Half Moon Bay Golf Trip Planning Guide
Half Moon Bay is the easiest big-time coastal golf trip in California — two clifftop courses at the Ritz-Carlton, fog-and-sun NorCal weather, and a quaint Main Street of breweries and seafood, all a half-hour from San Francisco. The 18th at the Old Course finishes on the bluff over the Pacific.
Quick Facts
Spring, Summer, Fall
SFO (30 min drive)
$40–$295
$500/night
2 of 5
~$388/person
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Here's a realistic 3-day itinerary for a group golf trip to Half Moon Bay. Every venue below is real and pulled from our curated database — no filler.
Day 1
Half Moon Bay Golf Links (Old Course) — coastal, $180–$295 · 4.6★
Arnold Palmer/Francis Duane parkland layout that ends on a famous clifftop par-4 over the Pacific
Sam's Chowder House — seafood, $$$ · 4.5★
Oceanfront seafood with a famous lobster roll and a big deck — the group seafood dinner
Old Princeton Landing — dive · Open late
Harbor dive and live-music joint by Mavericks — locals, cold beer, and zero pretense
Day 2
Half Moon Bay Golf Links (Ocean Course) — links, $170–$280 · 4.6★
Arthur Hills Scottish-style links hugging the bluffs — wind, ocean, and views on every hole
Deep Sea Fishing / Whale Watch — half day, $80–$160/pp
Rockfish, salmon, and crab out of Pillar Point Harbor — charters handle full crews
Navio at the Ritz-Carlton — upscale, $$$$ · 4.5★
Resort fine dining with Pacific views — the splurge dinner on property
Half Moon Bay Brewing Co. Bar — brewpub
Harbor taproom with fire pits — the main group hang after golf
Day 3
Crystal Springs Golf Course — parkland, $70–$130 · 4.4★
Scenic course above the Crystal Springs Reservoir over the hill — tree-lined and quiet
Mavericks Coast Boat Tour — 2-3 hours, $60–$130/pp
Cruise past the legendary Mavericks big-wave break and the bluffs — scenic morning
Half Moon Bay Brewing Company — brewpub, $$ · 4.4★
Harbor brewpub with a fire-pit patio and live music — easy, group-friendly post-round
The Ritz Conservatory Lounge — cocktail · Open late
Clifftop resort lounge with ocean views and s'mores at the fire pits — sunset drinks
Course-by-Course Guide
Half Moon Bay has 5 courses worth playing. 2 are walkable if you want to save on cart fees.
Where to Stay
Half Moon Bay has 2 group-friendly lodging options in our database, starting at $500/night for the whole house. Several options include hot tubs — a non-negotiable for most groups.
$500–$1800 /night
Half Moon Bay, El Granada, or Montara — coastal homes minutes from the courses and Main Street
$500–$1100 /night
The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay — clifftop resort with both courses on property
Group Dining Guide
4 restaurants vetted for group golf trips. Several can handle large parties without a reservation headache.
Sam's Chowder House
$$$Oceanfront seafood with a famous lobster roll and a big deck — the group seafood dinner
Navio at the Ritz-Carlton
$$$$Resort fine dining with Pacific views — the splurge dinner on property
Half Moon Bay Brewing Company
$$Harbor brewpub with a fire-pit patio and live music — easy, group-friendly post-round
Pasta Moon
$$$Main Street Italian with handmade pasta — a reliable dinner for a crew
Nightlife
4 bars curated for groups. 3 stay open past midnight.
Old Princeton Landing
Late nightHarbor dive and live-music joint by Mavericks — locals, cold beer, and zero pretense
Half Moon Bay Brewing Co. Bar
Harbor taproom with fire pits — the main group hang after golf
The Ritz Conservatory Lounge
Late nightClifftop resort lounge with ocean views and s'mores at the fire pits — sunset drinks
Cameron's Pub
Late nightBritish pub with a double-decker bus out front and a beer garden — fun group stop
Activities Beyond Golf
4 off-course activities for rest days or afternoons.
Deep Sea Fishing / Whale Watch
Rockfish, salmon, and crab out of Pillar Point Harbor — charters handle full crews
Mavericks Coast Boat Tour
Cruise past the legendary Mavericks big-wave break and the bluffs — scenic morning
Coastal Horseback Ride
Beach horseback rides on the Half Moon Bay sand — a different rest-day move
Sur La Mer / Coastal Brewery Run
Hit the harbor breweries and Main Street taprooms on arrival day
Getting There
Fly into San Francisco International Airport (SFO) — it's a 30-minute drive to Half Moon Bay. For groups of 8+, consider booking a shuttle or party bus from the airport (local providers include Bay Area Limousine and Pure Luxury Transportation). Renting two SUVs usually works for groups of 4-8.