Our search for the best golf courses you can actually play moves from one end of the country (Florida) to the other.
California is home to near perfect weather and some of the most scenic golf you’ll find anywhere in the country. While some of it, the Monterrey Peninsula (home to 3 of the courses on this list) for example, can be pricey, that’s more than offset by a little muni just outside San Diego, and our #4 ranked course where greens fees start at under $50.
To build our list of the Most Wanted Golf Courses in California we used our #Datacratic process and stats from our partners at the TheGrint, a golf handicap and stat tracking service, whose extensive database contains more than 120,000 golf course reviews submitted by average golfers like you.
Here are the 10 Most Wanted Golf Courses in California.
#1 Pebble Beach Golf Links
“There are few golf thrills like teeing-up for the first time on Pebble Beach Golf Links. You sense the presence of golf’s biggest legends. You anticipate each and every storied hole while recounting some of the greatest moments in golf history.”
#2 Spyglass Hill Golf Course
“Opened in 1966, Spyglass Hill Golf Course features two distinctly different kinds of terrain that influence the way the holes look and play. The first five holes roll through sandy seaside dunes challenging you to carefully pick the safest path. The following 13 holes are cut through majestic pines with elevated greens and strategically placed bunkers and lakes to grab the errant shot. Hole names such as “Black Dog” and “Billy Bones” are hints for the unwary.”
#3 Aviara Golf Club
“The Aviara Golf Club overlooks the Batiquitos Lagoon nature preserve in beautiful Carlsbad, California. The only coastal California course designed by Arnold Palmer, Aviara Golf Club features a memorable layout: par 72 over 18 holes and 7,007 yards uniquely sculpted around rolling hillsides, native wildflowers, and plenty of bunker and water challenges.”
#4 Goose Creek Golf Course
“Nestled into the Hidden Valley Wildlife Area and meandering along the Santa Ana River, this beautifully manicured course is a golfer’s golf course. The greens are fast with a great layout and conditions that offer a challenging par 71 course along a demanding 6,556 yards. The Schmidt/Curely designed course will sufficiently challenge the experienced golfer while still allowing the novice golfer to enjoy oneself.”
#5 Oak Quarry Golf Club
“Oak Quarry is a thrilling, 18-hole, 72-par championship course, masterfully designed by Dr. Gil Morgan/Schmidt Curley Designs. The CGCOA’s 2011 Course of the Year winds through the picturesque jagged terrain of the historical Jensen Quarry. Since opening in 2000, this unparalleled course has received many awards including ‘Best Course Inland Southern California’, ‘Hole #14 rated Best Par 3 in Southern California’ and ‘Hole #4 Prettiest Par 4.'”
#6 The Links at Spanish Bay
“Links is an old Scottish word for sandy wasteland, usually near the sea, with bristly grasses and ever prevailing wind. The Links at Spanish Bay are so authentic that even the Monterey coastline mirrors the rugged, natural beauty of Scotland.”
#7 Pelican Hill Golf Club (Ocean North)
“Panoramic ocean views from every tee box are just the beginning. Open canyons and elevated plateaus dot the landscape, and at nearly 7,000 yards from the tips, your full attention is required. Several holes weave their way right down to the cliff’s edge, but great shots here require more than just a great camera. Lose your focus, and you might just lose the hole.”
#8 Torrey Pines Golf Course (South)
“Torrey Pines is a municipal course, owned and maintained by the City of San Diego. In 2001, celebrated golf course designer Rees Jones was given the task of remodeling the South Course, an endeavor that has been met with almost universal acclaim. Now an impressive 7,607 yards in length, the Torrey Pines South Course has been selected to host the 2008 United States Open Championship.”
#9 Half Moon Bay Golf Links (Ocean)
“From the firm and fast links style of the Ocean Course to the American traditional parkland style of the Old Course, with iconic cypress trees, dogleg fairways and distinguishing edges all leading to the most photographed final hole in golf – golfers are guaranteed a landscape that provides inspiration every time. Ideal playing conditions, salty breezes and enchanting coastal terrain put these two 18-hole championship Half Moon Bay golf courses on a par with Scotland’s greatest.”
#10 PGA West (TPC Stadium)
“A Pete Dye golf course, TPC Stadium delivers multiple adrenaline rushes throughout the round. Host to PGA TOUR “Q-School” Finals every other year, PGA TOUR hopefuls must navigate the island green of hole #17, known as Alcatraz, as well as the menacing water-lined 18th. Imagine needing to make par-par on two of the toughest finishing holes in golf to earn the coveted PGA TOUR card!”
