Ojai Valley Inn & Spa

Getting To Know: Ojai Valley Inn & Spa

An Insightful Interview With Mark Greenslit, Director of Golf

By Brian Weis

Whether you have played a course 20+ times a year or looking to play the course for the first time, insights from an insider can help enhance your golf experience. Below is an interview with Mark Greenslit who shares some valuable tidbits about the course, memorable holes and must eats and treats at the 19th.

Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property
Our is classically designed by George C. Thomas in 1923. Beautiful and spectacular mountain and valley views on every hole.

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
George Thomas has designed many of the best golf courses in Southern California (Riviera CC, L.A. CC North Course, Bel Aire CC, La Cumbre CC). All of these golf courses, including Ojai, are a true test of golf and offer the golfer a classic golf experience.

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
You have to play the course the way that George Thomas designed it. You can't overpower this course, you have to lay up on the short par 4's and make sure your tee shots are the right place of the fairway to be able to hit your approach shots on the greens.

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
Golf Digest Top 75 Golf Resorts

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
Hole #16

205 yard par 3 hole with a deep barranca on the left, out of bounds on the right, and 4 large intertwining bunkers in the front.

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It? Hole #18 (442 yard par 4)

Our 18th hole is a great finishing hole you have hit a high draw off of the tee to put your shot in the best position to hit the green. Your second shot is uphill and you have to carry two large bunkers to reach the green.

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?
Jimmy's Pub. Named after legendary PGA Tour golfer Jimmy Demaret who represented the Ojai Vally Inn & Spa from 1948 - 1955.

Who Holds Course Record and What Was Their Score?
PGA Tour player Buddy Allin shot 61 during the Senior Tour event (FHP Health Care Classic) in 1985.

Back Tee Stats
Par: 70
Yardage: 6292
Slope: 132
Rating: 71.0

More Information
Ojai Valley Inn & Spa
905 Country Club Road
Ojai, California, 93023
805-646-2420
www.ojairesort.com

Revised: 09/18/2013 - Article Viewed 31,287 Times - View Course Profile

About: Brian Weis

Brian Weis is the Publisher of GolfTrips.com, a network of golf travel and directory sites including GolfWisconsin.com, GolfMichigan.com, ArizonaGolfer.com, GolfAlabama.com, etc. Professionally, Brian is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA), International Network of Golf (ING), Golf Travel Writers of America (GTWA), International Golf Travel Writers Association (IGTWA) and The Society of Hickory Golfers (SoHG). In 2016, Brian won The Shaheen Cup, an award given to a golf travel writer by his peers.

All of his life, Brian has been around the game of golf. As a youngster, Brian competed at all levels in junior and high school golf. Brian had a zero chance for a college golf scholarship, so he worked on the grounds crew at West Bend Country Club to pay for his University of Wisconsin education. In his adult years, his passion for the game collided with his entrepreneurial spirit and in 2004 launched GolfWisconsin.com. In 2007, the idea for a network of local golf directory sites formed and GolfTrips.com was born. Today, the network consists of a site in all 50 states supported by national sites like GolfTrips.com, GolfGuide.com and GolfPackages.com. It is an understatement to say, Brian is passionate about promoting golf and golf travel on a local, regional, national and international level.

On the golf course, Brian is known as a fierce weekend warrior that fluctuates between a 5-9 handicap. With a soft fade, known as "The Weis Slice", and booming 300+ drives, he can blast it out of bounds with the best of them.