Located in Carlsbad, California, La Costa Resort & Spa has a rich history as one of the most sought-after destinations for PGA Tour players, outside of the major championships. In the 1960s through the 1990s, players like Palmer, Nicklaus, Watson, and Woods could only reach the resort by winning a title the previous year, getting them into the Tournament of Champions. However, in 1999, the PGA Tour moved the Match Play event to Arizona, leading to a decline in the resort’s popularity.
Fast forward to today, where after a massive renovation costing over $20 million by renowned designers Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner, La Costa is set to host the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Division I Golf Championships. The resort, now owned by Omni Hotels & Resorts, has aspirations of becoming the permanent home of the championships, led by the efforts of University of Texas men’s golf coach John Fields, athletic director Chris Del Conte, and legendary golf coach Mike Holder.
The renovation of the North Course at La Costa was a significant undertaking, with the goal of creating a course that is both playable for the public and challenging for top college players. The new design features modern architecture elements while retaining old-school quirks and challenges, including the incorporation of wide swaths of native areas and barrancas. Hanse’s design aimed to make the course suitable for television and bring La Costa back into the limelight with more history.
One of the key elements of the renovation was the redesign of the greens to create playable public surfaces while offering competitive golfers challenging pin placements that force them to consider every nuance. The course also underwent changes to its length to remain relevant for top-level competition, with the introduction of new tee placements and layout adjustments to appeal to modern players.
With the NCAA Championships approaching, La Costa’s new design will be put to the test. Players can expect to encounter firm and bouncy Pure Distinction bentgrass greens that may pose a challenge in holding lengthy iron shots. Additionally, the course features risk-reward par 4s, famous holes like the 16th that pay homage to Augusta National, and challenging sections like the seventh through ninth holes with various strategic elements.
Despite the challenges of bringing the course back to life, the team behind La Costa’s renovation is hopeful that the NCAA Championships will showcase the resort’s potential as a long-term host for the golf championships. With the support of Omni Hotels & Resorts, the dream of establishing La Costa as a permanent site for the NCAAs within the next few years is within reach, showcasing the resort’s commitment to revitalizing this iconic golf destination.
