Before arriving at the Santa Lucia Preserve outside of Carmel, I’d heard nothing but wonderful things.
Every person I’d talked to before the trip said things like:
“You’re going to The Preserve? You’re going to love it.”
“It’s such a special place…”
“It’s unlike any club I’ve ever been to…”
Naturally, when you hear these things over and over, your expectations begin to rise.
After being intrigued by both the golf and the property in general for years, I recently had the chance to visit the Santa Lucia Preserve for the first time.
I stayed at the Hacienda on the property for two nights with my wife, and the experience was everything I’d expected it to be.
But is buying a home or joining one of the two different clubs at Santa Lucia the right move for you? What’s the experience like?
In this post, I’m going to share my experience, and help you decide if this is maybe a place you should consider visiting if you’re in the market for a relocation, second home, or national membership.
There’s a lot to cover here, so let’s jump in!
What is the Santa Lucia Preserve?
In order to properly talk about the Santa Lucia Preserve, you first need to understand what it is.
The Santa Lucia Preserve is a private nature preserve minutes from Carmel-by-the-Sea, California that resides over 20,000 acres of land
At the Santa Lucia Preserve there are two separate clubs: The Preserve Golf Club and The Ranch Club.
The Preserve Golf Club provides access to the golf clubhouse and golf course, while The Ranch Club membership consists of everything else on the property (gym, tennis, pickleball, lake, equestrian etc.).
There are 297 homesites at the Santa Lucia Preserve, but when you’re on the property, you’ll rarely notice them.
There are nearly 100 miles of trails through the Preserve, where you can hike, bike, or ride your horse through some of the most beautiful property in the country
We’ll talk more about all of that later on, though.
The Drive and First Impressions
When driving from Carmel to the Santa Lucia Preserve, my first thought was:
“There’s no way there is a 20,000-acre property 5 minutes from here.”
Sure enough, we pulled up to the gatehouse mere minutes from downtown Carmel.
We checked in with the attendant, and when the gates opened we began what is legitimately one of the best drives of my life.
There’s Highway 83 from Banff to Jasper.
Highway 1 close by on the California coastline
And driving through the Scottish Highlands.
But when it comes to the entrance to a golf club, the drive up to The Preserve is something really unique and special.
It’s 8 miles to the Hacienda and another mile past that to the golf clubhouse.
During that drive, you’ll go through forests and across stunning ridgelines. During the 20-minute drive we saw coyotes, deer, hawks, turkeys, and more.
The drive feels like a buffer from real life to the peacefulness of being on The Preserve property – and I loved it.
The Hacienda at Santa Lucia Preserve
When we arrived at the Hacienda at about 4pm, the first person we encountered was a member riding up to the clubhouse on his bike.
Immediately he introduced himself and said “check out these chanterelles I just foraged for on the property,” as he opened up a bag that had to have 10 pounds of glorious fungi inside.
This experience encapsulates what it’s like to be at the Santa Lucia Preserve. Strangers don’t remain so for long, and there are special little things that happen frequently – no matter where you are.
The Hacienda was built in 1924 by George Gordon Moore where he spent the better part of two decades making the property into a playground for the region’s elite.
After he fell on hard times in the 1940s, the Santa Lucia Preserve was converted back to cattle land by the Oppenheimer family before being sold to the current developers in 1989.
It would take another decade before the Ranch and Golf Clubs became a reality, but what they’ve evolved into has become something unique in the global private club landscape.
Inside the Hacienda there are 9 guestrooms, with another 7 located in the neighboring guest house next door.
Once you get past the reception area, walking in feels less like walking into a club and more like walking into someone’s home. There’s a grand room with a bar and a wonderful stone fireplace.
The main dining room is behind that.
The Hacienda is the primary hub of activity for members. The courtyard is stunning, and I can only imagine how cool dinners and events are out there in the Summer. We visited in December, and while the weather was very pleasant, it definitely wasn’t prime season for outdoor gatherings.
Staying at The Hacienda
Fortunately for us, there weren’t many other people staying on property the nights we were there – so we were treated to the Catallina Munras room, which was a special experience.
Named after a historical figure in the area, the room itself is very large and well-appointed.
The bed was very comfortable, as expected.
But the best part were the French doors that opened up to a balcony overlooking the property. Getting coffee and going out here every morning was one of my favorite parts of the trip.
The Hacienda is available for Ranch Club members and their guests to book rooms and stay on the property. National members also have some privileges for booking rooms here as well.
It’s a short walk from here to the primary Ranch Club facilities and about a mile to the private lake.
Dining at Santa Lucia Preserve
When it comes to dining on the Preserve property, there are three primary options: the golf clubhouse, the Hacienda, and The Nest.
One nice part about the dining options is that regardless of whether you’re solely a golf club member or a Ranch Club member, you can eat at any of these spots.
When you look at the three options as a whole, you’re treated to 3 very different dining experiences, which is always nice to see at a place like this.
Dining at The Hacienda
If you’re looking for a special meal, this is the place to do it.
