With this course just recently being added to the GK database, I decided to check it out on my trip to the Monterey area this week. I didn't know much about the course going in, but was pleasantly sur... Continue »

With this course just recently being added to the GK database, I decided to check it out on my trip to the Monterey area this week. I didn't know much about the course going in, but was pleasantly surprised with what I encountered there.

Condition-wise, the course was in excellent shape. The greens were some of the nicest I ever played. Receptive on approaches and perfectly smooth on putts. Quick speeds and absolutely perfect putting surfaces. The greens here don't feature much undulation (with the exception of a few like on hole 17) and what you see is what you get in terms of breaks. Extremely nice. The fairways and rough were also in excellent condition. Green, lush and nice to hit from. Bunkers filled with nice soft/heavy sand. Tee boxes level and consistent. No complaints at all in terms of the conditioning right now.

Quail Lodge is not the most challenging course you will play, but it does have enough challenge to keep you working. Trees, ponds, well-placed fairway bunkers and plenty of OB as it winds through a residential area. Overall, the terrain is very flat with one small elevated section that encompasses the 4th green and 5th tee (great downhill par-3). A canyon wall borders the edge of a number of holes and creates a nice secluded setting, especially on holes 10 through 12. Otherwise, homes and the lodge surround many of the holes. The Carmel River runs through the back nine and the property is covered with a large variety of trees to create a very pretty setting. The course was designed by Robert Muir Graves, was opened in 1964 and is apparently his first 18-hole design.

My only minor complaint with the layout is that on some of the holes, the houses and residential streets come very easily in play. You don't have to hit your ball far off course to get into trouble or potentially cause property damage. For obvious aesthetic reasons, they don't have fences and stuff up for protection, so it is what it is.

Quail Lodge has excellent practice facilities with a grass range (balls included), nice chipping green, a big putting green and even a small little warm-up green right next to the first tee box. Both practice greens ran true to what you get on the course.

The service was great and the staff really made us feel welcome. The course is semi-private, meaning they reserve certain times only for members and lodge guests, but there are plenty of public tee times available. They are working on a major renovation of the lodge right now, so that is set to reopen in April 2013. The clubhouse is very nice and we poked our heads in the member's locker room (where Clint Eastwood's honorary member locker sits right in front).

Very nice course with reasonable rates for the area it's located and the quality of service you get. I wouldn't put it ahead of any of the Pebble courses on your bucket list, but it's a worthy option if planning a trip to the Monterey Peninsula. Pictures coming up soon.

Quail Lodge Golf Club Review
Northern California Golf Course Reviews