Morgan Run Club and Resort North/South Course Review
Introduction
Morgan Run Club and Resort is located in Rancho Sante Fe, California, less than 5 miles from the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. With 27 holes, there is plenty of golf to go around.
Formally known as the Whispering Palms Country Club, it was built in 1965 and designed by Jay Morrish, Harry Rainville, and David Rainville. The North/South course is fairly short, only stretching 6469 yards from the back tees. It is a par 71 course, with a slope of 123 rated at 71.2. It isn’t overly hard course, especially if you keep the ball in or near the fairway.
Conditions at Morgan Run Club and Resort
The conditions overall were decent. The greens were good but everything else I would compare it to a typical municipal course. The tee boxes and fairways were not impressive at all.
Morgan Run Club and Resort course also floods fairly easily with much rain, and will limit the amount of holes you can play. One thing to mention, in the past it seemed they had over-seeded. This was not true this year.
Pro Shop and Practice Area
The pro shop is not large but is adequate. The employees were very nice and helpful. There is plenty of shirts and other items to purchase if you like collecting things from the various courses you play.
There is a good size range. The biggest downfall with the range is that with any decent amount of rain, it will be closed. The range is double sided, with a chipping green, and bunker on each end. They also have 2 good sized putting greens. Plenty of area to warm up.
The North Course at Morgan Run Club and Resort
Hole 1 will be the longest hole you will play all day. At 594 yards it is by far the longest. Just keep your drive from getting behind a tree and you will be fine. For your lay up, just be long enough to keep the tree on the right out of play. The front right bunker isn’t bad as long as long as the pin is not on the side. Deep right or behind would be the better misses.
Hole 2 is a shorter par 4. Driver is a necessity, just keep your ball from being behind the tree on the right. Just as the 1st hole, a touch long is better than the bunkers.
Hole 3 is right at about 150 yards. There is a bunker and tree behind the green so being long is not an option. The best miss is just left or right of the front bunker, to the side that the pin is on.
Hole 4 is a narrower par 4 relative to the other holes. You will need to keep your drive in the fairway, and not behind a tree. The green is well guarded with four bunkers guarding each corner. Anything long may bounce and go out of bounds. You will need to swing with confidence here and hit the green or miss small.
Hole 5 is a little bit longer par 3 than the first one. Just long here will be your best miss.
Hole 6 is a par 5 that is reachable in 2. A good drive will leave you with an iron in your hand for your second shot. Just avoid the bunkers on the right. Behind the right bunker is the best miss. There is a little bit of room between the bunker and green as well. Don’t mess with the bunker on the left.
Hole 7 is the toughest par 4 on the North course. at 437 yards, you will need a solid drive. Keep it down the left for the best angle into the green. Just short of the front of the green is a good miss. Anything left will cost you an extra stroke.
Hole 8 is a nice par 3 and the longest on the front. Nothing is too penal here so take dead aim. If your sand game isn’t good than just avoid the bunker.
Hole 9 is a short par 4 and an interesting finishing hole. Driver isn’t needed her and a fairway wood may be too much as well. A well struck hybrid or long iron will be fine, just make sure your stay short of the bunkers. As long as your aren’t really long, it is the best miss. The bunkers in the front aren’t too terrible but the chip of the back is easier in my opinion.
The South Course at Morgan Run Club and Resort
Hole 1 on the south course start you off on a nice par 4. Keep the driver in the bag, and hit the club that will keep you short of the bunkers on the left. Anything just right behind the bunker will be your best miss option.
Hole 2 is the longest par 3 on the course. Just make sure you are long enough to clear the bunkers.
Hole 3 is a funky par 4. Longer hitters will need to keep the driver in the bag. Make sure to hit a club that will keep you short of the water and out of any of the bunkers on the left. Left here is the best miss as long as you clear the bunker, which is really that penal.
Hole 4 is the toughest hole on the course in my opinion. At 453 yards long, it is also the longest. The fairway narrows where the majority of golfers would land their tee shot, so make sure to take a good swing here. You can run it up onto this green if you need to. Short and just left are your best misses. The chip from being short is really straight forward.
Hole 5 is a straight par 5 with a really neat tee shot. Longer hitters will have no issues with getting there in two if you keep it in the fairway. Short of the trap isn’t a bad option either. Anything really long could end up in a ditch. There is a lot of room for a lay up, so hit it to the number you want left. Just long is your best miss here, but don’t be shy with a wedge in your hand here.
Hole 6 is just as difficult par 4 as the 4th hole. It is important to keep your tee shot in the fairway here. Anything long or just left over the bunker is fine. You can also run it up just to the right of the bunker on the left if you need to.
Hole 7 is par 5 that again should be able to be reached in two. Just stay right of the long fairway bunker that only longer hitter can get to. Hopefully you have an iron in your hand again here for your second shot. Behind the right bunker is you best miss, but a number short of the bunker is just fine as well. If you have to lay up just make sure your past the fairway bunker on the left.
Hole 8 is a shorter par 4. I went with an easy driver but longer hitters may only need a fairway wood or hybrid. A little long is fun but you really need to hit this green. The bunker furthest right is fine as long as your are not far from the green.
Hole 9 has you ending with a 149 yard par 3. The left trap is the least penal and not tough to get out of. Just long is ok as well.
Conclusion
Morgan Run Club and Resort was not a lot of fun to me. It was really flat and the conditions weren’t the good. The greens were nice but that was really the extent of it. It was a boring course to me overall. There were a couple good holes, but it just felt disjointed and didn’t really flow very well. Maybe if I was in the area and just wanted a quick round I would play there again, but more than likely not.
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