Sheep Ranch · Hole 7
Blue
521
White
446
Gold
381
Red
281
The signature hole at Sheep Ranch and one of the most dramatic par 5s in American golf. The 7th plays along the very edge of the Pacific cliff — the ocean is immediately right of the entire hole from tee to green. Three shots along the cliff edge create a sustained rush of drama and exposure that defines what Sheep Ranch is about. This hole will be remembered for decades.
Shot-by-Shot Strategy
Tee Shot
Driver aimed decisively at the left-center of the fairway. The cliff is an immediate and ever-present threat on the right — the no-OB rule at Sheep Ranch means an errant right tee shot is still theoretically in play, but the cliff edge creates positions from which a swing is genuinely impossible. Aim left without hesitation and play a draw away from the cliff.
Approach
The second shot lays up to the ideal position — a right-center fairway position 90–110 yards from the green. Don't go for the green in two unless your position is perfect and the wind is favorable; the cliff right of the green makes overpowered right misses catastrophic in any condition. A controlled layup that leaves a full wedge approach is the correct play for all but the longest and most accurate hitters.
Putting
The signature green is the most exposed putting surface at the resort. Wind affects putts noticeably here — long putts drifting in the ocean wind are common. The green slopes from left to right toward the cliff edge; every putt breaks right. Read with the wind in mind and never leave the ball above the hole on the ocean side.
⚠Gotchas — What Kills Your Score
- •The cliff is the most immediate danger in golf — immediately right of the playing corridor from tee to green. Never aim right of center on any shot at this hole.
- •The no-OB policy gives false confidence — a ball right of the cliff edge is still effectively gone. Play every shot well away from the right side.
- •The wind on the green is maximally amplified given the full ocean exposure — putts can drift 2–3 feet in a strong wind. Factor this in on all long putts.
Wind Intelligence
The most wind-exposed hole at Sheep Ranch runs directly along the Pacific cliff with no shelter from any direction. The prevailing southwest wind is a left-to-right crosswind, pushing every shot toward the cliff. This is the single most wind-challenged hole at the entire resort. Take more club, aim more left, and make a committed, tension-free swing. Attempting to steer the ball away from the cliff produces the very outcome you're trying to avoid.
Hazard Map
- ▲Pacific Ocean cliff edge immediately right — entire length of hole
- ▲Fescue rough and cliff terrain left
- ▲Fully exposed green with ocean wind affecting putts