If you’re looking for nine holes that feel like a getaway without leaving Southern California, this one sits tucked into Aliso Canyon, just off the Pacific Coast — equal parts golf escape and local gem.

Welcome to The Ranch at Laguna Beach, maybe the best 9-hole course SoCal has to offer.

A short drive from Disneyland, minutes from the local airport, and just across the road from the ocean.

The Setting

At the mouth of Aliso Canyon, The Ranch blends into the landscape in a way few courses can... In the valley, you feel like you’re playing golf in the mountains, but you’re just a quarter-mile from the ocean. What began as a 1950s-era hangout for travelers has evolved into a stay-and-play property that hasn’t lost an ounce of its original charm.

Pull into the canyon, hand off the keys at valet, and settle into your own rhythm. Grab your coffee, and take a few warm-up swings at the small netted range before heading to the first tee.

The Course

This is a par-32 layout that rewards creativity more than power... for the most part.

Four short par-4s tempt you to take a shot at them if you’ve got that distance in your bag and the swing feels right.

The par-3s force you to commit — carries over Aliso Creek, tight green entrances, and bunkers that squeeze your landing areas just enough to scare you.

By the way, those bunkers? They’re filled with sand made from crushed, recycled glass bottles processed on site. Sustainability in the truest sense.

Walk it or ride it. Bring a full set or show up with three clubs and play it barefoot (just try to avoid the sand with recycled glass just in case). Either way, if you get an early enough start, you’ll finish in time for breakfast.

The Stay

If you extend the day, the 95-room resort turns golf into a full retreat:

Local seafood, organic ingredients, a spa tucked into the canyon, and live music that carries into the evening.

It feels like a small community more than a hotel - the type of place that has you wishing you could stay an extra day or two.

The Point

For under $100, you can play one of the most scenic, well-kept nine-hole tracks in Southern California - a course that proves shorter doesn’t mean easier, and accessible doesn’t mean ordinary.

This is the charm of The Loop: highlighting the places that built SoCal golf culture long before the spotlight showed up.

So… what’s been your favorite loop so far, and where should we go next?