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The Alisal: Golfing Part of the Fun at Memorable Dude
Ranch
By David
R. Holland, Senior Writer
SOLVANG, CA -- There is a very unique place in a very unique
town in Central California, that if you told some guys back
in Jersey about it they would say: "Get outta here."
It's the Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort -- what we used to call
a dude ranch.
California's premier guest ranch has been a low-profile retreat
for Hollywood stars for 52 years. Clark Gable married Lady Silvia
in the original library on the grounds and today you might see
Cheryl Ladd, Efram and Stephanie Zimbalist, Jimmy Connors, Al
Gieberger and sons or even Steve Pate on the links.
James Garner used to be a golf member and Art Linkletter also
was a frequent visitor. To this day you might see Bo Derek in
for lunch at the Ranch Grill -- her ranch is just minutes away.
Fess Parker is another well-known local. He owns a winery just
up the road. Barbra Streisand, John Travolta, Doris Day, Nanette
Fabray, Goldie Hawn, Tom Poston, Kurt Russell, James Brolin,
Don Knotts, Jeff and Beau Bridges and Kevin Costner have also
enjoyed the hospitality.
What you have is a laid-back resort with no telephones or televisions
in the rooms (they can be found in the library and other spots),
5-star service and food, horseback riding, backpacking, fly-fishing
instruction, winery escapes, and two championship golf courses.
The scenery includes huge eucalyptus groves and 300-year-old
live oaks and sycamore trees that will make you stop, stare
and say: "Golly, that's a big tree."
The Ranch Course, built in 1945 as a nine-hole course (designed
by Billy Bell), now measures 6,551, a par 72, but its tight
fairways, huge trees, many with branches overhanging in to the
fairways, makes it a tough test. Undulating and fast greens
also will challenge you.
The Ranch Course is only open only to resort guests and members,
but the River Course, a par 72, 6,830 yards long, built in 1992,
is open to anyone. Both courses offer spectacular views of the
Santa Ynez River and nearby Santa Ynez Mountains.
Master PGA professional John Hardy has been around the Ranch
Course for 16 years and he arrived in the USA from England in
1957. He says things have never been better.
"Five
years ago we renovated the greens, bunkers and tees and two
years ago we hired David Rosenstrauch as superintendent,"
Hardy said. "So you might say this course has blossomed.
It is in the best condition it has ever been. This area has
always been a wonderful setting and you get great ambiance at
The Alisal."
But it's been a lot of hard work. El Niño brought lots
of destruction to the golf course and hopefully all the rebuilding
and new drainage efforts will prevent future devastation.
 "The
Ranch Course is no pushover," Hardy said. "It plays
longer than the yardage because you don't get much roll. The
greens on the front side are reasonably flat, but the greens
on the back nine can produce three putts easily. We normally
have them at nine on the Stimp Meter, but we can turn that in
to 10 or 11." Hardy thinks the finishing holes -- 8 and
9 then 17 and 18 are as challenging as you will find. No. 8
is a 416-yard par-4 beauty. Keep your drive on the left-center
of the fairway or you will have to deal with a creek crossing
and some huge sycamore branches overhanging the fairway on the
right.
No. 9 is a 208-yard par-3 with a tee shot through a narrow chute
of trees. The green is severe. The 17th is a 420-yard par-4
that requires a long and strong slight draw off the tee in order
to cross a creek on the second shot. The shorter hitters will
definitely have to layup and go for the green on their third
shot.
No. 18 is an uphill par-3 measuring 188 yards. Average players
should take a big stick to have a chance to reach it in one.
The River Course is not as tight, but it is beautifully manicured
and a fun course. The par-3s are memorable. No. 9 is 172 yards
downhill over a barranca and the 17th is only 123, but the green
is almost entirely surrounded by sand and miss-hit it just a
little right and you will be wet.
The River Course will cost you $45 on weekdays and $55 on weekends.
Carts are $26. Seniors can play on Thursday for $27. The Ranch
Course costs $75.
The Alisal, which has had many repeat visitors over several
generations, is located in the one-time homeland of the Chumash
Indians just a 35-mile drive northwest of Santa Barbara. Chumash
means "grove of sycamores".
Operating under a "modified American plan", the resort
fee includes breakfast and dinner. With a string of more than
100 horses (50 miles of riding trails), the breakfast ride to
the Adobe Camp three times a week in summer and twice each week
during the off-season, is one of the favorites. Fishing is also
a favorite on the resort's own private 100-acre Alisal Lake.
All 73 cottage studios and suites feature wood-burning fireplaces
and refrigerators. There's a swimming pool and spa and the children
can also enjoy ping pong, croquet, billiards, a petting zoo
and a crafts room. The Alisal is also equipped for corporate
meetings with five well-appointed conference rooms with audio
visual capabilities and a combined 6,000 sq. ft. of space accommodating
10 to 150 people.
Sunset Magazine says The Alisal is one of the "50 Best
Dude Ranches" in the West and Family Circle gave it the
"Family Resort of the Year" distinction.
Solvang is a Danish-American colony that some have said looks
more like Denmark than Denmark. It is filled with trendy shops
and restaurants and Danish pastry shops are on every corner.
Oh yea, Michael Jackson isn't a dude or a golfer, but his Never
Never Land (whatever!) is just minutes away for what that's
worth.
The Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort
1054 Alisal Road
Solvang, California 93463 |
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