Tucked among the hills and redwoods, the nine-hole course presents unexpected challenges to golfers. It may be that the stunning ocean views distract first time players, or it may be a wandering deer crossing the putting green --this is an Audubon-certified sanctuary, after all.

Like everything else at Little River Inn, the golf course has a colorful family history. Watching Arnold Palmer play on TV one day in the mid 1950s, Ole Hervilla decided a golf course would draw even more guests to his inn. The locals told him nobody would play golf on the coast. But he was determined. He consulted three golf architects, each one more expensive than the other. After talking to the third pricey expert, he said, "Thanks, you just made a golf architect out of me." Working with contractors on the coast, he opened the course in 1957.

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