The Farms

Designed in the late 1980s by a duo of Dye’s – Pete and son Perry – the 18-layout at The Farms Golf Club lies within one of the most prestigious golf communities in Rancho Santa Fe. A decade after the course debuted, architect John Fought and former PGA Tour professional Tom Lehman were asked to remodel it to improve its playability.

Modifications made to ensure the course was fit for purpose in the new millennium included reconstructing and re-contouring bent grass greens, locating additional tee boxes and sand bunkers, installing a state-of-the-art irrigation system, adding several new water features and establishing a new practice facility with a double-sided driving range.

The rolling Bermuda fairways play firm and fast, weaving their way through groves of California Pepper and Red Gum Eucalyptus trees, with strategically-placed bunkers that are as beautiful to behold as they are intimidating. Water comes into play at half the holes on the card so astute course management in a prerequisite to playing here.

The signature par four 17th is a spectacular hole, rated stroke index 2, and it plays 471 yards from the tips, generally into the prevailing ocean breeze from the west. It veers slightly right and downhill, with three small ponds lurking to the right of the fairway, a small lake protecting the right side of the green, and bunkers lying to the left of a slippery putting surface.