Best Public Golf Courses in California – World-Class Golf on the West Coast
Let’s be honest — California might be the best golf state in America. You’ve got ocean cliffs, desert canyons, redwood forests, and wine-country rolling hills all within a few hours of each other. Nowhere else can you play links-style golf with the Pacific crashing below you on a Tuesday and then tee it up in the Sonoran Desert by Thursday. That’s the California golf trip: wildly varied, occasionally wallet-punishing, and almost always worth it.
This guide covers the ten public courses you need to know — from bucket-list splurges to honest everyday values. We’ll also walk through when to go, how to book, and how to stretch your golf travel budget without sacrificing the good stuff. Whether you’re planning your first California trip or trying to build the perfect Monterey Peninsula itinerary, this is your starting point.
One quick note before we dive in: traveling with your clubs? Make sure you’ve sorted your bag situation first. Check out our roundup of the best golf travel bags before you book those flights — it’ll save you a headache at baggage claim.
California’s Golf Diversity: Why This State Is Different
Most states have one or two golf “regions.” California has five distinct golf worlds:
- Coastal links: Monterey Peninsula, Half Moon Bay, Torrey Pines — ocean air, clifftops, and wind that’ll humble you fast
- Desert resort: The Palm Springs corridor packs more top-rated courses per square mile than anywhere outside Scotland
- Mountain: Lake Tahoe sits at 6,200 feet — thin air, pine trees, and ball-flight that goes farther than you expect
- Wine country: Napa and Sonoma have quietly built some terrific public courses with rolling vineyard terrain
- Urban gems: LA and the Bay Area hide some genuinely great public tracks if you know where to look
The result: no California golf trip needs to look like another. You can build it around a theme (all coastal, all desert, all budget), or mix and match across regions for variety. Either way, you’ll eat well, sleep well, and probably spend more money than you planned. Welcome to California.
1. Pebble Beach Golf Links — Pebble Beach
Green Fees: $625–$775 | Difficulty: 5/5 | Scenery: 5/5
You already know about Pebble Beach. Everyone does. The question isn’t whether it’s worth playing — it absolutely is — but whether you’ve actually made peace with spending $700 on a round of golf. Once you do, the experience is something else entirely.
Six U.S. Opens have been decided on these fairways. The 7th hole — a short par 3 that plays straight toward Carmel Bay — is probably the most photographed hole in golf. The 8th is a blind approach over a cliff edge that makes your stomach drop no matter how many times you’ve seen it on TV. And the finishing stretch from 17 to 18 along the ocean is as dramatic as golf gets anywhere in the world.
Signature hole: No. 7 — a sub-100-yard par 3 where the target is essentially a green floating over the Pacific. Sound easy? Wait until the wind picks up.
Best time to play: April through June offers the most stable weather on the peninsula. Fog clears by mid-morning, winds stay manageable, and the course is in peak condition. September and October are also excellent.
Booking reality check: Lodge guests at The Inn at Spanish Bay or The Lodge at Pebble Beach can book 24 months out and get priority access. Non-resort guests can book online 18 months in advance. There’s also an automated lottery. Bottom line: plan way, way ahead, or prepare to get very lucky.
Honest tip: Budget for a caddie. The course isn’t straightforward, local knowledge matters, and the full experience — looping with someone who’s walked these holes a thousand times — is worth every extra dollar. Don’t try to navigate Pebble with a pull cart and Google Maps.
2. Torrey Pines South Course — La Jolla
Green Fees: $202–$252 (non-resident) | Difficulty: 4/5 | Scenery: 4/5
Here’s a remarkable thing: Torrey Pines South is a publicly owned municipal course. The City of San Diego owns it. Every few years, the best players on the planet tee it up here for the U.S. Open. And you can book a tee time for around $200 non-resident. That’s genuinely one of the best deals in golf travel.
The South Course sits on coastal bluffs above the Pacific with views throughout. Robert Trent Jones Jr. redesigned it in 2001 specifically to handle U.S. Open conditions — which means the rough gets thick, the greens get slick, and the distance is formidable. It’s not a course that beats you up visually, but it demands precision off the tee and sharp iron play to score.
