Poppy Hills Golf Course

Owned and operated by the Northern California Golf Association (NCGA), it is one of the few courses on the Monterey Peninsula truly open to the public, and it consistently earns a place among the region's most celebrated tests of golf.

Originally designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and opened in 1986, the course was completely reimagined by Jones and his firm in a 2013–2014 renovation. Today it plays firm and fast across 18 holes, measuring 7,002 yards from the back tees to a par of 72, and offers a rustic, forest-framed round the course itself likens to “playing golf in a national park.”

Course History

Poppy Hills opened in 1986 as the first golf course to be owned and operated by an allied golf association, becoming the home course of the Northern California Golf Association, whose headquarters sit on the property. For nearly two decades it also served as one of the rotating venues for the PGA Tour's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, sharing the spotlight with neighbors Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill.

In March 2013 the NCGA closed the course for an extensive renovation led by original architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. The reimagined layout reopened on April 4, 2014, transforming Poppy Hills from a lush, target-style course into a firm, fast, and more natural forest test. The course has since been recognized among Golf Digest's rankings and continues to host championship events, including NCGA Championships and USGA competitions.

The Design & Architecture

The 2013–2014 renovation was far more than a facelift. Robert Trent Jones Jr. restored each hole to its natural elevation along the forest floor, softened the doglegs and green contours, and rebuilt all 18 greens with bentgrass. He removed the course's rough entirely, replacing it with firm fairways and expansive native sandy waste areas that give players room to be creative around the pines.

Sustainability drove much of the work: the entire course was sand-capped for firmer, better-draining turf, a state-of-the-art irrigation system was installed, and the introduction of native waste areas reduced irrigated turf by roughly 25 percent. The result is a routing that flows seamlessly through the Del Monte Forest, with occasional glimpses of the Pacific from the higher ground.

Playing the Course

From the Jones tees Poppy Hills stretches to 7,002 yards at par 72, with a course rating of 73.5 and a slope of 135 — a genuine championship challenge. Multiple tee sets bring the course within reach of every level, playing down through the Blue (6,672 yards), White (6,299 yards), and Gold (5,215 yards) markers.

The firm-and-fast presentation rewards imaginative, ground-game golf: with no rough to catch errant shots and generous native waste areas, players can shape recoveries in countless ways. Tree-lined corridors, elevation changes across the forest floor, and firm bentgrass greens keep the emphasis on precise angles and thoughtful strategy rather than brute power.

Know Before You Go

• Public access: Poppy Hills is open to the public and owned by the NCGA; NCGA members receive preferred rates.

• Location: 3200 Lopez Road, Pebble Beach, CA 93953, in the Del Monte Forest.

• Reservations: Book tee times in advance through the course; call (831) 622-8239 or visit poppyhillsgolf.ncga.org.

• Practice facilities: A practice range and short-game areas are available on site.

• On-site amenities: Porter's Grill and Pub for dining, plus lessons, group outings, and tournament hosting.

• Playing conditions: Expect a firm, fast forest course with bentgrass greens and no rough — favor the ground game.