Blacklake sits on a scenic stretch of natural land in the Santa Maria Valley, offering a laid-back place to play golf, eat good food, and enjoy the outdoors, and it's been around since 1966, which folks seem to like because the place feels lived in and familiar even if you don't know the full story of its history. The highlight here is the 27-hole public golf course made up of three separate nine-hole layouts: the Lakes Course, Canyons Course, and Oaks Course, so you can mix and match to fit what you're in the mood for and everyone's got a chance to try something different each time. The courses wind through open valleys, crests, and spots lined by coastal oaks, and the fairways are wide enough for beginners but challenging enough with tough greens for those who know their way around a club, and the course designer was Ted Robinson, Sr., for folks that care about that sort of detail. There's a 30-station driving range (275 yards), putting greens, plus a pitching and chipping area for practice, so you've got options for warming up or getting some lessons if you want, with instruction available both for groups and one-on-one, and the staff includes PGA professionals, which is good for peace of mind.
The Blacklake Bar & Grill inside the clubhouse serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus a full bar with beer, wine, and cocktails, so you can get things like sandwiches, burgers, or hot dogs, and sometimes they do Santa Maria Style Barbecue with tri-tip and all the extras, which seems to bring in both regulars and folks stopping by. The clubhouse holds a pro shop stocked with golf gear, apparel, and gift certificates, and they'll help with custom orders if you need something special. The resort hosts tournaments, leagues, and youth programs like the First Tee Program, and there are often weddings, banquets, concerts, and public events held here, so there's some variety going on. Blacklake allows walking the course, and rentals are available for golf carts and clubs, and there's a no metal spikes policy along with a dress code that says no tank tops or cut-offs, and everyone needs to wear collared shirts.
Besides golf, the area offers plenty of other activities like birdwatching, hiking, beach trips, and even strawberry picking if you go over to Santa Maria Valley. There are accommodations with condos on site, plus wineries and stops on the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail, so there are chances to meet winemakers, taste some local wine, and poke around at farmers markets, antique shops, or local art and culture spots, and you'll find that pets are often welcome at many outdoor places around here. Blacklake accepts credit cards like VISA, MasterCard, and Amex, runs year-round, and holds a steady spot as a community spot for relaxing, playing golf, gathering with friends, and enjoying some simple, pretty California scenery while you're at it.
