Little River Inn Golf Course

The Little River Inn boasts the only golf course on the Mendocino Coast, and it is as unique as its setting. Like everything else at the Little River Inn, the golf course has a colorful family history. Watching Arnold Palmer play on TV one day in the mid ’50s, Ole Hervilla decided a golf course would draw even more guests to his inn. The locals told him nobody would play golf on the coast. But he was determined. He consulted three golf architects, each one more expensive than the other. After talking to the third pricey expert, he said, “Thanks, you just made a golf architect out of me.” Working with contractors on the coast, he opened the course in 1957.

Wandering deer, stunning ocean views, and 5,458 yards of challenging world-class golf

The golf course is a 9-hole wonderland, and with three placements and dual greens on holes 7 and 9 it can be played as 18 holes, for 5,458 yards. The facilities also include a fully stocked pro shop and a driving range. Golf carts are available for rent, and it is a hilly course, so they’re recommended for those that don’t want to be hiking.

The views from the Little River Inn golf course are probably its most striking feature, with sweeping ocean panoramas in a beautiful wooded setting. The golf course is also one of only a handful of Audubon-certified courses in the country, and as such is home to a wide range of fauna. You’ll find herons on the course, and deer wandering across casually. It’s an idyllic setting, to be sure, and the Little River Inn continues in their commitment to environmental stewardship by regularly updating features to attract new birds and help the regional ecosystem.

After a round, refresh yourself in the nearby bar and lounge, which also features ocean views. The bar has a full bar menu, as well as a menu from the Little River Inn restaurant.

Great for Whale Watching