Marriott Manhattan Beach – par 3 – Richie's World of Golf

1400 Parkview Ave
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
(310) 939-1465

9 holes (par 27)

Yardage: 1,213 yards

Hours: 6.30am-6pm
Green fees: $17

The Marriott Hotel par 3 course is located in Manhattan Beach, CA. You turn just after the hotel and there is a separate parking lot which is free. If you park at the actual hotel then you have to pay. The course has a small practice putting green and no hitting area to warm up. As the course is located at a hotel, there are obviously lots of amenities close by. They have an alcohol policy where you can take any alcohol with you which is purchased at the hotel.

The course is a 9 hole par 3 with the longest hole being 182 yards off the white tees. There are a handful of bunkers spread throughout the course and two holes have water in play – hole 1 and 8. Hole 8 is the star of the course. It is a long 180 yard par 3 with a lake going up to the front of the green. There is an area to the right where you can play it safe, if you do not wish to take on the lake.

The course is really nicely maintained. The greens are good and the grass is well cut. The white tees are generally grass and the red tees have mats where you hit from. Each hole has a ball washer. The course is generally easily to navigate around. Each hole is clearly marked and there is a good flow around the course. Although the course is well maintained, it is not quite as stunning as the Marriott official pictures on their website and on the scorecard. The pictures appear to have been photo-shopped. The hotel is actually brown, not white as pictured. Also the grass is not as green and the colors are less vibrant.

Now the main negative… we played on a holiday. We reserved a tee time and it was very busy. There were lots of kids which slowed down play. It took 2+ hours to complete 9 holes of par 3. Also there were kids running around the course and getting in the way of play. These were guests from the hotel and not paying golf players. Although we had some issues playing on a holiday, I hear that the course is quiet during the week when kids are at school. The course is located in Manhattan Beach which is a very affluent area. As a result you get a more elitist and less down-to-earth crowd on the course; compared to other courses in the Los Angeles area.

Although the course is well maintained, I am not sure that this course is somewhere I would play often. We are spoiled with so many courses in the Los Angeles area and I simply have options just as good (if not better) which are less than the 45-60 minute drive required for me to play here. If you live in the local area then this course is worth playing. You also have several other par 3 courses in the local vicinity, such as The Lakes at El Segundo.

Richie says… “Well maintained course with some interesting holes to play. Although nicely presented, not as good as the pictures portrayed. Probably best to play here weekdays and avoid weekends and holidays.”

Chris says… “Overall the course itself is nice, but it is a little hoity-toity. The people in front of us gave the appearance of hedge fund traders off work for the holiday and showing their kids how to play. The worst thing for me about the course was the people. Too much slow play. The course itself isn’t bad.”