Ocean Trails: A tale of lost Fairway, Pacific vistas, Dye trickery

By David R. Holland, Contributor

RANCHO PALOS VERDES, Calif. -- Having a multi-million dollar view was nothing for Ocean Trails. When the first golfer finally tees off on No. 18 sometime this year it will officially be the most expensive hole in the history of golf.

This is a tale of the lost fairway.

Ocean Trails was preparing for its grand-opening festivities when a landslide on June 2, 1999, sent its 18th fairway sliding into the Pacific Ocean. (Editor's Note: This golf course is now known as Trump National Golf Club.)

The cause of the slide is still in litigation, but a course-commissioned investigation concluded a leaking sewage pipe trailing beneath the 18th fairway was the problem. Los Angeles County sewage department officials disputed that finding, saying the pipe was intact, but needless to say a lot of hearts were broken on that day. Now, almost three years later, eager golfers are still waiting for a chance to play that now-famous No. 18.

“We are all looking forward to getting back our 18th hole some time this coming summer,” said Ken Zuckerman, who owns the course with brother Robert. “The first phase of the repair, installation of 115 buried shear pins, has been completed.”

Building the course will better $130 million — about $110 million more than average for an upscale daily-fee course. The 18th hole will exceed $20 million allowing Zuckerman to exclaim it’s the most expensive golf hole in the world. Zuckerman also says when finished, the 18th will be the most stable piece of coastal land in the state. Thinking way ahead, he says, it will still be there in two million years.

The Big One, the anticipated, foreseen great earthquake of the LA Basin, might just prove that a risky prediction. Golfers might just have to swim 19 miles out to Catalina Island, which looms in the distance on clear days.

Despite the problems, Ocean Trails is worth it. Just spending a day here enjoying the views, soaking up the warm southern California sun, being lucky enough to see the plume of a passing gray whale, or dolphins at play, has been enough incentive to keep them busy despite a portfolio of only 15 playable holes.

Mike van der Goes, Director of Golf, said the holidays were fully booked despite the three missing holes. “Right now we have a ‘Play All Day' program for $99 and we were unable to accept as many requests to play as we wanted to.”

Van der Goes said there has been a lot of curiosity because of all the publicity the slide received, but he was apprehensive about opening with only 15 holes.

“There’s nothing wrong with holes 9 and 12, but we are having to use them for a back stop for all the dirt that was removed on 18. So far most people realize we only have 15 holes to play and they have been understanding. Every once in a while you will come across a traditionalist, who calls and says they can’t imagine a game without 18.”

Aside from the ocean views from every fairway, Dye’s layout has been a hit, even though it is squeezed into a smaller space of land. There’s not even a driving range on the property.

The snake-like route you take today includes Nos. 10 and 11, then 1-8 and over for 13 through 17.

“The course is tough and narrow and if you get off the fairways there are some thick native brush areas,” van der Goes said. “I think Dye is synonymous for tough greens and this course has plenty of three-putt opportunities and there can be some really tough pin placements. Most putts will break toward the Pacific. But on the whole it is not a long course at 6,833 yards and is playable for all levels of skill.”

If you can hit the ball straight and read the slick, lumpy Dye putting surfaces, (did he bury an elephant under some of these?) you can score on this course. Most likely you will record some three putts, but if you play all day and finish 30 holes you might just start making some putts. The fairways can be narrow and many feed into the deep bunkers.

The ultra-exclusive, expensive land on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, was owned by the Zuckerman’s father and has never been developed. It has, however, been a public access area with hiking and jogging trails and access to the beach below the bluffs. Seventy-five homesites will also be part of the property’s future.

Amazingly, it is the first and only ocean-front golf course in Los Angeles County -- the nearest Pacific Ocean layouts are north to Sandpiper in Santa Barbara and south to Pelican Hill in Newport Beach. The Zuckermans also contend it is the only golf course in the USA that has ocean views from all 18 fairways.

February 11, 2002