SLO County Golf, Wine & Real EstateGolf, Wine & Real Estate News and Events Blog
Cypress Ridge gets Golf Digest 4.5 RatingTuesday, January 23, 2007For the second time in two years, Golf Digest has given Cypress Ridge Golf Course a rating of 4.5 stars. That's the opinion the magazine received when it asked 20,000 golfers to rate 4,000 golf courses in North America and the Carribean based on its condition, pace of play, service, value and overall experience.Cypress Ridge is a Peter Jacobsen signature course and was designed by the former PGA tour winner along with Jim Hardy. It also is an Audobon Signature Sanctuary. The only course to get a higher rating in California was Pebble Beach, which could cost golfers upwards of $350 per round. The green fee for Cypress Ridge is $55 per round for a weekday game. "We're making top caliber golf accessible for fans who love the game but don't want to pay exorbinant rates - to me that is an accomplishment," said head pro Rick Ventura. Cypress Ridge has played host to mini tour stops, USGA qualifiers and Cal Poly intercollegeiate tournamenets. An on-site hotel and new clubhouse slated to be built in the future will bring even more professional interest to the course. The 2006-07 edition of Golf Digest's 'Best Places to Play' is available in bookstores or at www.golfdigest.com. Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Labels: Course Reviews, Cypress Ridge, Golf Digest Straight Down Clothing Store Moves AgainSaturday, January 20, 2007One of the first tenants at the Court Street shopping center in downtown San Luis Obispo has moved out, making way for another local business to take its place.Straight Down Clothing Co., the San Luis Obispo-based golf and lifestyle apparel retailer, has moved out of 1020 Court St. to the former Bello's store at 886 Monterey St., where the company has been operating its outlet store for about a month. Owner Mike Rowley, who opened the Court Street store in June 2005, said the decision to move was prompted by the lack of space at the 1,500-square-foot Court Street location. The Monterey Street store is double the size, said Rowley, noting that sales at the Court Street location had been doing well. "We were down on lower Higuera for 10 years, and we moved up to Court Street because we needed more square footage," Rowley explained. "We didn't realize at the time that we needed that much more. Now, the consumer will have the benefit of having outlet and (other) items all under one roof." Mark Rawson, architect for Copeland Properties, the property owner of Court Street, said the space will not be vacant for long. "They (Straight Down) were one of our first tenants," he said. "We are pleased to say, though, that another local retailer will be opening up in Straight Down's former location." Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Labels: Golf Stores, Straight Down Sports Authority to Open in SLOThursday, January 18, 2007The Sports Authority will open its doors in downtown San Luis Obispo at the former Copeland Sports storefronts in mid-April with a grand opening expected in mid-May.A representative said Tuesday that the company - one of the nation's largest sports retailers - is now determining design issues of the storefront but noted, 'We want to continue with what the Copelands have done and match the downtown culture.' He did not anticipate significant visual changes. He added that The Sports Authority will be busy stocking merchandise over the coming months to prepare for its soft opening in April. The Sports Authority, which is based in Englewood, Colo., bought 12 Copeland Sports stores in November. A former Copeland store in Medford, Ore., will be the first to operate under The Sports Authority banner when it reopens in late February. Copeland Sports closed its downtown San Luis Obispo stores Sunday. Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Labels: Golf Stores Santa Margarita Golf & WineSunday, January 14, 2007The tiny hamlet of Santa Margarita could balloon into a new city that includes three places of worship, private golf courses, hundreds of homes, nine wineries, galleries, shops, a livestock yard and many other amenities, under a plan to be unveiled Thursday night in Santa Margarita.The county planning department and developer Santa Margarita Ranch LLC will release an environmental impact report delineating the possibilities for the land at a public meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. at the community room on I Street. The EIR also will set forth potential problems, environmental and otherwise, with the putative development. The report comes in two parts. The first assesses the impact of a proposed agricultural cluster subdivision on property southeast of town. The developer proposes 111 sites, to be built in three phases, and completed in 2010. In a cluster subdivision, the homes are clustered in order that agriculture can take place on the surrounding land. The second, and larger proposal examines what might become of the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch, which surrounds the current town. Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Wine Labels: Central Coast Wine, Golf Courses, Santa Margarita The Mission Inn of Pismo Beach OpensFriday, January 12, 2007The Mission Inn of Pismo Beach opens today.The $12 million, 120-unit hotel is located on the east side of Highway 101 at Fourth Street and James Way. The 5-acre bluff-top site overlooks the highway with many of its rooms and suites featuring ocean views. Designed by architect Steven Puglisi of San Luis Obispo, the 85,000-square-foot property has a cafe, lounge, business center, free wireless Internet, and a pool and spa. The hotel will also offer dinner packages that provide guests with vouchers to local restaurants. Website: www.missioninnpismobeach.com Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Labels: Lodging, Mission Inn, Pismo Beach Monarch Dunes Royal Rewards ClubThursday, January 11, 2007Join the Monarch Dunes Royal Rewards Club for one year and receive the following benefits:- Discounted green fee rates � up to 30% off - 2 hour early twilight - 6 "Member Only" tournaments per year - $14 cart rate (regular rate is $17) - Southern California Golf Association Membership - 1 dozen Titleist Pro V1 golf balls with course logo - SIGN UP 2007 Premium Benefit Customer Award Program In 2007, Monarch Dunes is introducing their best benefit yet! At the end of 2007 the top 48 loyalty point earners will receive a weekend golf get away tournament with three nights and two rounds of golf with cart in the Arizona desert. Room nights will be provided by the Golden Nugget in Laughlin, Nevada and the golf course to be announced. More Info... Join Monarch Dunes Men's Club The 2007 season will feature 8 competitive gross and net tournaments and special 2-day championship. Contact Jensen Lardizabal, Head Golf Professional at (805) 343.9459 x 107 for more information. More Info... Royal Rewards 2007 Criers and Whiners Tournament - Sunday, January 21st, 11 Am Straight Tee Times - 1 Mulligan per Hole - Based on 70% of Handicap - Fee inclues Round, Cart and Range Balls - Longest Drive & 5 Closest to the Pin - Prizes for 1st,2nd and 3rd gross and net - $55 per Member - SIGN UP Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Labels: Golf Discounts, Golf Tournament, Monarch Dunes Feb 4 - Black, Gold & White Super Bowl TournamentWednesday, January 10, 2007Spend your Super Bowl Sunday at Monarch Dunes Golf Club for the 2007 Black, Gold and White Tournament and watch "The Big Game" on our 50" HD Plasma T.V.The Sunday, February 4th tournament is a 9 am Shotgun (8am check-in), Individual Stroke play. Fees include Green Fee, Cart Fee, Range and 2 sleeves NXT logo golf balls per player. Gross and Net Prizes will be awarded for 3 flights (0-10, 11-18, 19-over). Rounds of golf at Monarch Dunes awarded for Longest Drive and 5 Closest to the Pin. Breakfast Burrito at check in Happy Hour Buffet to be served during "The Big Game". Give away after "The Big Game" - Each player will be entered to win 1 of 3 complimentary Royal rewards Memberships. Fees are $99 for Royal Rewards Members, $110 for Non-members. Sign Up: 2007 Black, Gold and White Tournament Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Labels: Golf Tournament, Monarch Dunes Monarch Dunes Selected in So Cal Top 20Tuesday, January 09, 2007Bob Fagan at Golf Today Magazine selected Monarch Dunes among Southern California's Twenty Best Public Courses. The Central Coast's Sandpiper and La Purisima Golf Courses received an Honorable Mention. Monarch Dunes finds itself listed in pretty good company below.Trying to list the best of many wonderful public offerings is a difficult task, enough so Bob Fagan didn't even dare attempt to list them in any order. If your favorite course is not listed, perhaps it is because Fagan hasn't played it. The interesting thing to note is that with the exception of the Ojai Valley Resort and Spa, all the courses listed are of modern vintage. What you can count on is that each is a very special golf course! Aviara Golf Club (Four Seasons Resort) - One of the Arnold Palmer Group's most attractive designs: fun, scenic, and tough with perhaps golf's best waterscaping and a very demanding finishing hole. Barona Creek Golf Club - inland from San Diego, this is one fun, playable, and interesting golf course, a personal favorite and ranked among the best modern courses in America. Desert Willow Firecliff Course - Lots of big white bunkers punctuate this challenging municipally owned Hurdzan-Fry-design in the Coachella Valley. Grand Del Mar (The) - This Tom Fazio-design resort course winds between canyon valleys and hilltops to afford some spectacular views and golf. The par-three 17th has to be one of the most difficult and dangerous holes anywhere! La Costa Resort & Spa - Individually the two courses here don't quite make the list, but the composite or original course still is one beautiful classic Dick Wilson - Joe Lee design. The bonus is that there are now an additional 18 holes to play. Lost Canyons Shadow Course - This Pete Dye/Fred Couples design is one of two spectacular 18's here that features wildly hilly terrain which translates into tough and scenic. Maderas Golf Club - The product of the late Robert Graves, Maderas scores high on all factors, definitely an excellent test. It may be the Southern California region's most under-rated layout. Monarch Dunes Golf Club - A really attractive new course in