The Avila: California’s coastal golf resort upgrades its course and introduces new memberships

A new chapter on California’s Central Coast

Avila Beach Golf Resort, the long-established coastal destination near San Luis Obispo, is adopting the name The Avila. The official brand reveal was scheduled for October 24, 2026, following an owners’ announcement distributed by the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce on October 15. The change is more than a new sign: the Rossi family and development partner CoVelop describe ongoing investment in the golf course, practice facilities and the broader resort. Crucially, the announcement does not claim that a completely new course has been built or that all 18 holes have undergone a wholesale redesign.

Location: 6464 Ana Bay Road, Avila Beach, San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. Golf has been played here since 1969. The original layout was credited to two-time major winner Olin Dutra and architect Desmond Muirhead. The operator currently describes the course as an 18-hole, par-72 layout.

What is changing for golfers?

Recent work includes irrigation improvements, new hitting mats and ongoing projects intended to strengthen playing conditions and course infrastructure. The operator has also announced a replacement fleet of golf carts with integrated GPS. These are operational improvements rather than a fundamental change to the routing: better irrigation supports turf care; updated hitting facilities affect the pre-round experience; and GPS-equipped carts can make navigation more convenient. No precise construction budget, irrigated-area reduction target or completion timetable for every improvement was supplied in the announcement.

The course’s location remains its defining feature. Its outward nine plays through rolling valleys lined with oak trees, while the inward nine crosses a tidal estuary near San Luis Obispo Bay. The contrasting environments give golfers two very different experiences within a single round: inland accuracy and coastal conditions. The owners say they intend to preserve this identity rather than abandon the venue’s history.

Public access and the 2026–27 membership options

The Avila remains bookable for public golf. Visitors can use the tee-time booking link on the official website; annual memberships add optional benefits for repeat players rather than establishing an invitation-only club. The published 2026–27 offers include The Beach, $179 annually, with one included round and 20% off green fees; The Break, $249, with two rounds and 25% off; and The Point, $349, with three rounds and 30% off. Guest passes and further discounts vary by tier. All offers are subject to the club’s conditions and tee-time availability, so golfers should verify current terms before buying.

The October 24 reveal was advertised as the occasion for unveiling the new identity and membership program, alongside local community events and golf promotions. The published notice does not establish a date on which every infrastructure project will be finished, nor does it announce a complete course closure. It is therefore more accurate to describe the project as staged upgrades to an operating golf resort.

Why it matters

The Avila offers an example of how established public-access golf destinations can evolve without replacing their historic architecture. Irrigation, practice access, cart technology and membership economics may matter just as much to the everyday player as a dramatic bunker redesign. The owners are also investing in the adjoining Beach Club, Mulligans restaurant and event facilities, presenting golf as part of a broader coastal destination.

Sources: owners’ October 15, 2026 announcement distributed by the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce; official The Avila course and membership pages. Image: archival photograph of the Avila Beach coastline from 2016; it does not depict the golf course or renovation.