The Ranch at Laguna Beach

The Ranch at Laguna Beach features a nine-hole layout designed by Gary Roger Baird, situated in the coastal hills above one of Southern California's most recognized beach communities. The course occupies elevated terrain that provides ocean views and plays through the characteristic topography of the region—rolling hills with native vegetation and the kind of compact, efficient routing that defines many California nine-hole facilities from this era. Baird, a California-based architect whose work includes several courses throughout the western United States, designed The Ranch to work within the natural contours of the property. The layout incorporates elevation changes and requires golfers to navigate both uphill and downhill shots, typical of courses built on hillside sites in Orange County's coastal zone. The setting offers a contrast between the manicured playing corridors and the surrounding native landscape. As a nine-hole course, The Ranch serves both as a practice facility and a venue for shorter rounds, appealing to members and guests seeking a less time-intensive golf experience while still engaging with legitimate design challenges. The club operates as part of the Montage Laguna Beach resort property, integrating golf into a broader hospitality offering that includes the hotel, spa, and dining amenities characteristic of luxury coastal resorts in Southern California.