Cypress Point Club

Cypress Point Club: This legendary private club is home to one of the world's finest and most exclusive oceanside golf courses. The keen eye and prodigious design skills of Dr Alister Mackenzie ensured this fabulous rocky headland on the Monterey Peninsula was endowed with 18 wonderfully crafted and challenging golf holes. Few golfers get the opportunity to play this most iconic of oceanside courses. If the chance should ever come your way, grab it with both hands!

Whether playing on the rocky seashore, or in the sand dunes and marine forest that lie behind, Cypress Point retains all the naturalness and unique character of its revered coastal location. From the opening par-4, which demands a tee-shot over 17-Mile Drive, you head into an open expanse of coastal duneland, where the first 14 holes reside. The tree-lined par-4 4th and par-5 5th briefly play through a forest of Monterey pines, but quickly bring you back out to the duneland, with its mix of gently rolling and flatter holes. Here you'll find a dazzling and intimidating collection of fairway and greenside bunkers. Mackenzie inspired bunkering at its best.

The climax to the round comes as you again cross 17-Mile Drive and head onto the rocky promontory (Cypress Point). The layout's unforgettable closing four-hole stretch contains three exquisite oceanside holes. The par-3 15th is played across a small inlet from the ocean to one of the most heavily bunker defended greens you'll ever encounter. The long par-3 16th demands an even bigger ocean-crossing. Only the bunker surrounded green (and 17th tee) sit out on the small and stunningly scenic headland at which you take aim.

Standing on the 17th tee is akin to standing in the ocean itself. The waves swirl around the rocks, as you prepare for your last tee shot over the water. Bite off as much of the ocean as you dare, but don't stay right for too long.