Carmel Valley Ranch:
Friendly Luxury, Playable Golf
By David
R. Holland, Senior Writer
CARMEL, CA -- Back along Snively’s Ridge on the eastern
boundary of the Santa Lucia Preserve is a spot that is one of
the great luxury getaways in the USA. It’s called Carmel
Valley Ranch, and its Pete Dye par-70 layout is a very playable
golf course that was voted one of the Top 100 Women-Friendly
Courses in the country by Golf for Women’s Magazine.
It’s hard to believe that in this setting one feels so
in tune with nature and away from the big cities, but actually
one is only moments away from the shops of Carmel-By-The-Sea,
the beach and Pacific Ocean, Big
Sur, Laguna
Seca Raceway, 17-Mile
Drive and the Monterey Aquarium. Cannery
Row, Carmel Mission, Fisherman’s
Wharf and Point Lobos State Wildlife Reserve are other favorite
attractions within minutes.
From the 11th tee box you are on a pedestal looking down upon
the 6,234-yard golf course and the 438-yard par-4 that features
a huge football-field sized sand trap guarding the left side.
“Standing on the blue tee box of No. 11 is an awesome
sight,” said Bev Lemon of Marina, CA. “You can look
out some 450 plus yards over the fairway and green and see the
fairway of hole No. 12, another 300 plus yards, in the distance.
The aesthetic beauty of the course is quite memorable.
"Carmel
Valley Ranch is a great course for ladies. The front nine
is easily walkable, while the back nine is much more challenging
with lots of hills,” Lemon said. "Another pretty
view is from the white tee box on the par-3 hole No. 13. This
view looks down over the lakes that surround the 18th fairway
to provide a picturesque, breathtaking scene."
Director of Golf Michael Chapman says most visitors like the
weather in Carmel Valley. It’s only minutes from the seaside
Pebble
Beach courses that feature wind, cold and fog frequently,
but at the same time it could be sunny and warm in Carmel Valley.
“We are nestled in this scenic valley and along
with the weather people like the wildlife and the beauty of
the elevation changes,” Chapman said. “Our greens
are usually really nice and the course is kept in great condition
year around.”
"One of my pet peeves is the maintenance of the ladies
tee boxes,” Lemon said. “Most courses seem to pay
less attention to them. Not so at Carmel
Valley Ranch. All tee boxes were excellently maintained."
Women friendly? Carmel
Valley Ranch not only has red tee boxes measuring 5,046
for women, but also a gold which is only 4,337 yards long.
No. 2 is another beautiful golf hole that will make you think.
It’s a par-4 only 299 from the back, but the second shot
has a huge oak in the middle of your line-of-sight and the green
is guarded by sand and a waterfall. The backdrop is a mountain
wall.
No. 12 is a blind tee shot and also blind second shot for shorter
hitters. No. 13 is straight downhill, a par-3 measuring 150
from the back.
So if someone has told you that all Pete Dye courses will humble
you, forget it. Carmel
Valley Ranch wasn’t designed to break you. Fees are
$145 for hotel guests and $155 for the public.
Carmel
Valley Ranch has many varied packages. One three-night package
is designed for newcomers to golf, and lets you learn the game
in a comfortable, supportive environment. A half-hour refresher
clinic is available each Wednesday and Saturday. It also includes:
Three nights in a spacious one-bedroom suite, a full breakfast
daily, two 90-minute lessons (semi-private, up to four people),
one four-hole playing lesson with pro (per stay), complimentary
use of Callaway clubs and Foot-Joy rental shoes, unlimited use
of practice and fitness facilities, one 50-minute massage (per
stay), and a welcome gift in suite upon arrival.
 Carmel
Valley Ranch is situated in a 1,700-acre estate that includes
144 guest suites which overlook the golf course and a turn-of-the-century
tennis clubhouse. Each of the guest suites are grouped in homelike
clusters on the hillside, along with new ones overlooking the
valley. You will have up to 1,200-square feet of comfort.
Each suite includes fire place, refreshment center, deck with
a vista, fresh-cut flowers, terrycloth robes and freshly baked
cookies at bedtime.
Carmel
Valley Ranch's dining options range from the formality of
The Oaks dining room in the main lodge, to the casual atmosphere
of the Ranch House Cafe at the tennis clubhouse, to the Club
Grill at the golf clubhouse. All the choices feature indoor
and outdoor dining overlooking the beauty of this countryside
estate.
CVR offers a tennis complex with 10 hard courts, two clay courts
and northern California’s
only grass court. There is a full-service pro shop, pool and
whirlpool spa, and men’s and women’s locker rooms
with saunas. The tennis clubhouse is located in the most historic
site on the estate – the original ranch house, which was
built more than a century ago. Surrounded by gardens, this is
also the home of the resort’s fitness center.
The Resort holds the Gold Tee Award from Meetings & Conventions
Magazine. The Grand Ballroom at the main lodge divides into
eight breakout rooms all with audio-visual capabilities. CVR
can help you plan any meeting or conference, larger or small.
Carmel Valley Ranch
One Old Ranch Road
Carmel, California 93923
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