We dined here both nights we stayed on property and had two very different, yet equally enjoyable experiences.
The first night we walked into the bar, and a member immediately started talking to us and asked if we’d like to join him.
We got cocktails and enjoyed wonderful conversations about our kids, our love of golf, travels, and more.
Notably absent was any conversation about work. People here seem to care much more about who you are and what you enjoy, rather than what you do.
It was refreshing.
The conversation was so enjoyable among the now 8 of us sitting at the bar, that we didn’t get around to ordering our dinner until two hours later.
But the best part was when the Executive Chef came out in the midst of this and graced us and a couple of the members with a special treat:
“A5 wagyu with chanterelles from the property.”
It was among the best bites of food I had all year, and a good showcase of what was to come.
The following night we did a proper coursed-out dinner sitting by the dining room fireplace. From the lobster salad to the crab cake, and the stunning shrimp and scallops – it was a meal to remember.
Once again when you’re at the Hacienda, it feels less like a club, and more like friends gathering in someone’s home. It’s a special experience unique among many of the clubs I’ve visited.
Dining at the Golf Clubhouse
While the Hacienda is built in a valley surrounded by a beautiful front lawn and sprawling fields in the back, The Preserve Golf Clubhouse provides and entirely different experience.
Perched on top of a hill, it offers more elevated views of the property and is a beautiful modern facility.
The patio is spectacular, and the main dining room has walls of windows that brighten up the space. It provides a nice alternative to the cozier and more intimate feel of the Hacienda.
Both the shrimp tacos and chicken salad we had for lunch were excellent.
The Nest Coffee House
The Nest is the third and most casual dining option at Santa Lucia Preserve. It’s located at The Ranch Club, a short walk away from the Hacienda.
It’s essentially a small coffee shop in an adorable building that has served a variety of other more utilitarian uses throughout the years.
The Nest serves everything from coffee and pastries, to ice cream, and snacks – while also acting as the defacto gift shop.
It’s adorable and was my wife’s favorite building on the property.
The Ranch Club
The Santa Lucia Preserve is unique in the fact that it has not one but two private clubs associated with it, the Ranch Club and The Preserve Golf Club.
This allows members to choose the experience that works best for them and their lifestyle.
The Ranch Club consists of everything on the property that isn’t golf.
The main Ranch Club amenities are located a short walk from the Hacienda, and are fantastic.
There’s a beautiful gym, studio room, and separate pilates studio where there’s an assortment of regular classes.
The Ranch Club has bocce ball, tennis, pickleball, bikes, a wonderful pool, and a whole lot more.
Considering we were here for less than 48 hours and that golf was the primary focus, I didn’t get to experience as much of the Ranch Club as I would have liked. But it’s safe to say it’s an incredible playground for families and people who love the outdoors.
The Preserve Golf Club
The Preserve Golf Club was built in 2000 and the clubhouse was finished in 2003.
It’s consistently rated as both one of the best golf courses in California and the United States as whole.
The Preserve Golf Club is a Tom Fazio design that has impeccable conditioning and a beautiful routing that spreads out over 365 acres.
I did a full tour and recap of the golf course which you can find here:
The Preserve Golf Club: As Peaceful as Golf Gets
Conservation and Property at the Santa Lucia Preserve
Part of what makes the Santa Lucia Preserve so special is their commitment to the environment and being stewards of the land the Preserve resides on.
Whether it’s doing things like switching to a draught-resistant form of grass on the golf course, or putting thoughtful guidelines on what members can build on their property – when you’re here, the environment comes first.
There are 297 homesites at The Preserve, and the average lot size is 44 acres.
With each property, a portion of the land is dedicated to the home site or building envelope. The remainder of the land is held under conservation easement, and must be kept natural.
The combination of these building guidlines and large lot sizes mean you rarely see homes when you’re out exploring the property.
You’re able to spend time in nature without feeling like you’re part of a housing development.
On the drive in, you won’t see many homes, but you’ll see handful of signs at the end of their driveways. Members have some fun with this in naming their properties.
One of my favorites was the “10 Minutes Inn” because it’s located about 10 minutes into the drive towards the Hacienda.
This felt similar to how members at Kohanaiki customize their golf carts with their own stickers or wheels, and is a nice way to show a little personality.
Final Thoughts on the Santa Lucia Preserve
Visiting the Santa Lucia Preserve was easily one of the highlights of my year.
From the moment you enter the gates, there’s a peacefulness about the property that is unmatched by any private club I’ve been to.
Whether you’re looking for a dedicated golf club or you’re looking for a lifestyle club ripe with tons of amenities and activities, there’s something for you here.
It’s not the flashiest or most famous club near the Monterey Peninsula – nor do they want it to be.
This is for people who are looking for something different. It’s for those who value nature, privacy, world-class golf, and being around other people who are looking for the exact same thing.
All of the membership options carry a premium price tag, but if you’re looking for a spot to retire, build a second home, or have a national club membership that’s easily accessible – then the Santa Lucia Preserve should be on your shortlist of clubs to consider.