California’s 10 Most Wanted
flaglfr
5 years agoI agree with the two post below. Pasatiempo is one of the most incredible courses in Cali. Where else in the state has Bobby Jones played? What other courses have ben designed by the same guy who did Augusta National? It isn’t as pretty with the current water restrictions, but it is still one hell of a course.
Chad
5 years agoNo Pasatiempo?
vegasgolfandsneakers
5 years agoTHIS. Pasatiempo is an incredible track. I like it much more than Pebble, if I’m being honest. Some of the best green complexes I’ve ever seen.
dwc
5 years agoI just played Pasatiempo yesterday and it is in excellent shape. I would say the fairways were perhaps a little overwatered if anything as I had two huge drives stuck in their own divot mark. I think the course is getting a bad rap on the water restrictions. True, the have let the first 50-75 yards of each shot go brown, but who hits it there?
Brian Reel
5 years ago1,3,4,5,6 and 10
David Thurber
5 years agoSeviallno Golf Links is a great track and worth the trip. Staff is more friendly than Yocha De He. Coyote Moon is a gem as well.
Derek Dehdashtian
5 years agoI’ve played all 10. Good List.
Joe Grohman
5 years agoNavy golf course Seal Beach should be on that list.
Brad
5 years agoHow did goose and oak make the list? There are 100’s better and actually 10 better just in the area.
Mike
5 years agoName one.
Vincent s.
5 years agoIndustry hills golf club both Ike and Babe course…
TomG
5 years agoI have also played Torrey Pines South, PGA West, Pelican Hills, all of which have their strengths and should be included.
Jim
5 years agoI’ve played Aviara, Pelican Hill, Torrey Pines South and PGA West TPC Stadium courses. In my humble opinion, Pasatiempo was far superior to any of the four I’ve played on this list. Second, PGA West Stadium may only charge $80, but only during the summer months with temperatures, on average, between 95 and 112 (which may also send you to the hospital with heat stroke, which cost me another $500 trying to play 36).
Ben
5 years agoIt is a good list. I like that there are courses I have never heard of. Oak Quarry and Goose Creek look like good tracts and not super expensive. It would be cool to have a list of the best courses in California categorized in price range. Then you can easily see what courses you want to play based on the price. In California, there is so many golf courses scattered all over the state that are not well known, but are superb tracks.
Mike Contreras
5 years agoDang it! Don’t list Goose. Means it will get crowded.
TomG
5 years agoI played Cypress, Peeble, Spanish Bay, Spy Glass, and Pasatiempo in one visit. I would rate them: Cypress, Pasa, Peeble, Spy and Spanish Bay. Spanish Bay would not make my top 200.
vegasgolfandsneakers
5 years agoSpanish is not a good or enjoyable golf course. Though I think Spy is a better golf course than Pebble!
Drew Farron
5 years agoBoys you couldn’t be any further off ..,..your first big bogey
George
5 years agoProud to say I’ve played 5 of them.
Torrey Pines
PGA West
Oak Quarry
Spyglass
Pelican North (before the remodel)
All of them are really great courses. Honorable mention Rustic Canyon.
Brian Robin
5 years agoPlayed No’s 1, 3, 4, 5 and 10. I’d agree that Rustic Canyon should be there in place of Goose Creek. Haven’t played Pasatiwmpo, but I’d put it there as well
COGolfer
5 years agoUp next, most wanted courses in Colorado. Stay tuned…
Chad
5 years agoA little known public course in Colorado called Highland Meadows should make your list. #5 best new course by Golf Digest when it opened 11 years ago. Great track!!
Tom
5 years agoThis list should be divided between Northern California and Southern California.
Northern California only-
1. Spyglass Hill
2. Pebble Beach
3. Coyote Moon
4. Bayonet
5. Spanish Bay
6. Yocha-De-He
7. Pasatiempo
8. Edgewood
9. BlackHorse
10. Half Moon Bay Ocean
Honorable Mention: Darkhorse, San Juan Oaks, Apple Mountain, Poppy Hills
vegasgolfandsneakers
5 years agoCouldn’t disagree less with your list. Edgewood is in Nevada. Coyote Moon isn’t in the same stratosphere as Pasatiempo. Pasa is Top 4 track in all of California public golf. Spanish Bay is getting 4 a side from Pasa.
Tom
5 years agoDid you mean you couldn’t disagree more? : -)
Good point about Edgewood. I just think of it as being in California since it’s a driver/5 iron from state line.
Take out Edgewood and put in DarkHorse.
PLAY GREAT GOLF
5 years agoCool !info :p
Monster
5 years agoGoose and Oak are amazing courses and on top of that they are very well priced vs Pelican and Torrey Pines. I would say thought that Oak Quarry is more of an experience than Goose.
BirdieBeggar
5 years agoDidn’t like Torrey Pines South very much and PGA West wasn’t great either. There are much better courses that deserve to be on the list like Pasatiempo or Sandpiper.
