Traveling to Monterey for Golf

For golfers, few places on earth carry the mystique of the Monterey Peninsula. In just a handful of coastal miles along California's Central Coast, cypress-lined fairways tumble toward the crashing surf of the Pacific, and courses that have hosted U.S. Opens, PGA Tour events, and countless bucket-list rounds sit within a short drive of one another. It is, quite simply, one of the greatest concentrations of memorable golf anywhere in the world.

Best of all, most of the marquee courses here are open to the public, so with some planning you can walk the same holes as the pros. The peninsula is also refreshingly easy to reach: it sits roughly two hours south of San Francisco, making it an ideal long-weekend escape or the centerpiece of a longer California golf road trip.

The Courses

Pebble Beach Golf Links

The crown jewel of the peninsula and routinely ranked the No. 1 public course in America, Pebble Beach Golf Links delivers on every ounce of its reputation. Its ocean-hugging holes, especially the short par-3 7th and the closing stretch along the cliffs, are among the most photographed in golf. It has hosted multiple U.S. Opens and remains the dream round for most visitors. Tee times are limited and coveted, so book far in advance.

Spyglass Hill Golf Course

Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and opened in 1966, Spyglass Hill is widely considered the toughest test of golf on the peninsula and has ranked among Golf Digest's greatest public courses in the country. Its opening holes wind through the dunes near the ocean before the course turns inland into the Del Monte Forest, blending seaside drama with a demanding, tree-lined back nine.

The Links at Spanish Bay

A collaboration between Robert Trent Jones Jr., Tom Watson, and former USGA president Sandy Tatum, The Links at Spanish Bay is a Scottish-style links laid out among restored coastal dunes. Firm fairways, native grasses, and ocean breezes give it a distinctly authentic feel, and a bagpiper who plays at sunset has become a beloved tradition.

Poppy Hills Golf Course

Owned and operated by the Northern California Golf Association, Poppy Hills was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. in 1986 and reimagined in a 2013 renovation that reworked the layout and rebuilt every green complex. Routed entirely through the pines of the Del Monte Forest, it is a strong, well-conditioned test that offers excellent value relative to its more famous neighbors.

Del Monte Golf Course

Opened in 1897, Del Monte is the oldest course in continuous operation west of the Mississippi. Its classic, walkable layout features small, well-protected greens and rewards precision over power. Steeped in history and offering outstanding value, it is a favorite among locals and a wonderful complement to the peninsula's showier oceanfront courses.

Pacific Grove Golf Links

Affectionately known as the poor man's Pebble Beach, this city-owned municipal course pairs a forested front nine designed by Chandler Egan with a links-style back nine that overlooks Point Pinos, where Monterey Bay meets the Pacific. It offers genuine oceanfront golf at a fraction of the peninsula's marquee prices and is one of the best values on the coast.

Bayonet & Black Horse

Set on a former army base in nearby Seaside, this 36-hole complex offers two burly par-72 layouts. The Bayonet, with its narrow corridors and penal bunkering, has long been regarded as one of the sternest tests in the area, while the Black Horse features sweeping Pacific vistas, fescue-framed fairways, and slick, well-contoured greens.

Monterey Pines Golf Club

A relaxed, affordable public and military course, Monterey Pines is a friendly, walkable layout that makes an ideal warm-up round or a low-pressure option for players of all abilities. It is a reminder that not every round on the peninsula has to be a bucket-list splurge.

Planning Your Trip

  • Getting there: The peninsula sits roughly two hours (about 120 miles) south of San Francisco via US-101 or the scenic Highway 1. Monterey Regional Airport handles regional flights, while San Jose is about 80 minutes away and offers more options.

  • When to go: Late spring through early fall (roughly May to September) brings the most reliable golf weather. Expect cool, foggy mornings that typically burn off to mild, pleasant afternoons, and pack layers year-round.

  • Where to stay: The Pebble Beach Resorts offer on-property lodging with priority access to their courses, while Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Pacific Grove provide a wide range of hotels and inns at varying price points.

  • Booking Pebble Beach: Guests of the Pebble Beach Resorts can reserve tee times further out and with greater certainty; non-guests can book within a shorter window but face tighter availability. Plan several months ahead to secure your round.

However you build your itinerary, the Monterey Peninsula rewards the effort. Whether you splurge on Pebble Beach, chase the challenge of Spyglass Hill, or simply soak up the ocean views at Pacific Grove, a golf trip here is the kind of experience you will be talking about long after the final putt drops.