44 The Best of Monterey Bay ® 2023-2024 CARMEL VALLEY Carmel Valley Ranch Semi-Private This renovated course meanders along the Carmel River and climbs through forested elevations, offering stunning panoramas, fogfree weather and glimpses of local wildlife. Carts required (you’ll see why). 6,117 yards. Designed by Pete Dye. Open to members of any private club. Full-service restaurants (outdoor and indoor seating), driving range. 1 Old Ranch Road, Carmel. (831) 620-6406, carmelvalleyranch.com Quail Lodge & Golf Club Semi-Private This course wanders along the lush banks of the Carmel River, where fast greens, blue-sky summer days, sunny meadows and numerous lakes combine to create an alluring golf setting. The course isn’t as difficult as some others in the region, but watch out for the water hazards. 6,500 yards. Original design by Robert Muir Graves. Updated design by Todd Eckenrode. Full-service restaurant and bar (outdoor and indoor seating), driving range. 8205 Valley Greens Drive, Carmel Valley. (831) 620-8808, quaillodge.com MONTEREY Del Monte Golf Course Public The Monterey Peninsula is home to a rich golfing tradition, and this is where it all started back in 1897. And thanks to thrifty dusk and member rates, you don’t have to be rich to play. Old Del Monte may also have been the first in the world to feature green fairways year-round and is also the oldest running golf course west of the Mississippi. A pretty course, and more forgiving than most, it is the cheapest of the Pebble Beach Resorts courses. 6,365 yards. Designed by Charles Maud. Restaurant and bar (outdoor and limited indoor seating). 1300 Sylvan Road, Monterey. (831) 373-2700, pebblebeach.com Laguna Seca Golf Ranch Public A challenging course and a locals’ favorite noted for its majestic oaks, numerous bunkers, elevation changes and elevated tees. Its warm inland microclimate inspires locals to call it “the sunshine course.” Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Sr. teamed up to design Laguna Seca and—unfortunately for hackers—a tough 15th hole featuring two water hazards that demand a technical drive and a couple of long irons just to hit the dance floor. 6,226 yards, par-71. Restaurant, snack bar. Natural grass practice range. 10520 York Road, off Highway 68, Monterey. (831) 373-3701, lagunasecagolf.com Monterey Pines Golf Course Public Located next to the Monterey County Fairgrounds, the remodeled Monterey Pines features wide fairways, a sprinkling of trees, four small lakes and very affordable greens fees. Manageable par-4s and unique par3s provide scoring opps for skilled players and comfortable space for beginners to Pebble Beach. There could be nothing more to say. When you play the iconic Pebble Beach Golf Links you are in the shadow of Palmer, Nicklaus, Woods, Watson, Bing Crosby and Babe Didrikson Zaharias. But there’s much more storied golf in Monterey County. The Del Monte Golf Course in Monterey is the oldest continuously operated course west of the Mississippi. Spyglass Hill in Pebble Beach vexes even the top tour professionals. The PGA puts wouldbe tour pros through the wringer at Bayonet in Seaside to qualify for their card. Even fun spots like The Hay—a par-3 in Pebble Beach designed by Tiger Woods—can be challenging. There are some friendlier locations across the county, too. And we do not list, on these pages, the exclusive private clubs—many of which are also on golfer bucket lists. However, whether they are laden with double bogeys or reachable for the average player, many of the county’s courses share one trait. The views can be breathtaking. For all these reasons, this area has been a golf destination for well over a century. GOLF Monterey Pines Golf Course
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