Two courses and a variety of activities make Alisal Ranch a must-visit for the entire family.

It’s a few hours before my tee time at the Ranch Course at the Alisal, but in spirit I’m already on the tee box. Rather than relax with my wife in our one-bedroom cottage, I’m loosening up with my pitching wedge on the lawn out front.

“Hey!” a ranch hand yells at me, speeding up in his electric cart. He introduces himself — Michael — and I’m pretty sure he’s going to tell me to stop swinging so I don’t take a divot.

“Are you playing today?” he asks, excitedly.

He shares a few anecdotes, professes his love for the course, then zooms away after saying, “Have a great time!”

Michael’s outgoing, laidback attitude was characteristic of our experience at Alisal Ranch, just outside Solvang. The vibe is warm and welcoming and the property, which has held onto its roots as a home for cowboys and cattle, feels slow and serene in a way that rejuvenates.

A HIDDEN GEM

Set just 2.5 hours north of Los Angeles, Alisal is pleasantly accessible for Southern California golfers.

“The beauty of Alisal is that it’s a secret, for the most part, and you’re going to play in four hours or less,” Director of Golf Dave Hartley says. “It’s like golf that used to exist 50 years ago, except that it still exists here. It’s unique and serene.”

The Ranch Course, available only to members and ranch guests, is a 6,550-yard, par72 course designed by Billy Bell, Jr. that follows a winding barranca. The layout is distinct, with the front nine featuring three par 3s, three par 4s and three par 5s. Hole 5 is a standout, a 161yard par 3 with a dramatic elevated tee box that offers valley views.

The River Course is public, wider and longer at 6,800 yards, par-72. Set along the Santa Ynez River, it offers panoramic views of the region. Hole Nos. 7, 8 and 9 run alongside a vineyard, reminding players they’re in wine country. The signature hole here is 17, a 128-yard par 3, with a green wrapped by a large continuous bunker and surrounded by water.

Golfers should play both of these hidden gems, and possibly even back-to-back, given a long summer’s day.

EMBRACING THE PAST

Alisal’s history starts with the Indigenous Chumash, who hunted and gathered in the valley. (“Alisal” is Chumash for “grove of sycamores.”) The land changed hands several times as Spanish colonization and the Mexican-American War unfolded, but livestock farming remained consistent. The current owners, the Jackson family, purchased the land in 1943 and added the hospitality offerings one finds today. Across its 10,500 acres, cattle graze freely and the spirit of the past endures.

There are only 73 accommodations, ranging from studios to standalone houses. None of the rooms have televisions or phones, and cell reception is spotty, but there is WiFi. And the vibe is decidedly cowboycore. Our cottage had a mining map of 1850s California, framed stone arrowheads on the wall and a poster for a “Days of the Golden West” rodeo. The furniture, while comfy, looks like it came from a John Ford movie set. Even the in-room coffee has instructions on how to make “cowboy coffee, elevated.”

The ranch is all-inclusive; breakfast, dinner and beverages at the Ranch Room are included in the night’s stay. The breakfast menu is standard fare, but dinner feels inspired by the frontier, with big steaks plated alongside local vegetables. Two bars, the Oak Room and the Waggin’ Tongue Bar, offer beer, wine and cocktails.

OFF THE COURSE

After a round (or for those non-golfers in the family), the ranch has enough activities and experiences to fill a day outdoors. Horseback riding, a barnyard petting zoo and leatherworking add to the Western theme, while yoga and a billiards room are more traditional resort options. The ranch’s private lake has boating and fishing, as well as archery, air rifle target shooting and axe throwing on the shore. A full-service spa offers a tempting retreat.

The ranch hosts classes, too, like pizza making (with wine) during an hour called “Pizza & Pinot.” Cookouts with guest chefs, a BBQ Bootcamp and a rodeo in the summer are among other experiences.

According to Kathleen Cochran, vice president and managing director of Alisal Ranch, these offerings keep families coming back for generations. She shared a story about a guest who had a photo of himself as a kid standing by the ranch’s creek in the 1960s. He took the exact same photo of his grandson.

“Families enjoy Alisal because there is enough to do, but not so much that everyone goes their separate ways,” Cochran said. “Kids are riding horses, fishing, learning archery, making s’mores. Parents are golfing, relaxing or joining in. At the end of the day, everyone seems to find their way back to the dinner table with stories to tell before they all head out to bingo or line dancing.”

A day trip to Solvang or a tasting at a Santa Ynez winery is easy. But once you’ve stepped foot onto Alisal Ranch, you may wonder if you really need to leave.