The best golf courses in California, USA

Cypress Point feels like golf carved straight into the edge of the world. The routing winds through dunes, forest, and finally out to those cliffside holes where the Pacific isn’t just scenery—it’s part of the challenge. The par-3 16th is the postcard everyone knows, but it’s the flow of the round, the quiet isolation, and the way the course just fits the land that makes it unforgettable. It’s less about spectacle and more about pure, natural golf.

Pebble Beach Golf Links is one of the few courses that feels both timeless and alive. Set high above the Pacific Ocean, it combines natural drama with strategic nuance in a way few layouts can replicate. Built in 1919 on California’s Monterey Peninsula by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant, the course was routed to place as many holes as possible along Carmel Bay, creating some of the most recognizable views in golf. The opening holes offer a gentle introduction, but the stretch from the sixth through the tenth along the cliffs defines the course. Narrow fairways, small greens, and shifting winds can quickly turn a promising round into a grind. Framed by crashing surf and windswept cypress, Pebble Beach has hosted six U.S. Opens and continues to deliver a test that blends beauty, history, and championship challenge.

The Los Angeles Country Club North Course, originally designed by W. Herbert Fowler in 1921 and reimagined by George C. Thomas Jr. in 1928, is renowned for its barranca, dramatic topography, and some of the most creative green complexes in California. A world-class championship venue, it underwent a major restoration by Gil Hanse in 2017 and hosted the 2023 U.S. Open.

Riviera Country Club, designed by George C. Thomas Jr. and William P. Bell, stands as one of the world's most renowned championship courses. Established in 1926, it regularly hosts the PGA Tour Genesis Invitational and has been the site of several major championships. Its natural, strategic layout is revered by professionals and architects alike.

San Francisco Golf Club is an exclusive, historic private club established in 1895 and redesigned in 1915 by renowned architect A.W. Tillinghast. Preserving many original features, the par-71 parkland layout is known for its understated elegance, strategic routing, and demanding greens. Set among rolling hills, it offers sweeping vistas and a serene playing environment for its select membership.

The Olympic Club’s Lake Course is a legendary, private championship venue known for its tree-lined fairways, dramatic elevation changes, and slick Poa Annua greens. Designed by Sam Whiting and Willie Watson in 1924, it has hosted multiple U.S. Opens and is renowned for its challenging layout and iconic finishes beside Lake Merced.

The California Golf Club of San Francisco, affectionately known as Cal Club, is a prestigious private golf club founded in 1918 and relocated in 1926. Featuring design input from Willie Locke, A.V. Macan, Alister MacKenzie, and a 2007–08 restoration by Kyle Phillips, the par-72 course boasts firm fescue surfaces, strategic bunkering, and Golden Age architecture on rolling Peninsula terrain.

Monterey Peninsula Country Club’s Shore Course, designed by Bob E. Baldock and Jack Neville in 1960 and extensively remodeled by Mike Strantz in 2003, delivers breathtaking coastal golf with rolling fairways, windswept dunes, and extraordinary ocean vistas. Pristine conditioning, strategic bunkering, undulating greens, and a revered private-club experience make it one of California's premier destinations.

Pasatiempo Golf Club, designed by Alister MacKenzie in 1929, is a world-renowned parkland course overlooking Monterey Bay in Santa Cruz, California. Famed for its classic architectural features, rolling terrain, and rich history, it offers a challenging yet beautiful round with greens that rival the best in the world. The club hosts collegiate and amateur events and is beloved for its authentic MacKenzie restoration.

Bel-Air Country Club is an exclusive private club in Los Angeles, featuring a George C. Thomas-designed 18-hole course routed ingeniously through four canyons. The course, founded in 1925 and later renovated by Robert Trent Jones Jr., is renowned for its unique terrain, architectural pedigree, and history as home course to the UCLA Bruins teams.

Spyglass Hill Golf Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1966, offers a dramatic contrast between ocean-side dunes and the lush Del Monte Forest. Recognized for hosting the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and USGA events, its layout is both beautiful and demanding, providing a memorable challenge for serious golfers, with sweeping coastal views and tree-lined inland holes.

The Quarry at La Quinta is an exclusive Tom Fazio design nestled in the Coachella Valley at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains. Opened in 1994, this private club is renowned for outstanding conditioning, creative routing, and dramatic elevation changes of up to 300 feet. The course weaves through an abandoned mine and former gravel pit, offering a unique desert golfing experience.

Mayacama Golf Club, designed by Jack Nicklaus in 2001, sits on 675 scenic acres in Sonoma wine country. This private 18-hole course is renowned for its integration with the natural landscape, offering challenging play with elevation changes, native vegetation, and panoramic vineyard views. The club is recognized for luxury amenities and a commitment to environmental sustainability.

The Valley Club of Montecito is an acclaimed private club just south of Santa Barbara, designed in 1929 by Alister MacKenzie and Robert Hunter. Revered for its strategic routing over three natural hills and pristine conditions, the course features world-class bunkering and mountain vistas. Renovations by Tom Doak and others have preserved its architectural pedigree, making it a must-see for aficionados.

Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course), perched on the cliffs of La Jolla and designed by William F. Bell with later redesigns by Rees Jones, is a legendary public championship venue. Home to the 2008 and 2021 U.S. Open and annual PGA TOUR events, its challenging layout and iconic coastal views make it one of America's most sought-after golf destinations.

The Preserve Golf Club is a private Tom Fazio design set inside the 20,000-acre Santa Lucia Preserve, minutes from Carmel. Routed over 365 acres blending seamlessly with a majestic mountain and valley landscape, the course is celebrated for its tranquil, exclusive setting, environmental preservation, and a layout that reveals new challenges and views with every hole.

Tradition Golf Club in La Quinta, California, is an exclusive private club designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay, debuting in 1997. Set at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains, its 18-hole layout features strategic routing through lush fairways, elevation changes, and views of the desert landscape. Tradition’s course blends classic desert golf with an elevated member experience in a low-density, luxury environment.

TPC Harding Park is a championship-caliber, public golf course bordering Lake Merced in San Francisco, California. Designed by William Watson and Sam Whiting, the course has hosted notable events including the 2020 PGA Championship and 2009 Presidents Cup. Following major renovations in the early 2000s, it features a challenging layout revered for both its history and accessibility.

Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles is a high-end public course on the Palos Verdes Peninsula perched above the Pacific Ocean, designed by Pete Dye and Perry Dye and later enhanced by Donald Trump. The course offers dramatic cliff-top holes, expansive views, challenging layouts, and exceptional amenities.

TPC Monterey at Pasadera is the Monterey Peninsula's only Jack Nicklaus Signature course, sitting amid rolling hills and dramatic elevation changes. Known for inventive routing, striking vistas of the Pacific coastline and Santa Lucia Mountains, strategic bunkering, and firm, fast greens, it offers a challenging test for golfers of all levels. The club is private and caters exclusively to members.