While the Ocean Course at Half Moon Bay Golf Links seems to be the main draw, I found a good deal – $69 – to play the Old Course. I hope to get to the Ocean Course soon, so if you are looking for a comparison between the two courses I won’t be able to help just yet.

Half Moon Bay Golf Links usually get talked about as one of the best 36-hole facilities in the Bay Area. The courses are quite pricey – $185 on the weekends – and are attached to the Ritz-Carlton hotel. Both courses share a proshop.

The Old Course is designed by Arnold Palmer and works its way through a housing community, away from the ocean for the first sixteen holes. Although the homes are noticeable they shouldn’t come into play unless someone is having a really wild day with the ball striking.

I played the blue tees which are 73.4/131/6610. While there isn’t a lot of lost-ball trouble off the tee, there are fairway bunkers and coastal pines to avoid. Most holes are fairly flat and the challenge comes from uneven lies and firm, quick greens with a lot of slope. I had to be defensive putting on the greens because they were a bit bumpy. Not sure if that was the poa annua.

The closing holes at the Old Course are its signature stretch. The 17th hole heads west, towards the cliff overhanging the Pacific Ocean. Then the 18th runs south along the coast line. When I got the 17th the fog was rolling and I couldn’t see more than 150 yards, but I could hear the waves crashing against the cost. It was a bit of a surreal feeling to play the last two holes mostly blind while hearing the waves crashing and the bag pipes playing from the hotel.

For the right price – read not $185 – I’d certainly recommend a round on the Old Course. The course was enjoyable to play. Some of the shorter holes allow for the opportunity for a good score. I’ve read the Ocean Course is much better, but there aren’t too many courses out there with the last couple holes close to the ocean.

Course Pictures (click any picture to scroll through the gallery):