Nipoma with firm, fast, undulating greens, beautiful trees, wispy rough, and friendly folks. Design credit to Damian Pascuzzo. Mountain Course at La Quinta - One of Pete Dye's early desert courses and still one of his best, it is set adjacent to the Santa Rosa Mountains. Recent renovations/improvements and gorgeous views keep the layout's position secure as one of the region's best courses, public or private. Oak Quarry Golf Club - This old Riverside quarry was transformed into a spectacular golf creation by the team of Schmidt and Curley. The Quarry Hole is only one of many visually spectacular holes. Oak Valley Golf Club - A beautiful, challenging, and engaging Beaumont property designed by the prolific duo of Brian Curley and Lee Schmidt. Ojai Valley Inn & Spa - This is truly one of the best vintage golf experiences in the region, easily on a par with the best private club courses. You won't tire of playing this fun, beautiful layout that appear to be a Shangri La. Pelican Hill Ocean South Course - The South Course is the top of the food chain in Orange County golf and edges out its neighbor North Course being slightly more scenic and interesting, though perhaps a bit easier. PGA West Stadium Course - This La Quinta layout seemed to make Pete Dye famous or perhaps it may be the other way around because it can be so difficult. Either way, the layout has matured into a great course and an enjoyable experience provided, you check your ego at the first tee and play percentage golf. Rancho San Marcos Golf Course - A good outgoing nine followed by a great incoming nine highlights this attractive rural Santa Barbara area course design by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. After playing it, it is hard to understand why it often goes unnoticed. Rustic Canyon Golf Club - Lots of interesting golf course architecture awaits here with complex greensites requiring well-placed tee shots for good access. Situated in a valley setting, the course plays best when firm and fast, and is a good value to boot! SCPGA Champions Course - Brian Curley and Lee Schmidt have designed many superb area layouts and this is definitely one of them. In fact, it's a toss-up whether the Champions or Legends Course here is the better. Both courses at this facility enjoy interesting topography. Strawberry Farms Golf Club - The views and the challenges of the site dominated by environmentally sensitive areas in a valley setting are something to behold. This upscale course is a “hooker's nightmare” with many hazards to the left of play. Torrey Pines South Course - What used to be an average course on a great site is now a good course on a great site. Besides, who would not want to play a US Open course? Trump National Golf Club of Los Angeles - Once known as Ocean Trails lacking 18 holes, this very demanding course with terrific ocean views never really got its just due. Now renamed with Donald Trump's ownership and all 18 holes intact, publicity will scarcely ever be an issue again. This can be one tough track! Honorable Mention: La Purisima, Lost Canyons Sky Course, Pelican Hill North, Redhawk, Sandpiper, SCPGA Legends, and Terra Lago North & South. I am also looking forward to soon playing Angeles National. Source: Golf Today Magazine Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Labels: Course Reviews, Monarch Dunes Paso Robles Resonates with Wine ConsumersMonday, January 08, 2007Vintners and growers in the Paso Robles wine region are working on a proposal to create several AVAs within Paso Robles. Following the example set by Napa, part of the proposal is that in addition to the AVA, Paso Robles would be listed on every bottle. The development reflects the region's rapid growth and determination to work as a cohesive group, promoting the region and strengthening the brand equity that's been created there.Bearing acres of winegrapes have more than doubled since 1999 in Paso Robles, and the region has grown to include more than 120 wineries and 26,000 vineyard acres, making it roughly the same size as Washington, in terms of planted acres. The region faces a dilemma seen in several other areas, such as Monterey, Mendocino and Lake counties. More than half of all winegrapes grown in Paso Robles are sold outside the Paso Robles AVA, with most of them going into Central Coast and California appellation programs. And less than one-third are sold as wines with a Paso Robles AVA. That looks to be changing, however, and growers in Paso Robles have been focusing on regional branding to increase awareness. As with other grape growing areas, vintners in Paso Robles seem to understand that the more the region can invest in regional branding, the higher the perceived value of Paso Robles wine grapes will be, and the more wineries will see a need to highlight Paso Robles on their labels. Article: How Will Global Sourcing Affect the Future of the Wine Industry? Wine Business Monthly, Cyril Penn Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Wine Labels: Central Coast Wine, Wine Business Feb 4 - Tim Lane Memorial Super Bowl TournamentSunday, January 07, 2007The 2007 Time Lane Memorial Super Bowl Tournament takes place Sunday February 4, 2007 at Avila Beach Golf Resort. Entry fee is $110 per person and this years