Golfcourse Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a quiet start. The first few days are barely worth paddling out for. We’re looking at a long stretch of very small, weak energy with only a few fleeting moments that might get you wet. The standout for the whole period is a solid, powerful groundswell that rolls in around the second week of August, but with some serious caveats.

The first real chance to grab a wave comes Wednesday morning, July 29th, here at Golfcourse. It’s glassy, with a light 3 mph offshore breeze out of the NW, and the water is a warm 85° – about average for this time of year. The swell is tiny, just 2 ft from the ESE, with a weak period of 10 seconds. The combined energy is a measly 83, so don’t expect any power. It’s a knee-high dribbler, but it’s clean. Thursday and Friday mornings are similar – glassy, but the swell drops even further to 1 ft, and the energy dips into the 30s and 40s. You’d be better off with a longboard or a different hobby for a few days.

Sunday morning, August 2nd, things get a little more interesting. The swell is still tiny at 1 ft, but the period jumps to a very long 16 seconds. This is a groundswell pulse, and the energy climbs to 149 (moderate). It’s glassy with a light 3 mph NNE breeze. For a point break or reef, that long period would be magic, but at a beach break like this, it might be a bit too straight and walled. Still, it’s the cleanest and most interesting wave of the first week.

Now, hold onto your boards. Monday, August 3rd, the ocean wakes up. The swell jumps to 5 ft from the ESE, with a very long 16-second period. The combined energy is a massive 1408 (strong). This is a proper groundswell. The morning has a light cross-onshore breeze, but it’s surfable. This swell builds fast. By Tuesday, August 4th, it’s 8 ft, and by Wednesday morning, August 5th, we’re looking at a colossal 16 ft from the ESE. The energy is 17637 (very strong). This is way too big for beginners. It’s solid expert territory. The wind is cross-onshore, which is a shame. The forecast says the conditions are favorable for the swell size, but at 16 ft and bigger, it’s going to be a washing machine out there. For the average surfer, this is a spectacle, not a session.

The swell peaks around Thursday, August 6th, with a terrifying 34 ft to 41 ft from the ESE. The energy is in the 60,000 to 90,000 range. The wind is a strong cross-onshore, and by afternoon it’s a near-gale. This is a survival mission. Friday, August 7th, the direction shifts to the SSE, but the wind is howling onshore at 40 mph. The swell is still 25 ft, but it’s a complete mess. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The swell drops sharply after that, but the wind stays onshore and messy through the rest of the period. By Sunday, August 9th, the swell is back down to 3 ft, but it’s raining and the wind is onshore. The only pulse of note in the second week is a bit of size on Wednesday, August 12th, with 7 ft from the E, but the period is short at 8 seconds and the wind is a moderate cross-onshore. It’s poor.

So, the best on offer? If you’re a beginner, the glassy, tiny mornings of July 29th to August 1st are your only safe bet for a clean, easy paddle, but you won’t catch much. For the experienced crew, the window is Monday morning, August 3rd, when the first big ESE groundswell hits with a 5 ft to 7 ft face and clean-ish conditions. That’s the one true standout. The huge swell later in the week is for big-wave chargers only, and even then, the wind is a problem.

Rusty, signing off.

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