Golfers have been coming to the Monterey Peninsula for well over a century. Here are four public courses to know, from the bucket-list round to the local favorite.
Pebble Beach Golf Links
The headline act. Cliffside holes along Carmel Bay, host of the U.S. Open in June 2027, and the 18th hole that finishes at the Lodge. Book well in advance through Pebble Beach Resorts (https://www.pebblebeach.com/golf/). About 12 minutes from the hotel.
Spyglass Hill Golf Course
Also in Pebble Beach, Spyglass opens with holes through the dunes near the ocean before turning into the pines. It is famously demanding, and its holes are named after places and characters in Treasure Island. It is one of the two courses used for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Pacific Grove Golf Links
This city-owned course runs out to the coast next to the Point Pinos Lighthouse, with its back nine set in the dunes beside the ocean. It is a local favorite for seaside golf at a much friendlier price. Check the City of Pacific Grove (https://www.cityofpacificgrove.org/) for tee times.
Del Monte Golf Course
Opened in 1897, Del Monte is one of the oldest golf courses in continuous operation west of the Mississippi. It is a shorter, tree-lined course close to Scottish Fairway Inn, a good warm-up round on your first day.
Tips for a golf trip
- Book the big-name course first, then build the rest of the trip around that tee time.
- Expect wind and changing weather. Pack a rain jacket and layers.
- Leave a free afternoon for a drive along 17-Mile Drive or down to Big Sur.
Staying at Scottish Fairway Inn
Scottish Fairway Inn is a comfortable, well-placed base for a golf trip, just off State Route 1 in Monterey, with a garden and picnic area with BBQ for evenings after the round. Book direct at scottishfairway.com.
Photo: Pebble Beach Golf Links 05 by Bernard Gagnon, via Wikimedia Commons. Original photograph and this image adaptation licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized; website renditions may be cropped and converted in format. This license applies only to the photograph.