Signature hole: No. 12 is a long dogleg right par 4 that bends along the bluff edge. Miss left and you’re in the deep coastal ravine. It’s a perfectly designed pressure hole.
Best time to play: October through March is the sweet spot. Summer fog (locals call it “June Gloom”) can hang until noon and visibility gets patchy. Fall and winter deliver crisp, clear mornings with views all the way to the ocean.
Booking tip: San Diego residents can book 7 days out at a significant discount. Non-residents book 3 days out online at 8 AM sharp — and those tee times go fast. Set a reminder. The North Course is worth playing too; it’s easier and usually has more availability.
3. Pasatiempo Golf Club — Santa Cruz
Green Fees: $290–$365 | Difficulty: 4/5 | Scenery: 4/5
Alister MacKenzie designed Augusta National, Cypress Point, and Royal Melbourne. And then there’s Pasatiempo — which he called his personal favorite of everything he ever built. That’s a strong take from the man who created Augusta, so it deserves some attention.
The course sits above Santa Cruz on rugged terrain carved with deep ravines and dramatic elevation changes. MacKenzie used every natural feature — the canyons, the ridges, the natural undulations — and built something that rewards intelligent play over raw power. You can absolutely muscle your way around and score a 90. Or you can think your way around and shoot something much better. That’s vintage MacKenzie: multiple viable routes, options off every tee, and greens that require actual thought.
Signature hole: No. 16 is a downhill par 4 that forces a decision — lay back and leave yourself a longer approach, or go for position down the right side and carry the ravine. Wrong choice, and you’re dropping.
Best time to play: April through November. Santa Cruz gets marine layer in winter and the course can play very wet. Spring and fall are the prime windows — comfortable temperatures, firm conditions, and the course playing to its full strategic beauty.
Pro move: Walk it. MacKenzie designed Pasatiempo as a walking course, and the routing is best appreciated on foot. Afternoon rates are cheaper if you want to save a bit and don’t mind a late tee time.
4. Spyglass Hill Golf Course — Pebble Beach
Green Fees: $425–$475 | Difficulty: 5/5 | Scenery: 4/5
Spyglass Hill is the course serious golfers often end up loving more than Pebble Beach — and it’s not even close on the difficulty meter. Where Pebble Beach gives you drama and views, Spyglass gives you carnage wrapped in beauty. It consistently rates as one of the toughest courses in the country, and that’s with resort guests, not a U.S. Open field.
The front nine opens through the dunes with ocean glimpses before plunging into the Del Monte Forest — dense, moody pine trees that close in around you and turn the back nine into something almost claustrophobic. The par is 72 but it plays like a 71 on a good day.
Signature hole: No. 3 is a downhill par 5 with Stillwater Cove visible in the background. It’s postcard-worthy. It’s also where plenty of rounds get derailed early.
Best time to play: Same window as Pebble Beach — April through June, and again in September-October. Easier to get a tee time than Pebble; slightly less booking lead time required.
The case for playing both: If you’re already spending $700 at Pebble, spending $450 at Spyglass the next day isn’t crazy. The Pebble Beach Company sells packages combining multiple courses, and the per-round cost drops. Spyglass will probably give you the better golf story — it’s where scores go to die in the most scenic way possible.
5. PGA West Stadium Course — La Quinta
Green Fees: $179–$299 | Difficulty: 5/5 | Scenery: 4/5
Pete Dye built the Stadium Course in 1986 and seemed determined to make every professional golfer cry. He succeeded. The course has hosted the PGA Tour’s American Express Championship for decades and has a reputation for eating good players alive. That rep is completely earned.
The signature feature is “Alcatraz” — hole 17, a par 3 with an island green ringed by water and rock. There’s no way to play it safe. You hit it on the green or you’re dropping a penalty shot from the rocky island. PGA Tour players have made 9 here. Regular golfers have made worse. Bring extra balls.
The surrounding desert scenery is genuinely spectacular — the Santa Rosa Mountains loom over the course, the sky is enormous, and everything looks slightly unreal in the desert light. It’s a visually intimidating course before you even factor in the bunkers and water.
