Monterey Bay Area Attractions, Golf

If it is a day on the links you crave, you have come to the right place. Monterey County has been consistently named among the world’s best golfing destinations by Golf Digest magazine, and with good reason. Choose any one of our courses and you’ll be in for some of the best golf imaginable. The scenery is magnificent, but try to keep your eye on the ball.

Since the 1880s, visitors have been coming to the Monterey Coast to enjoy the spectacular beauty of the ocean, the pine forests and, yes, the golf. Considered to be among the world’s best golf destinations, the Monterey Peninsula boasts more than a dozen courses.

Most notorious of our courses is Pebble Beach Golf Links, which includes Poppy Hills and Spyglass Hill, all of which are legends in themselves. But there are many lesser known but excellent courses in the area.

The newly enhanced Quail Lodge Resort and Country Club in Carmel Valley in the rolling hills just southeast of Carmel is as beautiful as it is challenging. Ponds or the Carmel River come into play on at least eight holes.

The area’s oldest course, Del Monte Golf Course, opened in 1897. It is also the oldest course in continuous operation west of the Mississippi. This inland course boasts a meandering, hilly layout that has challenged golfers for more than a century with its narrow, tree-lined fairways and small, well-protected greens.

Bayonet and Black Horse courses in Seaside are gaining recognition as popular public and championship courses. The elevated view of Monterey Bay is a spectacular backdrop for these two challenging courses, which have played host to PGA Tour greats such as Palmer, Nicklaus, and Watson, as well as several U.S. presidents and foreign dignitaries.

For a more affordable course, try Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Course, which is city owned and well maintained. The 17th hole is probably the most picturesque. With the ocean on the left, it plays across Crespi Pond to a green surrounded by a grove of Monterey cypress. It has it all — the ocean, the trees, the deer, and the migratory birds around the pond.

Leguna Seca Golf Club is a favorite because it offers the well-groomed amenities of a private facility at modest daily fees. The course will make you use every club in your bag to conquer its ups and downs. Elevated tees treat you to impressive vistas of the Monterey-Salinas corridor. A relaxing clubhouse offers a resort-quality golf shop and casual dining.

Peter Hay Golf Course is a 9-hole executive par-3 golf course across the street from Pebble Beach Golf Links. This is a great opportunity to work on your short game, or even better, teach your children to play.

Monterey Bay's Golf Kingdom