17 Beautiful Golf Courses To Play In California
If you’re looking to unwind with a round of golf, why not do it somewhere scenic? These 17 California courses are cradled by mountains or oceans, with manicured grounds, vibrant flowers, sparkling water features and native trees.
1. JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa
Hotel, Resort
2. Shandin Hills Golf Course
Sports Center, Park
Aviara Golf Club & Resort
This course is connected to the Park Hyatt Aviara, a AAA Five Diamond Resort that features manicured grounds, multiple dining options and incredible views of the Batiquitos Lagoon. The 18-hole, 7,007-yard course was designed by Arnold Palmer, and is the home of the LPGA Kia Classic. Packages, which include overnight lodging, golf, and spa treatments, are available. As an added bonus, Carlsbad’s perennially lovely weather allows golfers to enjoy this course year-round.
Aviara Golf Club & Resort, 7100 Aviara Resort Drive, Carlsbad, CA, USA, +1 760 448 1234
The Crossings
The Crossings is another great Carlsbad option. This 18-hole course was designed by landscape architect Greg Nash and features views of the Pacific Ocean. This course is suitable for all skill levels, thanks to multiple teeing options. The clubhouse contains a golf shop, as well as a restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, plus brunch on Sundays.
The Crossings at Carlsbad, 5800 The Crossings Dr, Carlsbad, CA, USA +1 760 444 1800
3. The Course at Wente Vineyards
Designed by Greg Norman, this NorCal course is suitable for players of varying skill levels. It cuts through the vineyards for a unique and pastoral view. There is also an on-site restaurant and tasting room.
The Course at Wente Vineyards, 5040 Arroyo Road, Livermore, CA, USA, +1 925 456 2477
4. Pasatiempo
Pasatiempo Golf Club is located in Santa Cruz County, and was designed by Alister MacKenzie. It’s been open since 1929, with the first group to play through including Marion Hollins, Bobby Jones, Glenna Collett and Cyril Tolley. It can be a challenging course for some, but is often named as one of the top courses by golfing enthusiasts and the setting is idyllic. This club is defined as semi-private, meaning the public is allowed to reserve select tee times, which can be done online.
Pasatiempo, 20 Clubhouse Road, Santa Cruz, CA, USA, +1 831 459 9169
5. Pebble Beach Golf Links
Golf Digest has named this course the number one in America since 2003. It has played host to numerous golfing events, and boasts some of the best ocean views around as it overlooks the Pacific Ocean and Carmel Bay. It’s not cheap to play, with rates for non-resort guests starting at $495 with cart fees, but it is beautiful.
Pebble Beach Golf Links, 1700 17 Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, CA, USA, +1 831 574 5609
6. Stadium Course at PGA West
Stadium
7. Sandpiper Golf Course
On the site of a former crude oil production facility, Sandpiper Golf Club is now a pretty, seaside course. You can continue to enjoy the ocean views at the course’s casual Sandpiper Grill, which serves breakfast and barbecue.
Sandpiper Golf Course, 7925 Hollister Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA, USA, +1 805 968 1541
8. Torrey Pines Golf Course
Torrey Pines Golf Course, located in La Jolla, is owned by the City of San Diego. There are two courses here, titled North and South, each consisting of 18 holes. The South course is the larger of the two at 7,698 yards, and was redesigned by Rees Jones. The North was redesigned by Tom Weiskopf. The course is located near Torrey Pines State Reserve, so named for the Torrey Pine tree, and golfers will enjoy scenic, cliffside ocean views.
Torrey Pines Golf Course, 11480 N Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, USA, +1 858 581 7171
9. Angeles National Golf Course
Sports Center
10. TPC Harding Park
Park
11. CordeValle Golf Club
CordeValle, located in San Martin, features a bucolic, 7,360-yard course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. The course features creeks and sycamore trees, as well as views of the Santa Cruz Mountains. It is invitation-only, so it might behoove you to make friends with a member.
CordeValle Golf Club, 1 Cordevalle Club Drive, San Martin, CA, USA, +1 408 695 4500
12. Indian Wells Golf Resort
Indian Wells Golf Resort features multiple courses. The Players Course opened in 2007, and was designed by John Fought. It features mountain views and lots of natural trees and foliage, and is the more challenging of the two 18-hole courses. The other, the Celebrity Course, opened in 2006 and boasts multiple water features throughout. There is also a free, nine-hole putting course on the property.
Indian Wells Golf Resort, 44-500 Indian Wells Lane, Indiana wells, CA, USA, +1 760 346 4653
13. Pelican Hill Golf Club
Sports Center, Park
14. Monarch Beach Golf Links
Park, Sports Center
Spyglass Hill
Spyglass Hill Golf Course is a challenging, 18-hole course located in Pebble Beach. It was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. in 1966, and each hole is named after characters or references found in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. Stevenson is believed to have used the area, long before the golf course existed, as inspiration for his novel.
Spyglass Hill Golf Course, 3206 Stevenson Drive, Pebble Beach, CA, USA, +1 831 574 5608
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