The first challenge that players must face at The Links at Terranea takes place before teeing up their first shot: banishing all preconceived notions about par 3 courses. Golf Magazine is among several publications that have heaped praise on Todd Eckenrode's masterpiece-in-miniature, listing the course at number 2 on its rundown of the best par 3 destinations in the country. For good reason, too. The nine-holer winds through a 102-acre stretch of oceanfront perched way out on the furthermost tip of the Palos Verdes Peninsula with the azure waves of the Pacific extending to the horizon in nearly all directions and where Catalina Island can be spotted on clear days.

Covering 1,239 yards from the back tees, the course comprises holes ranging from 104 yards up to 173 yards, forcing golfers to juggle nearly every iron in their bags as opposed to just that one club they hit a hole-in-one with that time. The longest hole, fittingly nicknamed "Catalina," points in the direction of its namesake isle far off in the distance. The shortest, though, dubbed "Boomerang," leaves golfers in something of a pickle should they find themselves putting from the wrong end of the boomerang-shaped green.

The course's short setup makes it a natural choice for skilled golfers polishing short game fundamentals or beginners shying away from longer tests. The resort also furnishes golf skill and fitness classes staffed by PGA pros to help with improvement, as well as three pools, a spa, and several tennis courts to foster an atmosphere of relaxed luxury.