event is a 2 person one best ball of two. There will be (1) gross flight and (2) net flights and one 2 - person team champion per flight.Each tournament entry fee includes a chance to qualify for a shot at $1,000,000, Long Drive Contest, Closest to the Pin Contest, Green Fee, Golf Car Rental, Range Balls, Imperial-Tim Lane-Super Bowl Hat, Titleist Golf Balls, Hamburger/Hot Dog BBQ, (2) Drink Tickets, Full Dinner Buffet and Televised Super Bowl Game! Extra buffet tickets are available for $15 per person. A portion of the proceeds from this tournament will go to the Alison Lane Scholarship Fund. If you should have any questions please call Jay Farrior, PGA at (805) 595-4000 ext. 512 or e-mail Jay at jay@avilabeachresort.com. Registration: 2007 Tim Lane Memorial Super Bowl Tournament Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Labels: Avila Beach, Golf Tournament SLO's Top Wine Stories for 2006Saturday, January 06, 2007San Luis Obispo County's wine industry offered plenty to write about last year. Wineries here continue to grow and evolve - both in the North County and South County - and the region has received a lot of national attention, and it looks like that trend will continue into 2007.For 2006, The Tribune shares six stories that had the most impact on the industry in 2006. Here's the first story: 1. Paso Grows Up. Named this year as "the next up-and-coming California wine region" by the California Wine Club, the once tiny wine area of Paso Robles is now emerging as a premier wine region on a national level. With close to 200 wineries - up from 50 in 2000 - Paso Robles is the fastest growing wine region in the state, and there seems to be no end in sight. With stunning new wineries including Robert Hall, Denner and Eagle Castle, and talented winemakers from around the world choosing to make wine here, Paso Robles has joined the company of Sonoma and Napa counties as a destination wine region. Article: SLO County’s top wine stories of 2006 The Tribune, Janis Switzer Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Wine Labels: Central Coast Wine Central Coast Golf Featured at Fairways & GreensFriday, January 05, 2007With the opening of Monarch Dunes early this year, Sacramento-based architect Damian Pascuzzo gave the Central Coast his inspired treatment and instantly turned an oft-overlooked swatch of Golden State into a golf destination. Together with nearby Cypress Ridge - a Peter Jacobsen-Jim Hardy product that opened nearly five years ago - it cements this region between Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo as a worthy option to Monterey.Monarch Dunes' look and feel is something completely new for the Central Coast, though somehow ancient. Pascuzzo's cagey, curvaceous lass works amazingly well in the modern housing project mold. He keeps homesites well away from or above playing areas, and the few completed houses never impinge on the course's ability to rouse sharp emotions with every teebox or greenside view. Still, Monarch Dunes' soul is rooted in the links and heathland courses of Scotland and Ireland. "The site itself really dictated that it had to be links style," Pascuzzo says. "The soil is pure sand. If you look across Highway 1, you see all the dunes, then the ocean. We had to do that style of golf course; it would be a shame to do anything else." PGA Tour player Steve Pate came on board with some further design ideas that, Pascuzzo says, added "a very welcome dimension. Steve's perspectives were very interesting; it was fun to talk about strategy. I could say, ‘Here's how I'm defending this hole, how would you attack it?' It turns out I wasn't defending some of them enough for the better player. To Steve's credit, being an elite player, he's pretty tuned in to the average guy, and being a 12-handicapper, I'm really tuned in to the average guy. I think we did a pretty good job keeping it interesting for good players but not overwhelming for mid- to high-handicappers." They also excelled at nailing Alister MacKenzie's No. 1 criterion for great golf design: Variety. When standing on the No. 1 tee, you think it's going to be all water and modern-feeling vibe, but by No. 5 - a little "postage stamp" par 3 surrounded by fescue-bearded dunes that creates visions of No. 12 at Royal Liverpool - you find this ain't no basic residential track. In fact, holes 6 through 8 comprise the finest three-hole stretch on the Central Coast. No. 6 is the best of those, 560 yards from the tips. The drive must clear tufts of devil's grass, then a big ridge that bisects several holes, then barrel to the bottom of a hill, just short of a lake, if there's any chance of getting back up to the severely elevated, mega-deep, double-tiered green in two. It's not just a good hole, it's a great one; draped in tall eucalyptus with comely curves, it harkens to Bandon Trails and elicits a giddy feeling when you first see it. "The one thing golfers have to realize is that there's a little bit of mystery in Monarch Dunes," Pascuzzo says. "You play it a second time and you'll be a lot more comfortable; a third time, you'll feel like you've known it a long time." As for Cypress Ridge, it's no pushover. At 6,803 near-sea-level yards from the tips, it's a stout test. Elevation changes