River Course at the Alisal: The Alisal Resort is home to two championship golf courses. On the south side of the Santa Ynez River, and running along the bottom of the Alisal Valley, the more characterful Ranch course is older, slightly shorter and considerably more tree-lined than its newer and easier-going stablemate. The River course, located on the north side of the Santa Ynez, occupies a picturesque area of relatively open and gently undulating terrain. Although bordering the Danish-styled town of Solvang, the River course is played in a predominantly natural environment, where vineyards and rolling hills are much more in evidence beyond the course than housing. This pleasant, well-maintained, but not overly dramatic layout, still has some maturing to do, which the recent planting of several sycamore, alder and liquid amber trees, should help to address. The generally good-width fairways are defined by a modest amount of earthmounding and bunkering, while three small lakes and a pond ensure the presence of water on nearly half the holes. Your first sighting of the wide, rock-filled Santa Ynez River comes at the par-5 14th, with the river also flanking the left side of the par-4 15th and 16th holes. The signature par-3 17th measures only 123 yards from the tips, and is played to a small green, encircled on three sides by firstly a bunker and then by one of the lakes. The picturesque scenery beyond the course provides a pleasant counter-point to the flatter and, at the moment, less visually exciting stretches of this maturing golf course.

At this Stay & Play venue, the on-site accommodation is located close to the golf facilities.