Top 10 Golf Courses in Monterey County: Where Ocean Cliffs Meet Forest Greens

To live on the Peninsula is to move between ocean cliffs and forest greens — and nowhere is that duality clearer than on the region’s ten defining golf courses. Monterey County is not just a destination for golfers; it is a landscape that teaches rhythm, patience, and reverence. Here, every tee tells a story, every fairway invites reflection, and every green carries the salt-kissed whispers of the Pacific.

Whether you are a lifelong local, a seasonal resident, or a visitor chasing the mythos of Pebble Beach, these courses capture the soul of the Monterey Peninsula — its landscapes, its lifestyle, and the kind of understated luxury that turns a weekend round into a lifelong memory.

Here are the ten courses that encapsulate the Central Coast golfer's ideal.

1. Pebble Beach Golf Links – The Icon of Coastal Golf

Pebble Beach is more than a course; it is the Peninsula distilled. Each hole is a portrait framed by the Pacific, cliffs, and the ever-present wind that tests precision as much as patience. The 7th hole, a short par-3 with the ocean in the backdrop, is as much about the feeling of standing on the edge of the continent as it is about the swing.

Playing here is a lesson in humility and awe — the manicured fairways are just the beginning. It’s the meeting of tide, wind, and human craft that makes every shot memorable. From U.S. Opens to casual rounds, Pebble Beach embodies the idea that golf on the Monterey Peninsula is as much about experience as it is about score.

Click here to visit Pebble Beach Golf Links.

2. Spyglass Hill Golf Course – Forest, Ocean, Challenge

Spyglass Hill begins among towering pines and winds its way toward ocean vistas, blending dense forest corridors with dramatic coastal exposure. The greens demand focus, the fairways command respect, and the ocean breeze whispers reminders of the untamed world just beyond the course.

This is a course that rewards both strategy and instinct. Local knowledge makes a difference, but every visitor walks away humbled and inspired — a signature experience of the Monterey Peninsula’s duality of forest and sea.

Click here to visit Spyglass Hill Golf Course.

3. Poppy Hills – A Forested Symphony

Poppy Hills winds quietly through Del Monte Forest, where sunlight filters through the pines and dew-drenched grass cushions your steps. Its design is gentle yet exacting, rewarding thoughtful play over bravado.

Early mornings bring the mist rising from hidden hollows, deer wandering between fairways, and the scent of pine mingling with fresh turf. Poppy Hills is understated, but it is an intimate classroom for golfers who appreciate nuance, reflection, and the quieter moments of the game.

Click here to visit Poppy Hills.

4. The Links at Spanish Bay – Scottish Inspiration, Pacific Soul

Spanish Bay channels the spirit of the Old World with the rhythms of the Pacific. Open, windswept, and strategic, the course tests your risk-reward decisions with firm fairways and subtle contours.

Each hole offers a different perspective of the coast — the light shifts, the wind changes, and the sea itself feels like a companion rather than a backdrop. For players seeking the raw energy of oceanfront golf without the crowds of Pebble, Spanish Bay offers an intoxicating blend of challenge and poetry.

Click here to visit The Links at Spanish Bay.

5. Bayonet & Black Horse – Hidden Gems, Elevated Play

Tucked in Seaside, Bayonet & Black Horse offers two distinct 18-hole layouts carved from former Fort Ord terrain. Its elevation changes, narrow corridors, and strategic bunkers demand focus and adaptability.

While some courses in the region rely on vistas alone, Bayonet & Black Horse tests the mind as much as the body. For locals, it is a cherished retreat; for visitors, it’s a revelation — evidence that Monterey’s golfing treasures extend beyond the headline names.

Click here to visit Bayonet & Black Horse.

6. Del Monte Golf Course – Classic Monterey Charm

Situated in the heart of Monterey, Del Monte is a course that balances accessibility with character. Its fairways are generous, its greens thoughtful, and its layout encourages players to engage with both the course and its surroundings.

History whispers along every hole here — a reminder that Monterey’s golf culture is built as much on legacy as on luxury. For residents, Del Monte is a daily touchstone; for visitors, it’s an approachable entry point into the Peninsula’s golfing ethos.

Click here to visit Del Monte Golf Course.

7. Pacific Grove Golf Links – Sun, Sea, and Serenity

Pacific Grove Golf Links hugs the coastline with a mix of forested and open holes. The back nine offers sweeping views of Point Pinos, where the ocean meets the horizon in endless blues.

This course moves at a gentler rhythm. Its charm lies not in dramatic elevation or famous names but in the sensory experience: the salt air, the morning light through the pines, and the quiet solitude that allows a player to feel both present and reflective.

Click here to visit Pacific Grove Golf Links.

8. Laguna Seca Golf Ranch – Open Landscapes, Bold Lines

Laguna Seca is where the Peninsula’s inland topography comes alive. The Robert Trent Jones Sr. & Jr. design emphasizes expansive fairways, undulating greens, and strategic risk-reward challenges.

Here, the wind and light work in tandem with design, creating rounds that are dynamic and memorable. It’s the course that invites experimentation and thoughtful play, offering a fresh perspective on the region beyond its cliffside courses.

Click here to visit Laguna Seca Golf Ranch.

9. Monterey Pines Golf Course – Precision and Calm

Monterey Pines rewards accuracy over power. Its par-70 layout encourages strategic play, challenging golfers to engage with contours, slopes, and subtle breaks.

Far from the oceanfront drama, this course thrives on quiet intelligence — a reminder that the Monterey Peninsula offers experiences as varied as its landscape. For locals and frequent players, Monterey Pines is a trusted companion, a course that grows richer with familiarity.

10. Santa Lucia Preserve Golf Club – Wild Luxury

Santa Lucia Preserve sits above Carmel, a semi-private enclave where terrain, design, and stewardship intersect. Tom Fazio’s layout moves with the hills, respecting rock outcroppings, ridgelines, and natural water features.

Walking these fairways feels like a journey through preserved wildness — luxury that is not imposed, but discovered. Membership here signals more than access; it embodies an understanding of place, rhythm, and lifestyle unique to the Peninsula.

Living the Monterey Golf Lifestyle

The top ten courses of Monterey County are more than playable spaces — they are living experiences, a reflection of the Peninsula’s rhythm, light, and luxury. From cliffside rounds to forested retreats, each course offers a lens into how life on the Monterey Peninsula unfolds: with elegance, intention, and reverence for the land.

For prospective residents or visitors, understanding these courses is also understanding the lifestyle: the interplay of geography, climate, and community that defines the Peninsula. When you play, you’re not just navigating fairways; you are moving through the very essence of Monterey living.

At The Ruiz Group, we know these places intimately — because we understand that real estate here is inseparable from the experiences that make life extraordinary. Whether it’s a round at Pebble Beach, a sunrise at Poppy Hills, or a quiet afternoon at Santa Lucia Preserve, the region’s golf courses offer both inspiration and insight into the lifestyle our clients pursue.