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Golf Trips / California / California

Plan Your Monterey Golf Trip in 60 Seconds

The bucket-list capital of American golf

The Monterey Peninsula is the holy land for a golf buddies trip. Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, and Spanish Bay sit on cliffs over the Pacific, with Cannery Row's bars and seafood five minutes away. Splurge once in your life — it's worth it.

6
courses
Spring, Summer, Fall
best season
MRY
10 min drive
10–50k
town size
The rota

Courses

Pebble Beach Golf LinksBucket List

The most famous public course on earth — finish on the cliffside 18th where the U.S. Open is decided

$675–$695
Par 72 · 6,972 yds
coastal · walkable
Spyglass Hill Golf CourseBucket ListTOP 100 PUBLIC

RTJ Sr. brute — the first five holes hug the dunes before plunging into the Del Monte Forest

$475–$525
Par 72 · 6,960 yds
coastal · walkable
The Links at Spanish BayBucket ListDESIGNER CLASSIC

True Scottish-style links by the sea — a bagpiper plays you off at sunset every night

$330–$370
Par 72 · 6,821 yds
links · walkable
Poppy Hills Golf CoursePremiumBEST VALUE

The only course owned by the NCGA — RTJ Jr. forest layout and the best value on the Peninsula

$195–$260
Par 71 · 6,833 yds
parkland · walkable
Bayonet & Black Horse (Bayonet)Premium

Former Army course on Fort Ord with tournament-tough conditioning and bay views

$130–$185
Par 72 · 7,104 yds
parkland
Pacific Grove Golf LinksSolidBEST VALUE

The 'Poor Man's Pebble' — a lighthouse and ocean dunes on the back nine for a fraction of the price

$55–$75
Par 70 · 5,727 yds
links · walkable
Base camp

Where to Stay

houseSleeps 1016

$700–$2,200 /night

Pebble Beach, Pacific Grove, or Carmel-by-the-Sea — forest and coast homes within minutes of the courses

ocean viewsfireplacefull kitchendeckshot tubnear courses
resort houseSleeps 816

$550–$1,100 /night

The Lodge at Pebble Beach or Inn at Spanish Bay — required for guaranteed Pebble tee times

on-site golfspamultiple restaurantsfitness centerfireplacestee-time priority
The table

Dining

Schooners Coastal Kitchen & Bar

$$$
seafood

Cannery Row patio over the bay — fresh local seafood and a long beer list at sunset

4.4

Montrio Bistro

$$$
upscale

Downtown Monterey institution in a 1910 firehouse — wood-grilled meats and a deep wine list

4.5

Abalonetti Bar & Grill

$$
seafood

Old Fisherman's Wharf calamari joint — casual, big tables, and the local catch fried fresh

4.4

Peter B's Brewpub

$$
brewpub

Monterey's original craft brewery with a dog-friendly patio — easy post-round burgers and pints

4.4
After the round

Nightlife

Cooper's Pub & Restaurant

Late night
sports bar

Cannery Row Irish pub with games on every screen and live music on weekends

Alvarado Street Brewery

brewpub

Award-winning downtown brewery — the best taproom on the Peninsula for a big group

Sly McFly's

Late night
dive

Live blues and rock seven nights a week on Cannery Row — no cover, strong pours

Crown & Anchor

Late night
patio

British pub with 20+ beers on tap and a heated courtyard a block from the water

Off days

Activities

Monterey Bay Whale Watching

boat rentalhalf day$60–$110/pp

Humpbacks, orcas, and dolphins year-round out of Fisherman's Wharf — a great hangover morning

17-Mile Drive

hiking2-3 hours$12–$15/pp

The scenic coastal loop past the Lone Cypress and every Pebble Beach course — fee waived if dining on-property

Carmel Valley Wine Tasting

wineryhalf day$40–$90/pp

Folktale and Holman Ranch pour big reds 20 minutes inland where the sun actually shines

Deep Sea Fishing Charter

fishinghalf day$110–$180/pp

Rockfish and lingcod in Monterey Bay — charters out of the wharf handle full crews

Ready when you are

Build the Monterey trip.

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Nearby

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