make club selection difficult for first-timers, but most folks get the hang of it by the turn. Jacobsen and Hardy are also careful to reward accurate tee shots (the former has long been one of the PGA Tour's best drivers), and while the aforementioned recovery is possible from the grass or trees, there's seldom a clear entry to the green. While many of Cypress Ridge's 4-pars - such as the uphill, dogleg-right No. 8 - have sharp teeth and challenging length, the design allows ample opportunity to take advantage of shorter holes. Nos. 5 and 7 - at 330 and 300 yards, both drivable for big bombers - can yield early birdies, if not eagles, for the aggressive player. While Monarch Dunes and Cypress Ridge would be great golf courses anywhere in the United States, playing them in the year-round pleasant Central Coast weather only sweetens the experience. Article: The West's Best: "Z" is for Pascuzzo Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Labels: Course Reviews, Cypress Ridge, Monarch Dunes Monarch Dunes Reaps more HonorsThursday, January 04, 2007Three national golf publications have named Nipomo's new Monarch Dunes as one of the best golf courses in the western United States.Golf Magazine has named the 18-hole course one of the 10 'Best New Golf Courses in the Country.' Fairways & Greens Magazine named it the 'Best New Course in California' along with listing it among the 'Top 36 Non-Resort Courses' in the West. And Golf Inc. magazine called it the 'Best Development of the Year of a Public Golf Course.' The year-old course - the first 18-hole course at The Woodlands development - was the only one in the state to make Golf Magazine's list, which covers all new public courses in the United States. 'This really reaffirms what our players have been telling us all year - that this is the best course they've ever played,' said Krystal Bough, sales and marketing director of Monarch Dunes. 'We are thrilled about these endorsements.' The 6,817-yard championship course was designed by Cal Poly graduate Damian Pascuzzo. Future golf plans include an executive course and another 18-hole championship course that will run near a bluff overlooking the Nipomo Mesa. Both will be open to the public. Monarch Dunes is operated by KemperSports Management, which also operates Bandon Dunes and Pacific Dunes in Oregon, and Desert Willow Golf Resort and Black Gold Golf Course in Orange County. Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Labels: Course Reviews, Monarch Dunes The Cypress Ridge Ten Play CardWednesday, January 03, 2007Cypress Ridge Golf Course has plans to add even more value to their "Ten Play Card" program. Stay tuned as more details will be announced in their next newsletter.The Ten Play Card is simply one of the best values for outstanding golf on the Central Coast. For ten plays pay only $350 (a $550 - $650 value). It is valid Sunday (after twilight) through Friday. With purchase of a Ten Play Card you save an average of $20 a round and need only pay $10 additional for weekend play. When you renew a Ten Play Card you get an eleventh punch free on the card. Cart not included and the card is non-transferable. Purchase: Ten Play Card, (805) 474-7979 Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Labels: Cypress Ridge, Golf Discounts SLO Home Prices Continue SlippingTuesday, January 02, 2007The median price of a home in San Luis Obispo County - and home sales dropped in November compared with a year ago - continuing a year-over-year slide for the third consecutive month.The median price for an existing single-family home - the statistical point where half the homes sold for more and half for less - was $532,900, down 11.9 percent since November 2005, according to the California Association of Realtors. At the same time, home sales in the county declined nearly 22 percent. Realtors have seen three or more months of year-to-year price declines in areas where there was a lot of home-building activity and in those areas that are popular for second-home purchases. Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Real Estate Labels: Real Estate Market Join the 2007 Fantasy Golf ChallengeMonday, January 01, 2007Join the Golf Talk Radio with Mike & Billy 2007 Fantasy Golf Challenge today! The Golf Talk Radio Challenge with Mike & Billy is FREE to play through ESPN.com fantasy sports games so just click on the link below to join today. Mike & Billy will award a round of golf to each weekly winner and there will be four segment winners throughout the year as well!JOIN HERE! GROUP NAME: Golf Talk Radio 1280am PASSWORD: GTR Listen to Golf Talk Radio with Mike & Billy on ESPN Radio 1280am in San Luis Obispo, Ca. or on KGEO 1230am in Bakersfield, Ca. You can also listen to Golf Talk Radio with Mike & Billy LIVE through internet streaming just visit the ESPN Radio 1280am website for more details. Golf Talk Radio is available anytime you want on the Golf Talk Radio Pod Cast Network to go to the Golf Talk Radio Pod Cast page click here. If you have any questions or would like to contact Mike & Billy e-mail them at info@golftalkradio.com. Happy New Year!! Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Labels: Fantasy Golf, Golf Talk Radio |
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