Rancho San Marcos Golf Course: What Santa Barbara may lack in quantity of golf courses, it certainly makes up for in quality. For seaside golf, few courses in California are bettered by Sandpiper. Heading inland, Rancho San Marcos is another gem. Built on the site of the historic Rancho San Marcos (c. 1804), this Robert Trent Jones Jr design occupies wonderfully undulating terrain in a stunningly beautiful area of hills, mountains, lakes and oak forests. Laid out alongside the rock-strewn Santa Ynez River, the gently undulating front-nine, at times open, at other times more tree-lined, introduces you to generally good-width fairways, sprawling greenside and fairway bunkers and occasional water hazards. The back-nine, with greater elevation changes, serves up many fabulous golf holes and no end of breathtaking vistas. From the par-3 13th tee you can look back down the stunning Santa Ynez Valley. Another par-3 at 14, and this time an impressive view over Lake Cachuma, most likely with eagles soaring overhead. The golf course continually exudes quality and challenge, as well as a perfect fit with its ruggedly beautiful and tranquil surroundings. There is no housing to be seen on or from the course, although a few historic items are occasionally in evidence; namely a few preserved 19th century adobe structures and the route of the San Marcos Stagecoach trail (in use until 1901), which runs alongside the par-4 17th.