Pelican Hill Golf Club:
Ocean Vistas, Fazio Golf
Highlights Ritzy Layout

By David R. Holland,
Senior Writer

NEWPORT BEACH, CA (Oct. 2, 2002) -- It's hard to imagine that cattle once roamed on the massive Irvine Ranch that is now part of Pelican Hill Golf Club. When you reach the ocean holes and look back up inland, you wonder how Tom Fazio sculpted this course on severely sloping land above Crystal Cove.

The views are spectacular -- vistas of the Pacific Ocean, Catalina Island and Newport Harbor with sailboats silhouetting another perfect Southern California sunset on this 36-hole layout.

It's probably the most sought after public round of golf in the Los Angeles area.

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Blooming coral, eucalyptus and pine trees frame the manicured Bermuda fairways where the Ocean South Course descends 300 feet from the clubhouse to a couple of scenic par-3 holes on the sea.

Locals call it the Orange Riviera. Golf Magazine calls them both winners -- the 2002 Top 100 Courses You Can Play List just named the South No. 53 and the North Course No. 91 best in America.

The Ocean South Course, built in 1991, concludes its venture down the hill with a couple of back-to-back par 3s. No. 12 is a 212-yarder called Pelican's Nest and No. 13 is a 121-yarder named Double Trouble because it features two greens separated by a waste bunker. Both holes are surrounded by native vegetation at Pelican Point with its rugged seaside rocks, but you will be gazing upon the mighty Pacific expanse.

Trump Rescues Ocean Trails In the Greater Los Angeles area there are three high-end opportunities to play golf in view of the mighty Pacific Ocean -- Pelican Hill, Monarch Beach and Ocean Trails. Ocean Trails, however, has been beleaguered. It was preparing for grand-opening festivities when a landslide on June 2, 1999, sent its 18th fairway sliding into the Pacific Ocean. The golf course is open however, with 15 holes in play. Mounting expenses to repair the damage sent the course into bankruptcy. Enter Donald Trump, who already layed out about $40 million for courses back east. Trump has announced he will rescue the scenic layout, which includes 75 high-dollar residential lots and 260 acres. Trump says he doesn't want to develop the acreage commercially, but does plan to improve it and build a house for himself. Amazingly, Ocean Trails is the first and only ocean-front golf course in Los Angeles County -- the nearest Pacific Ocean layouts are north to Sandpiper in Santa Barbara and south to Pelican Hill in Newport Beach and Monarch Beach in Dana Point. Ocean Trails contends it is the only golf course in the USA that has ocean views from all 18 fairways. Stay tuned. While Trump thinks it can be another Pebble Beach, some already call Pelican Hill the Pebble Beach of Southern California. -- DRH

Many consider The Ocean North Course, built in 1993, as the more difficult of the two as you negotiate from plateau to plateau with drops through the rugged landscape and over barrancas. It measures 6,856 yards at par 71,

Fazio decided on a change of style for the Ocean North course envisioning a "highland links" feel, protecting much of the land's natural vegetation. Some think it resembles seaside courses you find in Scotland.

This is country club luxury, with complimentary valet parking, in a daily-fee package. But you will pay for it -- $175 on weekdays and $250 on weekends. The 30,000-square foot clubhouse is first class and the area includes some of the most expensive real estate in Orange County.

"Pelican Hill is definitely luxury golf, but not to be missed for the avid golfer," said Ralph Montgomery of nearby Irvine. "It may be too pricey for many, but I try to play here at least once a year. Visitors from all over the world play here and it is easy to know why once you see the views. The golf is very challenging and the conditions are excellent."

Quick Start is the name of the opening hole on the North Course. It is a 489-yard uphill par-5 with a huge landing area and the downhill Postage Stamp is the second, a 189-yard par 3, framed by white-sand bunkers.

No. 7 on the North is the No. 1 handicap hole and brings you to the Canyon Edge, its namesake. It is a 451-yard, par-4 beauty. There is a pot bunker that divides the fairway 220 yards out and if you plunk one in there, bogey is the norm.

5-Point Scale Scenery: 5 Conditions: 4 Layout: 3.9 Par 3's: 4 Par 4's: 3.9 Par 5's: 3.8 Service: 4 Practice Facilities: 4, Remote Club House/Pro Shop: 4 Pace of Play: 4 Value: 3 Overall Rating: 4

Pelican Hill is not gentle resort golf -- it is a stern enough test to have hosted the Diners Club Matches for the PGA, Senior Tour and LPGA players.

Pelican Hill Golf Club

Green Fees: $175 weekdays, $250 weekends. Twilight, $99, weekdays, $135 weekends. Includes GPS. Range, $6-12.