Signature hole: No. 17, “Alcatraz.” Island green, no bailout, pure nerve test.
Best time to play: November through March. Desert golf in summer means heat indexes above 110°F and tee times at 5:30 AM to beat the worst of it. Fall and winter bring perfect 70s and 80s temperatures, firm conditions, and the course playing its best.
Value angle: Summer rates drop dramatically — sometimes below $100 — if you’re okay with heat and early mornings. Resort packages through PGA West also offer solid per-round value if you’re playing multiple courses on the same trip.
6. Aviara Golf Club — Carlsbad
Green Fees: $225–$285 | Difficulty: 3/5 | Scenery: 4/5
Arnold Palmer’s Carlsbad design doesn’t get the same fame as Torrey Pines, which is honestly fine with the people who play here regularly — it means easier tee times and a slightly calmer atmosphere. Aviara flows through a protected coastal habitat with ocean glimpses, lagoon views, and some genuinely lovely elevation changes in the back nine.
The course is more forgiving than Torrey Pines, which makes it a better fit for mid-handicappers who want a beautiful setting without getting brutalized by a U.S. Open layout. The conditioning is consistently excellent — this is a resort course that takes presentation seriously.
Signature hole: No. 14 is a downhill par 3 over a natural ravine with the lagoon framing the background. The carry is manageable, but the view makes you pause before pulling the trigger.
Best time to play: Year-round, but October through May is the prime window. Summer fog can affect morning rounds, and the course plays better when the fairways firm up in fall.
Worth knowing: Twilight rates here represent genuine value — same great course, same immaculate conditioning, meaningfully lower price. If you’re playing San Diego and want a one-two punch, Aviara in the afternoon and Torrey Pines the next morning is a solid combination.
7. Half Moon Bay Golf Links — Half Moon Bay
Green Fees: $225–$295 | Difficulty: 3/5 | Scenery: 5/5
Half Moon Bay sits about 30 minutes south of San Francisco and gives you something genuinely rare on the California coast: a public course that plays right along the ocean bluffs with unobstructed Pacific views. The Ocean Course (the newer of the two layouts) has its closing holes set dramatically on the cliff edge — it’s one of those settings where you can be playing mediocre golf and still feel like a million dollars because of where you’re standing.
The Old Course is equally good, set slightly more inland through trees and more forgiving on the card. Together, 36 holes of accessible, scenically stunning golf next to a Ritz-Carlton hotel that doesn’t require you to stay there to play.
Signature hole: No. 18 on the Ocean Course — a closing par 5 where the ocean frames the entire left side of the hole. It’s dramatic, it’s photogenic, and it’s a genuinely good hole, not just a pretty backdrop.
Best time to play: May through October. The Half Moon Bay coast is famous for heavy marine layer and fog, particularly in winter. Morning rounds in June can feel downright cold and gray. Summer afternoons, when the fog lifts, are spectacular.
Practical note: Bring a windshirt and a rain layer regardless of the forecast. The weather on this stretch of coastline changes quickly and dramatically. You’ll use them.
8. Rustic Canyon Golf Course — Moorpark
Green Fees: $55–$95 | Difficulty: 3/5 | Scenery: 3/5
Every golf trip needs a Rustic Canyon slot. This Gil Hanse and Geoff Shackelford design near Moorpark is the single best value for design quality in California — and it’s not particularly close. You’re getting architecture and conditions that rival courses charging three times the price, for under a hundred bucks, at a walking-only public course.
The routing is open and links-inspired, with wide fairways that reward ground game and bump-and-run approaches. The bunkering is strategic rather than penal. The greens are fast and well-contoured. It feels like a Fazio or a Hanse private club except it has no fence around it and anyone can book a time online.
Signature hole: No. 2 is a mid-length par 4 where the entire approach to the green is open at the front — you can run it up or fly it in, and both work. That kind of design generosity is rare.
Best time to play: October through April. Summer gets hot in the inland valley and the course can go a bit firm and baked. Spring and fall conditions are firm but manageable and the walking is genuinely pleasant.
