If you want to spend a delightful relaxed 4 hours and end up raving at the end over the value you just experienced, put this course at the top of your list. Front nine feels like you just went back i... Continue »

If you want to spend a delightful relaxed 4 hours and end up raving at the end over the value you just experienced, put this course at the top of your list. Front nine feels like you just went back in time and are playing in the 1930's. Ancient trees and old style layout are are good for the soul. Back nine . . . a links experience in every way that will make you feel like part of the history of golf. On this course one can hear echoes of the good old days and with the ocean playing in the background and deer wandering past you, you might forget about the rest of the world and smile a lot!

Pacific Grove is one of those rare municipal courses that people can rave on and on about and not feel like they are misplacing their praise. Despite the fact that it tips out under 6000 yards and to... Continue »

Pacific Grove is one of those rare municipal courses that people can rave on and on about and not feel like they are misplacing their praise. Despite the fact that it tips out under 6000 yards and to a quirkily-routed par of 70, holes 11-17 are worth twice the price of admission.

The front nine is a fairly boring and nondescript parkland layout that starts with a 6 hole stretch that goes par 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5. Interestingly (and not surprisingly once you have played the course) the front nine and back nine were designed by separate architects in separate decades. This is not to say the holes on the front nine are poor, but they by no means prepare you for the incredible back nine.

The 10th hole is a baby of a par 3, but it's just a means to get you to the 11th tee, where you first get to see what lies ahead.

Holes 12-17 criss cross the low-lying land almost down to the rocky shoreline, and the views here are priceless. If you're lucky enough to be playing on a clear day like I was, make sure you have plenty of room in your camera.

Tourists drive by, walkers stop for pictures, 3 and 4 point bucks lounge in the sand dunes between holes not the least bit worried about a stray teeball, and sea birds soar overhead, all on coastal land watched over carefully by the Point Pinos Lighthouse (which the back nine encircles)

One thing to note about Pacific Grove is that with Kikuyu grass everywhere, roll is minimal. Thus, it actually plays a bit longer than its stated yardage.

Furthermore, the greens need to be mentioned. Expecting a typical set of spongy municipal greens, I was shocked to see a playing partner of mine roll his first putt about 10 feet by. On this day, these greens were QUICK. They putted true and fast (even by some daily-fee standards, not just municipal standards)

Usually, if I can find a course that regularly has decent greens, I'm happy. If you can give me a course with absolutely priceless views and decent greens, all for the max green fee of $38.00 on a Saturday, I'd tell you that I wish I could move to Pacific Grove right now.

It's really that good, and holes 11-17 allow you to easily overlook the ordinary front nine and the letdown closing hole. You'll be too busy telling people about and showing pictures of 12-17 to remember the other stuff.

My brother and I were on an extended vacation tooling up and down the coast. We pulled in to Pacific Grove around 3 p.m. and decided to give it a try. The staff was great and the weather cooperate... Continue »

My brother and I were on an extended vacation tooling up and down the coast. We pulled in to Pacific Grove around 3 p.m. and decided to give it a try. The staff was great and the weather cooperated - no wind on the back nine, which is unbelievable since you're right next to Monterey. Front nine was enjoyable with all the pines and deer, and on the back nine, with the dunes, the lighthouse and the Pacific Ocean, you feel like you're playing Pebble Beach for a fraction of the cost. For the higher caliber player this course might not offer a lot (it's only about 5700 yards), but it's a picturesque, enjoyable day on a course that won't kick you in the teeth or pick your pocket.

We play out here all the time when we come to our other home.
The font nine is OK, much like city courses in a lot of places.
Whole course is easy to walk.
The back nine is pretty cool.
You have a... Continue »

We play out here all the time when we come to our other home.
The font nine is OK, much like city courses in a lot of places.
Whole course is easy to walk.
The back nine is pretty cool.
You have an in your face Ocean view the whole nine.
You can use the deer that are laying in the middle of the fairway as targets!
Virtually no trees of any sort on the back nine.
Just bent over little guys.
The first few holes are one giant sand trap along the edges.
Several are fairly ordinary, except for the great views everytime you look up.
Can be windy, so tee it low.
Located just a few miles above Pebble Beach and Spyglass.
Really good day out for the money.
I usually play with my 14 year old son, and it's only $15 for him, $32 for me.
It can be popular and plays slow.
I recomend it to anyone in the Monterey area for a couple days.
You can easily drive down from San Jose for the day and back.