The Hay

Fun and Friendly Golf Experience at The Hay We visited around noon without a reservation. The check-in counter is near the course, and the fee was $75 for 9 holes, plus $10 for club rental—very reasonable. They even provided 10 free balls, which gave us peace of mind—enough to lose one per hole and still finish the round! (lol) Golf wear was fine; no blazer needed. We were paired with an American father and daughter. We were a bit nervous at first, but we quickly relaxed and had a great time. The 7th hole, designed by Tiger Woods, offers an amazing view. Even though we’re not fluent in English, the staff were very kind and helpful. They even watched our play and gave us a thumbs-up when we hit a good shot. It’s a wonderful place where even first-timers can feel totally at ease and enjoy the game. (Visited in June 2025.)

The small nine is quick to play! Great for short game practice - not much too it. Great greens and cool view. It was cool to play each hole after reviewing the story online and why they choose each hole. You finish off with a video shot at hole 9 scanning a QR code. Loved being out there experiencing the history and stories.

There is something deceptively innocent about The Hay. Nine holes, each modest in length, unfold like a haiku about impermanence. At first glance, one could mistake it for a children's game — a light diversion beside the great, mythic sibling of Pebble Beach. But this is wrong. The Hay is not a lesser course. It is a distillation. A meditation. Here, stripped of distance and spectacle, the golfer confronts the essence of the game — the terrifying demand for precision, and the quiet joy of fleeting success. To land a ball softly on the green from 60 yards is to experience a miracle in miniature. The course does not shout. It whispers. And in that whisper, I hear something profound — that in the small, there is still the infinite. Families come here. Children swing wildly, unaware of failure. Lovers laugh under the cypress trees. The old walk with careful steps, remembering. It is, perhaps, the only place in the world of golf where the burden of performance gives way to the play of being. There is beauty in this simplicity. Not the sublime terror of vast mountains or deep jungles, but the kind found in a pebble, smooth and warm in your palm. You hold it, briefly, and let it go. The Hay is not about conquering. It is about presence. And for a moment — a shot, a breath, a shared smile — that is enough. Five stars. (For allowing children to play the game for free) p.s. book a tee time through the office to avoid the 17 mile drive toll.