Half Moon Bay Golf Links (Ocean course): Right alongside the Pacific Ocean, and next to the Ritz-Carlton hotel, Half Moon Bay offers two distinctly different golfing options. The more inland and parkland Old Course remains a popular layout, but for full-blooded seaside links golf, the Ocean Course emulates the best coastal offerings of Britain and Ireland.

From start to finish, the Ocean Course is a thoroughbred links layout. Following an out-and-back design, the holes traverse open and undulating terrain, with ever-present ocean views, square-cut tee-boxes and very few trees along the way. The wonderful array of holes sometimes give you plenty of width from the tee, at other times things are much tighter with uncompromising, grassy rough awaiting anything hit too far offline. Unlike on most British links courses, thick clinging rough is also much in evidence around the greens, rather than smooth run-off areas. However, mischievously hidden "pot" bunkers are frequently deployed.

At less than 6700 yards from the tips, big hitters may think this a shortish layout; but if the wind is blowing at anything more than a gentle breeze, you'll need to think again! The only water hazard comes at the short par-3 7th, where a small pond needs to be crossed in front of the green.

The sensational closing stretch of three holes is played as close to the ocean as the cliffs and rocky foreshore will allow. Most daunting of the par-3s is the 17th, which is played alongside the ocean ( ... and hopefully not directly into the wind!).

Stay & Play: luxury on-site accommodation is available in The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay (see Where2Stay section below).