Pelican Hill Golf Club (Ocean South), Newport Coast (USA)

Expertly designed by one of the world’s most famous golf architects Tom Fazio, the par 70 Ocean South at the Pelican Hill Golf Club opened in 1991 and has five sets of tee boxes with yardages of 4723 to 6580 yards.  The first few holes on the Ocean South course are pretty simple and straightforward and pars might come easily as the course starts to meander down toward the Pacific Ocean.

Nevertheless golfers will still encounter elevation changes, elevated greens, bunkers, forced carries, and tight approaches.  Hole 5 starts to get a little tougher with a short but very intimidating par 4 that requires a big carry over a deep ravine to a sloping fairway that turns right along a huge long right side bunker that lines the entire right side of the fairway all the way to to the green – there is a good risk reward opportunity if you want to try and fly more of the ravine as well as carry the long bunker. 

Along the way to the ocean on the Ocean South front nine you will find a beautiful 193 yard downhill par 3 (hole 7) with a lake on the right plus rocks and three large bunkers guarding the green. Plus the tricky ocean breeze trying to push your ball to the water or bunker – the view is phenomenal with the Pacific Ocean forms the backdrop for the green.

You have probably heard about the fantastic ocean side holes on the Ocean South course and it’s on hole 7 where you will be really close to the sparkling blue Pacific Ocean and hear the barking seals and the crashing of the waves against the rocks and sand as you start to get a sense of how special this nine really is.  The excitement continues to build as you cross under the highway and head straight toward the ocean on the magnificent hole 11 which requires an accurate approach shot to a green that is guarded by a huge deep bunker complex on the right and another all along the back of the green.  But the hardest thing on this hole is to remember to keep your head down and focused on the ball not the beautiful Pacific Ocean with the sailboats and large expensive yachts cruising behind the green.

Holes 12 and 13 are two outstanding par 3’s with tiered greens surrounded by treacherous bunkers and natural areas – but its the waves crashing on the rocks that will grab your attention – walk over to the edge of the tee box and bring your camera. After that hole, take a breath, pull out the big dog and start heading back up the hill toward the clubhouse.  On the way you will need to manage some tough approaches, dramatic uphill shots, strategically placed bunkers, forced carries, undulating tiered and elevated greens, and several Kodak moments.

When you take a look at hole 18, you’ll shake your head at this challenging hole – a forced carry over a deep ravine that looks like 300 yards to get across and then another carry over a ravine to a multi-tiered guarded green with a slope where you may watch your ball roll off the green and back toward the ravine.  The backdrop to this hole is the stunning Pelican Hill Resort.  What a fun way to end a memorable and unique round.

The fairways on the Pelican Hill Ocean South Course are tree lined with some beautiful homes on just three holes.  Most of the landing zones are ample but you need accuracy on a majority of the approach shots.  Elevation changes and sloping contoured fairways demand your attention.  Several holes offer stunning views which may take your breath away.

The near perfect greens are average size and most are very well guarded.  The slope and undulation and tiers coupled with the speed make putting very challenging.  The bunkers are soft, fluffy, white sand except for 11, 12, and 13 which are brown, gritty, and hard and surrounded by native grass a nice contrast with the blue Pacific in the background.  Most of the Ocean South bunkers are fairly steep and deep and strategically placed.