Carpinteria, CA Outdoor Activities

Compete Green's endurance events, from 5Ks to marathons, revolve around sustainable practices and an engagement with the outdoors. Cofounders Tom Taylor and Ben DeWitt honed their hamstrings and toughened their hooves while churning up trails from the South Shores of Lake Michigan to Xterra's off-road triathlons in Maui. Tom and Ben found more common ground in their interest in environmentally conscious event management. Compete Green initiatives furnish their 100% free-range participants with sustainable awards such as tree seedlings and organic and recycled apparel. Race-day amenities include prevalent recycling bins, recyclable race numbers, and an athletic-shoe-recycling program.

Cleaved between the Pacific Ocean and the foothills of Santa Ynez Mountain, Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club is among the oldest polo facilities in the U.S. The Club was established in 1911 and quickly became a focal point of competition and social interaction. In fact, by the 1920s, spending Sunday at the club had already become a celebrated social event. Visitors would don the latest fashions and picnic at the fields, some even hiring helpers to assist with the noonday meal and deliver jokes during intermission.

Although some conventions have changed, the club retains its reputation as an elegant destination to enjoy the “Sport of Kings.” It features a trio of world-renowned polo fields, plus eight tennis courts, a fitness center, and a pool for recreational use. The club still draws some of society’s most noble figures, too—Prince William and Catherine visited during 2011, a trip that saw Prince William compete in a charitable match.

GolfTEC has thirteen convenient locations in the Los Angeles area, all staffed by experienced golfing professionals and computers who’ve sworn allegiance to the Three Laws of golfing robotics. Motion sensors and high-speed cameras monitor your swing and break down your form on a high-definition video display. GolfTEC’s PGA specialists point out your flaws, strengths, and coach you on how to permanently improve your game, from tee to green. Sensors chirp with approval when you’ve executed a perfect stroke or cracked an especially witty golfing joke.

Rising like an ivory and adobe mirage amid the towering hills of Southern California, Ojai Valley Inn & Spa curates recreation and relaxation across stately grounds that date back to 1923. Guests can trade forehand hits on one of the resort's four lighted tennis courts or hunt for birdies across the acclaimed 18-hole golf course that has hosted seven Senior PGA Tour events and welcomed rarefied guests such as Bob Hope, Will Smith, and the mashie niblick from a bygone era.

Massage therapists and aestheticians tend to weary travelers at the resort's sprawling spa, which instills tranquil thoughts with everything from plush massage beds to the ornately patterned tiles in the Kuyam chamber room dedicated to mud- and clay-mask treatments.

Locally sourced produce and herbs harvested from the inn's garden are infused into dishes at the inn’s restaurants, which feature both indoor and outdoor dining experiences. The resort also encompasses 308 guest rooms that embody the rustic refinement of Spanish colonial style for those looking for a relaxing weekend or a romantic getaway with their beloved tennis racket.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 70 course
• Length of 6,292 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 71.0 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 132 from the farthest tees
• Three tee options
• View course layout

Nick Sanregret's passion for golf began when he was a youngster playing in junior events and dreaming of one day competing against the sport's top players. Over the next 15 years, Nick attended the Golf Academy of America to refine his craft and eventually turned pro in 2008. Today, at Montecito Country Club, Nick applies his cultivated wisdom to tailored instructional programs that help other golfers achieve lower scores and develop their own passion for the game.

In lessons and clinics, Nick's teaching philosophy centers on solid fundamentals, including good posture, correct grip, and course-management skills. Private and group instruction takes place on the driving range, whereas the practice green is the locale for short-game clinics' combination of drills and dueling techniques with sand-wedge swords. Golfers interested in a drastic handicap reduction can enroll in the Player Improvement Program, an all-encompassing boot camp that incorporates ongoing lessons, club fitting, and access to training aids.

The rink at Channel Islands Ice Center is a space for public skating, a classroom for skating school, and a frozen venue for hockey and figure skating. Operated by the Channel Islands Figure Skating Club and Channel Islands Riptide Hockey Club, the ice center has a stake in varied community endeavors. The center also hosts ballet, tap, and jazz classes designed to complement ice-skating skills and teach students how to evade a would-be attacker with a graceful plié and well-timed pirouette.