We’re the Wandering Spencers, Reid and Lee, living life out of suitcases, plying our trade in the auto racing profession and playing golf as often as we can. Recently, our travels took us to Ventura, California, for the Turkey Night Grand Prix at Ventura Raceway, one of the marquee events of the year for drivers of Midget race cars.
For the first time in years, we weren’t with family on Thanksgiving Day. Instead, we were hanging out at the fifth-mile dirt race track, eating hot dogs instead of turkey, talking with drivers and racing folk and ultimately watching Christopher Bell beat Kyle Larson to the finish line to claim the Turkey Night trophy for the second straight year.
Framed by trees that have been shaped by the wind, the holes at Olivas Links in Ventura, California, have a distinct kinship to Scottish seaside courses.
This was our first extended stay in the Ventura area, and to get there from LAX, we drove past the charred countryside at Malibu and witnessed the unbelievable devastation from the recent California wildfires. The random destruction of the fires defied belief. One house would be standing and untouched, and the one next door burned to the ground.
The Ventura area, thankfully, was spared, and what we experienced there was a pleasant interlude between the end of the NASCAR racing season in Miami and the NASCAR Awards festivities a week later in Las Vegas.
For four days, we took up residence at the Ventura Beach Marriott, adjacent to San Buenaventura Beach Park and less than two miles from the race track. Because the hotel was undergoing major renovations, we got an excellent rate (around $108 per night), but the amenities and helpful attitude of the staff more than made up for the slight inconvenience of the construction.
And, to the point, with the aid of Yelp, we were able to find a golf course we thoroughly enjoyed on our last full day in the area.
Viewed from afar, Olivas Links is an understated layout designed by architect Forrest Richardson on flat ground between East Harbor Blvd. and the 101 Freeway. In the immediate area, there are three courses within a stone’s throw of each other—sister club Buenaventura Golf Course is three miles from Olivas Links, and the 36-hole complex at River Ridge is right across the Santa Clara River from Buenaventura. All three courses are highly regarded by local golfers and visitors.
We chose Olivas Links because of its proximity to the Marriott (less than three miles), and we weren’t disappointed. What we found was a course that was both open and extremely fair but with enough subtlety and challenge—particularly on and around the greens—to make par an excellent score.
Though some of the Yelp reviews describe the course as “narrow,” we found the landing areas for tee shots to be more than generous. Lee had an excellent day with the driver and missed only one fairway. Even though the course played to more than 5,300 yards from the shortest set of tees, she didn’t feel overwhelmed by the length.
Deep, steep-faced bunkers are a hazard to be avoided at Olivas Links.
The term “links” may be one of the most misused in golf. We’ve seen many a course hundreds of miles from the nearest ocean erroneously incorporate the links nomenclature into their marketing programs, but in the case of Olivas Links, the word is appropriate. No, the course isn’t built between sand dunes, but it does reside on coastal land within sight of the Pacific Ocean.
The playing characteristics are links-like, too. With sparse vegetation, the course is open to the wind, and on the California coast, the wind can be a major factor. Richardson uses what trees there are to frame the holes and the green complexes, and the overall effect is a thing of beauty.
Several of the fairways at Olivas Links feature what a skier would call moguls, reminiscent of the rolling terrain of many of the Scottish links courses. And most holes on the course allow a path to the green that doesn’t require a forced carry over a complex of bunkers.
Closely-mown collection areas around the greens present plenty of options, from a wedge shot to a hybrid to a putter, and the bentgrass greens themselves are generous-sized, true-rolling and fast, with subtle breaks that are difficult to read.
Owned by the city of Ventura, Olivas Links features Richardson’s imaginative bunkering, with sand on the short par-4s threatening an overly ambitious drive that isn’t located precisely. We found the putting surfaces receptive to second shots—to say the least. Short-iron shots would stop where they landed, making the ideal approach one that flies all the way to the hole.
The flow of the course is excellent, from welcoming opening holes to challenges that become more difficult after the turn (the right-hand dogleg par-4 11th is emblematic). Richardson did his apprenticeship with Arthur Jack Snyder, who parlayed his experience as grounds superintendent at famed Oakmont Country Club in Pittsburgh into a career as a golf course architect. Indeed, there is a noticeable similarity in the depth and shaping of some of the greenside bunkers at Olivas Links to those at the historic Pennsylvania course.
The generous-sized putting surfaces feature plenty of slope, encouraging approaches to the low sides of the flagsticks to avoid speedy downhill putts that can be the bane of the unwary.
There used to be water on Olivas Links, but the same drought that has exacerbated the California wildfires has dried up the lakes on the golf course. The boundaries are still marked with hazard stakes, but you can often find a playable lie where the water used to be. The absence of the water hazards, however, did nothing to diminish our enjoyment of the course.
Four sets of tees range from 5,300 yards to more than 6,800. Most of the groups we saw were playing from the Club (white) tees at just under 6,100 yards.
Here’s how Olivas Links rates on the Spencer Scale (1-10, with 10 being best):
Landing Areas: 9. There is ample room off the tee on almost every driving hole. And if you miss a fairway, you’ll still find the ball (and probably have a good recovery option). Reid finished the round with the same ball he started with—always an indication that a course isn’t unreasonably tight.
Conditioning: 9. Greens are true and generally fast. As with most West Coast courses, the putting surfaces get a bit rougher as the day goes on, but that’s expected wear and tear. Fairways are excellent. Lies in the short grass were always perfect. The approaches and surrounds are well-maintained. Tees can be a bit uneven depending on which set of markers you play and where they’re located.
Strategy: 8. The course is straightforward, and on almost every tee box, it’s easy to see what the hole requires. There are layup options on the shorter par-4s, where a driver might buy trouble, but overall, the course dictates the strategy, and there aren’t a lot of difficult choices to be made. We played pin position No. 1, and there wasn’t a single placement we considered unwise to attack.
Challenge: 8. You can commit a multitude of sins off the tee, but the approach shots are far more demanding. Distance control is paramount in avoiding 50- to 60-foot putts that are difficult to keep within three feet of the hole. It’s also important to note which fairway bunkers are in play off the tee, because they can cost a shot if you draw a lie near the steep lips. Forced carries aren’t an issue on this course. The wind was down when we played. We can imagine the course being much more difficult when it’s blowing hard.
Female Friendly: 10. Placement of the women’s tees is well-thought-out, giving significant advantage where it’s needed. As noted earlier, Lee could reach all of the par-4s in two shots, but she had to hit a wide variety of clubs for her approaches.
Aesthetics and Ambiance: 9. The course definitely has a links feel, with sparse trees that have been shaped by the wind. There are views of nearby mountains and the bay, and the course itself is pleasing to the eye. Located throughout the course are comfortable wooden chairs, which provide a place to sit while you’re waiting to play.
Overall Rating: 9 of 10. Olivas Links provides a thoroughly enjoyable golf experience. We plan to play it again on a return visit to the area.