Pelican Hill Golf Club (Ocean North) Newport Coast (USA)

Expertly designed by one of the world’s most famous golf architects Tom Fazio, the Pelican Hill Ocean North course has a links feel to it with very open and forgiving fairways and majestic views of Newport Beach and the sparkling blue Pacific Ocean from every hole – at times it’s difficult to keep you head down and focus on golf.

Even though Ocean North is a tad short at 6945 yards, this is a challenging 18 with a rating of 73 and slope of 135 and Fazio will throw a lot at you, some of which includes: several exciting risk reward opportunities, forced carries, dramatic elevation changes, treacherous and strategically placed bunkers, sloping and contoured fairways, and challenging green complexes. 

Ocean North is a course you need to think your way around and on the tee box make sure you check with the forecaddy for the best way to play each hole because what you think might be the best way to play the tee, layup, or approach shot may not be the ideal strategy.  But do not let all of that scare you, there are five sets of tee boxes and the forecaddies will help with course management, club selection, and reading the breaks; also, like most tough Fazio designs, he always seems to leave you a bail out area but it may cost you a stroke.

A round on Ocean North is as visually stunning as it is fun to play.  Bring a camera, every hole has majestic panoramic vistas of the Pacific Ocean with huge yachts and sailboats, the Pelican Hill Resort stoically perched on a terrace, at times its hard to remember that you’re here to try and get that golf ball in the cup.

In addition to stunning views, Pelican Hill North will test your game and in addition to remembering the unbelievable views there area some equally impressive and memorable holes:

• Hole 1 sets the stage for this 18 – a beautiful 542 yard par 5 opening hole with a forced carry to wide landing zone followed by a blind shot downhill to a dog leg right along a rolling and contoured fairway to a double tiered green
•  Hole 4 is a par 4 433 yard with a carry to a fairway that turns left than right to the green – accuracy and positioning are critical to avoid the huge fairway bunkers, the deep ravine, and stuff it on the two tier well guarded two green
• four par 3’s that are fun, challenging (uphill and downhill well guarded greens with tiers, slope, and undulation), and scenic
•  Hole 17 is an outstanding par 5 than dogs right along a huge bunker plus 7 more bunkers on the way to the green – with a good drive you may be able to risk carrying a deep canyon and the green side bunkers for a potential birdie
• you won’t forget the terrific and challenging Hole 18 and you’ll want to come back and play it again – a 430 yard par 4 with a carry over  the coastal sage scrub to a landing zone with 3 huge treacherous bunkers – consider leaving the big dog in the bag and go for accuracy not distance – then a downhill approach over a canyon that requires precision to avoid three more good sized bunkers and native areas to an undulating green.

Like the Pelican Hill South Course, the conditions on the North Course are near perfect with lush fairways with limited divots, perfect white sand bunkers that range in size from pot to huge and treacherous, and excellent greens.  The fairways are ample but don’t miss them, the bunkers are steep and deep, and the greens have everything from slope to tiers and significant undulation.  It just doesn’t get much better than a round at Pelican Hill North.