Best golf courses: Monterey / Carmel

Monterey / Carmel: the table below provides brief details about the top golf courses in this country or region. Each golf club has been visited and/or researched by Where2Golf. Click on the course name below to discover more. The course ratings below range from 5 highest, to 2 lowest. They attempt to provide an indication of the golfing experience you might expect at the course (based on its design, condition and surroundings). Hover your cursor above the Rating Key for the rating definitions.
4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Jones II, Robert Trent

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Designer

Robert Trent Jones Jr, with Tom Watson & Frank "Sandy" Tatum.

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Carmel-by-the-Sea
McClure, Bob

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Designer

Originally designed by General Bob McClure. Significantly upgraded, re-routed and re-bunkered by Gene Bates (2008/09).

5-PLUS: In the world’s elite - has few peers; one of our top-rated 5s!
Visitors welcome
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Neville & Grant

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Designer

Original design by Jack Neville & Douglas Grant (1919), with later improvements by Herbert Fowler (1920), H. Chandler Egan (1928), Jack Nicklaus (1998) and Arnold Palmer & Thad Layton (2007-16).

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Carnes, Edwin

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Designer

Original design by US Army General Edwin Carnes. Significantly upgraded, re-routed and re-bunkered by Gene Bates (2008/09).

Private: A course for members and their invited guests only.
Private club
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Raynor, Baldock, Stranz et al

Visitors?

Private club

Nearest city

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Designer

DUNES course: original design by Charles Blair Macdonald & Seth Raynor (1925); modifications by Rees Jones (1998), and Tom Fazio, Tim Jackson & David Khan (2015). SHORE course: Robert (Bob) Baldock & Jack Neville (1961); redesigned by Mike Stranz (2004).

Private: A course for members and their invited guests only.
Private club
Carmel-by-the-Sea
MacKenzie, Dr Alister

Visitors?

Private club

Nearest city

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Designer

Dr Alister MacKenzie & Robert Hunter

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
Visitors welcome
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Jones Sr, Robert Trent

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Designer

Robert Trent Jones Sr. The first six holes inspired by Pine Valley, the rest by Augusta National was how RTJ once described Spyglass Hill. Modifications by Tom Fazio (1996).

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Egan & Neville

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Designer

Front-nine originally designed by Chandler Egan (1932). Back-nine designed by Jack Neville (original designer of the Pebble Beach Golf Links).

Private: A course for members and their invited guests only.
Private club
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Fazio, Poellot & Tatum

Visitors?

Private club

Nearest city

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Designer

Tom Fazio, J. Michael Poellot & Sandy Tatum

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Dye, Pete

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Designer

Original design by Pete Dye. Later renovation designed by Gene Bates (2006).

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Maud, Charles

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Designer

Charles Maud (a golf and polo enthusiast).
4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Jones II, Robert Trent

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Designer

Original design by Robert Trent Jones Jr; renovated by RTJ Jr & Bruce Charlton (2013).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Graves, Robert Muir

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Designer

Robert Muir Graves

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Tournaments

Chevron Championship: the first women’s major championship of 2023 is played for the first time in Texas, having been uprooted from its home of 51 years at the Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage, California.

Italian Open: the 80th playing of this prestigious European event will see many 2023 Ryder Cup hopefuls build their “local knowledge” of the Marco Simone course in Rome. (May 4-7). Ryder Cup (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Who's Who

Jon Rahm: dedicated his emphatic Masters Tournament win to the late Seve Ballesteros. “Rahmbo’s” victory came on the day his fellow countryman and golfing inspiration would have turned 66 years of age.

Steve Stricker: four-time senior major championship winner, chases a fifth title as he defends at the 34th Regions Tradition (May 11-14), the first senior major of 2023.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Costa Cruise & Golf

Costa’s "Cruise & Golf" allows golfers and their families to combine a unique golfing experience with the relaxation and fun of a cruise on board Costa Smeralda. Golf enthusiasts are offered a choice from 23 top-quality golf clubs; their chosen courses are played during the ship’s port calls in Italy, France and Spain. While the golfers are driving the fairways, accompanying non-golfers are able to enjoy the amenities and activities on-board, or explore wonderful places on day excursions organised by Costa. Read more ...

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