacks are water hazards. It makes up for it with ice plant. Hit a ball into ice plant which is abundant, and it might as well be in a pond, you will not find your ball. This military course is open to the public, albeit at a slightly higher fee than to military, but still a very good price. I highly recommend this course. For an under $40 Californa course, it should not be missed.
$31 (cart included), played on Thursday, July 2006 at 10am
I must admit, I am biased. This was the first golf course that I ever played. I played it back in 1964 as a senior in high school. I knew then that it was a beautiful venue, I just did not appreciate at that time that not all golf courses were equally blessed. I next played Marshallia Ranch Golf Course in 1994, 30 years later when I returned for the Lompoc High School class of 64 reunion. It was like visiting an old friend who had not changed a bit. I am talking about the course. The reunion was also terrific, I was so lucky to have gone to such a great high school with terrific kids who were all very nice.But, I digress. The course is located about 5 miles from the Main gate of Vandenburg AFB, near Lompoc / Santa Maria California. It lies near the coast, so even in the summer, bring a jacket as the cool ocean breeze and fog can keep it cool. The course looks and feels like the 6800 yards it is. the 2 par 5-s are each about 550 yards. The course has beautiful cypress trees lining the fairways, great elevation changes, is located away from man made structures, and is a real delight visualy as well as a difficult, but fair golf challenge. The only thing this course lacks are water hazards. It makes up for it with ice plant. Hit a ball into ice plant which is abundant, and it might as well be in a pond, you will not find your ball. This military course is open to the public, albeit at a slightly higher fee than to military, but still a very good price. I highly recommend this course. For an under $40 Californa course, it should not be missed.