Half Moon Bay Golf Links (Ocean)

The small coastal town of Half Moon Bay lies less than an hour’s drive south of downtown San Francisco, where the Half Moon Bay Golf Links opened the first of its two 18-hole golf layouts (the Old course) in 1973.

Unfortunately, apart from the spectacular closing par four hole which plays along the Oceanside cliffs, the playing corridors of this Arnold Palmer and Frank Duane design are routed around large residential areas, away from the coastline.

On the other hand, the Arthur Hills-designed Ocean course to the south of the property was unveiled in 1997 and it’s largely devoid of any housing elements, offering golfers an entertaining links-like golf experience with firm and fast playing conditions.

Feature holes include the short par four 2nd (with a wide gully to carry on the tee shot), the par three 7th (the only water-laden hole on the card), and the trio of cliff top finishing holes at 16, 17 and 18, where wayward shots to the left are consigned to Davy Jones’ Locker.

The Ocean course hosted the 28th and penultimate edition of the Samsung World Championship on the LPGA Tour in 2008. Paula Creamer won the event by one shot with an aggregate score of 279, nine under par, claiming the first prize share of the tournament’s $1 million purse.