Non-negotiable rule: Walk it. Carts defeat the purpose. Rustic Canyon was built as a walking course, the routing flows perfectly on foot, and you’ll understand why Hanse and Shackelford are so respected after 18 holes at a pace that lets you actually see what they built.
9. The Links at Spanish Bay — Pebble Beach
Green Fees: $315–$355 | Difficulty: 3/5 | Scenery: 5/5
Spanish Bay is the Pebble Beach Company’s attempt to build a proper links course on the California coast, and it works better than you’d expect. Robert Trent Jones Jr., Tom Watson, and Frank Tatum Jr. collaborated on the design, working with the natural dunes and Pacific shoreline to create something that genuinely feels Scottish — especially when the wind kicks up, which it usually does.
It’s a more forgiving round than Pebble or Spyglass, which makes it a good choice for a first day on the peninsula when you’re warming up, or a final-day send-off after you’ve already been humbled by the other two. The sunset bagpiper who plays on the 18th terrace at dusk has become a genuine tradition — cheesy but also genuinely moving.
Signature hole: No. 14 plays along the shoreline with the ocean immediately left. Wind off the water turns a mid-iron approach into a genuine puzzle. Club selection here separates the guessers from the thinkers.
Best time to play: Year-round, but spring and fall are ideal. Afternoon twilight rounds can be exceptional value and give you that sunset finish on the 18th with the bagpiper.
10. Indian Wells Golf Resort — Indian Wells
Green Fees: $69–$189 | Difficulty: 3/5 | Scenery: 4/5
The Indian Wells Golf Resort is 36 holes of very good desert golf sitting in the shadow of the Santa Rosa Mountains. The Celebrity Course is the friendlier of the two — wider fairways, more forgiving rough, resort-friendly design that won’t destroy your scorecard. The Players Course bumps up the challenge meaningfully with tighter corridors and more demanding approach angles.
Both courses are maintained to tournament standards — the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament uses the property and the resort takes conditioning seriously year-round. Mountain views are constant, the course has real character, and green fees are consistently the best value for quality in the Palm Springs corridor.
Signature hole: Players Course, No. 10 — a par 5 that wraps around a water feature with the mountains directly behind. One of those holes that looks better in person than in any photo.
Best time to play: November through March. Summer rates are low but heat is extreme — 110°F-plus is not uncommon, and even early morning rounds in July and August can be punishing. Winter and spring bring the best of Palm Springs: brilliant blue skies, 75°F afternoons, and the mountains occasionally dusted with snow in the background.
Quick-Reference Course Comparison
| Course | Region | Green Fee Range | Difficulty | Walk-Friendly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pebble Beach Golf Links | Monterey | $625–$775 | ★★★★★ | Yes (caddie recommended) |
| Torrey Pines South | San Diego | $202–$252 | ★★★★☆ | Yes |
| Pasatiempo Golf Club | Santa Cruz | $290–$365 | ★★★★☆ | Yes (preferred) |
| Spyglass Hill | Monterey | $425–$475 | ★★★★★ | Yes |
| PGA West Stadium | Palm Springs | $179–$299 | ★★★★★ | Cart typical |
| Aviara Golf Club | San Diego | $225–$285 | ★★★☆☆ | Yes |
| Half Moon Bay Ocean | Bay Area | $225–$295 | ★★★☆☆ | Yes |
| Rustic Canyon | LA / Moorpark | $55–$95 | ★★★☆☆ | Walking only |
| Spanish Bay | Monterey | $315–$355 | ★★★☆☆ | Yes (encouraged) |
| Indian Wells Golf Resort | Palm Springs | $69–$189 | ★★★☆☆ | Cart typical |
Best Time to Play California Golf
California’s size means there’s no single right answer — it depends entirely on where you’re going. Here’s how to think about it by region:
Monterey Peninsula & Central Coast
Prime window: April–June and September–October. Fog is lighter, winds are manageable, and the courses are in full swing. July and August can be foggy and cool — not bad, but not ideal. Winter brings rain and periodic closures. My personal pick: late May at Pebble Beach, when the peninsula smells like pine and ocean and the crowds haven’t fully arrived yet.
