Santa Barbara Golf Club, known locally as the Muni, opened for play in 1958 and was designed by Lawrence Hughes , a Missouri-born architect who learned the trade working alongside Donald Ross. His father, Henry T. Hughes, worked with Ross as a construction supervisor, and Larry was exposed to course building during the construction of The Broadmoor . Teamed with amateur Johnny Dawson, he built a long career designing courses across Southern California , and Santa Barbara remains one of his most-played municipal layouts. The course is owned and operated by the City of Santa Barbara as an Enterprise Fund, meaning no tax revenue supports its operation .

On the course

The original Hughes routing was renovated decades later by Bob Cupp and Steve Timm, leaving a par-70 layout with five sets of tees that stretches to just 6,022 yards but is hardly a pushover . The course features strategic bunkering, doglegs, mature trees, and large bentgrass/poa greens with more than a few breaks . From the back tees the layout measures 6,022 yards and offers sweeping views of the Santa Ynez foothills and the Pacific Ocean . The front nine plays flatter, while the back nine works through hillier terrain .

Who it suits

The course doubles as a working piece of urban habitat. Santa Barbara Golf Club is home to the Upper Las Positas Creek restoration project, where native plants and storm water retention basins naturally filter pollution , and the vast majority of turf is irrigated with recycled water, with only the greens watered with potable water due to the sensitivity of the putting surfaces . The course is part of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program .

The Muni suits walkers, locals on a budget, and visitors who want a real test without the cost or formality of nearby private clubs like Valley Club or Birnam Wood. Length is not the defense here — the greens, bunkering, and elevation changes on the back nine are. It was voted best golf course in the Best of Santa Barbara Readers' Poll in 2015 .

Architect: Lawrence Hughes · Opened: 1958