There are only several spots in America that could be considered the golf mecca of America. The Monterey Peninsula is in that conversation. Given my extensive experience on the peninsula, I have complied the ideal guide to help you create the perfect itinerary for your visit. I have broken down the golf courses on the peninsula into four different categories to help custom design your visit. The high end options will set you back a small fortune, but they are almost always worth the experience. Tier two public options provide a solid experience and they are a nice compliment to some of the high end courses at a fraction of the price. The underdogs are some of my favorites as they are worth a visit, but often overlooked. The private golf experiences listed here are some of the best in the country and should be prioritized as such.
In each of these categories, I have listed all of the courses in the order in which I would book my own tee times.
High End Public Options
Tier Two Public Options
The Underdogs
Private Golf Club Experiences
High End Pubic Options
Pebble Beach Golf Links
We begin our list with one of the most well known of all the golf courses in the world. Golfers come from far and wide to experience this iconic meeting of land and sea. Pebble Beach was originally created by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant in 1919 but extensively renovated by H Chandler Egan in 1928. The course plays host to the annual Pebble Beach Pro Am and has hosted the US Open 6 freaking times with a 7th hosting due to come in 2027. Part of the charm of playing Pebble Beach is the joy of walking in the footsteps of golf’s all time greats. The 6th hole conjures up images of Tiger’s 15 shot US Open victory. The 17th hole reminds you of Watson’s remarkable chip in ‘82 and the 18th tee box is synonymous with Jack Nicklaus’ final round in 2000.
In 2025, the greens fee at Pebble Beach reached $675 with a two nights stay required at the lodge. With nightly rates at around $1200, a tee time will set you back around $3k. The pro move is to book a tee time for the same day and try to earn a tee time as a walk on. If you go this route, Pebble Beach will let you bypass the hefty cost of staying at the resort.
Even with one of the most expensive tee times in the world, every golfer should experience Pebble Beach at least once in their lives. The stretch of golf from holes 4-10 is the strongest 7 hole stretch on the planet. While the greatness does dissipate for the majority of the back nine, the round of golf comes together with a glorious finish on the 17th and 18th holes.
“If I had only one more round to play, I would choose to play it at Pebble Beach.”
Spyglass Hill Golf Course
The splendid 4th hole at Spyglass Hill
If you talk to the local golfers and caddies in Monterey, they will often tell you that Spyglass Hill is a better golf course than Pebble Beach. The first 5 holes make a strong argument for this case as they play towards and along the ocean. It is one of the finest openings in golf. On the 6th hole, the course heads into the forest and never returns. There are a handful of memorable and interesting inland golf holes, but the quality and atmosphere of the round changes abruptly. In addition, the 18th hole at Spyglass is the weakest finishing hole on any golf course that I have seen of this caliber.
In stark contrast to the finishing hole, the 4th hole at Spyglass is one of the very best par 4’s in America. While some consider the hole to be gimmicky, I urge those to pay attention. The golf hole provides a multitude of shot options from the tee. An aggressive play is rewarded with a beautiful sightline into the long and skinny green. Players that bail out are presented with an obstructed view and a much more difficult second shot. The unique green and surrounding sandy areas provide a plethora of unique and joyous opportunities to recover from a poor shot. I often stand behind this green and watch the players go through. The result is roughly 3-4x more entertaining and interesting than every other golf hole on the property. The smiles and frowns are always twice as big on the 4th hole. Only great golf holes do this. Which reminds me of my favorite ancient proverb.
“If you don’t appreciate the fourth hole at Spyglass Hill, you better check yourself before you wreck yourself.”
The Links at Spanish Bay
The majority of golf aficionados will agree that Spanish Bay comes in a distant third behind Pebble Beach and Spyglass. The property is spectacular and there is a strong feeling that something far more interesting could have been done with the land. Fortunately, the management at Pebble Beach has taken notice and hired Gil Hanse to complete a renovation. The goal is to transform the existing layout into a “modern California Coastal masterpiece.” The golf course will close on March 18, 2026, and reopen in the spring of 2027. It is certain that the results will be noteworthy.