San Diego
Prime window: October–April. San Diego has the most reliable year-round weather in the state, but “June Gloom” (coastal fog in summer) affects morning tee times on clifftop courses like Torrey Pines. Fall and winter here are genuinely spectacular — clear mornings, 65°F, and the Pacific in sharp focus.
Palm Springs Desert
Prime window: November–March. This is non-negotiable. Desert heat in summer is extreme. November through March means perfect 70–80°F afternoons, full sunshine, and the mountains in their best condition. This is also peak season, so prices are highest and tee times book out fast — plan at least a few months ahead.
Bay Area
Prime window: May–October. Bay Area weather is notoriously variable, but summer and early fall bring the most stable conditions. Half Moon Bay specifically runs fog from November through April. If you’re combining Half Moon Bay with a Pebble trip, route it in late summer.
Planning Your California Golf Trip
California’s size is both its best and most challenging feature for golf travel. You can’t play Pebble Beach and Indian Wells in the same day — they’re 400 miles apart. Smart trip planning means picking a region and going deep rather than trying to cover the whole state in one visit.
The Monterey Triple
Three nights, three rounds: Spyglass Hill on day one (warmup for the tougher stuff), Pebble Beach on day two (the whole point), Spanish Bay on day three (recovery round with scenery). Stay at one of the Pebble Beach Company properties and you’ll have priority booking access for all three. Budget $1,200–$1,500 in green fees alone, but this is arguably the best three-day golf itinerary in America.
The San Diego Run
Four nights, four rounds: Torrey Pines South, Aviara, and two other San Diego-area courses (Maderas and Barona Creek are both excellent and within range). Total green fees land around $600–$800 for the four rounds, which is remarkable given the quality. San Diego is also one of the easiest cities to navigate as a golf tourist — everything is within 45 minutes of everything else.
The Desert Week
Seven nights, six or seven rounds across PGA West, Indian Wells, Desert Willow, and La Quinta Mountain Course. Desert golf is uniquely addictive — the combination of sunshine, mountain scenery, and firm, fast conditions is unlike anything else. Go in January or February for peak experience and plan to play 36 holes a day if your body allows.
The Budget Run (Best Value Route)
Base yourself near Moorpark for Rustic Canyon, drive to Torrey Pines one day, hit Half Moon Bay on the way back north. Four courses for under $600 total in green fees if you time it right. Not the most logical geographic loop, but a legitimate argument that you’ve played some of the best public golf California offers for a reasonable cost.
Getting Your Clubs There
Flying into California with your own sticks is strongly recommended — rental clubs at premium courses like Pebble Beach are fine, but you’ll play better with your own equipment. Before you book, read up on the best golf travel bags to find something that will actually protect your clubs through checked baggage. Hard cases are worth the weight for a trip like this.
When to Book
The general rule for California public golf booking windows:
- Pebble Beach: 18–24 months out for non-lodge guests. Seriously.
- Spyglass/Spanish Bay: 3–6 months ahead, more in summer
- Torrey Pines South: 3 days out for non-residents (8 AM online — be ready)
- PGA West/Indian Wells: 2–4 weeks ahead during peak season (Nov–Mar)
- Pasatiempo: 2–4 weeks in advance, sometimes less in fall
- Rustic Canyon: 7 days out, often easier to get than you’d expect
Budget Tips for California Golf Travel
Let’s be real — California golf can be expensive. But there are legitimate ways to play excellent golf here without selling a kidney. Here’s where the real value lives:
Go twilight
Most California courses drop rates by 30–50% for afternoon tee times, typically after 2 or 3 PM. You’re getting the same course, same conditions, same quality — just less time at the end if you’re slow. Play ready golf, walk fast, and twilight rates become one of the better deals in travel golf. Aviara, Spanish Bay, and Half Moon Bay all have strong twilight pricing.
Play the second course
At facilities with 36 holes (Torrey Pines, Half Moon Bay, Indian Wells), the secondary course is almost always meaningfully cheaper. Torrey Pines North runs about $110–$140 versus the South’s $252 for non-residents. You still get the same coastal setting, the same clifftop walking, the same general vibe — for half the price.
