The Links at Bodega Harbour is conveniently situated along the Sonoma County Coast, only an hour from San Francisco and two hours from Sacramento. Its location perched above the Pacific also provides some ocean views. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr.in 1978, the back nine was the original course before the front nine was added nine years later. Jones designed a traditional Scottish links layout complete with rolling fairways and fast, undulating greens. There are almost 100 bunkers strategically situated throughout as well as thick patches of native coastal rough that are just waiting to swallow even slightly errant shots. The golf course is not long but it requires both skill and strategy.
The way the course is laid out gave us the impression that Robert Trent Jones II wasn’t provided enough land and was forced to make it tough with tricks. The 2nd hole and the 4th holes have blind approaches. The 5th is a 506 yard par 5 that plays downhill, but it has a blind tee shot. If the tee shot ends up fine then someone can go for the green in two, but the 2nd shot has to be played over the out of bounds. The course then has back to back par 3’s on the 6th and 7th holes before the back nine blends together in the homes until the 16th hole.
The closing three holes play down by the ocean, but views are blocked because of the sand dunes. The 16th is a 318 yard par 4 that moves left and had a tee shot that you will find difficult to judge the line and the distance. The 18th is a long par 4 with a blind 2nd shot down a hill that will be with a long iron for most players.
The Links at Bodega Harbour is also nationally recognized for its environmentally friendly course maintenance.