Poppy Hills
Nestled into the Monterey forest and about a mile away from the ocean lies the Robert Trent Jones designed Poppy Hills. In 1991, Poppy Hills replaced Cypress Point as a host course of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. For the next several decades, the golf course became well known as the weakest link in the rotation of courses. After many of the pros complained, the event moved to the Monterey Peninsula Country Club and a renovation was ordered. The 2013 result is a much improved golf course that more closely resembles its peers at a dramatically different price point.
When I lived in San Francisco, Poppy Hills was one of my favorite options for golf in Monterey. Unfortunately, the Pebble Beach corporation decided to sell some property around the golf course to developers. It was a blatant attempt to cash in and I was informed by several caddies that Pebble Beach “needed the money to finance the renovation at Spanish Bay.” Which reminds me of another ancient proverb.
“The quickest way to ruin the feeling on a golf course is to build homes around it.”
Fortunately, the construction is minimal and Poppy Hills is still a fantastic addition to any Pebble Beach golf itinerary. With a much more reasonable price tag, Poppy Hills pairs nicely with its neighbors.
Tier two Public Options
Bayonet and Black Horse
It should be considered a crime to file any of the following golf courses under the words “Tier Two.” Fortunately, the quality of golf in Monterey is high enough that standout golf courses manage to go under-appreciated. Leading the list of nearby gems to complete your itinerary is the fantastic duo of Bayonet and Black Horse.
The United States Army established Fort Ord as a field-artillery target range in 1917. 37 years later, General Robert B. McClure designed the Bayonet course for the personnel. It had such a positive impact on morale that a second 18-hole layout named Black Horse was created a decade later.
After Fort Ord closed in 1997, Gene Bates extensively remodeled the golf courses. The results were good enough to earn Bayonet the right to host the PGA Professional National Championship in 2012 and 2018. Today, both courses are managed by Troon and represent an excellent option for compelling Monterey peninsula golf.
The Bayonet is the more difficult of the two golf courses and the Black Horse course provides a fun and beautiful opportunity to make some birdies.
Quail Lodge
This Robert Muir Graves-designed & Todd Eckenrode refined golf course covers 6500 yards of splendid Monterey turf. The Quail differentiates itself from the competition with always immaculate playing conditions. The fairways are pure and the greens are impeccable.
Carmel Valley Ranch
Carmel Valley Ranch is the lone Pete Dye design on the Monterey Peninsula. There are a handful of truly dramatic views and drops into the valleys with holes #11 and #13 representing the most dramatic of the collection. The golf course measures just over 6000 yards which places the focus on fun while enjoying a scenic location.
The Underdogs
Pacific Grove Golf Links
I always recommend that visiting golfers pay a visit to Pacific Grove Golf Links. The back nine features some of the finest pure links golf holes in America. The front nine is underwhelming with all nine holes cramped into a residential routing that will make you rethink your decision to play golf. Any doubts that you have will be entirely erased once you head out onto the back nine. Holes 10-13 alone are well worth the price of admission.
Laguna Seca Golf Ranch
Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr and Sr, Laguna Seca Golf Ranch is a 6226 yard exacting test of golf. In 2025, 18 holes during the week will set you back the small sum of just $57. The golf course is representative of Trent Jones design style with many elevated tee boxes and well framed views. There are a handful of interesting holes at Laguna Seca and the short nature of the golf course places an emphasis on fun.
Del Monte Golf Club
Pebble Beach company owns 5 different golf coursers and Del Monte Golf Course is always the most ignored offering in their portfolio. The course is flat with small dramatically sloped greens being the hallmark of Del Monte. When these babies get rolling, the golf course can play surprisingly difficult.
Monterey Pines Golf Club
This par 70 is owned and operated by the Navy and is a local favorite. Nothing spectacular here, but for $60 you get some decent quality golf. If you are looking for one more quick round of golf before heading out on your private jet, the golf course is located right next to the Monterey Regional airport. Since the green fee is only $60, you should have plenty of cash left over for jet fuel.