Go off-season in the desert
Indian Wells in July is $69. In February it’s $189. Same course, same mountains, same greens — about 40 degrees hotter. If you can handle a 5:30 AM tee time and a short round before heat shuts things down, desert summer golf is genuinely playable and substantially cheaper. Bring ice water. Lots of ice water.
Stay-and-play packages
Resort packages at Pebble Beach, Aviara, PGA West, and Half Moon Bay regularly offer per-round savings of 15–25% compared to booking courses individually. If you’re already staying at the resort, this is almost always the smarter financial play.
Public county courses
The best county-owned courses in California are legitimately good. Torrey Pines is the crown jewel, but Sandpiper in Santa Barbara ($95–$130, ocean views), Cinnabar Hills in San Jose ($70–$110, great variety), and Hansen Dam in LA (under $50) all offer above-average golf for below-average prices.
Don’t skip Rustic Canyon
This bears repeating. At $55–$95 for a Gil Hanse design that would charge $300+ if it went private tomorrow, Rustic Canyon is the California public golf steal. Any trip to the LA area that doesn’t include it is leaving money on the table.
Course Game: Reading California Greens
One thing that throws California visitors is the speed and grain of the greens. Coastal courses — Pebble, Spanish Bay, Torrey Pines — tend to have slower, more receptive putting surfaces due to the cool, moist air. Desert courses are the opposite: fast, grainy, and heavily influenced by the sun direction and wind patterns you don’t necessarily see.
At Pebble Beach specifically, the 7th and 8th greens slope dramatically toward the ocean — a tip that saves you several three-putts. At PGA West, every green breaks away from the mountains (a general rule that holds across most desert courses in the Palm Springs valley). Before any round, spend serious time on the practice green reading the grain — look for which way the grass “shines.” That’s the grain direction, and it affects every putt.
If you want to get sharper on reading greens before your trip (especially ahead of a Pebble round where three-putts are budget-breaking), our guide on how to read greens like a pro covers the fundamentals in detail. It’s worth reviewing.
Gear Check Before You Go
California’s diverse conditions — coastal wind, desert heat, inland humidity swings — mean your gear setup matters more than on most trips.
A few course-specific notes:
- Coastal courses (Pebble, Spanish Bay, Half Moon Bay): Play a lower-spinning, penetrating ball flight. Wind off the ocean plays havoc with high-launching shots. Consider a slightly stronger shaft flex if you have options.
- Desert courses (PGA West, Indian Wells): The elevation and dry air add 5–10 yards to every club at Indian Wells (elevation ~75 feet, dry air). Not the same as playing at altitude, but factor it in. Hydration matters — dry air dehydrates faster than you realize.
- Pasatiempo: Ground game is rewarded here. MacKenzie designed the approaches to allow run-up shots, and the firm Santa Cruz conditions in fall mean bump-and-run is often smarter than a full wedge.
If you’re thinking about upgrading before the trip — new driver, new set — check out our review of the best golf drivers for 2026. Playing Pebble Beach with equipment you trust makes the whole experience better.
The Honest Verdict
California public golf is the real deal. This isn’t a state where you’re settling for second-tier courses because the private clubs hoarded all the good land. Pebble Beach is the most famous public course in the world. Torrey Pines hosts U.S. Opens. Pasatiempo is a MacKenzie masterpiece. And Rustic Canyon delivers design quality that most states simply don’t have at any price point.
The key is matching the trip to your actual priorities. If you’re here for the bucket list, Pebble Beach and Torrey Pines are the two courses worth any sacrifice to play once. If you’re here for value-per-dollar, Rustic Canyon plus Indian Wells plus Torrey Pines North is a three-course trip that costs less than a single round at Pebble and still delivers extraordinary golf. If you want pure drama and don’t mind pain, PGA West Stadium Course will give you both in abundance.
Whatever you decide, go in with a plan, book early (especially Pebble), and don’t rush it. California golf rewards patience — on the course and in the planning. This is the kind of trip you’ll replay for years.