Cypress Ridge Golf Course opened in 1999 as a Peter Jacobsen Signature Course, designed by Jacobsen Hardy Design — the partnership between PGA Tour veteran Peter Jacobsen and architect Jim Hardy. The course anchors a master-planned residential community in Arroyo Grande, in San Luis Obispo County on California's Central Coast, and takes its name from the mature cypress trees scattered across the property.

On the course

The 18-hole layout plays 6,803 yards to a par of 72, with a course rating of 73.0 and a slope of 133 from the back tees on rye grass. The routing moves through hilly terrain with noticeable elevation changes, and many of the tees and greens sit on elevated benches cut into the natural contours. Bunkering was placed to follow the existing landforms rather than reshape them, and water is not a constant presence — it comes into play most directly on the finishing par-5 18th. Old-growth cypress trees on the original site were preserved in the master plan, and milled trees from the property were used in the surrounding village structures.

Who it suits

The course was rated 4½ stars by Golf Digest and has been recognized as an Audubon Signature Sanctuary. Conditions favor a thinking golfer who can manage uneven lies and judge elevation; the slope of 133 makes the back tees a real test, while multiple forward tee sets keep it playable for mid- and higher-handicap players. With cool marine air off the nearby Pacific and rye fairways that stay firm much of the year, Cypress Ridge suits visitors combining a round with Pismo Beach or Edna Valley wine country, as well as locals looking for a daily-fee course with more shape and elevation than the typical Central Coast layout.

Architect: Peter Jacobsen and Jim Hardy (Jacobsen Hardy Design) · Opened: 1999