IN THE MIDDLE OF EVERYTHING
T
he southern-most member club of the NCGA is San Luis Obispo Country Club, but the county is
caught in no-man’s land. Is it Northern California or Southern California? It’s halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. You can get Giants games on the radio, but its Dodgers games that are on TV. Both rival fan bases manage to coexist—San Luis Obispo has been called the happiest place in America. From the NCGA headquarters in Pebble
Beach, it’s a quick 2.5-hour drive to reach San Luis Obispo. Bring your clubs. Bring your family. Bring your camera. San Luis Obispo County sits on a spectacular corridor of the Pacific Coast Highway, winding through Ragged Point (the Gateway to Big Sur), the barking elephant seals in San Simeon, Hearst Castle, romantic getaway favorite Cambria, past the spectacular volcanic plug rising from the sea in Morro Bay, the lovely Avila Beach, ATV destination Pismo Beach, and your pick of two exploding wine regions— Arroyo Grande Valley and Edna Valley. For a pampered experience, stay in Avila Beach
at the Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort and Spa, a forest oasis that includes mineral water hot tubs in every room, a private waterfall lagoon, gorgeous hiking trails and even free yoga classes.
If you aren’t staying overnight, you can still take advantage of the Silver Sage winning spa, and hillside mineral hot tubs available by the hour. You can easily make a weekend simply by
bouncing around from winery to winery. Take a 15-minute drive from downtown San Luis Obispo or Avila Beach to Edna Valley Vineyard (the oldest in the region) and Baileyana Winery (a fun tasting experience complete with a bocce ball court). In Avila Beach, be sure to check out the peacocks wandering around Kelsey See Canyon, and try some creative apple wines. Moonstone Cellars in Cambria is worth a separate excursion—it’s where we bought the most wine. NCGA President John Ronca and his wife Tracy also co-own Biddle Ranch Vineyard in San Luis Obispo, and converted a two-room schoolhouse into a cool tasting room. A trip to San Luis Obispo isn’t complete
without stopping at Firestone Grill. You have to order the tri-tip. (Do they have anything else on the menu? Most of us don’t know.) For a swankier experience, Novo spills out into a beautiful back patio lining the San Luis Obispo Creek, while SLO Brewery is a surprising and fun upstairs find above a concert venue. San Luis Obispo does great family golf, with
the scenic nine-hole Sea Pines in Los Osos, and the revolutionary (and incredibly fun) 12-hole,
From the NCGA headquarters in Pebble Beach, it’s a quick 2.5-hour drive to reach San Luis Obispo. Bring your clubs. Bring your family. Bring your camera.
Edna Valley Wineries
Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort and Spa
two-flag Challenge Course at Monarch Dunes in Nipomo. Monarch Dunes also has one of the best championship courses on the Central Coast, the Damian Pascuzzo and Steve Pate designed Old Course. Avila Beach offers some of the most spectacular oceanfront views for golf in the area, while Dairy Creek is a links-style John Harbottle layout. For more help exploring San Luis Obispo
County, visit
Highway1DiscoveryRoute.com. You’re closer to perfect weather—and a perfect weekend—than you think!
–Kevin Merfeld WINTER 2016 /
NCGA.ORG / 41
PHOTOS: CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY 1 DISCOVERY ROUTE
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