The Hay
For years, the only short course on the peninsula sat right next to the first tee at Pebble Beach, largely ignored. That all changed when Tiger Woods and TGR Design rejuvenated the golf course in 2021. Previously know as Peter Hay golf course, The Hay is now one of the most fun spots to play golf at Pebble Beach. The 9 hole course is fun, beautiful and uniquely designed so that all skill levels can enjoy the golf course.
There is also a large putting course at The Hay with undulations that will keep even the most ardent putters interested.
The holes are all under 106 yards and the highlight comes early at the second hole. Measuring the same distance as the iconic 7th hole on Pebble Beach, the 2nd green on The Hay is designed to be the exact same as well. It even plays in the same direction as the original in order to replicate the wind and conditions on any given day.
The price of admission for playing The Hay in 2025: $65 for the general public and resort guests. More importantly, the course is free for anyone 12 years or younger. Replay rates offer a 50% discount.
Private Golf Experiences
Cypress Point Club
When I first began to explore the the world of golf courses, I thought that Pebble Beach was the best golf course in America. I would quickly come to realize that this was a foolish and amateur belief. After a little bit of research, I discovered that there are 3 golf courses within a 10 mile radius alone that I would consider superior to Pebble Beach. Leading that list is my favorite golf course in the country, Cypress Point. A proper write up of Cypress Point Club deserves its very own blog post, so I will simply recommend that if the opportunity to play Cypress Point arises, drop what you are doing and come running immediately. For my first visit, during RGV Tour 1.0, I flew in from Nashville immediately after receiving the call.
Cypress Point Club is easily one of the greatest walks in golf. The ebbs are even more spectacular than the flows and there are more than enough to go around. The scenery changes dramatically as the round unfolds and the finish is one of the most amazing in all of sport.
Fortunate are the few that get to walk these fairways.
Monterey Peninsula Country Club - Dunes Course
The Dunes course has a long history with some of the greatest architects in golf lending their expertise to its creation. The course was routed by Seth Raynor and completed by Robert Hunter in the 1920’s. In the 1990’s Rees Jones renovated the course along with Tom Fazio in the 2000’s. Tim Jackson and David Kahn gave the Monterey Peninsula Dunes course the gorgeous sandscaped look that it proudly displays in 2025.
While the neighboring Shore course at MPCC earns all of the attention, I prefer the Dunes. It’s a close call, but the Jackson Kahn redesign and aesthetics give it a slight edge over the critically acclaimed Shore course.
Monterey Peninsula Country Club - Shore Course
Mike Strantz was battling cancer while he worked to transform the mediocre, MPCC Shore Course into a strategic and scenic masterpiece that could rival its next-door neighbor, Cypress Point. Strantz rerouted large portions of the course in order to provide a Pacific Ocean backdrop that would thrill the player’s senses. He swerved fairways through the trees so that golfers would be able to “dance among the cypress.” The stunning landscape that he delivered would be Strantz’s last work of art. He died six months after completing the redesign. Fortunately, he left a masterpiece behind for us to enjoy.
Tehama Golf Club
I was informed that there was a 90% chance that I would run into Clint Eastwood during my visit to Tehama. The odds went up to 100% when I shook Clint’s hand in the clubhouse. According to local lore, Clint wanted to build a golf course in the hills of Monterey and he approached Jack Nicklaus about the project. Jack came out to survey the land and arrived at the conclusion that there wasn’t enough land for a proper full scale golf course. In classic Dirty Harry resistance, Clint ignored Nicklaus and hired Jay Morrish to complete his vision. In 1999 Tehama was established. The result is a dramatic and scenic golf course that feels about 3 holes short of greatness.
“You have got enough land for about 15 good golf holes out here.”
The Preserve
Once you pass the gates of The Preserve there is still a thirty minute drive before you will find the clubhouse of this Tom Fazio gem. Once you set out on the golf course, The Preserve takes you on a splendid natural ride through the Santa Lucia Preserve. There is no shortage of wild life encounters as you make your way through the natural landscapes that Tom Fazio has expertly laid a golf course on top of. Compared to most of Fazio’s designs, The Preserve offers a much less contrived approach and the result is something special.
“It’s as if you are going on a grand hike and happen to have a golf club in your hand.”
