GOLF Monterey Pines Golf Course Public/Military Located next to the Monterey County’s fairgrounds, Monterey Pines features wide fairways, a sprinkling of trees, small lakes and very affordable greens fees. Manageable par-4s and unique par-3s provide scoring opportunities for skilled players and comfortable space for beginners to get swinging. Locals refer to this unique public course managed by the Navy (military discounts) simply as “The Pines.” 5,556 yards, par 69. Driving range. Restaurant. 350 Fairground Road at Garden Road, Monterey. (831) 656-2167, montereypeninsulagolf.com PACIFIC GROVE Pacific Grove Golf Links Public Local golf patriarch Sam Morse sold this spectacular piece of real estate for close to nothing, strongly suggesting someone develop a golf course on it. Pacific Grove followed Morse’s advice, and the result is a beautiful public course—the “Poor Man’s Pebble Beach”—and the best bargain on the Peninsula. The front nine weaves its way through cypress trees and the back nine is similar to a Scottish links course, playing like two completely different courses for the low price of one. 5,727 yards. Restaurant, driving range. 77 Asilomar Blvd., Pacific Grove. (831) 648-5775, playpacificgrove.com PEBBLE BEACH Links at Spanish Bay Public Note: Links at Spanish Bay will close for renovation after play on March 17, 2026. Nestled among impressive sand dunes near Asilomar State Beach, the Links are patterned after an authentic Scottish course, requiring a low punch shot to counter the high winds. A bagpiper finishes the day with a tune to follow Scottish tradition. 6,754 yards that are strategically challenging. It ranks 48th on Golf Digest’s list of the top 100 public courses. Restaurants and bar. 2700 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach. (800) 877-0597, pebblebeach. com Pebble Beach Golf Links Public This legendary golf course is among the most scenic and demanding in the world, and is ranked the best public course in the U.S. by Golf Digest. Pebble Beach is expensive, and it plays slow because every golfer seems to look over every shot twice, but it’s well worth the time and money. Site of 1972, ’82, ’92, 2000, 2010 and 2019 U.S. Opens, as well as the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open, and home to names like Nicklaus and Woods. Three of the sport’s greatest shots in its long history took place here: Nicklaus’ 1-iron, Watson’s impossible chip, Spieth’s cliffhanger. The greens are like postage stamps, even from chipping distance—and they can play fast. Much of the figure-8 design exposes shots to wind on days when the Pacific acts up. This is why golf is both fun and frustrating. 6,828 yards. Designed by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant. Restaurants and bars, driving range. 1700 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach. (800) 877-0597, pebblebeach.com Poppy Hills Golf Course Public Located in the heart of the Del Monte Forest, Poppy Hills is another of Pebble Beach’s championship courses that will challenge even the best. Golf Digest ranks it as 87th on its list of the Top 100 American courses open to the public. Poppy Hills held the 2018 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. It places a premium on accuracy, with a design that also minimizes environmental impacts. But it’s also a beauti48 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® 2025-2026 Reservations up to 60 days IN ADVANCE. RECOGNIZED BY GOLF DIGEST AS ONE OF THE “BEST DEALS IN GOLF” RANKED BY GOLF MAGAZINE AS ONE OF THE “ NATION’S TOP 50 GOLF COURSES UNDER $50” 77 Asilomar Blvd. • Pacific Grove • 831.648.5775 • www.playpacificgrove.com • PMN ’11-’20 ’22-’24 Best Public Golf Course PG-Links_1-2h_VG25_dg.indd 1 6/4/25 2:19 PM
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