Played on Monday, June 16; first time in over 20 years. While some holes from the original layout have been re-routed, others were new to me due to the re-model which took place in 2000. Golf course... Continue »

Played on Monday, June 16; first time in over 20 years. While some holes from the original layout have been re-routed, others were new to me due to the re-model which took place in 2000. Golf course is fun to play, as it was back in the 1980s, but the facelift has increased the course length as well as the challenge factor.

Based on the yardage, it's a deceptive layout that demands length on some holes, accuracy off the tee on many, and precise ball-striking if you are going to take a run at a good score. Greens are undulated and getting on the wrong side of the hole can cost you. The only thing working in one's favor was that the green speed is medium, at best, which I found to be a bit disappointing. I rather putt on faster greens but getting them to roll at 10 or so could be nightmarish.

Excellent use of bunkering off the tees and around the greens, with the best sand I've seen in quite some time. Playing out of the typical less-than-desirable sand encountered at other courses simply doesn't compare to the luxurious feel of hitting out of crushed marble. Only drawback was the overspray from the early morning watering that resulted in a few wet lies in those traps that were affected and hadn't had a chance to dry out.

One issue I took exception to was the prevalence of "crowned" tee boxes. These are supposed to be teeing areas, not Donald Ross greens, and there were far too many in that particular condition to ignore. I'd like to see the maintenance staff address this problem and get them leveled out, which would further increase the reputation Monarch Beach enjoys as offering the best playing conditions in Orange County.

Greens were flawless, in spite of their slow speed, and nary a putt skipped off line. Well-struck shots stopped quickly as did low, spinning pitch shots. GPS system was top-notch and the yardage book, a bargain at only $3.00, also came in handy. As expected, the views from just about every hole were stunning, especially Holes 3 and 4, which abut the beach/coastline.

Pace of play was smooth; tee time was 10am and we were finished in the allotted 4 hours and 20 minutes. Service level was excellent, with a truly genuine feel, not overdone to the point of insincerity. From a personal view, I couldn't justify playing Monarch Beach for the full rack rate ($175 weekday; $225 weekend) so the '2-for-1' e-mail special received via Troon Golf was well worth it. The OC Trail Golf Card also offers a substantial discount that should be checked into.

If you're looking for a special treat and a great day of golf, Monarch Beach has all there is to offer: superb playing conditions, friendly, courteous service, a challenging and fun layout, and an idyllic location on the coast. Don't let the high green fees discourage you; sign up to receive Troon Golf's newsletter and take advantage of any specials that might become available.

A real pleasure to play - layout is fun and the customer service is fantastic.

A real pleasure to play - layout is fun and the customer service is fantastic.

course is in great shape. one of the nicest courses in southern california. it is worth the money for sure. the greens were hard but perfect speed. fairways were very nice. the nicest thing was the se... Continue »

course is in great shape. one of the nicest courses in southern california. it is worth the money for sure. the greens were hard but perfect speed. fairways were very nice. the nicest thing was the service. everyone was very helpful and nice. we must have seen the drink cart 4-5 times. i would try to play this course at least once every couple of months. i would recommend paying the money to get a caddy and walk the course. the only thing i wish they had was a driving range. so i could get out the kinks before i played. they have hitting nets, but it's just not the same.

This course is a treat. Reminds me of conditions at Pebble Beach and Spanish Bay in Monterey CA. Greens are what I heard called Tour hard. Very difficult to stick shots. Best strategy was to roll ... Continue »

This course is a treat. Reminds me of conditions at Pebble Beach and Spanish Bay in Monterey CA. Greens are what I heard called Tour hard. Very difficult to stick shots. Best strategy was to roll up but also difficult because of pin placement and undulating greens. Not difficult to read greens; they ran very very true. Course was immaculate. Tee Boxes were a little bowl shaped but not so bad as to cause concern. They were lush. Fairways were green, undulating but not unneccessarily unfair. Very obvious risk/reward shots. Sand and I saw my fair share were a little hard underneath but very easy to blast out.

Played Monarch Beach Golf Links for the first time today and thoroughly enjoyed the course and service. I found the playing conditions to be outstanding and the layout very interesting. We played from... Continue »

Played Monarch Beach Golf Links for the first time today and thoroughly enjoyed the course and service. I found the playing conditions to be outstanding and the layout very interesting. We played from the gold tees with picture perfect weather. I quickly learned the price for errant tee shots as well as inaccurate approach shots…not to mention being on the wrong side of the green. At Monarch Beach GL, you have got bring your thinking cap and trust your swing. There are many holes you simply must be able to lock into the target, ignore the forced carries and gorgeous scenery and execute your golf swing. Around the greens the short game test is tremendous with many bunkers to content with. Once on the greens, wow, distance control is essential because they are full of huge swells and big breaks. At 6000 yards from the gold tees at par 70, the course rating is 70.0 with a 132 slope so you can image the challenge it presents.

As for the service, probably some of the best I have ever received. Bag drop, starter, cart personal, on course assistance, on course food/drink service, post round service, valet car retrieval – they have it down. This place knows how to paper its guests.

Overall, I believe this is golf course suited perfectly to the golfer who wants the high end experience. It is pricy but worth it. I will be back.

Made the long trek down to South OC to play Monarch. Had a wonderful time. Played during the middle of the week. Almost no one on the course, but the service exceeded all expectations and experienc... Continue »

Made the long trek down to South OC to play Monarch. Had a wonderful time. Played during the middle of the week. Almost no one on the course, but the service exceeded all expectations and experiences. Wonderful course with enough challenge for the serious golfer, but enough room and accomodation for the leisure golfer. Others complain about the price and the short length, but most of those guys have vivid delusions of granduer.

Today, I used the OC Trail 50% certificate for $85. I highly recommend joining the OC Trail membership if you want to pay that low of a green fee. In other words, it would be hard to justify spending ... Continue »

Today, I used the OC Trail 50% certificate for $85. I highly recommend joining the OC Trail membership if you want to pay that low of a green fee. In other words, it would be hard to justify spending $170-$230. lol

Customer Service:
All I have to say, "WOW" (in a good way). So professional, so incredible nice and helpful. The starter today was very thorough with tips and explaining how to work around the golf course's characteristics. The Ranger was also helpful in regards to the greens. The round includes a Monarch Beach GC metal bag "dog tag" thing with my name engraved.

The Course:
Very well taken care of, period. It seems as though, they take some pride maintaining this course. Its somewhat challenging from the Blacks, but I was just enjoying the round. If you don't mind spending $$$, then, you can score well if you play it a few times. The greens are quite challenging. IF you are not familar with the greends and where to place the ball, then, it can be quite challenging. The greens are hard, but fun.

Complaints:
Only compliant are the worker bees taking care of the course. They were nice to shut off their blowers and tractors (its a first) and not chat while addressing the ball, however, it would of been nice if they weren't working while I was playing. Overall, no complaints.

overall:
I agree with others that reviewed this course. Its great for a once in a year treat, but not a course to play regularly. Just to pricey. You need to play this at least once.

Course is in above average shape, but fairways are far from what they should be at the green fee. The tee boxes, sand traps and greens were all in excellent shape however. A decent course at the 2-for... Continue »

Course is in above average shape, but fairways are far from what they should be at the green fee. The tee boxes, sand traps and greens were all in excellent shape however. A decent course at the 2-for-1 rate, but would not recommend at full weekend rate of $210.

Over priced even with two for one ($105.00). Fairways just ok and greens slow. Not worth the drive!

Over priced even with two for one ($105.00). Fairways just ok and greens slow. Not worth the drive!