La Purisima Golf Course

La Purisima Golf Course occupies a distinctive site in the hills above Lompoc in California's Central Coast region. Designed by Robert Muir Graves and opened in 1986, the course was built on land adjacent to La Purisima Mission State Historic Park, one of the most authentically restored Spanish missions in California. The routing takes advantage of rolling terrain characterized by native grasses, oak woodlands, and seasonal wildflowers, with views extending across the Santa Ynez Valley toward the coastal mountains. Graves, a prolific California architect who designed or redesigned more than two hundred courses during his career, created a layout that works with the natural contours of the property. The course features elevation changes and strategic bunkering that reward thoughtful placement over pure distance. Several holes play through corridors of mature oaks, while others occupy more open hillside terrain where wind from the Pacific can influence club selection and shot strategy. La Purisima operates as a municipal facility managed by the City of Lompoc, making it accessible to daily-fee players. The course has developed a reputation as one of the better public golf options along California's Central Coast, drawing visitors who combine rounds with trips to nearby wine country in the Santa Ynez and Santa Maria valleys. The setting near the historic mission and within the broader landscape of rolling hills and agricultural land gives the course a distinctly regional character that reflects its Central Coast location.