Gene Kim
5 years agoI think Pasatiempo, Rustic Canyon, TPC Harding Park, Cordevalle, & Yocha De He are better options than a few of the listed courses IMO
Ty
5 years agoDid Pasatiempo come close to your top 10 ranking? I played 36 there a few weeks back and it was absolutely stunning how good that course is. #12 tee box was the downside as it was under construction (drilling a water well). Otherwise I would not balk at paying the green fee again.
Aaron M
5 years ago+1 on Pasatiempo. Alister Mackenzie design and great setup. I thought it was a lot more fun than Spyglass, which I’d never play again.
vegasgolfandsneakers
5 years agoInteresting. I agree with you about Pasa. But I’ve never heard anyone say anything bad about Spy.
Chal
5 years agoI had the pleasure of doing a Pebble trip last year and played Pebble, Spyglass and Spanish. We flew into San Fran and played that day as well. Happened to pick Half Moon Bay as the course we played. I enjoyed all 4 very much. Half Moon Bay wasn’t that expensive to play. We got a discounted rate and it was $70 to play. Great trip.
Richard Valdez
5 years agoI have only played Oak Quarry on that list. Great course with some very intimidating shots.
Marty
5 years agoPlayed them all. The fact that Oak Quarry made the list makes me question how you got your ratings. Other than the 14th hole nothing really stands out as spectacular, and the driveable par 4 first hole means getting started is a nightmare. There is a much better course just up the freeway with Oak in it’s name. Oak Valley is an infinitely better course and it’s in the same price range if that was used as a ratings statistic.
Tom54
5 years agoAgreed, Marty. I’ve only played Aviara, Goose, Oak, and TPC. Oak Quarry is fun, but #5? I didn’t think Aviara was anything spectacular either. I only played it because a friend worked for the resort and got us on for $75. I’ve never played Oak Valley but I’ve played the Morongo courses across the freeway many times.
I’m really surprised Pasatiempo isn’t on the list. Now that’s a course. And I’ll throw in my home course, Rustic Canyon. A way better value than nearly all the courses on here.
Marty
5 years agoAgree with both, especially Rustic Canyon! That place is the best bang for your buck course in California. Yeah, this list is weak, there are a ton of great courses north of San Fransisco, too.
Vincent s.
5 years agoAgreed… Oak Quarry and Goose have a strong local following but they are nothing special (outside of no.14 at oak and the daily manicured conditions at goose). They may have value (price and quality) but by no means should they make the top 10 in California.. Regardless i will assume the folks at golfspy heavily factored in value (price you pay vs. what you get)… Both quarry and goose are under 50.00 on weekdays…
Ryan Heiman
5 years agoPlayed a few of those. Tim Halberg surprised Pasatiempo didn’t make the list?
Tim Halberg
5 years agoRyan Heiman yeah, my list would vary by about 50% from this list. But… I like that this list pulls up several “under rated” courses that are worth exploring – sadly they are all in So Cal – I’d say there are several that are better in nor cal, but… realistically we just need two states!
Springbok
5 years agoSince the article did not provide pricing, here it is
Pebble Beach – $495
Spyglass Hill – $405
Aviara – $230 ($250 weekends)
Goose Creek – $53 ($78 weekends)
Oak Quarry – $65 ($95 weekends)
Links at Spanish Bay – $265
Pelican Hill – $315
Torrey Pines South – $246 ($292 weekends)
Half Moon Bay – $130 ($190 weekends)
PGA West TPC Stadium – $80
PS Torrey South is a ripoff. As someone who has played this course 50+ times (as a resident), I would NEVER pay those fees. The kicker… does not include cart. LOLOLOLOL!!!!
Tom54
5 years agoWell, this certainly wasn’t the “Top 10 Values in California” list. Don’t forget the $43 booking fee that non-San Diego residents have to pay to play Torrey. And I’m guessing the Stadium rate of $80 is the summer rate.
Springbok
5 years agoThe sad part is…. you can’t play any of those course for under $125
mygolfspy
5 years agoAs mentioned in the intro:
“The #4 ranked course where greens fees start at under $50.”
Bob Pegram
5 years agoBayonet and Black Horse in Seaside (near Monterey) are well under $100 on weekdays. Don’t know what weekend rates are.
Stephen Zinger
5 years agoTorrey. With Ryan Heiman & Tony Starks Great round with great guys.
Tony Starks
5 years agoI’ve got 3/10 – need to step up my game!
Tim Halberg
5 years agowell, guess I’m not inviting Stephen Zinger for my next big trip! 😉
PLAY GREAT GOLF
5 years ago+1 Awesome comment thanks so much :